The Uncorrupted (English Version)

The Game -- Chapter 1

Half-time breaks should really be longer. My knees and thighs were begging to be rested.

In the last minute of the opening game, St. Thomas vs Gruntwood -- tied at 74.

"Herbert! You can't rest so straighten out your face, I'm putting you upfront with Scotts and Silva." The coach said before he picked up his playboard. I almost wanted to groan loudly -- my knees were about to give out with all the running I did the whole damn game.

"Coach... are you sure? He's a freshman... this is his first game." Kevin Coleman, the senior shooting guard, asked coach Reynolds.

"Are you really questioning my strategy, Coleman? Do you want to sit out for the rest of the game?" Coach said.

He looked at me pointedly before giving instructions on how he wanted us to play the defense. The sweat from my forehead dripped down my chin as I listened to what the coach wanted to happen. He wanted us to go man-to-man and pressure the other team to give up the ball.

"You do this, Herbert -- we win. Take the winning shot." His voice was strict and full of confidence like he believed that I could really manage to win this game. f**k -- I suddenly felt lightheaded. He was so sure that we'd be able to get the ball back... but, What if I missed that f*****g shot?!

Before I could even protest, Scotts and Silva tapped my back and dragged me toward the court.

"Rookie, you can do this." Adrian Silva, our power forward, motivated me as he massaged my shoulders from the back.

"Yep, Coach said you can -- so you will. We got you, Lance." Daniel Scotts said in confidence before winking at me.

Do they really believe in me that much? I mean, I was just a rookie and this is my first game ever in the UAAP. I almost got eaten up by two of the senior players of the opposing team earlier. What makes them think that I could take that winning shot?

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I've always hated crowds. Never a social butterfly, and never wanted to mingle around.

Even my aunt was surprised I considered bonding with my teammates at some point. They were all badgering me to go out of my shell once in a while.

"I'm telling ya, Lance. You should go with us more often. You might be a rookie, but you're the talk of the town now. Your winning shot opened the floodgate." Adrian said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders like I was his long lost little brother. Since I started training with them last summer camp, the seniors have seemingly been fond of me and took me under their wing. Of course, a lot of players who got here before me were pissed.

Not to mention, Kevin Coleman. That douchebag had the nerve to tell me that I'd better keep my luck coming for the next games. Talk about threats.

"Yup, I heard that Gruntwood was keeping an eye on you. Looks like we need to get you ready when we leave the reign on you, big boy." Daniel spoke like a proud dad.

I eyed them skeptically -- are they seriously trying to groom me to be like them? Honestly, if I didn't need the athletic scholarship as I did, I'd be home right now, playing my damn PlayStation.

"Okay, look. I appreciate you taking me under your wing. But, I don't really do these parties. You knew I hated social gatherings. I'm just tolerating this because one, we won. And two, you guys practically dragged me here by my ears." I explained with an eye roll. They both laughed like lunatics before chugging down the tumbler of beer they had.

"Fine, we won't force you to attend parties like this again." Adrian said as he gestured his hand around. "But... you let us hook you up with one of the girls here tonight." He added with a smirk. I knew I was dealing with the devil the minute he opened his big damn mouth.

I haven't even touched a single alcohol here -- what makes them think that I would lay a hand on a woman, let alone a stranger woman? They must be out of their minds.

"Hard pass, Adi. I'd rather stay a virgin than hook up with random girls. Thanks, but no thanks." I said as I stood getting ready to head out to get some air.

I mean, I couldn't just leave -- they were my ride tonight. My aunt couldn't pick me up because she had classes and I was not going to disturb her, so I'd have to wait for those two. You're probably thinking -- what 18-year-old boy doesn't have a car? I'll tell you what -- this boy, right here. Who cannot afford to get his own damn car just because his parents couldn't keep their s**t together and left him and his brother to fend for themselves.

"Come on, Lance! Don't be a buzz kill, besides -- a lot of women have already asked about you!" Adrian hollered as I moved toward the fire exit door. I glanced back at him and shrugged.

"Then I guess they'd be disappointed. I'm not interested, Adi." I replied over the loud music blasting through the speakers surrounding the room.

Dan chuckled and patted my back. "It's alright, we'll just tell them to back off." He was always the level-headed one.

"Uh, nope -- tell me, are you gay, Lance? 'Coz, I can hook you up with the hottest guys in town. I swear, just say the word." Adrian wouldn't let go. I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm not gay, Adi. But I'm not sure. Could I try with you?" I played with him. He was actually starting to get on my nerves, he has always been pushy about me finding a hook-up buddy. It was as if he was obsessed over the idea of me being able to tap one.

His eyes bulged out of their sockets as he violently shook his head, with his arms raised in surrender. "I'll take your word for it, big boy."

I shrugged and laughed at him, joined by Daniel. "I'll get some air, it feels so stuffy in here. I'll be outside." I told them. Luckily, they didn't hover and followed me out the fire exit door.

As I stepped out, a whiff of fresh air welcomed me like it was my old friend. It was definitely a good feeling, better than being suffocated inside a room full of drunk teenagers and almost-adults, smelling like alcohol and smoke. Just thinking about the sweaty couples grinding against each other, grooving with the music inside made my head throb.

A very audible and sexy moan was followed by a man's voice. "s**t, do you wanna get out of here? My place isn't far from here, so you could tell me your name." I heard the man say.

"Hmm... wouldn't you like that, huh? But I can't leave my friends. I'm the designated driver tonight. Either we continue here, or we can try next time. Your call." A soft, almost angelic voice answered -- her voice was definitely alluring that any man would do whatever she wanted. She was like a f*****g siren... her voice was music to her ears.

I stopped in my tracks, not getting any closer to the couple who were doing something in the dark corner of the open room. My feet were rooted in place, I couldn't move because I didn't wanna make any sound -- that would be embarrassing for me, and the two other people who decided that the Fire Exit was the best place to canoodle with each other.

From the sounds of their lips lapping each other up, to the moans that were getting a bit louder by the minute -- I could say that both of them were getting carried away and about to commit a public scene that they would probably regret in their lives. Didn't they realize that people could see them anytime and record what they were doing? Jesus -- from the looks of it, they didn't even know each other.

I didn't really get the hook-up culture -- for me, relationships are supposed to be treated carefully. They were meant to be special and honest. Having s*x with someone who you weren't in a relationship with is something I'd always frown upon. I want to treat women with respect, not something that you can easily dispose of or play with. Our generation's all f****d up, I'm telling ya.

Before they could even go any further, and permanently scar my brain and eyes, I cleared my throat to announce myself. It was just a common courtesy so they could fix themselves before they show themselves. "f**k -- who's that?" I heard the man whisper.

"I don't know. You go out first. I'll see you next time." The woman replied. Man -- her voice really does sound good.

I heard a bit of shuffling and after a couple of seconds, a man appeared in front of me. The room was a bit dark but I could clearly see his face. Shock was apparent -- to both of us.

It was Ethan Poole, the cocky motherfucker who clocked me once during the summer camp scrimmage game. He was pretty upset that I was able to steal the ball under his brother's nose, so he got even and elbowed my damn face, leaving me with a bruise and a misaligned jaw. He was a petty asshole who gets tantrums whenever he doesn't get what he wants. From what I've been told, he was 3 years older than I am and the older brother of Nathan Alvarez, the star player of Gruntwood Uni.

To describe Luis, he was a 6 foot tall man -- well built. Apparently, he was a gym buff, seeing that he was spending most of his college days in the gym instead of actually going to classes. He was a pretty face too -- not that it mattered because his attitude was s**t.

"Well, if it isn't the rookie, the star player wanna-be. Lance Herbert. How's your face, shithead?" He said with a smug look. I couldn't help but flex my jaw. I could still feel the dull ache from my molars.

I glared at him, making his smirk widen. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be baby-sitting Nathan? He's probably crying for his big bro right now." I tried to come off as confident as I could. His smirk dropped and was replaced with a clear expression of rage.

"You motherfucker -- you better watch your back." He pulled me by the collar and aggressively gripped the cloth of my shirt. He closely glared at me, hatred seething in his eyes, before pushing me back to the brick wall and hoisting the door to step back inside.

"Pffft, pussy." I chuckled and tried to fix the front of my shirt, completely forgetting that another person was still in this room with me.

"Pretty proud of yourself, tiger, huh?" The girl giggled. Her voice directly speaking to me did something -- well... I'm f*****g attracted to her voice, but I still haven't seen her.

I don't know... I should be irked by the idea of this woman making out in the dark with my arch nemesis and probably 3 other guys before him. But there was something about her that lured me in.

My head snapped in the direction of the voice I heard. I almost had whiplash -- as if I didn't know she was there the whole time. I still couldn't make out her face, it was a bit dim at that corner -- but as she walked, the lamp that was beside the railings cast a light on her face. To say that I was totally captured by her beauty was an understatement.

She was divine -- her long, wavy, brown hair went past her shoulders. Even with a little light, I could see that she had silky white skin, making her almost glow in the moonlight. As I quietly stared at her, my eyes drifted from her almond-shaped eyes, down to her button nose... perfectly symmetrical with her heart-shaped face. Although, in my opinion, the most attractive part of her face was her plump, pouty lips. All pinkish... and kissable.

I could describe her in one word -- Angelic.

Why do I have to be this attracted to her? I shook my head from my daydream and got real with myself.

This woman was just making out with Ethan Poole not a few minutes ago. She was probably one of those promiscuous college girls who gets to do whatever the hell they want. I didn't want to judge her if she was -- I mean, her body, her choice -- however, it wasn't just really my cup of tea.

"You should get back inside, your boyfriend's waiting for you." I said stoically. Of course, I didn't want to ruin my reputation of being a cold, innocent, asshole. If word gets out of me being friendly with this woman, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't get a moment of peace around the campus.

She just gave me a blank look before frowning. "What boyfriend?" She looked utterly confused until a look or recognition came across her. "Oh, Ethan? No, not my boyfriend." She added.

She stepped forward until she was just a few inches away from me. I could almost feel the heat radiating from her body. Her lips were closing in and I felt her breath tickling the side of my neck, just right below my ear. "I don't plan on settling down, big boy. Don't mistake me for an angel." Her voice was just above a whisper but it made my skin crawl -- and when I said that, it meant that it was in a good way.

She definitely knew what she was doing. She was good at this -- teasing and leaving guys drooling over her. Because apparently, I was a pool of melted mud -- being scooped into a shithole of unidentified feelings running through my body right now. My hormones are getting the best of me and I've been holding every inch of myself to not attack her lips.

She smells so f*****g good... how did she manage to smell nice after staying inside a place full of smoke and sweat? Beats me -- but damn, I'd give anything to get a sniff of her hair or neck.

Fuck -- I sound like a total pervert. I look like a pathetic fool, no wonder they call me the virgin boy wonder. I don't really have any experience with these kinds of things. I wasn't like my brother or my aunt, who can flirt and attract women in an instant. I don't have a stellar personality -- I was just a tall basketball player who loved to read. An actual jock that isn't a bad boy.

And I'd like it to remain that way.

"Oh yeah. Well, I don't care. Now, go -- I want to be alone." I said coldly. She just stared at me playfully, as I just didn't respond to her banter. Amusement was shown all over her face.

"Hmm... you're one of the feisty ones aren't you? Well, I'm telling you anyway... I'll see you around, number 5" She said before sashaying toward the door and pulling it open. Before she finally got inside, she glanced back at me with a smirk then winked at me.

Holy f*****g shit... I'm about to get into trouble.