章 40: Chapter 40: Working Out
Wilt did pushups in the living room of his dorm suite.
With each push-up, Wilt could feel his muscles strain, sweat trickling down his forehead. He'd lost track of how many he'd done, his mind preoccupied with Drew's words.
His friends held him back. The phrase echoed in his mind, a sour note that refused to fade. Drew had said it so nonchalantly, as if it were a simple fact, but it was far from that for Wilt.
His friends had been his support system, his cheerleaders. They'd been there for him through every victory, every loss. They'd celebrated with him, commiserated with him. They were a part of his journey, his growth.
To imply that they'd held him back... it was a slap in the face.
Wilt grumbled under his breath, pushing himself harder. Just because he didn't take things as seriously as Drew didn't mean he was being held back. He had his own way of doing things, his own way of approaching the game.
And he wasn't about to let Drew's words get to him.
With a final push, Wilt collapsed onto the floor, his chest heaving. He lay there for a moment, the cool floor soothing against his heated skin.
He thought about getting up, continuing his workout, but his body protested. He was tired, his muscles aching. But more than that, he was frustrated.
With a sigh, Wilt rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He knew Drew hadn't meant to offend him, but his words had stung nonetheless.
Maybe it was time to show Drew that he wasn't the only one who took basketball seriously.
He blinked as he heard meowing. The soft meow drew his attention away from the ceiling. Dusk was sitting on his right, watching him intently.
A small smile crept onto his face as he reached out to the feline. Dusk leaned into his touch, purring as he licked his hand. It was a comforting presence, a soothing balm to his aching muscles and frustrated thoughts.
"Hey, Dusk," Wilt greeted, his voice soft. He sat up, continuing to stroke the cat's sleek fur. "Hungry?"
Dusk let out another meow, his tail flicking back and forth. Taking it as a yes, Wilt pushed himself off the floor and made his way to the kitchen to fetch some cat food.
As he filled Dusk's bowl, his thoughts wandered again. He wondered where Loxus was. He hadn't seen him since he came back from the gym. Maybe he was still out practicing.
Either way, Wilt decided not to bother him. Instead, he turned his attention back to Dusk, watching as he happily devoured his food. He smiled, his heart feeling a little lighter.
Just as Wilt was about to sit back down, a knock echoed through the suite. Was Loxus back?
"Coming!" he called out, making his way to the front door. He swung it open, expecting to see his dorm mate. Wilt was instead met with the sight of Natasha, a bright smile on her face and a cake carrier in her hands.
"Hey, Wilt," she greeted, her tone friendly. "I baked a cake and thought you guys might like some."
Wilt returned her smile, stepping aside to let her in. "That's really nice of you, Natasha. Thanks."
"No problem," she replied, walking in and placing the cake on the dining table. She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on Dusk who was finishing up his meal in the tiny kitchen.
Natasha's smiled. "Hey, Dusk!" She took out some kitty snacks from her coat. "Got you a snack."
Dusk perked up at the sight of the kitty snacks, his tail swishing back and forth. Natasha offered him one, and Dusk didn't hesitate to snatch it up, purring in contentment as he enjoyed his treat.
Seeing Dusk so happy, Wilt couldn't help but smile. Natasha had a way with animals. At least cats. It was one of the things he admired about her. Same with Loxus.
His thoughts were interrupted when Natasha turned to him, her smile fading a bit. "Where's Loxus?"
"He was already out when I got back," Wilt replied, shrugging. "Probably practicing."
Natasha's eyes widened a bit in surprise. "Really? Do you think he found someone to play against?"
Wilt's smile faltered at her question. Was Loxus out there, playing a game without him? He wanted to play too.
"I don't know," he admitted, forcing a nonchalant shrug. "Maybe."
Natasha seemed to sense his discomfort, giving him a sympathetic smile. "Well, I'm sure he'll tell you all about it when he gets back."
"Yeah, probably." Wilt tried to sound casual, but he knew he didn't quite pull it off.
Deciding to change the subject, Wilt gestured to the cake. "You want a slice?"
Natasha laughed, shaking her head. "No, I'm good." She patted her stomach and laughed. "Already ate a bunch!"
Wilt chuckled. "Then mind joining me for some coffee or tea?"
She smiled slightly and nodded. "Sure. Tea please."
"Alright, tea it is," Wilt replied, making his way to the kitchen. He rummaged through the cupboards, pulling out two canisters of tea leaves. One was a rich, aromatic black tea, the other a soothing chamomile.
He walked back to the dining table, setting the canisters down. "Which one do you want?" he asked, unscrewing the lids so Natasha could take a whiff of each.
Natasha leaned in, her nose wrinkling as she took in the scent of each tea. She seemed thoughtful, taking her time to decide. It was one of the things Wilt liked about her; she never rushed, always taking the time to enjoy the moment.
After a moment, she pulled back, her smile returning. "The chamomile, please," she said. "It's calming."
Wilt nodded, returning the black tea to the cupboard before setting about brewing the chamomile. He could hear Natasha humming softly, the sweet melody filling the room as he waited for the water to boil.
He smiled and hummed along. The tune was one they learned back in kindergarten. He frowned a little as he stared at the tea. A pang of guilt bubbled up again.
Sighing, he shook his head. Natasha had already forgiven him. He couldn't keep beating himself over it all of his life.
The door suddenly opened. It was Loxus. He was covered in sweat. His face looked unamused. Had he lost a game?
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