CHAPTER 65: THE HIDDEN TRUTH

An hour ago

Pierce rose from his seat, straightening his jacket as the chatter of the stadium lingered behind him.

He started toward his office, footsteps steady, mind replaying every detail he had observed. Alex’s restraint... Marcus’s execution...

Halfway down the corridor, however, a thought struck him... sharp, valuable, undeniable.

His lips curved faintly as he adjusted his course toward Marcus and the group’s changing room.

The corridor of the athletic complex stretched ahead of President Pierce, his leather shoes clicked against polished tiles as he approached changing room, each step measured and deliberate.

He’d allowed the boys enough time to marinate in their defeat.

Muffled voices died the instant his knuckles rapped against the door. A pause. Shuffling. Then the handle turned.

Marcus opened it, face still carrying the flush of lingering frustration.

Behind him, Tyler and Robert slumped on the benches like wounded soldiers, shoulders curved inward, eyes anywhere but the doorway.

Most of the others had already filed out, leaving only a thin scattering of silence in their wake.

Pierce stepped inside without waiting for invitation, the door clicking shut behind him.

His gaze swept the room - scattered jerseys draped over chairs, untouched water bottles on the desk, the thick silence that seemed to press against the walls.

He let it linger a heartbeat longer, savoring the stillness, before finally speaking

"Easy, boys," he said, settling his hands behind his back. "I’ve seen funerals with more spirit than this locker room."

Marcus’s jaw tightened. "Sir, we... the plan didn’t exactly go as expected."

"No?" Pierce drifted toward the window, studying the campus grounds below.

Tyler shifted against the wall. "Everything was perfect. William and Brad executed the betrayal exactly as planned. But somehow that bastard kept his cool. Didn’t snap, didn’t crack."

Robert leaned forward, voice tight. "That’s what rattles me. Most players would’ve lashed out, made a scene. Instead, he turned the crowd’s anger into fuel. Adapted like it was second nature."

Pierce nodded slowly, still facing the glass. "Fascinating. So here you sit, licking wounds, wondering how a scholarship student with his ragtag collection managed to humiliate Apex XI in front of half the university."

"It’s not just humiliation," Marcus said, voice rising. "We lost everything. Our reputation, credibility... and we got you nothing."

Pierce turned, expression serene as morning tea. "Didn’t I mention already? If you lose, it’s simply a game between students. Nothing more."

He paused, letting that settle.

"Though I must say, the aftermath has been quite illuminating."

"Illuminating how?" Tyler asked.

"Ah, well, failure often reveals opportunities that success keeps hidden." Pierce moved to Marcus’s desk chair, settling with the ease of someone comfortable anywhere.

"Tell me, where might our friends William and Brad be right now?"

Marcus frowned. "They’ve probably gone home by now. After everyone saw them throw the game, I doubt they’d stick around."

"Precisely." Pierce’s smile carried paternal warmth. "Two young men, isolated, desperate, bearing the full weight of their betrayal. Every student on campus witnessed them almost hand victory to the opposition. They’re pariahs."

Robert leaned forward. "What’s your point, sir?"

Pierce steepled his fingers. "Well, consider this scenario. What if these two were approached by young Hale and his friends? Perhaps seeking an explanation... or something?" His words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

The room went silent.

Tyler’s eyes narrowed, realization dawned on him. "You mean if Alex and his team attacked them?"

"I’m suggesting nothing," Pierce said, voice innocent as Sunday service. "Merely observing that emotions run high after such events. Young men, coursing with adrenaline and righteous fury, might respond badly to confrontation by those who betrayed them."

Marcus’s eyes sharpened. "And if something like that happened to them... publicly..."

"Well, then I’d have no choice but to investigate, would I? Student violence, particularly against vulnerable individuals, is something this institution addresses very seriously." Pierce’s tone carried perfect regret.

"Especially involving a scholarship student who should appreciate his opportunities, not abuse them."

Robert sat back slowly. "That’s... actually brilliant."

"I prefer ’practical,’" Pierce said, rising. "Naturally, such a confrontation would need to occur organically. It would be quite inappropriate for anyone to... orchestrate such circumstances."

He moved toward the door, pausing with his hand on the handle.

Marcus stood as well, understanding beginning to dawn. "You mean..."

"I mean nothing at all," Pierce said smoothly.

"I simply observe that if certain individuals were to encounter them first - before Hale’s group could even respond - and if those individuals expressed their... disappointment appropriately..."

He shrugged. "Well, emotional young men can be unpredictable."

Robert caught on completely. "So we handle William and Brad ourselves, then..."

"I didn’t hear that," Pierce interrupted gently, though his eyes gleamed. "I was never here, boys. I was in my office, reviewing enrollment papers."

He opened the door, then looked back one final time.

"Remember, gentlemen - I know nothing of your plans. I’m simply an old administrator who hopes all his students find their way."

The door closed with a soft click, leaving the three staring at each other through sudden, charged silence.

Marcus’s smile spread wider.

"Tyler," he said quietly, "I think it’s time we paid our former accomplice a visit."

***

Mike and Lila’s Date - The Hidden Truth

Mike hurriedly moved forward, weaving through the slowly dispersing crowd outside the college gates, when he finally spotted her leaning casually against a lamppost, arms crossed and tapping her foot with mock impatience.

"I thought you weren’t going to care about me today," Lila teased, her eyes narrowing in playful accusation. "Totally engrossed in that game of yours, huh?"

Mike laughed nervously, running a hand through his hair. "Well... it was that intense. "

"Yeah, yeah, I know," she said, letting a faint smirk tug at her lips. "But I liked it a lot too. What a rollercoaster of a game."

He grinned, feeling the tension of the past few days slip just slightly. "It really was. Marcus and Alex went all out. Never a dull moment."

Lila tilted her head, a mischievous glint lighting up her eyes. "You know what I would have liked more?"

Mike’s heart skipped a beat, curiosity sparking. "What?"

Her voice dropped slightly, low and teasing, brushing against the edge of intimacy like a secret shared only between them.

"You... playing there... running, sweating, fighting for your team... seeing that fire in your eyes... I would have loved to see every part of you giving it your all."

Mike froze for a heartbeat, his cheeks warming violently.

He scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed yet flustered. "Well... I don’t play games," he admitted sheepishly, trying to recover some composure.

Her laugh was soft, teasing, and laced with warmth. "I know... just teasing you. But you... you’d have been impossible to miss."

He shook his head, smiling despite himself.

They reached the little campus café, the place buzzing with students grabbing food or sitting at small tables.

They grabbed a table near the window, the hum of conversation filling the background.

"I’ve been looking forward to this," Lila said, leaning back casually, one elbow on the table.

"Me too," Mike said, picking at his fries. "It’s nice... just sitting, talking... not worrying about anything else for a while."

"I like hearing you talk," she said, tilting her head, "even about the small stuff. Makes the day feel lighter."

They laughed over funny classroom stories, shared embarrassing childhood moments, and joked about upcoming assignments. Mike found himself relaxing more than he had in days.

At one point, Lila leaned across slightly to reach for a napkin, letting their fingers brush. "Careful," she said softly, teasing, "you might start enjoying this too much."

Mike’s heart raced. "Enjoying what?"

"This," she said, pulling her hand back slowly, letting the brief touch linger in the air. "Being with me. Don’t act like you didn’t notice."

He chuckled, caught off-guard. "Okay... guilty as charged."

Suddenly, a soft ringing cut through the quiet hum of the cafe. Lila’s eyes flicked to her phone on the table.

"Sorry," she said, glancing at the screen. Her expression shifted slightly - barely perceptible, but Mike caught it. "I should take this. It’s my... roommate. She’s having some drama."

"Of course, go ahead," Mike said, waving her off with an understanding smile.

Lila stood gracefully, phone in hand. "I’ll be right back, okay? Don’t go anywhere."

She headed toward the back of the restaurant, disappearing around the corner toward the restrooms.

Mike watched her go, his eyes tracing her confident stride. There was something in his gaze... a complicated admiration he couldn’t quite define.

***

In the narrow hallway near the restrooms, Lila pressed the phone to her ear, her warm smile melting into something colder, more calculated.

"Sophia," she said quietly, glancing around to make sure she was alone.

"Where are you?" Sophia’s voice crackled through the speaker, playful. "How’s it going with lover boy?"

Lila smirked. "You just disturbed my perfect date,Sophia."

They both let out a slight, shared laugh, the sound quiet but carrying a hint of mischief.