The Wrong Fate

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden hue over the volleyball court as Ares sprinted, his muscles taut and glistening with sweat. His sharp focus and fluid movements made him stand out. As he spiked the ball over the net, a familiar voice broke through his concentration. “Ares! You’re going to burn yourself out before the match,” Hana called out, her voice light and teasing. She walked toward him, a playful grin spreading across her face. “Take a break! You’re making the rest of us look lazy.” Ares turned, slightly winded but grinning back. “I can’t help it if you guys can’t keep up,” he shot back, tossing the ball toward her. Hana caught the ball and playfully rolled her eyes. “Cocky as ever.” She stepped closer and nodded to the girl following her. “By the way, I brought someone along to watch your show-off session. This is Luna,” Hana said, motioning to the girl standing just behind her. Luna, standing in the shadow of Hana, stepped forward hesitantly. She had a quiet presence, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity and something more. Her gaze lingered on Ares, following the outline of his muscular arms and broad shoulders. Her lips parted slightly as she spoke in a soft voice, “Hi. I’ve heard a lot about you.” Ares wiped the sweat from his brow, taking in Luna’s subtle glances. “Oh? All good things, I hope.” Luna smiled, her cheeks flushing a little as she looked away for a moment. “Yeah… Hana talks about how great you are. It’s impressive, seeing you in action.” Hana smirked and nudged Luna gently. “Told you, didn’t I? Ares is practically a machine on the court.” Ares laughed, stretching his arms behind his head, the movement accentuating his lean physique. “Well, don’t expect too much. I’m still a work in progress.” Luna’s eyes darted back to him, clearly more interested in his physique than his words. There was an undeniable attraction in her gaze, something Ares could feel. But she masked it quickly with a shy smile. “Are you staying to watch the rest of the practice?” Ares asked, his tone casual but his eyes flickering toward Luna. Luna nodded, her voice soft but eager. “If you don’t mind,” “I don’t mind,” Ares replied, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer before he turned back to the court. “Maybe you’ll bring me some good luck.” As Ares picked up the ball and resumed his practice, Luna stood by the sidelines, her eyes following every move he made, while Hana watched with an amused smile, sensing the silent tension between them. Then, Ares goes back to his training session. The small café near the volleyball court had a relaxed, laid-back vibe that suited Ares and his friends perfectly after a tough training session. The four of them—Ares, Hana, Luna, and Ares’ volleyball teammate Liam—sat around a table, the smell of fresh food and coffee filling the air. Ares leaned back in his chair, still catching his breath from practice. “Thanks for coming to watch, by the way. We’ve got a big match coming up, so every bit of support helps,” he said, nodding toward Luna and Hana. Hana grinned, stabbing a fork into her salad. “You know we wouldn’t miss it. Besides, Luna was practically begging me to introduce her to the great Ares.” Luna’s face flushed a little, and she shot Hana a quick glare before smiling softly. “I wouldn’t say I was begging…” Liam, sitting next to Ares, chuckled. “Don’t let him fool you, though. He acts all cool, but this guy freaks out about every little thing before a game.” He jabbed his thumb toward Ares, who shot him a playful scowl. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up,” Ares said. “Just wait until I spike that ball at your face during our next practice.” Hana laughed, but then the conversation shifted to a more casual tone as they dug into their food. The air between them was light, filled with jokes and the ease of new friendships forming. At one point, Hana turned the conversation toward their future plans. “So, now that we’re first-year university students, what’s everyone’s plan? Besides volleyball domination, of course,” she asked, looking between Ares and Liam. Liam leaned back, sipping his drink. “I’m still trying to figure out how to survive as a first-year student, honestly. Classes, practice, and, you know… trying not to get distracted by everything else.” He gave a knowing look toward Ares, who just laughed. “I’m with him,” Ares said, running a hand through his damp hair. “Between practice and classes, I haven’t had much time to think about anything else. I guess I’m just taking it one step at a time.” Hana leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Well, I’m definitely planning on joining some clubs. There’s this travel club I heard about, and they go on weekend trips. I mean, who wouldn’t want to explore new places while studying?” Luna nodded, her voice soft but thoughtful. “That sounds amazing. I’ve been thinking about joining some clubs too, maybe something with photography. It’s a nice break from all the academic pressure.” Ares glanced over at Luna, intrigued. “Photography, huh? That’s cool. You should totally go for it. It’s good to have something outside of classes, you know?” Luna smiled, meeting his eyes for a moment. “Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. It’s about balance, right?” “Exactly,” Ares agreed. “What about you, Hana? Besides the travel club?” Hana smirked, her tone teasing. “Oh, I have so many plans. One of them is making sure you don’t turn into a total volleyball robot.” Liam laughed. “Good luck with that one.” The group shared a laugh, and as the conversation flowed, it became clear that despite their different interests, they were all in the same boat—new to university life, uncertain of the future, but ready to take it on together. Luna, though quieter than the rest, felt more at ease with every passing moment, her eyes occasionally flickering toward Ares, who seemed to make a conscious effort to keep her involved in the conversation. As they finished their meal, Ares looked around the table, feeling a sense of camaraderie growing between them. “First-year students, huh? Feels like the start of something interesting.” Luna nodded, her smile small but sincere. “Definitely.” Atnight, Ares leaned back against the headboard of his bed, the glow from his phone illuminating his face in the dim light. His mind raced, but his expression remained calm—detached, even. He stared at his phone screen, but it wasn’t the conversation with Hana that occupied his thoughts. It was her—Luna. Her face had been stuck in his head since the moment they met at the volleyball court. That quiet, almost shy smile. The way she seemed to watch him so intently, as if she could see something beneath the surface. It unsettled him. And yet, he was drawn to it. Ares clenched his jaw, forcing a smile. Why am I even thinking about her? He had trained himself for years to suppress this kind of emotional distraction. People were pawns—easy to read, easier to manipulate. But Luna… she had slipped through. He sat up, running his fingers through his hair, trying to shake off the odd sensation creeping through him. He hated the idea of wanting anything or anyone. Control was his game, and feelings only got in the way. But Luna was different, wasn't she? She seemed smart and assured, calculating even. Maybe that’s what attracted me to her. His hand hovered over the screen as he opened his messages to Hana, his mind already working on how to approach Luna, He needed to know more, and he wasn’t used to being patient. Ares’ message to Hana: Ares: "Hey, Hana. Can you send me Luna’s number? I’m thinking I might want to talk to her some more." Hana: "Omg, seriously? You’re into her already?" Ares: "It’s not like that." Hana: "Mhm, suuuuure." Ares felt his irritation rising. He wasn’t used to being denied, and the longer Hana took to respond, the more it grated on him. His fingers tightened around the phone. Ares: "Can you just send it? You know how I get about things when I want them." Hana’s next message came through, and Ares could almost hear her playful tone through the words. Hana: "Nope! You’ll have to ask her yourself. If you’re serious about getting to know her, you’ve gotta put in the effort. Girls like it when a guy tries, you know?" Ares: "You’re making this harder than it needs to be." Hana: "Good! You need a challenge. It’s not fun if it’s too easy, right?" Ares stared at the message, his face unreadable. A challenge? He almost laughed. If only Hana knew the real game that was playing out in his mind. He didn’t care about "effort" or winning Luna’s heart in some romantic sense. No, this was about control—about seeing how far he could push her before revealing the darker side of himself. He wanted to see if Luna could match his darkness, or if she would crumble like everyone else had. He placed the phone down on the bed, his mind now working on how he’d approach Luna directly. It wasn’t about asking for her number. That was very easy. No, he’d find a way to pull her in, to make her curious about him. He needed to know if she could handle the depths of what lay beneath his charming surface. As Ares lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. This was going to be fun. Effort, after all, was just another game—one that he always won. He closed his eyes, imagining Luna’s face. He could already picture it: the moment when she would see who he truly was. Would she be horrified? Or would she be intrigued, like him? Let’s see how far we can go, Luna.