Chapter 4 You Owe Me

"Is your guy nuts? Like really? Does he have any problem with his nut sized brain?" Olivia blabbered, plopping down on the chair next to Liliana who looked equally in distress.

"Stop dissing Adrick all the time, 'Via" Lily muttered, looking at her wrist watch before looking back at the football court which is now being filled with players wearing jerseys.

"Yeah! And stop defending him all time, Lily. What is this match for now? Like seriously? That too against Ace? Ace Nathaniel Vargas? The two of them competing with each other? You won't believe me but one of these guys is seriously up to something" Olivia muttered, letting out a weary sigh. Her perfectly drawn eyes rolled in annoyance, showing her frustration at the situation. The thought of the two men going against each other was not only worrying but also seemed to have more sinister implications.

"I know, but what if Ace started it? It is him who is always up for violence" Liliana responded, speaking as if it were a self-evident truth, or perhaps it was a convenient belief to hold.

"Keep making your guy good, Girl. No wonder he treats you rudely, 'cause he knows you'll stick with him no matter what!" Olivia said, her jaw clenching as she looked at her best friend who somehow was too deep in her little love with her crush since childhood.

But Olivia's features softened when she saw a flicker of pain on Liliana's eyes. She knows her words were rude but she's done watching Adrick giving Liliana no damn.

"Fuck! You do know it was never against you. I just... It's so frustrating seeing him giving you the cold shoulder while all you do is be with him. And what annoys the fuck out of me is the fact that you keep forgive him. Like for what girl? You deserves more than just an Adrick, C'mon, he maybe be good, but you can get the best" Said Olivia, holding Liliana's hands in hers, a small smile of encouragement spreading on her lips even though she knows it would take more than her words for Liliana to change her mind.

Lily's eyes flickered down, as she gulped. She knows Olivia's words contain some truth but how can she all of sudden stop her heart from loving him? It's like asking someone to not breathe, even if we try, we will take breath when we feel like we couldn't anymore. That's her condition now. And it's not like she never tried, everytime he hurt her, she promised herself to move on but her heart was against this 'cause the second he just looked in her eyes, she'll be back to that old little Lily who would follow Adrick like a lost puppy.

"I... I.." Lily's throat parched as she tried to say something but was blank. No words forming, no thoughts coming to respond to Olivia.

"Hey, it's okay. I was just saying. I know you can't just stop loving someone but I hope you'll give more respect to you, Girl. And believe in God, He'll give you the right person, we don't have to chase it" Olivia smiled, pinching Liliana's shoulder to hype the mood as it definitely worked, making Liliana jump in reflex.

A look of annoyance mixed with playfulness crossed Liliana's features as she was about to utter something when all of sudden her brown eyes caught the familiar silhouette walking, and like magnet her head whipped to the side, watching as Adrick advanced to the court, wearing a Blue Jersey with his name printed on it.

Her heart skipped a damn beat watching it.

The jersey she always wanted to wear... The jersey with his name on it.

Blush spread on her cheeks as she quickly shook her head, looking at the players instead. She could feel girls eyes on him, making her clutch her bag in annoyance.

"Handsome..." Lily muttered under her breath, making Olivia chuckle. Liliana's pupils were wide as she admired her man, with a small smile on her lips when the gasp from her best friend caught her attention.

"Holy Fuck! He's hot" Liliana frowned as she was about to ask Olivia what she meant when her eyes caught the second silhouette walking in, his six feet tall body easily catching people's attention. The black jersey he wore made him ten times more attractive as it was in contrast to his tan skin. His hair was surprisingly styled perfectly with jel, so as not to disturb him while playing. The few strands on the side of his forehead was just giving him a killer look. And those obsidian orbs and dark thick eyebrows would make any girl's knees weak.

Liliana's eyes slowly trailed down as she saw his jaw clenched, his lips pressed together in a tight line, his cheekbone making girls wanna trail their fingers on it.

Her eyes darted down and she saw the veins popping out of his neck, his muscles bulging out. And Liliana gulped, looking away immediately in shame.

Checking out another man? Where did her morals go?

Liliana cleared her throat, her eyes going to Adrick but why does that feel forced?

Soon all the players were on the field as they warmed up, while Adrick's and Ace's eyes were having an intense eye contact. The obsidian hues were connected with the aqua marine orbs, dark against light.

Ace rolled his eyes, his eyes moving around the court swiftly before they halted suddenly. His dark eyes easily caught the outstanding brown orbs, and he saw how her eyes were stuck on Adrick. Her eyes were glowing and he could see the love in her eyes and he felt a pang of guilt knowing she's the subject of their game. And soon that guilt was replaced by anger as he looked at Adrick, anger coursing through his veins. Indeed Adrick was too blind to see it.

The game began and everyone was seated in their respective seats, enthralled by the intense match between Adrick and Ace. Both highly skilled players, but Ace seemed to have the upper hand with his quick and strategic moves. He effortlessly executed the pass, cleverly tricked the opposing team's defense, and sank the ball into the basket with incredible precision. It was clear that Ace's basketball prowess was on another level.

As the buzzer signaled halftime, the score was tied, leaving the game evenly balanced between the two teams. The players retreated to their respective benches, mopping up sweat and rehydrating. However, Adrick's gaze remained fixed intently on Ace, who appeared to be returning the stare equally as intense. The stakes were high, and Adrick's victory meant more than just winning the game; it would mean that he would need to make Liliana fall in love with him. But Ace had no intention of playing with anyone's feelings.

Liliana sat in her seat tensely, her body stiff as a board. She had expected this - with the game tied, both Adrick and Ace would go to extremes to secure victory. Their egos were too high for either of them to back down, and Liliana couldn't shake off the ominous feeling that things were about to go awry. Her knuckles turned white as she clenched her hands tighter, her anxiety-filled sigh breaking the silence.

The game resumed, but now it was more intense than ever before. Both Adrick and Ace were sprinting around the court like madmen, the match transforming from a simple game into a fierce competition of dominance. It wasn't about winning or losing anymore; it was about proving who was superior and who was inferior, a battle to establish who was truly better than the other. They were determined to show each other their respective positions.

The final minute of play arrived, and the players were giving their all to shift the tied score. That last, decisive goal stood between victory and defeat, and every passing moment felt crucial.

The ball was handed to Ace, who quickly took possession and darted towards the basket without hesitation. His eyes flicked to Liliana for a brief second, and he noticed that her gaze was fixed on Adrick. Holding the ball tightly, he drove forward, each step closing the distance between him and the basket.

Adrick's jaw clenched as he fixed his gaze on Ace barreling towards the basket with the ball. Losing wasn't an option for him, and he was determined to beat Ace.

He looked over at one of his teammates, who responded with a knowing nod. Adrick knew that cheating wasn't in the spirit of sportsmanship, but the satisfaction of his opponent's defeat mattered more to him than upholding his own ethics.

And just when Ace was about to reach the basket, Adrick's friend darted forward and deliberately crashed into him, jabbing him in the ribs and causing him to lose possession of the ball.

With a loud, pained grunt, Adrick seized the ball, then shot it swiftly towards the basket, securing victory for his team.

Liliana could only watch in disbelief, her lips parted in shock, as she witnessed Adrick's teammate deliberately cheat in the play. Anyone who had been closely observing the game could clearly see that it was a deliberate act, not an accident.

Adrick smirked with satisfaction, but his expression quickly faltered as Ace stalked toward him, delivering a forceful punch to his jaw that sent him crashing to the floor.

"Motherfucker!" Ace roared, his black eyes dilating with anger and fury.

The audience gasped and covered their mouths in shock as they watched the scene. The way Adrick's face reddened was no joke.

"Be a man, you fucking cunt!" Ace roared again, his teammates were quick to pull him back.

While Adrick layed on the ground, his mouth slightly getting covered in blood. He would've fought back but he wouldn't. He knows he deserves the hit and he would take it but that wouldn't change the fact that he won the game, which means he won the bet.

And Ace watched as Adrick stood up, wiping the blood away from the corner of his lips as he sauntered to him, only to stop near him.

"It doesn't matter how you win a game, Ace. What people look at is who won. So, I would like to repeat your words..."

"Be a man and finish the bet"

• • • • • •

Liliana was in the library, it's been a week since the match. Everything seems weirdly calm. Adrick seems to not get angry with her now. In fact he seems to have no problem in taking her to college now, of course he would drop her off a few metres away but still.

Lily let out a sigh, flipping the page when the corner of her eyes caught a movement. She blinked, looking up from her text book only for her eyes to meet the chilling black orbs of the man who always made her feel something tingly in her tummy.

Lily gulped, watching him looking down at her, he was towering over her, his huge body easily intimidating her petite figure. Her nibble fingers clutching her top tightly as she looked up at him, her broken eyes wide and blinking.

"You said you owe me, right" his deep voice made her shiver for some reason. Something chills down her spine.

And she nodded, suddenly remembering her words. She watched as he fought with himself, as if debating whether to speak or not but her ears perked up watching him open his mouth.

"Then I want your help now" he muttered, throwing the physics text book to the table.

"Tutor me"

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