What's on the inside, is unknown

Iven was back after a while with a white box.

Seb was sitting on the bed.

He took a look once and placed the box on his table. Then he produced a small bowl from inside his cupboard and poured hot water from a steel jug in it. Putting everything on a tray, he brought them to Seb. She was busy looking around more and studying the room. She seemed least bothered with her wound. As if she's in her best behavior because only Iven asked her to. Approaching her, he placed them on the floor and bent on his knees. Then he took a proper look at the injury.

The blood had dried off but the wound was still open. It looked a little messy due to dirt and lack of immediate aid.

"This looks not so good. Take'em off", Iven said directing Seb's shoes and socks. Saying he tore a piece of cotton from the box. Then he noticed her shoes, they were so worn out and not in good shape.

"why don't you get new ones? ", he asked.

"What for? They can pull through for longer time", Seb said. She had some attachment with those trainers. Her brother gifted them to her and since then she never brought any shoes.

"They won't hold it for much long", Iven told and dipped the cotton in the hot water. He then squeezed it and was about to place it on the wound to cleanse it, when Seb suddenly interrupted.

"What are you doing?", she lightly pushed away Iven's hand. Iven looked at her in confusion,"I can do it by myself", she said.

Iven had a sarcastic look on his face,"I know you can do it by yourself Belle. That's why I won't let you do it", he sighed and continued,"You've already gone through much trouble of getting the injury already. Do me a favor, sit still and stay shut!".

Seb didn't say anything more. She sat folding her hands. Iven continued. He stole a glance in the middle once, Seb didn't even flinch once in middle of cleaning the wound. No matter if the water was too hot or the cut was too deep. Though Iven was careful, not to cause much pain, it would hurt. But Seb was intact.

He felt something hard in her skin. He pressed once and Seb look down at him. It must've hurt.

""I think there is a piece of glass stuck inside the cut", he said.

Seb reached out for the wound and suddenly pressed the cut edges very roughly!!

Iven immediately caught her wrist and distant her hand from the wound,"What are you doing??? Are you nuts?". The glass piece didn't come out, only a streak of blood gushed out.

"I was trying to take it out", Seb replied.

"You don't have to!!!", Iven seriously scolded,"You're such a lifeless creature. I'll take them out with tweezers. You'll only infect it more".

"Alright, do it if you if it doesn't matter to you", Seb wasn't bothered again. She looked away.

Iven tched his tongue and took out the tweezers. Then he looked at the wound carefully again, trying to see where the piece was stuck.

"It might sting a little", he said as he was about to put the tweezers inside.

Seb didn't even look at him and nodded distracted. What's with her? Did she even care? It is her who's wounded, does she feel any pain at all?

It amazed Iven that Seb wasn't reacting at all even when the sharp instrument was inside and was pressed directly. She wasn't restless and abnormally patient. Her eyes didn't turn towards the ongoing treatment even once. She was also not showing any expression of being uncomfortable and was natural enough.

She must be used to these all from a long time, Iven thought, else it is tough to endure such sting even for a guy. That's why she didn't realize it in the first place.

There are also many scar marks on her limbs which Iven had noticed before.

Exactly how much does she strains herself?

"You seem pretty skilled in these all. This side of yours is very rare, isn't it?", Seb complimented and brought back Iven's thoughts.

The moment was getting at a creepy silence, so Iven was relieved that Seb spoke first.

"Yeah, can say", he replied. Seb was telling about his careful aiding methods.

"Did you train as a nurse?", Seb mocked.

Iven had his eyes on his ongoing job, as he managed to hide the smile.

-Just joking. But I meant the first line.

-Yeah, I have to treat those idiots often when they mess up.

-Mess up as in?

-They turn too rough sometime when they're even just fooling among themselves.

-Do you guys indulge in some type of gang war? I mean, you must have opponents, don't you?

-What? I guess you watch too many movies. Stop thinking ahead of yourself.

The last thing Iven said was a little stern. As if he didn't want to talk about that topic. Seb was taken aback but she didn't drag it anymore.

Iven tried to continue so that things won't get awkward,"Talk about you Captain! Why are you yourself so messed up?"

-I'm....what?

-Messed up! Look at your arms and legs, is this a woman's body? So full of scars!

-Why? It looks pretty fine to me.

Iven touched a patterned cut on Seb's ankle," This looked it must have hurt bad", he moved on to her thigh and folded the jersey once, exposing a burn mark,"Did no one teach you not to play with fire?", he moved on to her arm and grabbing it he turned to her elbow, showing a long scar,"What is this? Is it a stab? Are you involved in street fights? Are you a thug?"

Seb gave a nervous laugh but didn't bother explain the wounds. Even though one was from the accident for riding her bike too fast because she had to submit the school magazine documents, the burn from saving Erica from a damp firecracker, and the stab from saving a elderly lady from getting robbed, and other marks being sports injury.

"Whatever, you should be careful from next time", Iven said as he finally pulled out the glass piece. Blood started flowing from it again,"Does it hurt?", he asked.

"Yes", Seb replied too normally without any expression. Is she lying? Or trying to pretend strong?

"What's so special about this team of yours anyways?", Iven asked it out for which Seb didn't make it to their date.

"The Aphrodites!", Seb corrected. She never liked her team being addressed casually. She takes that personally.

-Yeah, Aphrodites, sorry.

-Better be!

-But I'm curious. Was the match worth it?

-Obviously, we won too.

-That's obvious. But would it have made any difference if you didn't participate?

-I was the 'Man of the match'!!! Like every time. What are you saying!!!

-Ah, I was just wondering. Easy there.

-Basically the team is cripple without me.

-Sure, you're the Captain after all.

-Even if I weren't, things would be the same.

-What do you mean?

-Don't you understand? They need me desperately, they'll lose if I don't play even a single match!!!

-Really?

"Really.....", saying Seb jumped in a huge explanation of her games. Iven had to fall back to avoid sudden attack to her wound.

She went on talking and Iven carried on his work. He also listened and occasionally replied.

But Seb only went on about her smashes, or her points, or her direction towards the team victory. It was all about her contributions. Iven noticed them seriously.

"You sure have a lot of confidence in yourself, little too much", he was too direct at her.

But Seb didn't catch it and took the phrase in a opposite manner,"Of course I have. If I fail, they'll fall into ruins. I'm the top priority".

"I meant.....", Iven finished putting on the bandage and looked up at Seb with expressionless eyes,"...You're overconfident!". He said it on her face with no hesitation,"You think that if you don't assist them, then it's all over for them. Stop prioritizing so much over your team. It seems as if you play for you own popularity".

"But that's the truth.....", Seb's voice lost the strength. She didn't have any idea why Iven was getting so serious.

"I think you're taking it too far Sybelle!", Iven had no humor in his voice.

Seb was surprised. This was the first time he addressed her by her full name. He felt like a stranger, he was dead serious. But Seb didn't have a clue what did he want to point at.

She didn't say anything more. Clearly something she said didn't impress Iven. She let it slide for the moment.

Iven got up and sat beside Seb quietly.

"Sorry Belle...", he spoke slowly but deeply,"It's cool that you're needed in your team, but you should never let your guard down. You'll never know when calamity will befall. There is someone who's better than you, know this always. You'll know what I mean when you taste defeat for the first time".

"I hope there's none", Seb murmured without looking at Iven.

Iven looked at Seb with bulged eyes. He understood whatever he says will have no positive effect on her. She is too full of herself right now. He looked away irritated.

What she need right now is a failure. That'll expose herself.

Either she'll become more strong and determined to be the best or it'll break her down to nothingness.

"Let me take you home", he said icily and got up. He didn't want to make matters worse.

Seb didn't say anything too. She knew that Iven took her words in a wrong way. She couldn't make him understand what she meant actually.

The drive was very melancholy. Nobody said a word nor looked at each other. Matters were worse than before. Iven seemed disappointed in Seb and she had no reason why.

When they even had reached her home, without a word of goodbye, Seb got out from the car to leave.

Iven was the one mad, but he couldn't leave things unsettled and worsened like that. He hurriedly called from behind before Seb could disappear completely,"You....are coming tomorrow morning?".

"No!", Seb turned and was quick to reply. Her voice was colder.

"It's Sunday", he reminded.

"I have a match on Monday", Seb was short again.

"Another one?", Iven sighed. Things were already bad because of these damned matches!!!

"It's an open match organized match by our college every year" Seb said when suddenly something struck her. She continued,"Actually, it's perfect. You should show up. Teams participate, and if any team wins against us, they can choose from 2 prizes. Either a cash prize or a free scholarship in college for one student. It's been 3 years that the chosen game is volleyball and no one is able is able to win against us since. You can see the style with which we play. May be then you can understand what I meant".

"I completely understand. Fine I'll show up". Iven didn't give it a single thought. He plotted something else too. It was high time to show what he meant.

It seemed like a match between Seb and Iven themselves. It's confusing who'll win.