CLMO 41🔐

Chapter 41

As soon as Ian’s eyes met hers, Sian’s body moved on its own.

“Ian, you can do it!”

Shaking the pom-poms in her hands, she shouted loudly, and the cheerleaders beside her giggled mischievously.

“Siana, you like Ian, don’t you?”
“Whoa! Now that I think about it, Ian and Aaron give off a similar vibe, don’t they?”
“Siana’s taste really is consistent.”
“That’s not it.”

Sian belatedly denied it, but no one believed her at all. They seemed convinced she was just embarrassed.

“Ian is my real brother!”

Sian groaned. The misunderstanding could be cleared up once she reunited with her brother.

Thinking that, she tried to laugh off the teasing, but suddenly, the surroundings went quiet.

“What? Why isn’t anyone saying anything all of a sudden?”

Feeling an inexplicable chill, she turned around and saw Blaine standing there, leaning slightly and looking down at her. She didn’t even notice when he had arrived.

“Blaine?”
“Hello, Sian.”

Sian responded reluctantly.

“Do you have something to say…?”

She assumed he’d be busy discussing things with the coach since he was the team captain. Seeing Sian tilt her head, Blaine gave a sharp smile.

“Why didn’t you say hi to me?”
“Eh? I just did.”

Had she only greeted him in her mind? Sian glanced at the cheerleaders beside her as if asking for confirmation. They all nodded, affirming her words.

“Not just that.”
“Not just what…?”
“You cheered loudly only for Ian. I was right next to him too.”
“Uh…”

Sian felt genuinely sorry, but at that moment, she only had eyes for Ian. If your brother might get seriously hurt, wouldn’t anyone feel the same?

Sian’s silence caused Blaine’s expression to darken moment by moment.

“Did you really not see me?”
“I’m sorry…”

Even her timid apology seemed to irritate him more.

“It’s fine.”
“…?”

If it’s fine, why isn’t he leaving? Sian stared up at Blaine, who had crossed his arms and was pouting like a sulky child.

As if expecting something, she looked at him, and he finally spoke.

“You’re not going to cheer for me?”
“Ah…!”

So that’s what he was waiting for. Since it wasn’t a difficult request, Sian obediently cheered for him too.

“Blaine, you can do it.”

After saying that, she worried it sounded too half-hearted. Pursing her lips, she added,

“Don’t get hurt.”

Even though she had given him the encouragement he wanted, he remained silent, simply staring at her.

Her heart raced at his silence and his gaze. Unable to contain her nervousness, she babbled.

“I heard the other team is notorious for fouling. Even someone famous named Price got injured before…”

Blaine listened quietly and then twitched his finger.

“Come closer.”
“Huh? Why?”
“I have something to tell you.”

Was it about Pansworth School? Since the visiting players were nearby, she couldn’t raise her voice recklessly. Sian didn’t question him and moved her face closer obediently.

Then—

smack.

Smack?

Sian jumped back as if stung by a bee. The soft touch that had grazed her cheek was exactly like the burn mark that had ached on her hand not long ago.

It was lips—definitely lips. The screams from the other cheerleaders confirmed it wasn’t her imagination.

“Wh-what are you doing…?”

Sian stammered, her face bright red. Anyone could have thought Blaine had hit her.

The one who caused it, however, smiled brightly, clearly amused by her reaction.

“This is the price for missing two kisses.”

He whispered in her ear, winked one eye, and pulled away from her.

So… Blaine had been holding onto the moments they nearly kissed, waiting for a chance to make up for it. He had been thinking over those missed kisses and anticipating the moment to redeem them.

“Thanks. I got your cheer. Today’s victory is all thanks to you.”

Blaine put on his helmet confidently. Even though the game hadn’t officially started yet, he looked certain of victory. His confidence could have seemed arrogant, but it didn’t. Rather, it inspired awe, as if watching a god lead his army to triumph.

Sian couldn’t help staring at him, captivated. She had seen him in uniform before, fully geared, but now it felt different.

Just as he seemed about to return to the field, he turned to her.

“But your homecoming partner is still Aaron Simmons, right?”
“Yes.”

Sian answered almost hypnotically. Blaine gave a small smile.

“Too bad.”

Too bad? Could it be that he still wanted to go to the homecoming party with her? Not with another partner? The party was tomorrow, but no one knew who Blaine’s partner would be.

Did he really want her? Before she could even ask, he had already left.

“Siana, what was that just now with Blaine?”
“Weren’t you the one who liked Ian?”

Ah…

Sian had momentarily forgotten that she wasn’t alone. Surrounded by the excited cheerleaders, she felt awkward. She wanted to calm her thoughts but couldn’t.

“Now that I think about it, the reason Blaine invited us to the party was thanks to you, Sian.”
“That’s right! So it started then!”
“What? Wasn’t Victoria the one invited?”
“Where have you been hiding?”
“People can miss things sometimes…”

Voices poured in from all directions, leaving Sian unable to focus. If Captain Lucy hadn’t stepped in, Sian might have completely lost her composure.

“Everyone, stop. Let the people involved handle their romance themselves.”
“But it’s Blaine!”

Someone wanted to keep the exciting topic alive, but Lucy’s expression turned sharp.

“Guys, just to remind you, are we here to play or to cause a scene?”

She didn’t yell. Her calm voice was somehow even more intimidating.

“Why have we been staying here every afternoon to practice? It wasn’t just for fun, right?”

Her sharp remark immediately deflated the pumped-up mood.

“Sorry, Captain. We got a little carried away.”

Starting with Kylie, the other cheerleaders apologized. Lucy gently patted them and smiled.

“This is our first performance. I don’t want anyone to feel regret afterward. Do you all understand?”
“Of course.”
“Then, let’s shout the cheer once and do the final practice.”

Thanks to Lucy’s instructions, Sian avoided further questions. But in her mind, it was Blaine, not Ian, who occupied every thought.

Wharton and Pansworth. Both teams’ players and cheerleaders entered, and the game officially began.

Sian spotted her adoptive parents in the stands and smiled brightly. Beside them sat Aaron and Hazel, filming her with their phones.

“Your parents came?” Janice caught her breath and asked.
“Yeah. Did your parents come too?”
“No, they’re busy today…”

Janice’s smile seemed lonely.

“You look really pretty today! They’ll probably regret not seeing it.”
“I hope so.”

Janice didn’t seem to have any hope at all. Sian suddenly wondered,

‘Are the Morgans here too?’

Since they treated adopted children like trophies, it was possible. She wanted to see them for herself, even if there was nothing she could do immediately.

“Why are you staring so intently? Looking for someone?”
Kylie asked, noticing Sian watching the stands instead of the field.

“Nothing.”

Sian gave a vague reply. With everything that had happened with Blaine before the game… she didn’t want to reveal that she was looking for Ian’s parents.

“So, until the performance, what should we do?”

The cheerleaders’ performance was scheduled for halftime at the end of the 2nd quarter.

Even though Sian tried to dodge the question, Kylie kindly explained:

“Stand on the sidelines cheering until the end of the game, and high-five the players whenever they score.”

“Hopefully, nothing serious will happen.”
“Exactly.”

Contrary to their hopes, as soon as the game began, the players clashed fiercely. Tackles and collisions were frequent; some players even bled from the intense scrambles.

“Oh, what should I do…”

Sian stomped her feet nervously as the tension escalated.

“Everyone, cheer! We have to give it our all now!”

Lucy barked orders, urging the cheerleaders to give their all. Following her, Sian and the others shouted encouragements to the players, determined not to be outdone.

“Let’s go, Wharton School!”
“Now’s the time!”

The quarterback, Blaine, readied to throw the ball to wide receiver Ian, aiming for a touchdown.

Then, disaster struck in an instant.

“Blaine!”
“Ian!”

Pansworth players attacked both of them simultaneously. Ian was hit in the stomach and collapsed on the field, vomiting. Blaine managed to hold onto the rugby ball but also fell.

The referee, judging the game too dangerous to continue, blew the whistle.

As the game paused, the medical team rushed to check on Blaine and Ian.

“Siana! Where are you going?”

Although two players were hurt, Sian knew exactly where she had to go.