Chapter 39

"Hold my bag for me" Cardan said as he gave his bag to Zaden. His hand free hand was holding a calculator, two pens and pencil and rubber as well as a ruler. He took out his time table after Zaden held his bag.

Zaden frowned at him "Not even a please"

Cardan looked at him weirdly "Do brothers let alone friends even say please"

"Tch" Zadan uttered before adding "I'll be at the basketball court if you don't find me at the lunch hall.

"Yeah yeah" Cardan waved him away as he joined the line. He seat according to the alphabet unlike in third and year 12 where you said I couldn't see your grades.

"Good luck" Zaden said after watching the calm Cardan.

"You're still here" a lazy smile made it's way to Cardan's face.

Zaden rolled his eyes "You seem a lot calmer then the rest of the people writing accounting"

"Well it's because I know I'll do well" Cardan shrugged his shoulders. He spent the night reading through some of the accounting concepts, played a snake game on his cellphone and fell asleep soon after.

"Whatever" Zaden muttered as he left.

Soon after Cardan entered the class and set a few seats away from the teachers table.

Soon after the teachers checked if everyone had their timetables and ensured that there was no writing on the paper.

The answer sheets and the test papers where soon handed.

"You may look through you paper you still have 10 minutes before you start" a female invigilator said.

Total 100

Cardan began looking through the paper page by page and before he knew it it was time to write.

The test was easier then expected.

The test was two hours long. Austin was the first to leave as he finished in 50 minutes. Two other students followed soon after after 1h29m. Easton left a minute later. Cardan was writing leisurely and calmly. He left the exam room after two hours had ended.

He streached his hands and left soon after whilst yawning.

He immediately went to the basketball court and as soon as he opened the doors bright light hit his eyes. There where shouts of people asking for the basketball to be passed.

Some boys wore white t-shirts and the others wore shirt less.

Cardan's eyes immediately found Zaden who immediately dribbled the ball and scored skillfully. While watching the game Cardan could immediately tell that Zaden was scarily talented. He could even be the next Mike Logan the American hell he could be better.

But looking at how they where playing and how friendly they where with him Cardan knew that they only approached him to win a basket ball match and outside of that they would ignore him as if he didn't exist which was as fucked up as one thought it would be.

Finally the game was over and Zaden found Cardan. Waving him over Cardan made his way to Zaden.

Zaden made his way to a near by bench where Cardan's bag was. He opened a bottle of water and began drinking.

Cardan took his bag and made sure nothing was missing it's not that he didn't trust Zaden he just didn't trust the students. After ensuring nothing was wrong he put his stuff and set next to Zaden.

They set silently as they admired the view of school students running around and about. The cool breeze blowing their direction as they took it in to cool down the heat they felt.

"Was the test that hard?" Zaden finally said breaking the silence.

"Nah it was easy...too easy so like any gentle man I enjoyed every bit of it" a chuckle left Cardan's lips as soon as he finished his sentence with Zaden lightly shaking his head.

"I assumed it was so hard that you couldn't leave" Zaden joked.

"What like how your physics test went" Cardan mocked.

"Shut up" Zaden said but unlike Easton who would shut or gramble hell grunt it out Zaden's voice was cool, calm and relaxed. Monotone.

"Hey Zaden there's something I can't tell you... yet" Cardan said after recalling his conversation with Easton.

"Oh...are you part of the mafia?" Zaden questioned.

Cardan chuckled "No but just I can't tell you...but I want to but I can't"

"Are you dying. In all honesty you'd be doing a lot of people a favour" Zaden teased.

"Fuck you" Cardan returned.

Suddenly becoming more serious Zaden began to speak "Whatever it is you must really have a reason for not telling me now. But at least I'll be prepared when you do tell me right" Zaden shaved his shoulder playfully.

"Right" Cardan smiled as his eyes turned to the sun. His once suffocating lungs began to let in air and the pain that he felt disappeared as well.

"You're really good at basketball, talented even" Cardan said after managing to get his emotions back into order.

"You think" Zaden asked in doubt.

"Think from what I've seen Zade I know. And no offense to the others but you could solo everyone on this field. 1-5 and you would come out as the winner" Cardan said before adding "Have you tried going on bootcamps or competitions?"

"Thanks and no I haven't. I don't have as much time as I'd like too and let's be realistic there's a low chance that I'll succeed anyway" Zaden muttered.

Cardan knew how busy he was. He helped his father with the dojo and car repairs. And yet he still said.

"Better a chance of success then none right."Cardan replied said.

After a while Zaden replied "I'll think about it"

Cardan clapped his hands as he asked while looking around"Now that's out of the box where's Noa?"

Zaden narrowed his eyes and refused to answer.

"What?" Cardan questioned as he continued looking for Noa.

"At times like this I truely feel like the only reason we're still friends is so that you can be around my sister" and with that said Zaden stood up and made his way back to the court as a second game began.

Cardan was left speechless.