A Change of Pace (boyxboy)

An Impasse

It was a darn hot day for fall but was easily brushed off as the students are getting ready for the intramurals, where multiple sports competitions will take place and every department of the school will compete. It’s a fun occasion only for the team with the most athletes since they end up winning most of it, the rest will wallow in pity.

Every department prided themselves on this one- week event. They would boast of the prowess of their team. Though it’s a petty way of them saying that their course is better than all the others when it’s a contest of agility, strength and tactics, and not of the things applied in their majors.

The strongest team by far is the HRM department where most of the school’s athletes resides and followed by the Psychology department, in which most of the baseball team are a part of. Though the rest wouldn’t stand for it so they often rented tough guys from the streets or if they’re lucky, a real athlete from another school. It was always the reason for fair play against stronger opponents so the school’s management tend to overlook the rules.

Aside from the competitions, there’s also one main attraction. It’s the ‘Pride Walk’. The participants of the competitions will walk with nothing but their under garments, at the first day of the week of intramurals. It’s to show that they hold no shame if they ever lose through showing their skin. Of course, the real reason is that the school’s management wanted to gain more attention be it a good or bad reputation as long as it carries its name.

Which brings us now to the Marketing department. Each and every one are tense and panicking. Even Kate isn’t her usual cheery self. The only exception is Clarence, who’s quietly observing the scene before him with no interest.

“Could we at least have one win??!” Percy, be damned, whined again. They kept losing face every year on matches like these.

“Sign yourself up then! We’re not built like brick walls like them!” Chase retorted, pulling his hair in frustration.

“We do have some participants in our department but… they’re not as tough…” Mimi piped quietly, looking away from her furious seniors.

“Why can’t we just pay some thugs out there?!” Jake more of yelled rather than suggested.

“Pay them then, we’re all out.” Jessica easily stated. Her cool voice washing them out of their reveries.

Mara (girl in the chapter Indecisive) shoved herself in the circle. Waving her hands idly to get their attention, “Hey, guys. I have an idea that’s not expensive.”

At the phrase of ‘not expensive’, almost all of them leaned forward to listen eagerly except for Clarence.

“We all know that none of us are sports- oriented much less physically fit.”

There were a chorus of ‘Hey’s and ‘No, I’m not’s, but stopped as she shushed them.

“We have Edgar Carter!”

At the name, Clarence’s posture immediately stiffens as he directs his full attention to her.

“Okay…Okay… I know that some of you are scared shitless of him but he’s more…social now. Hear me out…”

“You got that right! Why should we fuckin’ associate with that thug?!” Jake objects the thought.

“He might be in some mafia and get us all killed!” Percy supplied unhelpfully.

No, not his Edgar. What are they saying when they don’t even know him?

Clarence unintentionally grips the arm of his seat. These narrow minded fools are judging him.