Chapter 10 : All the wrong words

Evan spent the whole day searching.

He checked the cafeteria first, then the library, and even waited outside Lucas's lecture hall. His hands trembled every time he thought about it. But he knew he had to do it, to clear the air, to stop the whispering before it turned into something worse.

Finally, just before sunset, he found them.

Lucas was at the tennis court with Kelv, Robin, and Chuin. The four of them stood near the benches, laughing, half-sweaty from drills. It was a familiar scene, the same group he had started to feel a part of.. even if only at the edges.

Evan stood there for a moment, watching.

Then, taking a deep breath, he stepped forward.

"Lucas," he called, voice cracking slightly.

The laughter died down.

Lucas turned slowly, his face unreadable.

The others exchanged glances.

"I… I need to talk to you," Evan said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Alone. Just for a second."

Kelv raised an eyebrow. "Ooh, sounds serious."

Robin smirked. "Confession time?"

Chuin chuckled. "Careful, Lucas. He might propose."

Evan flinched. His eyes darted toward Lucas, silently begging him to stop them.

Lucas didn't.

Evan stepped closer. "Please, just listen. I heard what people are saying. About me. About… you. I swear, it's not what they think. I'm not trying to, I mean, I just wanted to be friends. That's all."

His hands were clenched, breath short.

"I only made you lunch because… I wanted to be kind. I'm not, I didn't mean anything else. I didn't know people would twist it like that."

Kelv took a step forward, tone playful but edged. "Aw, come on, Evan. No need to panic. We all know you're just being extra sweet to our Lucas."

Chuin added, grinning, "Yeah, like a little housewife. Cute apron and everything."

Robin laughed. "I bet he even writes his name on the rice with ketchup."

The words stung like lashes. Evan's face went pale.

"I didn't mean anything..." he whispered.

Kelv cut him off. "Relax, man. We're just joking. Don't take it so personally… unless it's true?"

That was when Lucas finally spoke.

But it wasn't what Evan hoped for.

"You need to stop," Lucas said, his voice sharp now, eyes cold.

Evan looked up, hope flickering.

Lucas stepped forward, glaring. "You think I didn't notice? The way you stare at me like some pathetic puppy. Following me around. Watching practice like a damn creep."

Evan opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Lucas's voice rose, crueler. "You actually thought someone like me would be interested in you?"

The words struck hard.

"You're a weird, awkward little loser who can't take a hint. You make food and hover like I owe you something. Like I should feel sorry for you."

Evan's face flushed red, from shame, from humiliation, from disbelief.

"You seriously thought you had a chance?" Lucas spat. "With this body? Look at yourself, Evan. You're short, fat, and have the personality of a cardboard box. I don't need charity from someone like you. I never asked for your food. Or your attention. So take your desperate little obsession and get the hell away from me."

The silence afterward was suffocating.

No one laughed now. Even Kelv looked slightly thrown off by the sharpness of it.

Evan stood frozen, his vision blurry with tears he refused to let fall in front of them.

He didn't speak.

He didn't defend himself.

He just turned, slowly, and walked away.

Step by step, heart shattered, mind empty, every word echoing in his chest like a bruise.