Out of Bounds

24

"Cyan, are you going home now?" Shiloh asked when he saw Cyan standing in the parking lot.

Cyan turned to him and smiled, nervously playing with the hem of his shirt.

"Yes," Cyan replied softly.

"You can ride with me. I need to buy something from Kenny’s Store, and it’s on the way to your house," Shiloh said as he unlocked his car with a click.

"B-But… it would be an inconvenience for you," Cyan said, hesitating as Shiloh opened the driver’s seat.Shiloh glanced at him and smiled reassuringly.

"No, it won’t. Hop on," Shiloh said.

Cyan hesitated for a second before nodding. He carefully opened the passenger door and sat in the front seat, placing his bag on his lap. He felt a little nervous being this close to Shiloh, his fingers tightening slightly around the strap of his bag.

Shiloh closed his door and started the engine. As the car roared to life, he noticed a few students nearby staring at them, whispering among themselves. Some looked surprised, others curious. Shiloh ignored the stares completely and focused on the road.

"Seatbelt," he reminded gently. Cyan quickly put it on.

"Ah… right. Sorry," Cyan said.

Shiloh chuckled softly before pulling out of the parking lot. The car moved smoothly, leaving the school behind as a quiet silence settled between them—comfortable, yet filled with Cyan’s racing heartbeat.

Shiloh parked his car in front of Kenny’s Store and turned off the engine. He glanced at Cyan before speaking.

"I’ll just buy a pair of shoes and probably some more basketball stuff. If you want, you can come with me inside… but I think it might bore you."

Cyan looked at the store, then back at Shiloh. He didn’t want to stay in the car, but he was too shy to go inside with him. His fingers tightened around his bag as he hesitated.

"I-I’ll come," Cyan replied quietly.

"Great," Shiloh said with a small smile.

Cyan opened the door and stepped out of the car. Shiloh walked ahead and reached the entrance first, holding the door open for him. Cyan blinked in surprise, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks.

"T-Thank you," he murmured as he stepped inside.

The cool air from the store greeted them. Rows of basketball gear filled the place—shoes, jerseys, shorts, wristbands, and sports accessories neatly displayed. A few customers were browsing, and soft music played in the background.

Shiloh immediately headed toward the apparel section. He began searching for the jersey he liked. His favorite player had just released a new design, and he had been waiting for it to go on sale. He checked different racks, scanning the sizes carefully.

Meanwhile, Cyan quietly looked around. His eyes wandered over the shelves, fascinated by the different basketball items. He touched a wristband, then glanced at the rows of shoes, clearly trying not to look too lost.

After a few minutes, Shiloh moved to the shoe section. His eyes quickly spotted a pair he liked. He reached for it but suddenly, another hand grabbed it at the same time. Irritated, Shiloh pulled it back slightly.

"I got this first," he said.

"Nope, I grabbed it first."

Shiloh immediately looked at the person in front of him and froze for a second.

Standing there was Archer, smiling mischievously at him, his grip still firm on the shoe.

The tension between them rose instantly.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Shiloh asked in a whisper, his grip still tight on the shoe box.

"Last time I checked, Kenny’s is a public store. Of course I came here to buy," Archer replied casually, pulling the box back toward him.

"f**k it, Archer. I was the one who grabbed it first," Shiloh said, tightening his hold as he pulled the box again.

"I told you, it’s mine," Archer shot back, refusing to let go.

Their quiet argument quickly drew attention. A few customers nearby slowed down, watching the two as neither of them backed down. The tension between them was obvious. A staff member noticed the situation and hurried over.

"Sir, we have another pair of those shoes. If you want, I can get it from the stockroom," she said, smiling nervously. She was familiar with both Shiloh and Archer since they often came to the store to buy basketball items.

Before either of them could respond, Archer suddenly shifted his gaze.

"Shiloh…" he muttered.

His eyes moved past him and landed on Cyan. Archer’s forehead creased slightly as he studied him for a brief moment. Then he looked back at Shiloh.

Without another word, Archer loosened his grip and let go of the box.

"Take it," Archer said casually. He slipped his hands into his pockets and walked away as if nothing had happened.

Shiloh pursed his lips, slightly surprised, but he didn’t say anything. He turned to the staff and gave a small smile.

"I’ll take it," he said, pulling out his wallet.

The staff nodded quickly and took the box to the counter. Shiloh waited while she processed the purchase. After a moment, she handed him the bag.

"Thank you, sir." Shiloh nodded and took it before turning to Cyan.

"I’m sorry you had to see that," Shiloh said, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly a little embarrassed.

"Was it Archer?" Cyan asked as they walked back to the car. Shiloh nodded. Once they were inside, he placed the shoebox carefully on the backseat before starting the engine.

"Yes, it’s him," Shiloh said. Cyan didn’t press the subject further. He simply nodded and waited quietly, hands folded on his lap as the car pulled out of the parking lot.

The ride was mostly silent. Shiloh drove toward Cyan’s neighborhood, and as they got closer, the surroundings slowly changed. The buildings became older, the streets narrower, and people lingered outside in small groups.

Shiloh saw the same scene he had witnessed the last time he brought Cyan home—omegas standing around, some talking to passing cars, others leaning against walls with tired expressions.

"S-Shiloh, you can drop me off here," Cyan said quickly.

He was embarrassed. He didn’t want Shiloh to see everything again. He didn’t want him to think all omegas lived like this. It was just their circumstances—lack of support, lack of opportunities, and desperation forcing them into situations they didn’t want.

"Are you sure?" Shiloh asked, slowing the car.

"Yes. Thank you so much," Cyan replied with a small smile.

"Alright," Shiloh said. "See you in school," he added. He gave a short nod before driving away.

Cyan breathed a sigh of relief and began walking toward his house. His shoulders were slightly hunched, his steps quick. He had barely turned the corner when suddenly, a hand grabbed his arm. Cyan froze. His heartbeat quickened.

"Who was that, Cy?" the bulky man asked, gripping him tightly.

"A-A senior who helped me, Ryan," Cyan replied, trying to keep his voice steady. He wanted to pull away, to run, but he couldn’t. Ryan was a known thug in the area—and an Alpha.

"Hmm… he looks decent. And loaded," Ryan said, eyeing the direction where Shiloh’s car had gone. "Did he f**k you?" he added with a devious smile.bCyan shoved him away, his face flushing with anger.

"No! He’s not like that," Cyan said, rubbing his wrist where Ryan had grabbed him. Ryan chuckled darkly.

"Cyan, we have a deal. You used my money, I’ll have your body in my club. If you don’t want that, I’d say get it from your senior," Ryan said coldly. "My patience is very thin, Cyan. You don’t know what I’m capable of," he added.

Cyan swallowed hard. If it weren’t for school expenses, he would never have borrowed money from Ryan. But he had no one else to turn to.

"I’ll find a way," Cyan said, trying to sound firm despite the fear in his voice.

"You have a month, Cyan," Ryan replied before stepping back. He walked away, a few thugs following behind him.

Cyan stood there, unmoving. His hands trembled slightly as he pushed back his tears. He couldn’t cry. He promised himself he would overcome this.