There were loud cheers from the students-especially from the girls. Currently watching a lively basketball game, dozens of girls shouted in unison when a young man managed to put the ball into the net, adding to the score. Dozens of girls screamed his name, like fangirls watching their favorite band's concert.
"Terenti you're so cool!!!"
"Terenti Gilhooley, date me!!!"
These were some of the words shouted by some of the beautiful, sexy girls who were cheerleaders.
Every sentence that came out of the mouths of the beautiful, sexy girls was only responded with a faint smile by the young man they called Terenti who had been focused on the match.
The noisy gymnasium really made Noel uncomfortable, he didn't like sports lessons and the screams of the girls. if it wasn't for the teacher who told him to deliver a basket full of balls to be put in the warehouse he wouldn't be here, and the warehouse happened to be close to the gymnasium, so inevitably he had to pass it.
The whistle blew, signaling that the match was over and the team led by Terenti Gilhooley had won the match.
Terenti picked up the mineral water bottle and drank it. Amidst the crowd, his attention accidentally caught the shadow of the cute young man carrying a basket full of balls to be put in the warehouse. Once the drink was gulped down, his lips developed a smirk.
After placing the basket of balls in the warehouse, Noel turned around to go outside. However, he was surprised - once he found the figure of the young man he had always avoided, the sweet young man almost jumped back when his bead met the pair of eyes belonging to the young man. Terenti stood in the doorway with a mineral water in hand. Noel's heart skipped a beat as the young man stared at him intently. The image of that night—when he was bullied by this young man—flashed back into his mind.
That young man, at school, was a basketball prodigy. He was the team leader, but outside of school he was nothing more than a brat who lived a carefree life. It was covered up by the school because Terenti's parents were one of the school's financial contributors. With a haughty expression on his face, the young man stepped into the warehouse and approached Noel.
"What do you want?" asked Noel sarcastically.
Terenti replied casually, "Don't put on that expression, I just want to talk to you."
Noel slowly stepped back, his whole body trembling, how could he be sure that this young man in front of his only wanted to talk to him. Terenti's steps stopped as soon as his mouth asked a question.
"What is your relationship with Walther Zwick?
Noel was surprised at the question the young man asked. How did Terenti know that Noel had a relationship with Walther?
Noel paused, and Terenti continued, "Yesterday I saw you on the street with him, what is your relationship? If you're looking for a rich young man to take advantage of, you've got the wrong person---"
"No, I'm not. You're wrong to think of me that way."
Terenti snorted harshly, just as his mouth was about to reply, a voice from the doorway diverted both of their attention.
"Terenti, you're here, I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Tolya, I told you to wait!" said Terenti to the young man named Tolya. The young man was now walking over, adding to the caution on Noel's part.
"Why are you wasting your time with someone like him?" Tolya asked as he looked down at Noel with the corner of his eye. As soon as the distance between him and Noel grew closer, the young man gasped and looked at Noel who was looking down from his toes to his head.
"Woah... from this close, he looks like Nate too."
The comment just now pulled both sides of Terenti's lips, he smiled dismissively. "Ah, that's right. That bastard Walt, he couldn't get Nate so he turned to this Little Rabbit."
What does this guy mean? Who is Nate? Noel's heart suddenly felt tight at the thought.
"I'll tell you one thing," Terenti looked intensely at Noel, "you're just an outlet for him."
"Walther's not that kind of person." Noel denied Terenti's statement.
"Really? Are you sure? I'll bet your body has been touched by him."
Terenti's words immediately silenced Noel.
"Why the silence? Ah..., my guess must be right."
"He must have been fucked every night ahahaha." Tolya said.
Noel clenched his fingers. He was a man and he felt like his pride was being trampled on right now, so he didn't know where he got the courage to move his hand, grabbing the collar of the shirt of the young man in front of him.
"You..." Noel stared intently at Terenti.
The moment Noel felt the look in the young man's eyes change, a hand was on his neck.
"You think because you have something to do with Walther, I'm afraid, is that it?"
Both of Noel's hands that had been pulling at the collar of his sweatshirt stopped-moving to release the one hand belonging to the young man that was tightly gripping his neck. Meanwhile, the young man named Tolya seemed to be enjoying the spectacle of his friend's bullying.
"Asshole, let go of Noel!" Someone shouted from the doorway. Simultaneously, the three people who were there turned their attention to the owner of the voice.
"Yuri!" Noel called out, as Terenti's grip on his neck loosened.
As Yuri approached, he was immediately greeted by a pair of dark eyes that stared intently.
"Look who's here." Terenti pulled the corners of his lips into a lame line. "Want to be a hero?" He folded his arms across his chest.
Yuri Torovich stared back, anger mounting and his hands clenched into tight fists, ready to land a punch on the face in front of him. The young man was furious-hardly able to think logically seeing his best friend being bullied, he tried not to immediately punch the arrogant face of the person in front of him because he didn't want to make a scene.
"This is none of your business, why are you interfering?" Tolya, who had been silent, spoke up.
Suddenly Yuri's gaze turned to the young man. "Noel is my best friend, his business is my business too."
Terenti rolled his eyes in disgust. "Who do you think you are to dare go against me to defend him." The young man pointed at Noel. "You're nothing in this school but a kid picked up by a rich family."
Without holding back, Yuri flung the knuckles of his right hand at Terenti's face.
Tolya rounded his eyes as Terenti's face let out a stifled yelp, but it wasn't from Yuri, but from Noel. The young man had already landed his fist earlier than Yuri.
The attack only made the young man take a step back while holding his face. Yuri, on the other hand, was in disbelief at what Noel had just done; bringing his knuckles down on the face of the head of the basketball team and the school's most notorious punk.
Noel stared intently at Terenti, he ground his teeth, hardening his jaw. "That punch, because you insulted my best friend."
Terenti, who had just been hit, was certainly not silent, he grabbed Noel's collar with his left hand and raised his right hand with his knuckles clenched into a fist. Within an inch of his attack being avenged, his movement was restrained by a hand that caught his wrist. However, Terenti took another initiative, his left hand gripping Noel's shirt collar came off and landed right on Yuri's face who was now blocking his attack. Yuri crumpled to the floor.
"Yuri!" Noel crouched down to his friend and helped him up. Yuri rubbed his bruised cheek with the back of his hand.
"Wanna fight?!!!" challenged Terenti, now overcome with rage. His breathing was ragged, the pounding behind his ribs raging.
"YOU GUYS OVER THERE, STOP FIGHTING!!!" A shout boomed out like thunder, extinguishing the flames of the four people who were arguing.
The shout came from the voice of Mr. Teacher Serafim, a sports teacher who was known for being strict in educating his students. Although he was already forty years old, the teacher still had a well-built body.
"The four of you, go to the principal's room. Reflect on what you did today." Teacher Serafim pointed at the four students in turn and left to continue the ongoing sports lesson.
[]