Chapter 5:A bet Between Two

Caesar never liked attention.

Unfortunately, sitting next to Blythe meant attracting plenty of it.

"Dude, when did you start hanging out with Blythe?" a classmate asked, eyeing them curiously.

"We're not hanging out," Caesar corrected. "She just won't leave me alone."

Blythe gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her chest. "How rude! And here I was, trying to make your life more exciting."

Caesar sighed, already feeling a headache forming. "Exciting isn't always a good thing."

Blythe smirked. "Then how about we make a bet?"

Caesar narrowed his eyes. "What kind of bet?"

"A simple one. If I win, you have to do whatever I say for a day."

Caesar raised a brow. "And if I win?"

"Then I'll leave you alone for an entire week."

Now that was tempting.

Blythe was persistent, and no matter how much Caesar ignored her, she kept showing up, inserting herself into his life like it was the most natural thing in the world. A whole week of peace sounded like a dream.

"What's the challenge?" he asked cautiously.

Blythe leaned in, her brown eyes gleaming with mischief. "A basketball match. You and me. First to five points wins."

Caesar blinked. "You play basketball?"

"Obviously."

"And you think you can beat me?"

Blythe grinned. "Scared?"

Caesar wasn't. He was just surprised. He hadn't expected her to suggest something athletic. Most girls he knew weren't particularly interested in sports, at least not the ones who willingly talked to him.

"Fine. Let's do it."

Blythe clapped her hands together. "Great! Meet me in the gym after school."

And just like that, he had been roped into yet another one of her schemes.

---

The gym was mostly empty, except for a few students passing by. The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished floor echoed through the space as Caesar stretched his arms, testing his form. It had been a while since he last played. He used to enjoy basketball when he was younger—back when his father was still around. But after everything that happened, he lost interest.

Blythe, on the other hand, was already dribbling confidently, her ponytail bouncing with each movement.

"Ready?" she asked.

Caesar sighed. "You talk too much."

Blythe laughed. "Alright, Mr. Introvert. Let's see what you've got."

She took the first shot, moving fast—faster than he expected. She slipped past him easily, her form smooth and precise. The ball swished through the hoop effortlessly.

"One point!" she said cheerfully.

Caesar exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Okay. Time to get serious.

He grabbed the ball and dribbled forward, dodging her attempts to block him. He faked a shot, spun to the side, and made an easy layup.

"Nice," Blythe admitted, bouncing the ball back to him. "But can you keep up?"

The match continued, back and forth, both of them scoring.

Caesar wasn't used to this kind of interaction. It was competitive, but fun. Blythe was quick and unpredictable, forcing him to stay on his toes. She played with a reckless energy that made it hard to predict her next move, while he relied on strategy and patience.

By the time they reached 4-4, both were slightly out of breath.

"Final shot," Blythe said, wiping her forehead. "Winner takes all."

Caesar nodded, focusing.

Blythe dribbled, aiming for a quick shot, but he saw it coming. He reached out, stealing the ball, and sprinted toward the hoop.

Just as he was about to shoot—

Blythe lunged, bumping into him.

The ball slipped from his hands, hitting the rim and bouncing away.

They both stumbled, barely catching themselves before falling.

Caesar turned to her in disbelief. "That was a foul!"

Blythe grinned. "Oops."

"You did that on purpose."

"Maybe."

"That means I win."

"Nah, let's call it a tie."

Caesar groaned. "That's not how games work."

Blythe shrugged, tossing the ball into the air and catching it again. "It is now. Besides, didn't you have fun?"

Caesar hesitated.

…Maybe.

Not that he'd admit it.

---

After the Game

They sat on the gym floor, cooling down. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and polished wood.

"You know," Blythe said, tossing the ball between her hands, "you're actually not bad at this."

Caesar leaned back on his palms. "Neither are you."

Blythe smirked. "See? We're bonding."

"That's not what this is."

"Sure it is. Admit it, you're getting used to having me around."

Caesar rolled his eyes. "If I say yes, will you drop the topic?"

"Nope."

Caesar sighed.

Blythe grinned.

The worst part?

For once, he didn't mind.

---

To Be Continued...