Chapter 830

Melina's eyes were still fixed on Andrew. This game felt entirely different from the one she had watched back in the village. That time, she had calmly cheered for everyone. This time, her emotions were tied to Andrew's every move. When he went for a shot, she held her breath. When he ran, she cheered. When he pulled off a fake-out to steal the ball, she nearly jumped in excitement. It was as if she were the one playing. By the time the game ended, her voice was hoarse. But she was happy—so happy that even the stress and frustration she had been feeling recently seemed to fade. Even the ulcer in her mouth didn't hurt as much anymore. Andrew's team won. He played like an overpowered cheat code, dominating the court like an adult among kids. He alone had scored half the team's points, crushing the opposition with an overwhelming victory. The other team looked shattered, and their fans were grumbling. Some were disappointed. Some were thrilled. But as the winning side, Andrew's university had every right to celebrate. The cheers and screams filled the court, one wave after another. Melina joined in, shouting a few times despite her scratchy throat. The players on the court were just as hyped. Wyatt, who had only played for a few minutes as a substitute, was screaming louder than some of the fans. Melina grabbed a bottle of water and ran toward Andrew. He took it and gulped the water down. She pulled out a tissue and started wiping the sweat from his forehead. Nervously, she asked, "Andrew, how did it feel?" She hadn't asked him this in the past couple of days when she had been feeling discouraged. But now, she felt hopeful again. She wanted to hear his answer. Before Andrew could respond, Wyatt ran up behind them, grinning from ear to ear. "Melina, why are you even asking him? Have you ever seen him excited about anything? Ask me! I feel amazing! This was my first game ever! And those losers thought they could play dirty and get away with it. Hmph! We defeated them! That was satisfying!" Melina frowned. She didn't care about Wyatt's feelings. She only wanted to hear Andrew's thoughts. Andrew saw the anticipation in her eyes and nodded. "It was alright," he said. Melina's face lit up. If Andrew said it was alright, then it must have meant he enjoyed it. Wyatt, watching their interaction, couldn't hold back anymore. "Melina, look at his face. Do you see any excitement? He said it was alright because you were cheering for him. Because you were happy. That's why he felt alright. It's not because he actually likes basketball." He felt it was his duty to help Andrew, just like how he always had to explain things on his father's behalf to his mother, making sure she knew how much his father loved her. However, Wyatt's explanation wiped the smile off Melina's face. Her expression turned pale. She studied Andrew's face carefully. Was he excited? No, his eyes were indifferent. The only time his gaze softened was when he looked at her. The noise from the court and the excitement of the game didn't seem to stir anything inside him. Melina opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words. Andrew had been watching her closely this whole time. He could read her thoughts as easily as if she had spoken them aloud. He sighed. "Angel, you already know. My mind isn't that easy to change."