34 When the mist cleared (2/2)

An eerie moment of silence spread among the spectators. Only the announcer announced the victory of 'The Lucifer's' and that too without any amusement in the voice.

Everyone knew that 'The Aphrodites' could have won, but due to Seb's injury which held her back. It was a first.

None of the teammates said a word. Ari slowly approached Seb sobbing,”I'm so sorry Seb.....it's all...my fault”.

Seb smiled warmly, patted her head and pulled her closer to herself,”You did great Ari. Don't worry, this was only our first defeat. We can practice harder to prevent this moment from occurring again. The other way I think, the failure was necessary. You guys should be able learn to do it without me. Also, we need to appreciate the victory that we took for granted. You guys with me? We WILL become stronger!!!”.

The teammates slowly smiled and held hands together. Their heads came together as one.

Iven had heard the whole conversation.

He cursed on his acts and for not listening to Yuka earlier. He made things worse. He had the chance to prevent to from proceeding further.

His reason to participate in this game was only one, to make Seb realize that even with her in the team they can still lose due to her mistakes. Dfeat is inevitable! She must not live in overconfidence and place herself so high. He wanted to see the consequences,whether she shatters or excuses herself.....and he did them perfectly too.

Only, the lesson which he wanted to teach Seb, she had learnt far before than him and had started acting on it too.

She had proved him wrong.

It was really stupid of Iven to doubt on her that easily. Moreover on a girl like Seb, who was the first one to have him attracted towards her.

She is absolutely not what she portrays from outside, just is unable to represent her point through speaking.

The other day, she said those things to Iven because she was pointing at her team who was totally depended on her. She wanted to make them realize and recognize their own capabilities and to trust on themselves without Seb's help. She was trying to teach them to gain success on their own.

Iven mistook it for overconfidence. She could have won the match too, but she held back to show the team what can happen if she doesn't aid them for a while. She was successful in building their confidence through this defeat, but Iven was the one who truly lost to her!!!

A voice brought back Iven to the reality,”.....Seb, I think you should go see the doctor.....Yeah! That doesn't look so good.....Those merciless jerks....”.

Seb only nodded once but didn't care for it. She still had one thing left to do.

”I'll go talk to them once”, Seb said.

”Don't!!!”, Jane denied,”They don't worth it”.

”It's fine”, Seb assured and walked straight up to Iven where the other boys had gathered too.

Her eye was still covered with her bangs. The boys stood behind Iven with apologetic look on their faces. They thought Seb was clearly mad and didn't say a word.

Seb stood for a while and studies their expressions. They all looked down.

She started laughing. It made the boys look up at her.

”What's with the smudged look on your faces?”, she asked smiling,”You just won, celebrate already. It was really a tough but cool game, haven't faced such opponents in years. I presume, Yuka were you a player before? You've got the moves”.

”Huh?”, a sound emerged from Yuka's throat, but didn't continue further.

Iven was still quite. It was Mak who started speaking,”Seb....I'm really sorry...I was careless....”

Seb chuckled,”You have no idea how much these happens during games to me. We are used to, it's not your fault...I'm actually thankful. The defeat was needed. So cheer up and enjoy the cash prize”.

The boys started smiling slowly. The shook hands with Seb. She seemed completely fine too.

But Iven still didn't speak or react any thing positive. Only he understood the truth. Seb was pretending. The boys believed what Seb was expressing. But they didn't....will never get her at all....

The boys went back, but Iven stayed...so did Seb. She knew he had something to say to her.

”You want to say something?”, Seb's voice was calm and polite. Bitter polite!!!

”How much are you hurt Belle?”,Iven finally looked up at her.

”Oh this?”, Seb pointed at her covered eyes,”Just swelled up”.

Iven wasn't convinced at all,”Please don't do this”,he pleaded.

”I did nothing Iven”, Seb replied,”It's you who did everything”.

Iven chose not to argue on that further. His priority concern was something else. He couldn't have won the argument on something he was at fault.

”Show me”, he begged again,”Please let me see”.

”I said...it's totally fine”, Seb said coldly. It shut Iven up. He just kept looking at her with guilty eyes. A moment of silence followed. Nobody uttered a word.

Finally Seb broke the silence!

”I didn't expect this from you of all people Iven. I seriously didn't”.

Iven stared pressing his lips.

”You're still a long way to understand me”. Seb said,”That;s why you didn't get my words the other day. Your misunderstanding brought you here”.

-Belle, that's not true....

-It was my mistake that I couldn't make you understand.

-Please hear me out...

”I'll listen to you when I've had a grip of myself Iven”, Seb talked emotionless,”I have to go right now”.

Iven hated this side of Seb. She was stubborn. And when she's pissed off or hurt, nothing can turn her mind back.

-Don't do this....

-I'll see you after a week.

-No! Too long!

-The Dockyard this Friday. 10:00 am sharp.

-That won't do any good.

”I'll meet for the sake of the date I missed. A cover up. Till then I'll be fine. Don't worry, it's not a strong enough reason for which I'll stay so mad.Don't try to contact till them, you'll worsen the matter”, Seb said,”I just have to gather my mind up and sort it out to realize why am I this hurt for such a thing”.

”Belle I....”, Iven sighed,”....I'm sorry”.

”No I'm sorry”, Seb said and started to leave,”I just feel it's not good enough this time.”