The First Rule

Chapter 10b: Grown Up Stuff

The sugarcane seller's face suddenly looms right in front of him, causing him to recoil and let out a horrified yell. The sugarcane seller inches even closer, prompting Tyler to back up nervously. Despite Cavill's retreat, squinting his eyes, the sugarcane seller continues to move closer.. and closer.. until he finally opens his mouth..

"Don't take it for granted, Tyty.."

The sugarcane man whispers eerily like a tarot reader—before turning back and casually walking away like nothing happened, returning to his stall.

Watching his back with a peculiar feeling, Tyler stammers, "The f—sir, how did you know my—" but then he sees the man back to smiling and serving the buyers in normalcy. Cavill immediately fixes his focus on finishing his drink, determined to get the hell out of there.

Taking each step with heaviness, you walk through the pavements. Aside from the beautiful morning.. your mood? Far from it. Stopping beside a streetlamp, you blankly stare at the lights changing its color from yellow to red. Darting your gaze around like a lifeless person, you finally find something to focus on. Across the street, you see the stalls, the place where you had your argument with Tyler.

Yes, my elementary school, mid, aand high school, is in the same complex. So yes, I have to pass by it every. day. Imagine the annoyance I gotta endure, knowing I'll have to pass by it every day—also without knowing when I can have SMASH and WEBBS with him ever again.

As a form of breaking the rules, you buy sugarcane on this ordinary Thursday morning anyway. Feeling the sugary sweet liquids flood the spaces of your mouth lifts up your mood a little, helping you get through your Dora Explorer era in the making. You finally reach your school complex, but as you're about to take another step..

Finding this coincidence amusing, Reed dashes to you in excitement. Coming to a sudden stop, she grabs your shoulders, intending to startle you with a loud yell. However, not budging from your stance, even an inch, she finds you in a longing stare, fading her smile in an instant. Eve notices your empty grimace and follows your gaze to find..

Tyler and Taylor, relishing in carefree laughter beside the school's fountain. Tyler's hands rest casually on Taylor's shoulders, and she leans comfortably on his left shoulder as they make their way to the school entrance.. looking so smitten with each other.

"Hey.. you okay?" she asks, placing a consoling hand behind your back. Without taking your eyes off of them, you turn your brain upside down, trying to find the right answer. Yet, it's not really about finding the right answer, isn't it? It's trying to comprehend.. to.. understand. To make this scene.. normal. But the biggest question of the day is.. Is she a good person? Is she good for him?

"I don't know about her Eve, she seems.. off. I don't know, maybe it's just me."

You shift your gaze to your shoes.. to play them in repetitive motion on the ground, contemplating. Until it appears, you stumble upon a revelation. "Is this really what it means when we both start going on dates? When we start to grow up? I was so eager in this dating phase of my life, but I just.. never thought we'd grow apart in the process." you wonder as you turn to Reed, giving her a slight sad smile.

Eve responds with a broad smile, enveloping you in her arms, attempting to make you feel better. But then in hesitation, she whispers carefully, "Hey, I know it feels.. weird at first. What matters for now is that he's so happy, right?"

Reluctantly, you redirect your attention to smitten Ty, smiling ear to ear with those charming grin of his. The one you never found in anyone else's—

"Yeah, you're right."

But then you compose yourself in understanding. "Rule Number 10, always be happy if they're happy even if—"

"Their decision is s**t, right?" Reed exclaims, finishing your sentence. Momentarily impressed, you nod your head repeatedly in approval while letting out a cackle. Eve wears her signature smile in response.. Yet behind it, she ponders to herself..

'Gotta erase those rules when I'm President, for real."

Your focus returns to the fountain, offering one last glance before you get to the school entrance—

First time getting into school without him.

Ending your reverie, she embraces you tightly before chuckling, "Besides, you already have me, girlie! We double E always stick together, huh?!" Laughter escapes you within her hug, appreciating her comforting presence as the two of you make your way to the building.

"Cut the crap, bro. I know you be faking it."

Squatting on the ground, Liam's annoyed expression can't even be hidden behind his large helmet, his oversized gloves wrapped on his left hand. As he darts his focus back to the pitcher, as fast as lighting, a ball lands on his gloves as he catches it effortlessly.

Top edge of a baseball bat clunks loudly against the ground before its wielder repositions it into a perfect vertical, supporting both gripping hands on the handle. His head goes down in a sharp drop, his grip on the handle tightens—before he yanks the bat upon his shoulder in a swift motion.

"I don't think he's faking it, bro. See how they're flaunting PDA everywhere?" Hunt impales behind Wyatt—whose eyes still glued on the pitcher's cues. Just as the pitcher readies to throw, Wyatt interjects,

"The PDA's just for show, right?"

This time, the ball meets the bat, soaring with a graceful trajectory. Hanging the bat over his shoulder, the hitter turns towards them with visible irritation painted on his face—hushing in haste,

"Would you, Liam f*****g Wyatt, be kind enough, to shut the f**k up and for once—let me hit the ball in peace?"

Rolling his eyes as he stands, Liam lifts his helmet and hangs it on his waist to protest, "No clarification means.. I'm right."

"Change position!"

Tyler hands his bat to Liam as he passes his gloves and helmet to Dom. As Tyler switches his position to be in Dom's position, he explains, "Listen. I told you. We clicked."

Donning Dom's helmet, Liam positions himself beside the base, muttering, "Oh wow thanks for clarifying that you're dumb instead,"

Processing Liam's words for a moment, allowing the offense to sink in, Tyler shouts, "Excuse me—?!"

"I should be the one who's offended! You've treated this bet like some cheap game when it's supposed to benefit you! At least Winters' in the right mind."

Slightly retracting his head back, Tyler furrows his brows in confusion as he demands an explanation, "Meaning?"

"She's not rushing into having a boyfriend just to win the bet, Cavill."

"I'm taking initiative so that she'll be motivated to find the boy of his dreams faster, Wyatt. Fantastic bestfriend, aren't I?"

Hearing the sarcasm, Wyatt is about to retort when Cavill inhales a loud gasp and stops him with his pointed fingers dramatically and continues, "Plus, Taylor is better than any date I've had. Damn—I get goosebumps just by remembering my traumatized self back then. Give me some credit."

"You're aware that's because your standard's already high, right?"

Wyatt hits the ball with precision, irritation evident in his swing. Meanwhile, the words seem to hit Cavill like a truck.

All that dissatisfaction.. all the comparing..

To you.

Pretending to fix his gloves, he let out a subtle cough, eyes fixed to the ground, mumbling, "I don't know what you mean."

Wyatt turns, giving a raised eyebrow to his bro, who responds with a 'nonchalant' stare while rhythmically cracking his knuckles. However, noticing Tyler's constant averted gaze, Liam lets out a slight smirk as a thought flashed in his mind,

'Oh he knows what I meant for sure'.

Liam then lowers his eyes to the other bro who's been maintaining his silence through their banter—only to receive a disinterested shrug. And he rolls his eyes, regretting ever asking for Dom's help. Just as he does, Cavill interjects, "Now that I've already found The Love of My Life, to win from you, we only get to find one for Em—"

"Now now, bro, that's another thing—but now—stealing my words, bro?! Going around telling everyone she's 'The Love of My Life'? That's bullshit, bro!"

"She is The Love of My Life!"

Tyler shouts with two hands spread across the universe, as if proclaiming to the entire field that he's head over heels in love. Liam lets out a big growl, and even Dom, who has been silent, crinkles his nose in disgust behind his large helmet. However, in a hint of curiosity, Hunt asks,

"How are you and Emily though?"

Ooh, straight in the feels.

Tyler flinches at the question as scenes from last week's argument start playing in his mind like a broken radio. Thank God no one sees as they're in a position, plus, Thank God he's behind them. After a brief internal debate, while playing his feet on the ground, Tyler responds with a dry tone, "We're.. good. Why?"

While effortlessly catching the ball, Dom lightly explains, "Pretty weird not seeing the two of you glued to each other. Never see you guys go to school together anymore either, so—"

Dom's indifferent tone cuts through the air, but it's not deeper than his words which cut like a knife into Tyler's conscience. His mind races, the weight of Dom's words sinking in as he recalls every scene. The reality hits him, a sense of guilt washes over him.

At his silence, Dom turns around and shoots Tyler a questioning look, sensing something amiss. "Bro, everything alright?" Dom asks, confused concern evident in his eyes.

Tyler hesitates for a moment before responding, "Yeah—yeah. Just.. got a lot on my mind lately."

After the game, the group disperses. Tyler finds himself sitting alone on the dugout steps. He pulls out his phone and scrolls through messages, realizing how many times he canceled your plans before the fight. A mixture of regret and realization settles in, compelling him to compose a text like it's his last chance to redeem his sins.