The Alpha's Apocalypse (Back IN-FROM HELL)

CHAPTER EIGHT: THE GAME

CHAPTER EIGHT

"I know your dreams always come true, but isn't it too early to meet One about it?" Edward asked as they all moved out after the tense meeting that occured minutes ago.

Kyla smiled at this, and the rest just stayed silent like a thief caught red-handed stealing pizza from its box. Meanwhile, Dylan was relieved and at the same time petrified - Maybe the dream Kyla had is about the devilish act Boaz is planning behind him, or something else entirely - He just wished what he was thinking wasn't true. 

With Karen she thought about how she had betrayed The Pentagon. "I wish he was not the one. I did everything right back then," She thought.

They all walked to their various cars even though Dylan and Karen were lost in thoughts. Dylan and Karen were amazed about how they had gotten to where their car was packed already.

"Hope to see you all soon," Kyla said, entering her C-Class vehicle.

They bade themselves goodbye, and they all exited The Pentagon.

Hugo was still sitting on the chair when they all met him. "I hope Four's dream isn't true," He said to himself, stood up, and went straight to the exit.

The noises from every side of the basketball court haloed voices from spectators and wild fans. They are in the fourth quarter, and it is two points demarcating Jarek's team from losing to winning.

"Remove Zed, and let Jarek play!" Sasha shouted, and the coach heard her. The tension was building up, and everyone in Jarek's class was thirsty for a win. Their wish was to meet the top class students in the finals, and they surely have to win this before clashing with the team that knocked them out the previous year.

Zed didn't want to comply, but he was playing total nonsense. He had missed four consecutive baskets, and they watched him miss another one again. 

"I think I need to remove him now," The Coach said.

When the ball was out, he called for a timeout. "Hey Zed, come over here," The Coach gestured to Zed to come over.

Zed ran over to The Coach, "You called me," Zed responded.

"Are you okay to play the next few minutes?" The coach asked, turning to Jarek.

Jarek gazed upon Coach, and then to Zed, Zed looked at him irritably looking away. "Yes, I am" Jarek responded finally.

"Zed, you are out, Jarek? In," The coach instructed.

Zed snared at Jarek as Jarek stood up to his feet.

"Time in!"

59 seconds to go, the opponents passed the ball to each other, luckily for Jarek's team, they collected the ball. They passed swiftly through the opponents, but they made a bad pass, and the ball landed in the opponent's hands. They all ran to defend, but Jarek stood inches away from the half court line. One of the players on the opponent's side shot the ball but missed. 12 seconds to go, Jarek's teammate collected the rebound, and immediately passed the ball to Jarek. Students from Jarek's class began to scream his name. 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, then Jarek shot a three pointer, because he knew that if he had tried driving in, he will end up getting blocked, he thought to himself, "We win or we lose,"

He shot the ball, and everyone stayed silent - The opponents prayed it wouldn't go in, and Jarek's team hoped it entered.

The ball hit the hoop, and rolled itself like spinning a casino. Jarek hoped it would hit the jackpot. Their lives were on the hoop, and ball. The deal is on - The ball made its way into the basket.

The Coach, his teammates, and fans went wild as they ran towards Jarek. The first three people that got to him picked him off the ground. They carried him around joyfully. Zed stared at them in contempt. His two friends came over to meet him.

"What do you think we should do?"

"Let us go to the Chairman's office,"

"Why?"

Zed stared at Jerry, a huge, young kid, and kind of stupid. "Jarek was given a term off the basketball court when he enacted violence on me,"

"Ooh" Jerry exclaimed, parting his lips a little.

Dylan met Zed on the way to his office. "Hey Boy, Dylan greeted.

"Good --"

"Good afternoon. It is afternoon already," Dylan smiled.

"I want to inform you about something sir,"

"Go ahead," Dylan looked serious.

"Jarek is on probation from playing basketball, but he played today's game,"

"You mean Jarek Lorcán?"

"Yes sir,"

"Yes, the chairman told me about it, and we approved only on one condition that he wouldn't cause trouble," Dylan explained.

"Okay Sir,"

"Is nothing to be worrying about. Go to your class," Dylan said. Zed and his friends left. "I hope you guys won!"

"Yes, we did Sir," Jerry answered, and that got him a jab from Zed. "Ouch, what was that for?"

Everyone in Jarek's class is still celebrating their win on the basketball court when Zed comes in with his friends. "I know what to do," Zed said.

"And what is that?"

"Just watch" Zed said as he walked over to where Jarek was.

He pushed someone towards Jarek, and immediately he said "Sorry" smiling at Jarek. Jarek knew what he was up to, but ignored him, and continued rejoicing with other teammates.

"How about a short party during the second break," The Coach suggested, and everyone shouted, "Yes!"

The students left for their class, but Jarek, and his teammates stayed behind because the coach instructed them to. When everywhere was silent enough for them to hear the coach speak, they sat down on the empty chairs close to the Coach.

"It was a nice game today," The Coach commended, everyone in the room nodded, and The Coach continued. "We will be facing the graduating students next week, and I want all of you to practice hard. You are all aware that they defeated us the previous year, after you guys got into a fight," He looked at Zed, and Jarek. 

"Simeon, you better stop travelling? As I have told you, let the ball, and the rest of your body sync together. Please, train harder," The Coach told Simeon.

"Okay Sir," He responded.

"Now, everyone can go except Zed and Jarek,"

They all left The Coach, Zed, and Jarek. The two patiently waited for the coach to say something after a long 10 seconds. Finally, the deadlock was broken. "Zed… Jarek" The Coach called out.

"Yes Sir," They both responded.

"You two should get to work alongside each other. You are a great point guard Zed, and Jarek is the best three point shooter on this team. With two of you we can win every match." They both watched The Coach as he talked. "I will want to see changes in the final game. Don't screw this up," He said, pointing at both of them sequentially.

He stood up, "Now, off to your class," The Coach instructed, and they both obeyed.

"Did you hear the Coach?" Jarek asked as they both walked through the hallway leading to their class.

"I have ears, Jarek," Zed replied.

Jarek patted Zed's back, and Zed flinched at that. "What do you think you are doing?" Zed asked.

"Don't make a mess out of every kind gesture," Jarek responded calmly, and they walked into their class silently.

The teacher halted as they both entered. Cassy's eyes met with Jarek, and Jarek found that time to enact his charming smile on Cassy, and it slightly worked as she returned the smile. The teacher let both of them sit down before she continued teaching.

45 minutes later, it was break time. The coach had already promised them a small party because of the win earlier this morning. The Coach gave everyone two Scotch eggs and creamed ice. They all sat at different tables eating and hosting at the same time.

Cassy, Sasha, and Angelo were on a table with an empty chair beside Cassy, and another empty chair beside Angelo. Max entered the school's large cafeteria, and his eyes met with Cassy; he knew that if he saw Cassy, he would see the rest of the clique. And as expected he saw them except Jarek.

"Where is Jarek?" Max asked anyone willing to answer.

"I don't know. Immediately before the beginning of last class, he went out to God knows where," Angelo answered.

Max wanted to take his seat beside Cassy, but Cassy hastily shifted the chair before he could sit down, and Max landed on the floor.

"Damn!" He shouted, and the rest of the clique laughed out loud. Everyone in the cafeteria watched the short scene, and some started laughing too. Max felt embarrassed. "I knew today wouldn't go perfectly well," He whispered.

Cassy helped him up. "I'm sorry, it was really a reflex action," Cassy pleaded.

"No problem," Max grunted as he stood back up.

"Come sit here," Angelo said

"Thank you. Not to the people with reflex actions," Max said sarcastically.

Minutes later, Jarek entered, and he went to his normal place where Sasha and the rest were sitting down. He loved that place because he loves to go wild in his imaginations as he gazed through the window.

"Hi Guys" Jarek greeted.

"Where have you been?" Sasha asked.

"Went to the Chairman's office, he requested for me," Jarek answered.

"Even during classes?" Angelo asked again. "How important that would be?"

Jarek ignored, and sat beside Cassy. Max frowned at Cassy. "Your reflex action didn't work this time," Max said.

"This is the only empty chair," Cassy defended, and the remaining two who were there at the scene laughed out loud again.

"What's with the laugh?" Jarek asked.

"You really don't want to know," Max responded as he munched an egg.

They all are chit chatting until the bell makes a resounding noise telling them all that they need to exit the cafeteria.

In unison, they stood up, and left the cafeteria still talking about anything that comes to mind. When they got to the class, Jarek called out to Max.

"Do you still have that weird water," Jarek asked.

"You are thirsty, and you have the utmost guts to tell me what my water tastes like," Max said bitterly.

"Now that I think about it, you and Zed ought to be living together," Jarek said, and Zed snared from his seat. He did not go for the break because he was busy with the task the Chairman gave him.

"Can I have the water now?" Jarek asked.

Max took it and gave it to Jarek. "Empty it into your bottle, and give me my bottle,"

"Okay thanks." Jarek collected it, and did what he was told to do. He drank some, and left some in his bottle.

"We will soon close," Sasha said as she looked at the big wall clock in the classroom. She turned to Angelo, "Want to take a walk today?"

"Nah, my parents--" He kept quiet, and Sasha knew why, "We will be working throughout the evening today, and I will sit down to do my assignments after that," Angelo said. "I'm sorry,"

"Okay. We would just schedule another time," Sasha responded.

Jarek rested his head on his palms, and his elbow to the desk as he watched the two soon-to-be lovebirds. "One day, I will come over to your city, and cause some problems for both of you," Jarek said.

"You dare not Jarek." Angelo threatened.

TWO HOURS LATER, ALDE munched the pizza he ordered hours ago, but because he was busy, he couldn't have a bite. He munched the pizza aggressively, and Lukas watched him closely.

"Hunger really is a bad thing." He whispered, but Alde ignored him, and he continued. "You know it is 2 minutes past 4PM." Now this got Alde's attention as he whispered.

"Jarek…"

He hurriedly finished eating the pizza in his hand, and picked another one. He finished the one in his mouth, and inserted the one in his hand halfly into his mouth. He placed his laptop, and several documents into his bag. Picked up his coat, and walked over to the door.

"I will see you tomorrow!" Alde told Lukas, and bowed down to the remaining staff in the room. He exited the door, entered his car, and drove off.

The five friends walked slowly towards the gate.

"I wish my Mom won't be here again today," Cassy said.

Sasha caught up to Cassy's words, "Why did you say that?" Cassy asked.

"I really don't want to go to school here. I want private lessons,``she said.

"You don't like our company?" Sasha asked.

"Not like that. Don't get me wrong,"

"I am sure I understand if others don't." Jarek said.

"Shut up Jarek," Angelo ordered.

"You have been shouting at me since morning. Have I offended you in your dream?" Jarek asked, but got no answer.

Askarvard Magazines to the school is a ten minutes ride, and 29 minutes walk. Alde drove to the schoolgate. Shortly, Karen drove in and halted at the school gate. Alde and Karen saw each other. They greeted each other formally.

"You drove really fast, what if your brakes weren't sharp?" Alde complained.

Karen stared at him waiting for him to stop talking as she countered, "It was you who overtook me, and you were speeding too fast. Why did you do that?"

Alde watched her, "I hate my son waiting before I come pick him up unless his Mom would rant the hell out of me." He confessed. "What about you?"

"My daughter would file a promise I made to her about me telling her to withdraw from the school, and hire a private teacher for her," Karen explained.

"My son literally doesn't like school,"

"Same here" They both scoffed.

"I feel thirsty." Alde cried out.

Cassy saw his Mom. "Tomorrow is another day," She whispered.

They all walked towards Karen and Alde. They greeted them politely, and the parents returned the gesture.

"Jarek, do you have water there?" Alde asked.

"Yes Dad" He brought out his watercan from his bag, and handed it over to his father.

Alde gulped it down his throat. "Do you think this is water?" Alde asked, staring at Jarek.

Karen collected the bottle from Alde. She tasted the water, and felt it with her tongue against her inner upper jaw. "Kyla," She whispered.

"What's wrong with it?" Alde asked, and everyone that had drank the water stared at Karen for a resonant answer.