Preparation For The Inter-house Sport

Throughout that day, they didn't see Alex and so the next day, Raphael thought it was better to go check on his friend. After all, they've been through a lot together and as such, they were meant to be at each other's sides at all times.

He left his room and walked to the next one which was Alex's and then knocked on it. He knocked a few times but no one answered. Suddenly scared, he

pushed open the door with force and saw Alex sitting on the floor.

"What is it? You should knock before entering," Alex mumbled to him.

Raphael closed the door behind him and moved a little more inside the room. "But I did knock, you just didn't answer me," he replied.

"Next time, knock louder," Alex sighed and confronted him.

"Sure I will but before that, what the hell happened here? Did you fight with that man again?" Raphael asked, looking at the mess that was created.

"No, I did all these by myself," Alex tiredly replied and tried to stand up. "I'm just about to clean the whole place," he said but fell butt down again, letting out a groan of frustration.

"Hold on, let me help you," Raphael seeing how beaten his friend was decided to help him stand. He carefully avoided stepping on any broken glass walked to the bedside where Alex was and then helped him sit on the bed. "Sit here while I tidy this place," he calmly said to him.

Alex sat down while Raphael went ahead and began to clean the whole place, he started by sweeping and packing the broken glasses, then mopping the floor and cleaning other places. As he carefully and professionally did them, Alex could not help but think of something.

"You look cute while doing this, I am certain your girlfriend will love you wholeheartedly," he said to Raphael who stopped what he was doing and glanced at him before continuing again. Alex wondered why he didn't say anything at all. "Hey, didn't you hear me?" He asked him.

"I did," Raphael replied.

"But you did not say something," Alex stated.

"What's there for me to say?" Asked Raphael in return.

"At least, say something," Alex replied.

"I have nothing to say, only that girlfriends are boring," Raphael said and continued with what he was doing.

"Or that you are the boring one," Alex scoffed and threw away his face.

"Say whatever you want, I still won't indulge myself in things that will bring hindrance to my success," Raphael retorted.

"Tsk! You're gonna die a virgin!" Alex scoffed at him.

"It's better than dying powerless!" Raphael answered back. At this point, Alex didn't say a word which made Raphael turn to check on him and when he turned, he saw him looking sad. "You realize that I'm right, right?" He asked him, trying not to sound rude.

"Yeah," Alex replied in a low tone.

"Then, we'll have to do something about it. I seriously would rather die a virgin than die a powerless man," Raphael said to him, his face brimming with enthusiasm.

"How about we go practice after the clean-up?" Alex asked him.

"Sure, that is a good idea," Raphael replied with a thumbs up. "By the way, what happened to you yesterday? Who was that man and why did he attack you?" Raphael asked as he remembered what happened yesterday.

"You don't need to know, don't worry," Alex replied with no intention of telling Raphael anything.

"Why? Am I not qualified to know?" Raphael asked with a frown evident on his face.

"It's not about qualifications, alright?" Alex replied and looked away even when he saw that Raphael wasn't happy.

"Then what?" Raphael asked him.

"I do not want to drag you into my mess, It's enough that I'm already messed up to this point, adding you will become a hassle to me," Alex replied with a hiss. "See, getting upset won't change my mind, okay?" He added as he saw that Raphael was getting more upset.

Raphael fell silent for a while and Alex was made to think that he had finally given up. Little did he know that his friend was only thinking of a strategy. "How about a duel?" He asked Alex.

"Huh?" Alex responded with a surprise look.

"You love fighting, don't you? So how about a duel between us? If I win, you must tell me everything that I need to know but if I don't, I'll stop forcing you," Raphael proposed. This was the best thing he could think of, the only thing he knew Alex wouldn't refute.

"I won't fight you," Alex replied with a straight face.

"Why? Are you indirectly saying that I'm stronger than you?" Raphael taunted him with a smug look.

Alex hated the smug look so much and also hated being referred to as being weak. "Who says I'm weak? Fight, right? Sure, I'm in!" He replied.

Raphael inwardly laughed at his friend. "After the clean-up then?" He asked.

"Sure!" Alex replied and Raphael went ahead and rushed his work.

By the time he was finishing, Alex was already able to stand so he went and took his bath, then wore his clothes and left for the practice hall together with Raphael. When they arrived, the hall was filled with students who were preparing for the inter-house sport, It was not somewhere they could duel so they decided to head over to the place where Alex fought with Damon — that place was hidden and large enough for them to do whatever they wanted to.

"So what are we going to be doing in the fight?" Alex asked him as soon as they got there.

"We will exchange blows... Use whatever means you want to as long as you win," Raphael replied.

"Sure then, let's begin," Alex said.

Raphael smirked and lunged for an attack, his speed was incredible — not something an average person could attain but it was still far behind Alex's own.

Alex saw his friend coming and smiled at the speed he was using, he stood at that particular spot, not wanting to move. He watched as Raphael got to him and gave him a punch below the belle but instead of wincing in pain, he smirked and placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Stop!" He mumbled and Raphael abruptly stopped moving. "I got you!" Alex said with a smirk and was about to pin him down but Raphael chuckled and caught Alex's arm and twisted it causing him to turn around and lower himself.

"That ability won't work on me," Raphael chuckled and hit Alex on his chest before releasing him.

Alex didn't fall to the ground as expected rather, he rapidly turned and landed a kick at Raphael who grunted and backed away. "If the ability won't work on you, something else will," he said and went after him.

Raphael hissed and leaped to the wall, he then speedily lunged forward to attack Alex but the latter smirked as he jumped into the air. Raphael landed on the floor and tried to get ready for Alex's attack but before he could do anything, Alex descended from above and landed a kick on his left shoulder. He didn't kick him and release his leg but he went further and pressed him down until his both knees touched the floor.

"Give up already," Alex taunted him while still pressing him down.

"Tsk," Raphael clicked his tongue and smirked. "Don't move!" He muttered with a glint in his eyes.

Realizing what Raphael had done, Alex furrowed his brows and tried to move even though he knew it was impossible.

"I won... So get ready to tell me everything," Raphael said with a smirk on his face.