NEVER NO DOLLAR

Fall In Love For A Losing Game

Leonidas' heart pounded harder with each step as he approached the sound of Emma's laughter. It was a sound he used to love, but tonight it cut through him like a blade. He turned the corner and froze, seeing Emma leaning against the wall, smiling at Derek, the school's popular hockey captain. They were standing too close, their voices low and intimate.

Emma turned her head, her smile not fading as she looked at him. There was no guilt in her eyes, only mild annoyance.

"Oh, Leo. What are you doing here?" she asked, as Leonidas stood there, shocked and in disbelief. Derek smirked, crossing his arms over his chest, clearly amused by the situation.

"Looks like the mouse decided to crawl out of his hole."

Leonidas ignored Derek, his eyes fixed on Emma. His voice was shaky but determined. "I’m the one who should be asking you that, Emma. What are you doing here? With him... on a romantic chat?"

Emma rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically. "I was at the gym, and I just happened to meet Derek. I was a bit bored, so I chatted with him. Is that enough?"

"No. Not until you tell me that you had nothing to do with him."

"What do you want from her, loser? You expect her to like this?" Derek said, pulling Emma closer to him for a kiss. Leonidas' heart sank, his breath catching in his throat as Emma pushed Derek away with a soft move and a blushing smile she tried to hide.

But it was clear; the kiss, though short, showed a passion, a desire to explore more. Leonidas couldn't hold back his shock, wanting to believe that it was their first time, but the bond between them was too obvious.

"What the hell was that, Emma?" Leonidas asked in frustration, his eyes reddened with anger and disappointment.

But Emma replied easily. "What? It was Derek who started it, not me." Emma laughed with Derek, as if nothing had happened between them, but they kept it low to make Leonidas feel like a fool.

Emma, pretending to refuse, snapped Derek's muscular arm with a blush. "Stop it, you jerk. Don't you see my boyfriend is here?"

"Well, he blends right into this place. I know he never even shared a kiss with you. Let me do it for you, then."

"You stupid jerk, haha!"

"STOP IT!" Leonidas shouted, making both of them go silent with uneasy expressions.

Emma crossed her arms, looking at Derek for a moment before turning back to Leonidas with a bored expression. "Don't yell at me here, Leo."

"Am I not allowed to be mad? I'm sick of always shutting up for this kind of thing. You are my girlfriend, Emma. How could you kiss another guy?"

"Am I not allowed to do that?" Emma asked, her voice cold. "I don’t feel like your girlfriend with those pathetic sides of you, Leo. Your poverty seems to overshadow my image."

"How could you say that? You’re the one who asked me to date you..."

"Then think about it! Is it possible for me, Emma Hale, the Aphrodite, to date you—a worthless loser?" Emma yelled back, causing Leonidas to flinch in shock. "Let me tell you something, Leo. We're not real."

"What do you mean, 'not real'?"

"It was just a game, Leo. Derek wanted to see if I could make you fall for me. You were just... a challenge."

Derek chuckled, clearly enjoying every second of Leonidas' shock. "And guess what, loser? You fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker," he said.

Leonidas felt his chest tighten, his vision blurring with a mix of pain and fury. For six months, he had believed in her, trusted her.

Emma shrugged, her tone cold. "It was fun for a while, you know? Watching you try so hard to be someone you're not. But honestly, you're just... pathetic. You can never be on the same level as Derek!"

Something inside Leonidas snapped. He moved forward, grabbing Emma's arm, his grip firm and painful, showing his anger and desperation. "My feelings were real for you. Why, Emma? Why would you do that?"

Emma pulled her arm back, her face twisting with disgust. "Let go of me, Leo! I don't owe you any explanations. You were just a toy."

Leonidas' hand trembled, his emotions boiling over, his pain clear. Derek stepped forward, placing a protective arm around Emma quickly.

"Hey, Leo. Don't be so dramatic. She was just doing her part. I mean, who wouldn’t want to mess with the gloomy scholarship kid who never fights back?"

Leonidas' eyes flared with anger, and he pushed Derek away. "Shut up, Derek! This is between me and Emma!" he yelled.

For the first time, Leonidas raised his voice in defiance. Derek's smile disappeared, replaced by a cold, menacing glare.

"You think you can talk to me like that, you little worm?"

Derek lunged forward, shoving Leonidas hard in the chest. Leonidas stumbled back but didn't fall. His frustration and pain fueled him, and he swung a wild punch at Derek, missing him by inches. Derek easily dodged and laughed.

"Is that all you got, coward?"

Derek's fist connected with Leonidas' stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Leonidas doubled over, gasping for breath. Derek didn't stop. He grabbed Leonidas by the shirt, pulling him up before throwing a punch at his face. Leonidas felt the sting as Derek's fist collided with his cheek, and he fell to the floor.

Emma just laughed, showing no empathy for Leonidas. He should have known that, from the beginning, these were Derek's plans to toy with him.

"You should've stayed in your place, Leo," Emma said, leaving with Derek's arm around her waist. Now they were bold enough to show Leonidas their true intentions, revealing that it was all a game where Leonidas was set up to lose.

Leonidas felt his body ache, but his heart ached even more. He only wanted pure love, but he fell in love unaware, and fell for his lover's trick.

---

Leonidas stumbled through the front door of their small apartment, his vision still slightly blurred from the earlier beating. He winced with every step, his body aching from Derek’s attack. The familiar, faint scent of disinfectant and the warmth of home greeted him, but tonight it offered little comfort.

"Leon? Is that you?" a small voice called out from the dimly lit living room.

Leonidas forced a smile as he saw his little brother, Alex, peeking out from under a blanket on the worn-out couch. Alex's face lit up, but his expression quickly turned to worry when he saw the bruises on Leonidas' face and the way he was holding his side.

“Leon! What happened?” Alex struggled to sit up, his voice filled with anxiety.

Leonidas quickly moved to his brother's side, kneeling down with a painful grunt. He placed a reassuring hand on Alex’s shoulder. “It’s nothing, Alex. Just... some idiots at work. I’m fine.”

Alex’s eyes were wide, filled with concern. “You don’t look fine… You’re hurt.”

Leonidas managed a chuckle, brushing his brother’s messy hair back. “Really, it’s not that bad. I’m tougher than I look, you know?”

Alex’s frown deepened. “I wish you didn’t have to work so hard. I hate that you’re always getting hurt because of me.”

Leonidas shook his head, giving his brother a gentle smile. “Hey, don’t talk like that. I’d do anything for you, you know that.”

Alex nodded, though his expression was still worried. Leonidas decided to change the subject. “So, tell me, how was your day? Did you finish that new comic you were drawing?”

Alex’s face brightened slightly. “Yeah! I did! I added a new character… he’s a superhero with a cool suit and… and he can fly!” His enthusiasm was contagious, and for a moment, Leonidas forgot the pain.

“Flying, huh? That’s awesome!” Leonidas replied, trying to keep the conversation light. “Maybe he can take us somewhere nice… like… like a beach with golden sand and clear blue water.”

Alex’s eyes sparkled. “I’d love that… And maybe… maybe I could swim again, just like before.”

Leonidas nodded, his heart tightening. “Yeah… someday soon, Alex. You’ll be swimming again, I promise.”

“How about you?” Alex asked, “If you could go anywhere, where would it be?”

Leonidas paused, thinking for a moment before responding. “Anywhere you want to go, kiddo. As long as I’m with you.”

Alex smiled, but suddenly, his face twisted in pain. He clutched his chest, a deep, hacking cough escaping his lips. Leonidas’ smile vanished, replaced by panic. “Alex? Hey, are you okay?”

Alex coughed harder, his breaths ragged and painful. Then, to Leonidas’ horror, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

“Alex!” Leonidas shouted, quickly scooping his brother into his arms. “Hold on, okay? Just hold on!”

Leonidas rushed out of the apartment, his legs weak but moving fast. He hailed a cab, his heart racing as he felt Alex’s frail body trembling against him.