Chapter 4

After breaking up with Hyman, I focused my energy even more on painting. With internships approaching, I was creating almost every day. My roommate, worried I was becoming too withdrawn, dragged me to watch a school basketball game. Unexpectedly, Lamber was there too. As the main player, he led the charge. At six foot three, he executed slam dunks with ease. "Lamber! Lamber! Lamber!" To my surprise, the people around me were all Lamber's fans, complete with a cheerleading squad cheering him on. Someone had stuck a small cheering flag in my hand, clearly bearing his name. Amid the cheers, Lamber suddenly looked over at me. Our eyes met, and I quickly looked down, my face inexplicably burning. "Wow! He looked at me!" "He was clearly looking at me!" Amid the chirping chatter, a deep, cool voice carried across the court. "The water. Bring it over." I looked up blankly, only to see Lamber pointing directly at me. The more I tried to hide, the more impossible it became. "Wow, Lamber is asking you to bring him water!" My roommate shoved the water bottle into my hands and gave me a firm push forward. On Lamber's handsome face, the corners of his lips lifted slightly. Backlit, he seemed even more imposing. I had no choice but to brace myself and walk forward. But halfway there, the water was intercepted. Hyman, who had joined the game in the second half, stood directly in my path. "Playing hard to get? Still saying you don't care? You're so jealous you've come to this." Hyman played with the water bottle, then suddenly threw it away forcefully. "Go pick that up, open it in front of everyone, and feed me. Then I'll consider getting back together with you." Seeing Hyman's smug, petty expression, I inwardly cursed my own past shallowness for liking someone who was all looks and no substance. The teasing on the basketball court grew louder. A glance out of the corner of my eye showed Grace, not far away, already pale. A sharp gaze was fixed on me. Lamber's eyes were cold and deep, a hint of anger in his unruly expression. The game was delayed due to this little interlude. The comments from the girls off-court were becoming increasingly nasty. "I think she's doing it on purpose! Flaunting her pretty face, trying to have them both!" "Exactly! Hyman's family is rich, Lamber's top of the class and handsome. Sluts like her always want everything!" Lamber stepped in front of me. His tall figure stood against the light, slender and upright, silently imposing. Hyman raised an eyebrow, "Since when does my cousin like my sloppy seconds?" "Forgotten how it feels to get beaten up?" Lamber's light remark instantly made Hyman's face darken. Tension filled the air. Just then, I suddenly walked towards the water bottle Hyman had thrown away. I bent down, picked it up, opened the cap, and walked steadily towards Hyman. The corner of Hyman's mouth lifted in a provoke smile: "Too bad, cousin. The woman you like only has eyes for me—" As the last word left his lips, I threw the entire bottle of water over him. I spoke slowly and clearly: "We were together for eight months. We never slept together, never kissed, even held hands only a handful of times. One might think you were incapable. Even if we're talking about 'seconds,' you're the one I used and discarded." The entire court fell silent. Hyman, utterly humiliated, raised his hand to strike me, but Lamber firmly caught his wrist. "On the court." The whistle blew. Even soaking wet, Hyman had to tough it out on the court. Furious, he played dirty. I worried several times that Lamber would get hurt, but his superb skills not only prevented that but also won him a wave of cheers. His stylish shots even made me cheer involuntarily. "Go Lamber!" During a break in play after a score, Lamber glanced at me, the corner of his mouth lifting imperceptibly. This was probably the epitome of a young man's dashing spirit. He played fiercely, giving Hyman no chance to score at all. Hyman lost the game 3-0 and stormed off the court. Amid the cheers, Lamber walked slowly towards me. "Where's the water you got for me?" My roommate slipped a water bottle into my hand, snickering teasingly. I slowly held the water out. Lamber didn't take it, just looked at me with a faint, amused smile. "I helped you deal with your toxic ex. Doesn't that deserve you opening the bottle cap for me?" My face was burning. I tried a few times but couldn't unscrew the cap. Just then, Lamber reached out, his large hand covering the back of mine, and twisted it open with force. He held the water up to my lips. "You drink first." A wave of heat rushed through me. My brain was struggling to keep up. I could only take a sip to hide my embarrassment. Right then, Lamber's deep, pleasant voice reached my ears, unhurried. "Would you like to give 'us' a try?" The crowd screamed. The water I had just sipped nearly made me choke, but I forced it down. Amusement spilled from Lamber's eyes. He reached out and gently ruffled my hair. "If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes."