Repeat and Retribution

Chapter 21

Why is it so hard to forget your first love, Crystal asks herself. It was just so hard to let go of the thought that she would still be able to have a chance with him once again.

With so many things that have changed already, there was a part of her that was thinking, that maybe things would go her way this time. It was all she could think of as she kept watching Clyde from afar.

It was currently their schools sports festival, so she was now actually able to watch their teams basketball game.

It was a competition against different departments, so Clyde was also representing theirs along with some other.

Crystal was all smiles as she kept looking at him, dribbling the ball, smiling happily as he ran through the court. He looked so carefree and cheerful, there was even this glint in his eyes as he was playing. Something that she had not seen for a long time when they were together.

Again she contemplated a lot of things about him, seeing as how Clyde was so full of life during those times.

Her thought were only disrupted when she leaped out of her seat, to scream and cheer loudly along with the other students as Clyde had managed to score a three pointer.

If there was one other person in the court that was taking the spotlight right now, it was non other than Clyde. As expected the man was the second one in their team making the most points besides Larse of course. Though she would only cheer for him of course.

Everything seemed to be going well up until the end of the game, when all of a sudden Larse and Clyde collide with one another, as the two tried to both get the ball.

Larse seemed pissed after that as he kept pushing and cursing at Clyde, thankfully the man was as calm as ever as he just avoided the confrontation. Though the other man was reprimanded for his action, quickly leaving the court after that.

When the game ended all of the people in the audience began going their own separate ways. Some headed straight for the gymnasium exit, others went on to congratulate the players, while others like her, stayed a while to wait for the crowd to subside.

Crystal remained in her seat, patiently looking at Clyde and his team, the group were now huddle while the coach were talking to them.

She noticed that the man kept looking at his phone, frowning. His face suddenly unreadable as it creased while looking at the device. Looking around, it was obvious the reason for the man’s sudden mood change was the missing Dana.

The woman seemed to have disappeared during the time the game was about to end, along wiith Larse. If she didn’t know anything she would not even notice it. She really didn’t want to care, but she could not help the heaviness inside her chest having an idea were the woman went.

A few more minutes and there was barely any people there, taking that as her chance to leave. Giving one more glance at Clyde before leaving the gym.

Crystal was already within the hallway when she accidentally bump into Clyde, the man seemed panic and distress, looking around the whole place.

“Hey!” he greets upon noticing her there.

“Hey!” she just says back.

Clyde then proceeded looking around once again, clothes wet from the sweat as he still did not changed into new clothes.

“What’s up?” She could not help but asked, curios as to why the man looked alarmed.

“Have you seen Dana?” he asks.

That shot a sting in her chest knowing full well were the woman was. Yet, she could not bare to tell him the truth of were she was.

“No, why?” she tried to smile asking again to at least hide her concern.

Clyde let out a sigh, looking at his phone once more before turning to her. “She was suppose to wait up for me, but I can’t get a hold of her.” Hands clench in his hair, he began pacing back and forth.

“Maybe she just went to the little girls room,” she just says, wanting to at least alleviate the man’s worries.

“You think?” he asks, a half smile showing in his face at the thought.

“Yeah, why don’t you go change first, you might catch a cold if you keep wearing that. Besides, she’s bound to come out sooner if not later,” she assures him.

“Yeah, you’re right,” Clyde nods in agreement. He then quickly turns around, bolting back to the gym, towards the shower rooms.

“Congratulations on the game,” she calls out before he could even go any further.

Clyde turns his head while continuing to run. “Thanks,” he waves back at her.

Letting out a sight as she began walking out of there, slow and steady as she was once again in deep thought. She could not help but think if it was the right thing to do, befriending the man like that.

Though the pain from her previous life was no longer there, as she was able to see the good and innocent version of the man, she could not help but think of the other new possibility that might come her way.

She had already changed a lot of things in her current one, so she thought what if she just threaded carefully this time.

Her pondering was once again stopped by another person whom was suddenly in front of her blocking her way. The young man was already change into a pair of khaki shorts and a nicely fit polo shirt, showing his well shape and wide figure.

“Hey,” Larse greets, with a half smile, hands inside his pockets.

“Hey,” she just says, before walking pass him.

She didn’t really want any trouble nor argument right now, as she was really in a good mood.

“Crys, wait up,” Larse calls out, before running after her

He lets out a deep sigh, before facing the man again. “What do you want Larse?” she said in a bored manner, crossing her arms to her chest.

“Look, I know we haven’t been in good terms lately, cause of…” he paused, seeing how Crystal’s eyes rosed at the said thought. “Well, never mind, what I wanted to say was, can’t we just start over again. I mean, you know, like how we were before,” he says.

His warm smile and the glint in his eyes at that moment was surely authentic. Seeing as the man’s apology seemed genuine, she could not help but smile back.

“I don’t see any problem with that,” she answers.

There was a part of her that was feeling regretful after what had happened to them. As she really enjoyed the man’s company. Yet she wasn’t able to stand the man’s sudden animosity

But seeing as the man had actually apologize to her, there was no point in her staying mad. Though of course she was now much more cautious with his intention, remembering the conversation that she had overheard last time.

“Great!” Larse almost jump out of joyed after hearing that, making both of them giggle.

Her smile quickly faded at the sudden realization. “Wait a minute, if you’re not with Dana right now, where is she then?” she could not help but asks.

All this time she thought that the two were with each other, thought she hasn’t fully taken that off her mind. As it had already been half an hour ago after the two disappeared.

Larse ended up scratching the back of his head. “Oh, her. Well, you don’t have to worry about the two of us being together, I already dump her last time,” he said casually, smiling all the while he mentioned the part about dumping the girl as if it would make her happy.

Though Crystal somewhat felt relieved. She could not help but wince at the thought that it was so easy for the man to disregard someone like that, after all that happened between them.

“Really?” she could not help but say in a slow and unsure tone.

“I did!” Larse quickly says noticing the uncertainty in her voice.

“Since when?” tilting her head to the side, Crystal was a bit skeptical at that time, still a bit unsure about it.

“When I called Clyde out last time, remember? At the cafeteria.” He says, mentioning the day when he suddenly appeared in front of them telling the man that Dana was looking for him.

Crystal frowned because of that. “That was about two week ago,” she could not help but say, seeing as she thought that the two were still seeing each other as Dana really hadn’t change her routine much.

“Yes, I’ve been avoiding her for that long already,” Larse said cheerfully, feeling quite good about himself.

“That’s good to hear.” Crystal smile was now more real and wider.

Though she was still a bit in doubt, she could not hide the fact that she was very relieved and happy at the thought that Larse had somewhat came to his senses.

“Yeah, so uhm, are you free tonight? Maybe we can have dinner or something,” Larse quickly changes the topic, sensing that they’re somewhat back to how they were before.

Looking at her watch, Crystal saw that it wasn’t that late and she did asks for permission from her parents as she might be late.

Not wanting to ruin things right now she quickly nods at him. “Sure, why not,” she says.

She couldn’t really see any problem with that, since it was just dinner and It would probably just be the two of them. Besides that, she did promise him last time that if there was a chance she would definitely go with him, and what better time was it than now, as they had finally made out with each other.

“You don’t mind if we take my car do you,” he asks.

Crystal could not help her joy as the man seemed to have become much more considerate of her feelings.

“Not at all,” she answers with a very wide smile.

Larse eyes seemed to twinkle even more. “Great! Uhm, we better go then, we don’t want to reach your curfew,” his voice seemed to even shake upon answering back.

“Right,” she just says giggling as they start walking to the parking lot. “Congratulations on the win by the way,” she says.

Larse blushed, bowing his head a bit. “Thanks, though I wasn’t really there for it,” he laughs it off.

“Where were you?” She could not help but asks, curious as to what did happen to the man a while ago.

“I was in the Locker room with Eric,” he says, shrugging it off.

“How’s his foot?” Crystal remembers the certain person, as he was the one that got off the court, the same time as Larse, after falling downd during the game.

“He’ll live,” the man jokingly says.

For some reason Crystal felt much, much better, having once again come into terms with the man. She can’t deny that she felt a bit jiggly and light, upon the thought that she was going to continue her friendship with Larse.

She didn’t mind though they were walking side to side as the man made sure to keep a safe distance between them, though they were extremely close to one another.

He also never once mentioned anything about Dana, Clyde or their arguments, but instead just Continued joking around and making light conversation. Up until they got to the parking lot.

“So, where do you want to eat?” Larse asks as he opened the door of his car for Crystal.

She thought for a moment. “How about that one with the unlimited fries and ice tea?” she says, remembering that one place that serve delicious yet affordable meals.

They both stopped as Crystal was about to get inside the car, as they hear loud snickering from the car beside theirs. The two of them frowned seeing a man get out of it, hair disheveled while putting on his shirt. Crystal immediately recognize him as Eric, Larse injured team mate.

She wasn’t about to turn away, when she sees Dana coming out of the same car, still buttoning her clothes.

The two seemed to have notice them as they looked at each other. Crystal and Larse in gaping, while Eric smirk and Dana just rolled her eyes before quickly walking away.

“Hey man!” Eric nods at his companion, having a very haughty smile as he walked away.

“Hey, just for the record, that woman came at me, not the other way around,” Larse says to her.

Still looking at the two, Crystal could not help her blood from boiling. As the woman seemed to be somewhat still at it.

“I think I’m going to believe you on that,” she just says, shaking her head as she got inside the car.