Part-290
James blinked, surprised. He had never known much about Ryan’s personal life. In fact, he rarely pried into anyone’s past, even his closest friends. But now, as he watched Ryan sit silently with ched fists, James found himself w about the history betweewo former friends.
*What happened between them?* James mused. *To go from childhood friends to this…* He could tell that the rivalry ran deep, but the details remained a mystery.
---
Oher side of the bench, Dipa was watg Ryan and Jel with a sparkle of excitement in her eyes. Her hands were csped under her , and her expression was a mix of fasation and… something else.
James tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. “Why do you look so excited?”
Dipa sighed dreamily. “Isn’t it romantic? A rivalry between two childhood friends—it’s like something straight out of a story!”
James stared at her, incredulous. “What is this? Are you some kind of otaku BL fangirl?”
Dipa’s face turned beet red. “H-how did you know?” she stammered, fidgeting with the sleeves of her jacket.
James smirked, leaning closer as if he had just uncovered a big secret. “Your expression says it all,” he teased.
Dipa looked away, trying to hide her embarrassment. “I-I see… So, yood at reading people, huh?”
James shrugged. “Not really. But anyway…” He gnced back toward Ryan, who was now sitting quietly, lost in thought. Something about Ryan’s posture bothered him—it wasn’t the usual calm, fident demeanor he was used to seeing.
---
Ryan remaiill for a long moment, staring bnkly at the floor. Jel’s words had stirred something inside him, but he wasn’t about to let it show. He knew his teammates were watg him, waiting to see how he’d react. Finally, he exhaled through his nose and stood up, brushing invisible dust off his pants.
“Don’t mind him,” Ryan said ftly, addressing the team. “He just likes to run his mouth.”
Save him a sidelong gnce. “You okay, man?”
Ryan nodded. “Yeah. Let him talk. We’ll settle it o.”
James observed quietly, noting the flicker of anger in Ryan’s otherwise posed expression. Whatever had happened between Ryan and Jel in the past, it was clear that it still haunted him.
“Ryan,” James called softly, “you good?”
Rya James’ gaze, and for a brief sed, the mask slipped—just enough for James to see the frustration underh. But then Ryan gave a small smile, shrugging it off. “Yeah. Don’t worry about me.”
James hough he wasirely vinced.
---
As the team resumed their break, the atmosphere slowly lightened. Dipa, still trying to shake off her embarrassment, kept stealing g Ryan, clearly still ied in the “rivalry narrative” she had built in her head.
Ryan noticed and shot her a fused look. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Dipa’s face flushed again, and she looked away quickly. “N-no reason!”
James chuckled. “You might wanna be careful, Ryan. Dipa thinks your rivalry with Jel is straight out of a romanovel.”
