Chapter 009: Assumption

Chapter 009: Assumption

Terry, Daniel, Ben, and Kai rounded their eyes at the words that came out from the man with the black hood.

Their bodies stiffened, as if they had been stung by electricity. The previously boisterous atmosphere turned into silence in just a few seconds.

"Huh? Failed?" Marissa, who was beside them, asked, half shouting. She took over the conversation as well as representing what was in the heads of the four of them. "How so?"

"Their dance was terrible. I wasn't entertained at all."

The man in the black hood replied in a low voice. A small growl escaped his mouth. He even tore up Terry's team scoring paper and threw it on the floor.

"But the audience reaction was great, X," Zayne spoke up after seeing Marissa, who was about to restate her argument. "What are you judging by?"

X was silent. He bowed his head even deeper, reluctant to meet Zayne or Marissa's gaze. The man squeezed the pen in his hand so hard that it broke in half.

"I don't know what your problem is, X. But your opinion about their appearance is invalid," Zayne said.

"Zayne, you don't seem to understand me."

X took off the black hood that had been covering his face. Revealing his bloodshot eyes and alluring platinum hair. The whole audience cheered loudly at X's appearance, which turned out to be very handsome, just like the famous action actors.

"What do you mean?" Zayne asked.

"I'm just judging based on my observations. So you two-"

"You passed!" Marissa cut off X's unfinished speech, then patted Terry lightly on the back.

"You can go backstage or watch the other performances. Next contestant, please be ready!" Marissa continued, gently pushing Terry's back away from the stage.

"But what about the judgment from..."

"Don't listen to him," Marissa cut off Terry's unfinished speech quickly. "His opinion doesn't matter. Now, you can get off the stage."

Terry was forced off the stage, followed by his three roommates. Before actually leaving, Terry looked back.

Unintentionally, his eyes met with X, who was staring intently at him. Terry's body froze for a moment. It felt...there was a strange feeling that infiltrated his heart. This felt like Dejavu.

"Terry, why are you silent?" Asked Ben when Terry stopped walking. "Let's go downstairs. Group two is coming up the stage."

Terry turned to Ben while putting on a faint smile. "Okay."

As soon as Terry's group had stepped off the stage, X clenched his hands so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breath came in gasps with his jaw tightening.

"Terry, you can get away this time. I assure you that you will fail in the next round."

.

.

.

"Terry, do you know who the white-haired man with red eyes was?" Ben asked.

Terry sat up on the bed. He turned to Ben and shook his head. "No, I don't. I even know the face under the black hood."

Daniel took off his shirt because he felt hot. "Why do you ask that, Ben?"

"I feel like there's something between you and that X guy."

"What do you mean?" Kai asked curiously.

"I feel that X knows Terry."

Those words naturally startled the three of them. Ben glanced at Terry, who was frowning.

"Why would you conclude such a thing?"

"Because I can see it," Ben approached Terry and sat beside him. "Those red eyes are looking at you with a look of many meanings. A look of sadness, hurt, and longing. All mixed together."

Kai snorted rudely as he shook his head. "Are you an expression expert now?"

"It's not that. It's just that-"

"Like I said, I never knew him or met him. So you can stop assuming that."

Ben smacked his lips but chose to give in. "Okay."

"So, what are we going to do after this?" Kai asked. He was bored now. After all, their first mission had already been completed and had gone well.

"Um...how about we play a game?" Daniel suggested it conversationally. He was busy fanning his body, which was sweating quite a lot.

"Good idea!" Ben said enthusiastically. His eyes rounded with a twinkle of happiness.

"What game shall we play?" Daniel asked.

"Hide and Seek?" Kai suggested.

Terry tapped his forehead at the sight of his three friends acting like children. "Why are you guys suggesting a game like that? We're adults!"

Daniel looked at Terry sarcastically. His thick lips were folded inward. "Then what's a suitable game when there's not a single electronic thing we can play with?"

"That..."

"Never mind. We'd better get this game going. I haven't played it in a while," Kai said in a cheerful tone, trying to break the tense atmosphere between Terry and Daniel.

"You're willing, right, Terry?"

Terry let out a rough sigh, then finally nodded his head. He didn't want to get into unnecessary trouble or disputes with these people. "Okay."

"Well, then, you be the cat, Terry," Ben said casually.

Terry, of course, did not accept. His eyebrows shot up with a deep furrowed brow. "Huh?"

"Come on, run and hide, guys," Ben told Daniel and Kai to get out of the cell. "Terry, count to 10 and find us, okay?"

Terry nodded lazily, then turned his body around. "Okay, here I go. One..."

Daniel, Ben, and Kai came out of the cell and split up to hide in order to win the game. Terry kept counting until he reached 10.

"Ten."

Terry glanced around, and not found someone. He walked towards the outside of the cell. His feet led him to go to the north side first.

His footsteps were slow and deliberate. His eyes carefully watched every corner of the building to find her three roommates.

Once at the North building, his ears accidentally caught something. It looked like someone was talking on the phone. Out of curiosity, Terry pressed his ear against the door.

["I don't know how this happened. But I won't give up so easily."]

Terry recognized this voice. It...belonged to X, the person who had looked at him sharply when he was about to get off the stage.

["I will try to get Terry eliminated quickly. Because he has to pick up where you left off, Dad."]

Terry frowned. Why did X want him to be eliminated from this game so quickly? What was that man talking about?

[“The eye of the storm seems to be safe. Besides, Terry probably won't remember it because of that incident. Please be patient a little more, Dad."]

Alright, now Terry's head is hurting from being bombarded by too much information. The eye of the storm? What does this have to do with him? Or is there another "Terry" that X is talking about in there?

["You can trust me. I have risked everything in this big game. If the eye of the storm doesn't come back to us, you can kill me."]

The more he listened, the less Terry understood what X was talking about. Just as he was about to listen further, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. Making his body frozen like an ice sculpture.

"Who's behind me?"