A Slip Of The Tongue

After class ended for today, I was about to text the others to ask them to hang out.

“!”

However, I stopped in my tracks as I remembered that I already had something to do.

Thus, I headed to the gym.

Jack told me that I used to help out the basketball team. It seems that I used to buy drinks for the players, hand out towels, clean the floor and pick up the balls.

These tasks could be regarded as trivial things but according to Jack, my support helped the team to focus solely on basketball which would make every training session even more efficient.

“Nice shot!”

Almost arriving at the gym, the voices of the team were heard.

I guess they already began training.

As I entered the building, I instantly noticed the change in the atmosphere.

Even though they just started to train a few minutes ago, I could feel the intensity in the air.

“Impressive, right? Well, this is how practice should be if we want to win the upcoming tournament.” Jack commented while stretching on the sidelines.

“Yes, I agree.” I said as I watched them play.

Jack formed a smile seeing his team.

“Alright, guys! Let's begin practice for real!” Jack shouted determined.

As he stepped on the court, Jack turned his face to me.

“Ah, could you prepare the drinks for us for now?” he asked me.

I nodded slightly in response.

Looking at the intensity of their practice, it was normal to drink a lot. That was why I had to prepare or refill their drinks at least two times per practice. Some players ordered some drinks aside from water so I must buy them. Naturally, I will get the money back in the end of each month. Jack promised me that.

“How could I forget to bring a bag with me again?!” I complained with a grunt.

Struggling to hold over 10 bottles in my arms, I walked around in school on my way back to the gym.

“Is that the guy?”

“Shh! Don't say anything!”

“Just ignore him!”

The people in my vicinity looked at me either pitiful or straight up tried to ignore me while whispering something about me.

I decided to ignore them as I had to get back quickly.

When I was about to enter the gym, I heard Jack raising his voice.

“Are you retarded?! How could you miss that shot?! No one was guarding you!” Jack shouted aggressively at his teammate.

“I-I'm sorry!”

“H-hey, could you cut him some slack? He's a newbie.” another teammate suggested.

He tried to protect his teammate but one could see that he also was trembling a bit.

“Huh? Don't screw with me! Such things could cost us a game! And do you really think you're one to talk?” Jack replied as he closed the distance to his teammate.

“You're the worst defender in our team! You all can be grateful that I actually can point out your mistakes so don't complain to get shouted at, you hear me?!” Jack explained while gazing at everyone intimidatingly.

No one said a word back to him.

Even I was taken aback. It was the first time that I saw Jack getting so aggressive.

“Shit!” Jack shouted again in frustration as he sat down on a chair.

While he was wiping off his sweat with his towel, I went to him with a drink in my hand.

“Well, how should I say... Maybe you were a bit too harsh on them, Jack.” I said nervously while handing him the drink.

Hearing that, he turned his face to me.

I had to gulp down my saliva.

Were his eyes always so scary?

Smack!

“Shut up! Don't piss me off!” Jack yelled while he slapped the drink in my hand away.

“Know your place!” he added.

In that moment, nothing with the exception of Jack's voice echoing in the gym was heard. Everyone stopped their activities and watched the two of us.

Not knowing how to react, my body froze up. Besides from a barely audible apology, no words were able to escape my mouth.

“Tch.” Jack clicked his tongue.

Suddenly, he stood up from his seat and walked to the others.

“Let's resume practice!” he announced with a somewhat calmer tone.

Time passed without another argument breaking out.

When practice for today ended, most of the guys went home without saying anything, including Jack, while a few stayed behind and practiced a bit more.

While I was cleaning up, I noticed that one of the players staying behind was the one who tried to cover up for his other teammate.

I carefully approached him.

“Ehm, could I ask you something?”

“Hm? Sure.” he said as he stopped practicing.

“Well... I wanted to know if Jack was always like that...” I asked nervously.

His eyes widened for a moment.

“I-it's the tournament, I guess. He's just very passionate if it's about basketball, you know...” he answered with slight hesitation while his eyes avoided to look at me.

“The tournament, huh? I see. Sorry for interrupting you and thanks for answering my question.” I said apologetic.

After I finished my job in the gym, I prepared my things to go home.

“...know your place ...know your place …know your place.” I muttered repetitively as I slowly lost myself in thoughts while walking to the school gates.

I can not remember anything yet but I can not shake off the feeling that I heard exactly those words somewhere before.

But when? Where? From whom? And why?

Based on my observations until now, it seems like I am a loner. The only people I talk to besides my family are Jack, Anna and Fynn.

If you would look at it objectively, then it must be one of those three. Comparing the tone and the content of those words would lead to Jack due to it being impossible for Anna or Fynn saying it. These two would never get aggressive or insult someone.

So Jack, huh?

According to his teammate, Jack threw a fit because the tournament would start soon. That side of him would stem from his passion for basketball.

Maybe he did not mean what he said and it was just a slip of the tongue? But-

Bzz!

It was my phone that disrupted my thoughts.

Reflexively, I took out my phone and saw that I received a new message from Jack.

[Sorry]

“Heh.” I let out a small giggle.

There is no way that Jack is the one I am searching for.

So who else could it be? Anna? Or even Fynn?

No, no, no. I shook my head in denial in response to those thoughts.

I must stop suspecting my friends.

“What a pain...” I moaned exhausted.

Then, I perceived the presence of another person.

“What's wrong, Leon?” a person with a familiar voice posed a question with a hint of worry in the voice.

There was a person standing at the school gates.

“Fynn? What are you doing here?” I asked him

“I also had some club activities to do. So I thought that we could go home together.” he explained.

“But are you fine? You seemed deep in thoughts.” Fynn asked me again.

“Oh, well, it's nothing to worry about... The basketball team's tournament is coming soon, you know? Everyone's a bit on edge recently...” I said awkwardly while scratching the back of my head.

Of course, that was not the reason why I seemed absent minded. However, there was no way that I could tell Fynn that something unpleasant flashed my mind and that I suspected Jack or the others to be the root of that hazy memory.

“The basketball team...” Fynn muttered with a rather serious expression as he put his fingers on his chin.

“What did Jack do...” he added quietly.

Huh? How was Fynn able to conclude that it was Jack?

“Hey, Fynn, how-”

“Let's not waste time and go home, don't you think so, too?” Fynn suggested cheerfully as he interrupted me.

“O-ok.” I replied weakly as I was taken aback by how fast his expression and tone changed.

Sometimes I just can not comprehend this guy.