CLMO 17

Chapter 17

As expected, the next morning arrived.

Changing into her gym clothes for P.E. class, her hair tied high into a ponytail, Sian glanced at Janice.

“Did really nothing happen?”

The night before, after cheerleading practice ended, Janice had stayed behind with Victoria.

Sian had said she would wait, but Janice insisted she go home first. Because of that, Sian didn’t know what had happened or what was said between them.

“Janice, are you okay?”

“Hm? About what?”

Even looking at Janice’s expression didn’t help.

She seemed a little giddy… yet also like she was suppressing something.

Sian didn’t have the psychic ability to read other people’s thoughts.

So all she could do was let her gaze soften after staring at Janice too intently.

At times like this, it was better to ask directly than to brood over it alone.

“About yesterday. If Victoria said something harsh to you…”

“I told you, nothing happened.”

Before Sian could even finish, Janice cut her off quickly with denial.

Since she was so adamant, Sian couldn’t push further.

“I just worried, that’s all. Sorry if I was being bothersome.”

“…Victoria isn’t that bad of a person.”

“Really?”

Surprisingly, it seemed Victoria had treated Janice well.

Sian lifted her shoulders in a small shrug.

“Maybe I misjudged her.”

After all, even though Victoria often butted heads with the cheer coach, she still managed to get along fine. Maybe she really did know how to separate personal from professional matters.

This was why one shouldn’t judge people hastily.

Sian was inwardly reflecting on that when—

Suddenly, noise broke out near the entrance to the tennis courts.

Naturally, both Sian and Janice turned toward the commotion.

“Huh?”

A tall, strikingly handsome figure, head above the rest.

Hair so radiant a blond it would shine from a hundred miles away. Without a doubt…

“Blay?”

As if he had heard her muttered voice, Blay’s gaze met hers immediately.

He too looked just as surprised.

“Sian?”

P.E. classes could be taken freely across grades.

Still, she hadn’t expected to run into Blay here.

This unexpected meeting felt like a surprise gift, and it put him in a good mood.

“She even figured out I switched to tennis class?”

Originally, Blay had planned to take horseback riding with Ian.

But because so many students followed him there, he had offhandedly mentioned he might switch classes.

And yet, here she was—clearly she had tracked him down.

In his eyes, Sian was an even more impressive stalker than he thought. The FBI or CIA would be lucky to have someone so dedicated.

Feeling quite flattered by such “devotion,” Blay walked over to her.

“Hey. Nice to see you again here.”

Like everyone else, he wore gym clothes.

But his sleeveless shirt revealed muscular, well-built arms, and beneath his shorts were thick, powerful thighs—very different from the average student.

Standing before this embodiment of an adult male body, Sian struggled to appear unaffected.

“Yeah. I didn’t expect to see you here, Blay.”

“You really didn’t know?”

His tone carried a teasing lilt, as though he believed this meeting was no accident.

“I really didn’t. I switched because Janice wanted me to.”

Sian answered firmly, almost snapping back.

But it didn’t seem enough to convince Blay.

“Ahh, I see.”

His sly smile was unbearably annoying.

Still, Sian held her ground. Strictly speaking, this wasn’t her fault.

“But weren’t you taking a different class originally, Blay?”

“Yeah, I was.”

According to Aaron, Blay and Ian had both chosen horseback riding.

Sian had considered switching there too, to follow them.

If horseback riding hadn’t been so expensive, she wouldn’t have hesitated.

“If riding’s too much, how about tennis instead?”

That was what Janice had suggested—and so she came.

But to meet Blay here of all places…

She still wasn’t sure if this was luck or misfortune.

“I’m starting to think switching to tennis was the right choice,” he said, lightly bouncing a neon tennis ball on the ground.

“So, do you know how to play? Got a doubles partner yet?”

“No, I’m just learning. And of course, my partner’s Janice.”

Janice had told her that tennis grades were based on doubles match results.

That was also why she persuaded Sian to join her.

“Good then. If you didn’t have a partner, I was going to offer.”

Sian assumed he was just being polite.

Seriously—why would he pick a complete beginner like her as a partner?

“That’s kind of you, but no thanks. I’m fine.”

Her plain response caused the surroundings to buzz.

Not only had the great Blay offered to partner with someone, but Sian had refused him without hesitation.

“You don’t have to partner with me,” Janice whispered, nudging Sian’s side.

If Janice had been in her shoes, she would’ve jumped at the chance.

Opportunities like this came once in a lifetime.

Even if Sian abandoned her for it, Janice would’ve understood.

But Sian shook her head without the slightest hesitation.

“What are you talking about? I switched classes just to play with you.”

Janice’s eyes widened in shock.

“…I see. Well, if you ever need a practice partner, just let me know,” Blay said, ending the conversation.

He stopped bouncing the ball and suddenly extended his hand toward her.

Puzzled, Sian tilted her head.

“Didn’t you forget something?”

When he wiggled his hand expectantly, she was even more confused.

Then he laughed.

“The caramels. I finished the ones you gave me.”

“Oh.”

She finally remembered giving him a handful of caramels when they became friends, telling him to share with others.

“I wonder if my brother had some too?”

If Ian had eaten them, she wouldn’t regret it at all.

Reaching into her pocket, Sian’s face fell.

She usually carried snacks, but because she’d changed into gym clothes, she didn’t have any today.

“I’ll definitely give you some next time.”

Her disappointed face made Blay laugh aloud.

Her crestfallen look was adorable.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

He ruffled her hair with his hand.

She was startled for a moment, but then quickly calmed.

The touch reminded her of Ian when they were younger.

“If only it were Ian who stroked my hair just now…”

That would’ve made her truly happy.

As she swallowed the bitter thought—

“What are you doing?”

A sharp voice cut in. Sian froze.

“Oh, Ian. You’re here?”

Blay greeted him casually, but Ian’s expression remained stone-cold.

Instead, he grabbed Blay by the arm and pulled him away from her.

Ian knew Blay casually touched other girls too.

But for some reason, this time it really annoyed him.

And not just that.

He shot Sian a cold, piercing glare.

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t come to the clubroom anymore? And yet here you are?”

That’s what his eyes were saying.

Feeling his resentment deepen toward her, Sian instinctively shrank back.

It wasn’t fair.

She hadn’t planned this meeting. It was pure coincidence.

But Ian, of course, didn’t know that. He jerked his chin toward Blay.

A signal to move.

“If you came early, you should’ve been warming up instead of wasting time.”

“So cold. That’s why you’re unpopular with girls,” Blay teased.

Maybe only Sian could see how murderous Ian’s expression was just then.

Watching Blay joke so brazenly, she secretly clicked her tongue.

Thankfully, the tense moment ended quickly.

“Gotta go. My friend here’s a little jealous, you see,” Blay said with a wink before letting Ian lead him away.

Only when the two tall figures disappeared did Sian finally breathe freely.

“It’s a pity I didn’t get to talk with him, but at least I saw him today.”

Sometimes she went an entire day without seeing her brother because they were in different school buildings.

Compared to that, today was good luck.

Still watching Ian’s retreating back, Sian tried to soothe her disappointment.

“…Are you close with Blay?” Janice suddenly asked.

Sian wrinkled her nose slightly.

“Close? I don’t know. Are we?”

Truthfully, she had run into Blay more often than Ian lately.

But that didn’t mean she was close to him.

They had just exchanged greetings and chatted a few times.

Janice, however, clearly thought differently.

“But he invited you to his party. And he just patted your head.”

She listed the points one by one, her expression serious.

But Sian only chuckled.

“He invited all the cheerleaders to the party. And as for patting my head—Blay puts his arm around Victoria’s shoulders too. It’s nothing special.”

Unconsciously, Janice stepped back a little.

“To her… this isn’t special at all.”

Being invited to the most popular upperclassman’s party, having him tease you so casually, even touching you—

To Janice, it was like a dream.

But to Sian, it was nothing. Just ordinary, trivial things.

“Why is it always you…”

“Hm?”

At her murmur, Sian tilted her head.

Then she leaned closer, closing the distance Janice had stepped back.

“Sorry, what did you say? I didn’t hear.”

Looking at Sian’s bright, innocent face again, Janice forced a smile.

Victoria was right.

Janice found Sian unbearable.

Her jealousy burned so strong she couldn’t hold it back.

“Can I come over to your house today?”

“Of course you can.”

“Thanks.”

Quietly, Janice clenched her fist tight.