14 It's Decided Then

"Yeah, stupid people are stupid." Zordyz snorted, pretending to brush it off.

Milya noticed the unusual disquietude in her son.

"Just in case, I'll talk to Val about it tomorrow," she said to put his mind at ease.

"Aunt Valerie?"

"Mhm, Val can also sense them. She might have different input on that spark." Milya continued.

"Okay. Thanks, mum."

A few weeks passed by swiftly. They never found out anything about that spark and there were no police reports on it too. Slowly, Zordyz started to forget about the incident.

"Zordyz?"

"Hmm?" he turned towards the voice calling him.

Sybil was standing beside his desk. It took her quite a long while to call him.

"I heard you're helping the basketball team this coming tournament," she said as she played with her hair.

"So?" he gave her an indifferent look, seeing no direction in the talk.

Zordyz's answer to everyone who's not close to him has always been short and dry. If possible he would rather not talk at all. He knew better than to give Sybil any satisfying response.

"Just wondering if you'll be playing full-time for the team during the tournament. I would love to watch the matches,"

"No-"

"He'll play as long as we keep winning. Come and cheer for us!" Ayden interrupted in his cheerful tone.

"Great, I'll be there." Her eyes lit up.

Satisfied with the answer she got from Ayden, Sybil walked away. The girls who heard the conversation squealed in delight and the news soon spread through their grade.

"That's unnecessary information," Zordyz was not pleased.

Ayden tilted his head and grinned. "She won't leave until you give her the answer she wants, no? I just saved you from a super long awkward conversation."

Ayden might be in the basketball team but he was the shortest boy in the class; standing at only 167cm tall. His cheeky and easygoing personality made him the trickster of the team and a perfect point guard.

"Come practice with us tomorrow. We don't have much time left until the tournament," he sat down in front of Zordyz. If he had a tail, he would be wagging it by now.

"Too much trouble."

"Please~~~~~~~" he pleaded with puppy dog eyes.

"Okay, okay. Stop asking."

"Yay!" Ayden cheered, almost pouncing on him.

He always had his ways with Zordyz, especially when it comes to persuading him into helping the team.

Zordyz had a hard time saying 'no' to Ayden on most things. Ayden understands his temper very well and knows how to defuse the situation when he gets irritated. He's one of his best buddies for a reason.

"It's your win," Zordyz said, giving Ayden a head rub which he gladly received before bouncing off somewhere else.

He got up from his seat and head towards Yuenelia's direction.

"Hey, just a heads up. I'll be taking quite a few days off for the next two weeks to practice with the basketball team. And probably another week too for the tournament." Zordyz informed her.

It was his way of telling her they won't be going home together for a while.

"That soon? It's only the beginning of the year." Yuenelia was surprised with the early tournament arrangement.

"They always start earlier for senior high basketball. Volleyball tournaments won't be starting in probably another month or so."

"Are you okay with going back alone?" He scratched his head, unsure of her response.

"I'll just wait until you finish then,"

"There are way too many things to do now. I don't think it's a good idea to stay back anymore."

"It's okay. I'll get something to read while I wait for you."

"Yue-"

Before he could continue, Yuenelia's soft eyes locked with his. From the looks of it, she didn't mind the wait as long as she gets to go home with him.

"No, you have to go home early. It's not safe when it gets dark." Zordyz tried to persuade her.

"I don't have to worry about that, don't I? It'll be just fine."

"Nothing beats having you as a bodyguard." she chuckled.

"Well, yeah," he said in a barely audible voice.

"It's decided then." she returned to what she was doing as if the conversation never happened, leaving him all flushed.

Ayden was grinning behind him. Of all the people, only Yuenelia and him were able to make Zordyz feel helpless against them.

"Heh, can't win over Yuenelia." Ayden snickered which was received with a sharp glare from Zordyz.

He had the 'you don't have to point it out, I already know that!' look on his face.

Ayden was totally amused by it but didn't dare to poke any further. Or else he might get smacked by Zordyz.

Afternoon came before they knew it and thus began their evening stroll home routine. Sports clubs end later than anything else. By the time they're done with it, it was already dusk.