HEMP ROPE

17.

"When she turned around..." The storytelling was getting spookier as the swimmer club members hustled closer. By the time they finished their training at 9 p.m., the atmosphere in the locker turned dim and ghostly. The rascally members often took turns telling ghost stories.

 

"That woman..." mp!!!!

"Hey!!!!"

 

"Fuck!!!"

"†^÷^#&$V»

 

The juniors scattered about, looking around them, and found the club vice president standing with a grim expression. The sound just now was him banging on the locker.

 

"You little brats! I've told you not to do ghost stories in the club. Go home now!" The usual kind of Win turned monstrous today. His juniors raised their hands to wai and fled in every direction possible. The last brat who was once in the middle of the circle tiptoed to grab his backpack, but before he escaped, a hand snatched his arm.

 

"Oi, Hia. I'm sorry. They made me do it." Team made a pleading face.

 

"You stay first."

"Oh?"

 

"Stay with me first." He dragged the junior to a shower cubicle with low doors where people could still see each other. Win took off his clothes and threw them on a bench. Team just sat there and blinked at him. They'd seen each other enough that there was nothing to be shy about.

 

The large shower room was quiet, save for the sound of water hitting the floor. As Win bathed, he kept squinting at Team. Once it came to washing his hair...

 

"Team, say something." As he closed his eyes to wash off shampoo, his mind started imagining something that might help him wash his hair.

 

"Team."

"..."

 

"Fuck! Don't do this, Team!"

 

Win quickly washed off his face and looked at the bench. His heart fell, seeing nobody.

 

"Fuck!  Ai Team!!"

 

"Yes, sir," a cheerful sound responded as Team jumped up behind a door. But he saw Win's face go pale; he pushed the cubicle door open, not minding getting wet. 

 

"Hey, Hia. Sorry, sorry, sorry. I'm here, you ok?" He cupped Win's face, checking left and right. 

 

"Hiaaaaa." Then brought Win's face to his shoulder, rubbing the bare back gently. "There, there, hush, hush."

 

Arms latching onto Team tightened, putting more guilt on him. He didn't mean to scare Win to this point.

 

"Come on." One hand of Team squeezed Wins' upper arm, while the other hand patted his head. 

 

"I'm pissed."

"My bad, my bad!"

 

"You sleep with me tonight."

"Ok."

 

"Hug me too."

"Ok, hug, hug, I will."

 

"For two nights."

"Sir, yes, sir."

 

"No Lay's for a week."

 

There was a pause before, "Okay, sir. I apologise."

"Kiss me in consolation."

 

"Ohuh? Is that relevant?" Win looked stern. Team had to give a vehement nod.

 

"Alright, alright."

"Now."

 

Team looked at Win's eyes. It seemed the anger had disappeared; now they were mischievous.

 

"Hia, you," Team groused but cupped Win's face. 

 

"I’ll play dumb just for today." Win chuckled, accepting a hot kiss amidst the shower splashing down. They took turns attacking and biting, bodies grinding.

 

"Mhm, wait. We're just kissing." Team pushed Win's face back when he started feeling hot.

 

Win tilted his head and bit Team's lips, swelling them.

"Fuck, what'd you do that for?" Team rubbed his lips.

 

"Once we're in our room, I'll hold you."

 

"Then ho. Wait. Are we talking about the same thing? " Win shrugged, turning off the faucet after he was done.

 

Realising this, Team prepared an escape attempt. He must lie low in Pharm's condo for a week.

 

"Don't even try." Win caught Team's arm.

"Hia, don't be a douchebag. No!!"

 

"Yes, right here, right now."

"Ai Hiaaaaa!!!"

 

Days later. 

Win: /looked at kids crowding about again/ Hey!

Team: /looked at his friends, possibly telling a ghost story, but he had no part in this time./

 

Nong 1: Ask P' Win?

Nong 2: Yeah, he was the last to leave that day.

 

Win: What's up?

Nong 3: Uh...last week I forgot something, so I returned to the club...and I heard

 

Win: What the hell did you hear?

Nong 3: A tmp tmp sound and someone in pain.

 

Win: /hiding his fear/ Where did you hear it?

Nong 3: From the shower. I freaked out, so I ran home. Was anything off?

 

Win: No /face paled/ Did you hear something off?/turned to ask Team whom he left with on that day.

 

Team: /face turns reddened before it turns pale. He rolled his eyes, then glared daggers at the culprit/Yeah, I heard something.

 

Win+Nong 1,2,3: Ohh!!! Did you see something too?

 

Team: /noddednods/ I saw something on Hia Win's shoulder. I didn't say a thing; he'd die of shock.

 

Win: Fuck, nooo!!!!!! Ai Team!

Nong 1,2,3: / backs off from the vice president in fear/ 

 

Team: /I hope you can't fall asleep for a week!!! And I'll lock my door!!