Chapter 54
Bella hesitated before saying, "I think... Jack might actually be good at basketball.
I don't think he'll be all that bad."
Gigi's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Bella, don't tell me you're actually falling for that toad? And now you're even defending him?"
To Gigi, the idea of someone like Bella, who was practically a goddess in her eyes, having feelings for a guy like Jack was nothing short of an insult-a complete betrayal of common sense.
Faced with Gigi's exaggerated reaction, Bella felt a pang of guilt. "Don't be ridiculous! I'd never like someone like him. Once he falls for me, I'll just dump him right away."
Bella's voice wavered slightly, and she avoided looking at Gigi.
Gigi finally nodded in approval. "Good. When he takes the bait, make sure to humiliate him thoroughly. Let him taste true despair."
Bella, still feeling uneasy, went along with Gigi's words.
"Don't worry. I won't disappoint you."
Little did they know, Jack was standing just around the corner, hearing every word loud and clear.
His face turned pale, and his mood plummeted to rock bottom. He had thought his springtime had finally arrived, only to realize it was all a cruel game.
Jack clenched his fists, his mind burning with anger. So it was all a trap, meticulously planned by Bella?
He had truly believed Bella might have a sliver of genuine affection for him. But now, it was clear that everything had been fake.
If he hadn't overheard their conversation by chance, he would never have imagined Bella could be so deceitful.
Jack couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped out from the shadows, glaring at Bella with fury in his eyes.
"Do you think it's fun to play me like this? Does it give you a sense of accomplishment?"
Bella and Gigi froze, their smiles vanishing instantly as they stared at Jack in shock.
Bella's face turned pale, and she began trembling with fear.
Seeing them remain silent, Jack spat out venomously, "You two are disgusting!"
Bella opened her mouth as if to say something, but Gigi spoke first, taunting Jack with a sneer.
"So what if we played you? Did you seriously think Bella would ever be interested in a loser like you? Pathetic."
Jack let out a bitter laugh, his anger and disappointment mixing into a hollow, mocking tone.
"You're right. Someone like me isn't worthy of you. Enjoy playing your games."
If they had been men, Jack wouldn't have hesitated to put them in their place with
a couple of slaps. But they were women, and one of them had once made his heart flutter. So he held back, venting his frustration instead by stomping on the clothes Bella had given him. Chapters first released on fιɴdnοvel.net
Without another word, he turned and walked away.
That evening, Jack bought himself a bottle of liquor and climbed up to the dorm balcony to drink alone.
He finally understood why Samuel had resorted to buying dolls after being dumped by Jenna-it was a way to escape.
After draining the bottle, Jack slept off the alcohol. By the time he woke up, he felt much better.
It had been a sham from the start, so why should he have taken it seriously? If he
let it bother him, wouldn't he just be falling right into Bella's trap?
His spirits lifted as he got ready for basketball practice later that night.
When Jack and Isaac arrived at the court, bright lights illuminated the court. Students bustled around, and a few girls with books in hand stopped by the sidelines, stealing glances at the energetic players on the court.
From a distance, Jack spotted Joshua practicing his shooting, with Jordan providing guidance nearby.
As the pair approached, the team members greeted Isaac warmly but ignored Jack entirely.
Jordan called Isaac over to join the training but sent Jack off to buy bottles of water for everyone.
It was clear they were treating Jack like free labor.
When Jack returned, carrying bottles of water, the team had already split into two groups for a practice game.
With 14 players, the teams were perfectly balanced, leaving Jack on the sidelines, reduced to handing out water bottles and towels to the players.