His phone buzzed in his pocket, snapping him out of his daze. Without thinking, he pulled it out and saw a message from Sofia. As he was about to respond, another notification popped up-a message from Diois.

"Where are you? Why haven't you come back?"

Henry gritted his teeth, the frustration burning deep inside him.

He wasn't just angry at Diois; he was furious at himself for letting things get this far. Slowly, he stood up, using the wall for support, and stepped out of the room. Every step was agony; his lower body ached so badly that walking felt like torture.

He headed to the nearest bathroom, and when he saw his reflection in the mirror, there wasn't even a flicker of pity for himself.

His heart was numb, his emotions dulled to the point where he no longer felt anything.

His eyes were swollen and red from crying. He splashed cold water on his face, trying to wash away the remnants of his tears, then wiped it with the sleeves of his long jacket.

The cool water helped, if only a little, and he felt just strong enough to leave the bathroom.

By the time Henry returned, the second round of the game had already started.

As soon as he sat down, Sofia turned to him, concerned. "Where have you been?" she asked.

"I just ran into someone on the way back," he lied, forcing a small smile. It was easier than explaining the truth.

"I'm so worried, they're not doing great. What's wrong with Diois today?" Sofia's voice trembled, almost on the verge of tears.

Henry shifted his gaze to the basketball court. Diois seemed distracted, his usual intensity missing. Then, as if sensing Henry's eyes on him, Diois glanced over and smiled in relief when their eyes met.

Henry felt a strange twist in his chest at the sight-worry, of all things, in Diois's eyes. It unsettled him, but before he could process it, Diois turned his focus back to the game.

Suddenly, Diois's energy shifted. His movements became sharp and calculated, quick on his feet as he dodged opponents with ease.

Henry couldn't help but follow Diois's every move, captivated by the raw talent and skill he displayed.

Even though Henry's heart ached with a weight he couldn't shake, he found himself admiring Diois's precision on the court, his ability to command the game. It was hard not to be drawn to him, even now, despite everything.

"Captain, back on the game!" the crowd roared, their voices mingling with the shrill sound of whistles and the rhythmic squeak of sneakers against the court floor.

Between plays, Henry caught Diois glancing at him, a quick, almost desperate look.
Every time their eyes met, Diois seemed to effortlessly sink a shot into the basket. Henry couldn't ignore the connection-the way Diois's focus sharpened whenever he looked at Henry's way.

Henry checked the clock. Three minutes left, and Diois's team was still four points behind. Every second mattered. Then, a sudden, dark thought crossed Henry's mind. Revenge.

His gaze shifted to the girl sitting next to him. Leaning closer, he whispered, "Are you a fan of Diois?"

Surprised by his sudden proximity, she blinked and nodded eagerly.

Henry's lips curled into a subtle smile. "Do you want his phone number?" he whispered, his face inches from hers.

Her eyes widened, sparkling with disbelief as she nodded again, too shocked to speak.

Henry pulled out his phone, showing her Diois's number. She quickly typed it into her phone, all the while Henry stayed close to her, casting frequent glances toward Diois. Even from a distance, he saw the moment Diois noticed-his body tensed, his steps faltered, and in the heat of the game, Diois missed two shots in a row.

Henry could see the fury in Diois's eyes, the way his body trembled with barely contained anger. The burning rage in Diois's gaze was unmistakable, and Henry felt a small, twisted sense of satisfaction.

Henry didn't flinch. He was already being punished for something he didn't do, so more punishment didn't matter. In his mind, he was going to face it one way or another, and maybe this time it would hurt less if he accepted it.

Only a minute remained, and they still needed two points. Henry watched as Dylan whispered something into Diois's ear.

Finally, Diois's gaze shifted away from Henry. He didn't look at him again, and a sense of pride curled Henry's lips.

But his satisfaction was short-lived. He had done all this hoping Diois would lose the game, but in the last few seconds, Diois unexpectedly scored the two points they needed.

Henry's heart sank in fear as the crowd erupted in cheers, celebrating their victory.

Sofia hugged Henry in excitement. "They won! This is the best birthday ever!" she exclaimed.

"Birthday?" Henry asked, confused.

"Oh! I forgot to tell you. Today is Diois's birthday," Sofia explained, and Henry froze.

So today was Diois's birthday-the day Sofia had been so excited about for the past week. Henry glanced toward Diois, who was drinking water, oblivious to Henry's inner turmoil.

"Thank you so much for giving me Diois's number!" a girl suddenly hugged Henry, her joy catching him off guard.

Henry froze, his eyes instinctively darting to Diois. He saw Diois fuming with anger, tossing his water bottle aside and ready to charge at him. Dylan quickly grabbed Diois, holding him back just in time.

Henry shoved the girl away and grabbed his bag in a panic. "I've got to go, sorry, I have something really urgent to take care of," he hastily told Sofia before sprinting down the steps and weaving through the crowd, not stopping until he was outside.

His heart pounded in his chest, threatening to burst. Henry didn't slow down, running past the university gates and flagging down a taxi to escape.

He had no idea where he was heading-he just needed to get away. Diois would kill him for sure if he caught him.

What had he gotten himself into? He never should've provoked Diois. But how could he have predicted that a girl would hug him out of nowhere?

Henry racked his brain, searching for a place where Diois wouldn't find him. Then it hit him-Karen's house. That would be the safest place.

Karen had insisted he visit her last time, but he'd refused. Now, she'd be thrilled to have him show up.

Karen was technically Henry's ex-girlfriend, though they were never serious.
It was Karen who had proposed to Henry, but only to fend off her troublesome ex-boyfriend. Once things settled with her ex, Karen and Henry broke up, though they remained good friends. Karen was a sweet girl, and Henry always felt comfortable around her.

Karen came from a well-known, wealthy family-one of the richest in the country.

Her home was always heavily secured, and no one could easily enter. But since Henry had visited several times before, the guards at the gate didn't stop him when he arrived.

He walked inside without issue. "Henry..." Karen called out, rushing down the stairs as soon as she saw him. She hugged him tightly.

"How did you know I was missing you?" she teased with a playful smile as they pulled away from the embrace.

"Because I was missing you too," Henry replied, trying to sound casual. But Karen's expression shifted to one of suspicion.

"No... something's up. I don't believe you came here just because you missed me," she said, studying him closely.

She gently pulled him to sit on the large sofa in the living room, taking a seat beside him.

"Niy, bring his favorite coffee and snacks," Karen ordered her helper.

"It's okay, I'm fine," Henry quickly protested.

"Nah, you need it. Only then will you tell me what's really going on," she said with a wink.

Just then, Henry's phone vibrated in his pocket, startling him. He pulled it out, already expecting it to be from Diois.