Chapter 11

MONDAY

Even after school there were a lot of people who stayed back in order to watch the basketball match between different classes. The international class that Ian enrolled in was the 7th classroom of their year. Since there were an odd number of classes in their year during the division of matches it was decided that the championship of last year section 5 would be left out in the beginning. The other classes would play against each other in order sec 1 against sec 2, sec 3 against sec 5 and sec 6 would play against the international class. After the victors were decided the losers would directly be eliminated. Three victors of this round plus the winner of last year they'd play against each other, after the winners of both matches were decided the winners would play against each other for the first and the first runner-up place, the losers would play against each other to decide the second runner up.

There were only two matches allotted per day for the entire year it was Ian and Nathan's turn today. They'd be playing against sec 6, although Ian was a substitute and had basically zero interest in sitting and being a dummy, he had to since he was a registered player.

The game had already started and sec 6 was leading by 30 with a score of 45 while the international class only had 15 points. Its not that the international class was playing worse than them but its just that people from sec 6 were constantly hiding their hands and legs with bodies while conducting a foul play to avoid referee's notice.

After Dylan fell for the nth time, the referee called out, gave the opposing team member a yellow card and the teacher in charge asked for a time out. The entire class was gathered around the bleachers where they had laid Dylan.

"Dylan are you okay?"

"Can he still play with his current conditions?"

"Those people from class 6 are such jerks, how could they do this can't the referee see?"

"What should we do?"

Ian stood up his face cloudy, its one thing when he doesn't interact with his classmates because they seem naïve, but its another thing for others to be hurting his classmates when they haven't done anything wrong.

"I'll be going in now." He stated firmly.

Ian went up and joined his other team members, besides Nathan everyone was dubious about his style of play.

"We'll follow the 2-1-2 formation I'll be going forward with Nathan, Alex will be the point guard and Kale and Victor will be under the basket. Remember when that bald head comes inside our side of the court we'll switch to man to man defence, Nathan you will be defending against the bald head, I'll be against that short guard, you guys can discuss the rest. That bald head is the main scorer of their team, Nathan your job against him will obviously be to snatch the ball, if you can't I hope you can resort to trickery like they did. This will be a tit for tat match." Ian explained with an evil glint in his eyes.

The match started just like Ian had stated, five minutes into the match and they had already caught up to sec 6, There was no chance for the bald head to cross into their side of the court with them being on complete offense. As soon as they caught up to the score Ian and Nathan glanced at each other and nodded, after that it was a unilateral crushing. Ian and Nathan dribbled the ball between themselves and scored basket after basket. When the match drew to an end there was a deafening roar from the bleachers of the international class. When Ian turned his head to look he had already been surrounded by his classmates and was popped up into the air by the crowd. He let out a laugh, damn these kids he thought.

Walking towards the school gate sporting a small smile on his face Ian encountered Lance Venson leaning against his car. Ian silently got into his co-pilot and gestured for him to drive. After a short ride filled with excruciating silence, when Lance parked his car, he was fiddling with his hands without saying a word. Ian laughed when he saw how uncomfortable Lance was fidgety and avoiding eye contact with him.

"You look like a innocent girl who's nervous for her bridal night right now. Let me tell you Mr.Venson this look doesn't suit you." Ian smiled and continued, "I'm guessing you learnt something from the commissioner."

Lance saw his smiling face and completely relaxed his tense state, "How did you guess?"

"There's only two people who know about my life story and would give me such a look. Since you're so tense I'm guessing you found out from the commissioner. Don't worry about it I don't really have feelings about finding a potential relative after eighteen years of no news."

How could that be I'm sure it hurt that the only clue he found relating to his family might've been the murderer's DNA, a murderer he's sworn to catch. I'm sure he is hurting thinking about it, thought Lance. Maybe I should do something that could cheer Ian up. As soon as that thought came up Lance was surprised at his own thoughts. Cheer him up? Why? His own emotions and thoughts were puzzling Lance in a way that was not even close to being puzzled by a case. He decided he needed to go talk to his psychologist lest he harm the tender looking kid as he glanced at Ian who stood on the beach with his back facing the sun. The sunlight illuminated Ian, at that moment even Lance didn't realise what his heart had already decided for him.