Part One - Third Year - Chapter [004]
Practice was done - coach didn't actually kill me - and the school day was over.
From day to night, that was my motto with the university.
Help out as much as I can with different school activities and clubs - either getting myself into trouble or getting myself out of it.
Whatever would come, I had my days full down to the minute.
That's the only way I could stay out of my house.
And today, Friday night, I had plans with friends.
I headed towards the showers - and even though I did dream that someday I would have a steamy encounter here - most of the time it was just guys jerking each other's chain. And being immature.
So I tried to avoid it.
"Our cold Ace - here he comes - how may I serve the prince today? Would you so kindly want to take your bath sire?" Emanuel was juvenile and preppy.
He said those words with the worst British accent I had ever heard.
He was number 08 on the team.
Emanuel was white and had a muscular build.
His hair was black and his face resembled a bulldog.
His attitude mostly didn't bother me, because he only got like this with me in the showers.
Half-naked guys laughed at his joke. I smiled sheepishly as well. I knew he meant it in good fun. And it didn't bother me.
I sat down on a bench and started undressing.
My jersey said number 10.
Emanuel was majoring in nutrition, he was half serious about being an IFFB Pro.
And his body would show it.
It was massive work and commendable.
He was a good guy - just a bit of a bully in the showers.
I ignored him and just smiled at him.
"Oooh, giving you the cold treatment -" said Diego, number 03 on the team. Diego had black pearly skin and his body had an American build. He was skinny - just leaner than me.
"No, I just won't give in to your proverbial shower toxic man rabble," I scoffed at him.
Emanuel gave on his knees and pretended like I had shot him in the heart, he let his full body jump to the floor, and his towel showed a little bit off his ass.
He was better at doing the death drop than the drags I knew from the local bar. He would never admit it though.
Diego was quick to jump down with him, only wearing boxers, you could see his bulge.
I rolled my eyes knowing what was coming next.
"One… Two … Three…. KO!" he shouted.
"And that ladies and gentlemen's, one of our Ace's intellectual combat!" Diego used a booming voice like he was some kind of announcement. Everyone in the locker room was enjoying the show.
"What will he think of next?!" he sat next to me as I took off my shirt.
"Tell us two-time gold champion Aiden - " I mean he wasn't lying we had won the past two seasons in first place, and the trophies were in the gym to prove it.
I think it's one of the reasons the team gives me an easygoing sometimes, even though I treat them like crap. They find their ways to entertain themselves.
Like right now.
"How does it feel to beat the strongest, in you're scrawny shape, you're not even in the same weight class, how could this even be?!" he held up his hand to my mouth like he was holding a microphone.
I mean - I was a muscle twink, thank you very much. A twunk if you will.
But most of the guys here were bigger than me in size and shape.
I went along with their charade.
"I don't feel anything - this was a premeditated win -" I said into the invisible microphone.
Emanuel got on his knees.
"I'll get my revenge!" he shouted.
"And that's it, ladies and gentlemen!" Diego shouted to a camera that was nowhere to be found.
"Tune in next time — " he trailed off as he panned down to my waist.
"Aiden what's this?" Diego pointed to a scar that covered my right torso.
His voice was serious now.
"This is huge, what happened?!" the whole team went silent.
They all looked at me.
Even Emanuel got serious.
"It's just a scar - no big deal - I had to go into emergency surgery last summer - it's no big deal, seriously." I felt the atmosphere in the room change, it could be cut with a knife.
"What surgery!? We don't know about no surgery, man, when were you gonna tell us?!" he was seriously worried.
"Can you play, is it going to affect B-Ball?" said Emanuel worried.
The rest of the team in their half-naked state, took a turn to look at me. I felt like some lab rat experiment.
"It's nothing okay! One day I felt this immense pressure on my chest and had to be rushed to the emergency room - it felt like a panic attack, but I couldn't breathe- like for real-" I said exasperated, I usually keep to myself about this things.
I don't like to make them worry.
Especially not our captain.
"Anyway - my spine was about to crush my lungs, doctors had to cut me open and readjust it, they said we found it just in time before it could affect my heart, after 10 hours and some therapy I'm good as new, no need to worry, seriously."
Some of them were in shock and disbelief.
"Wouldn't that affect your game?" said Emanuel, with an actual worried tone. I hardly ever see him like this.
"Has it?!" I exasperated. He noticed I was almost taking offense.
"No - No - I'm just worried man," said Emanuel, his voice was almost tiny.
"Sorry - I didn't mean to - " said Diego.
"It's okay - you didn't know," I lowered my tone.
Still, the room was dead silent.
I stood up now in my boxers as well and headed for the showers.
"Seriously guys it's fine! This won't affect me - or the team, now go back to touching butts or whatever it is you do to suppress your homosexual desires."
They laughed at my joke. The tension lifted a bit.
It was anything but - only the truth.
I got into the running water and could only think about my reaction - I knew I was harsh and off-putting not letting them in, vulnerability-wise.
Then I thought about that day and how I had to rush myself in an Uber to the emergency room - my parents refused to believe there was anything wrong with me and I was gasping for air - gasping for attention.
Then about that whole summer and physical therapy and those two weeks, all alone in a hospital bed, skimming in and out of reality.
The drugs kept me from the pain.
Even though the hospital had called my parents, they had never visited - not even once.
And how I had to grab an Uber back home, no one had helped me - no one had made sure I was okay.
Why should anyone start now?
My parents told me to use life insurance - which covers everything.
I had to ask Carlos and Lucia to apply the special cream to my scar.
To the parts, I couldn't reach at least.
The beeping noise of the hot water took me out of my trance - cold water started pouring over me. I let it wash over me for a couple of seconds until finally turned it off and headed out again.
At least everyone was acting like they're goofy old selves again. I don't need their sympathy dumps.