Chapter 7

                                                           HIS TERRITORY

Upon coming back to his senses, Fluke rushed back to watch the match. He sat back at his original position and asked, “Mike! What’s the score?”

“It’s 2:2. But why were you so late?”

“I took the wrong way.” He lied. He peeked into his hands which still had some lingering feelings of Max’s fingers. He stared at his hands.

“OHH! By the way, after you went, these girls asked me about Max. Since it’s his first time playing outside school, they were asking this and that about him.” Mike whispered.

“Hmm...” Fluke nodded. All his attention was on his hands. He still couldn’t believe that Max, being an introvert, initiated to have some skin-ship.

The game kicked off with both teams displaying immense skill and determination. Their team, the Eagle eye, started strong, dominating possession and creating several chances. However, Shooters Hussle, known for their resilient defense, held firm.

The second half saw a firm shift in momentum where both the teams attacked and defended alternatively. Soon the final whistle blew with the score at 32:34. Eagle eye scored 34, naming their victory. And Fluke also kept the count of goals scored by Max. It was 5.

“Fluke! Shall we go?” Mike stood up after a good talk with the girls near him.

“Finally you noticed that I was waiting for you.” Fluke rolled his eyes.

“But I think we should wait for our team. Let’s congratulate them before going.” Mike schemed to show off his friendship with Davis and Max to the girls.

“But will they come out now?” Fluke looked left and right at the crowded place.

“I think they’ll come out after the crowd disappears. Let’s wait for the people to move out.” Mike suggested.

“Ok!”

They sat there again waiting for their team. Soon the people were gone and only the two of them remained. The girls who waited to meet the players soon left. Fluke’s eagerness to meet the team and congratulate them was evaporating with boredom.

“I think we should....” Fluke was ready to go back.

“Hey Max!” Mike shouted. “Congrats for the win and for your debut as a football player. People are asking about you. You are popular now dude.” Mike hugged him.

Fluke saw Max slowly proceeding towards him. “Congrats Max! You scored 5 goals.” He shyly spoke.

Max blushed and nodded.

“Why are you guys still here?” Max asked.

“Of course waiting for you guys to congratulate you all. But where are the other members? All the girls already left waiting for you all.” Mike asked peeking at the waiting room’s door.

“They all went from the back door. No one’s there.” Max answered.

“Hugh! Really? Then why are you here?” Mike asked him.

“I don’ know. I just thought of using the main entrance.” Max spoke looking at Fluke.

“Oh! Thank god you thought that way. Or else we would have been waiting for you guys till morning.” Mike huffed.

Max now came towards Fluke and asked, “Are you hungry?”

“No!”

“Since we won the match, let me treat both of you something.” Max insisted.

“Hey guys! My taxi is here. I shall leave. Let’s postpone it for tomorrow. Fluke, are you coming with me?” Mike asked.

“I...umm...” Fluke didn’t want to part ways so soon.

“Why are you in a hurry? It’s not even dark yet.” Max asked.

“I know but I’ve to attend a function. Fluke, you can go with him today. He can even drop you later. Right?”

Fluke looked at Max and nodded.

“Ok ! I shall leave now. Bye guys.” Mike hurried back to the road.

So now Fluke was all alone with his boyfriend. Fluke looked at his face and smiled at him.

“Shall we go?” Max asked.

Fluke nodded again.

They stopped near a convenience store and went in. While Fluke was busy searching for a desert, Max bought a can in his hand and showed it to Fluke.

“I love this drink.” Max bought the can closer to Fluke’s face.

“Hugh!”Fluke raised his eyebrows in a confused state.

“Buy this for me.” Max was straight to the point.

Fluke was still clueless. ‘Isn’t this one his treat? Then why is he asking me to buy for him?’ Fluke seemed unclear.

“Did you forget your wallet?”Fluke asked out of curiosity.

“Hugh! No! I want you to know my favourite drink. Yesterday I saw you giving a drink to senior. But you didn’t bring any for me.” He pouted.

“Awee!” Fluke wasn’t expecting this cute side of him. “Fine! I’ll buy this for you.” He giggled.

It was nice. How he was jealous of a meagre thing. Fluke felt good. He felt this was a boyfriend coded thing.

After he bought him the juice, they walked to the bus stop. He said he would wait for Fluke until his bus comes. ‘Of course this is what a couple should do. What’s wrong in it? But why is my heart beating so fast? Is it alright?’ Fluke’s mind was disordered.

They reached the bus stop. It was empty so both sat down waiting for Fluke’s bus. Max kept his bag aside and shifted towards him. That is when Fluke saw some dirt on Max’s hand.

“Oh! There’s something in your hand.” Saying this, out of reflex, Fluke took out his handkerchief and wept it. Perhaps the dirt was thick, so Fluke wept his hands to and fro jerking speedily.

Unknowingly, his actions looked sly which suddenly made him realize what he was doing. Instantly, he recalled what happened before the match and he blushed. He pulled out his hand. “So...so...sorry.”

“Fluke! Want to go to my house?” Max asked out of nowhere.

“-----“

“I mean...for our group study.” He completed his sentence clumsily.

Meanwhile Fluke’s bus came and stopped in front of them. Max was still gazing at him. And out of shyness, Fluke wasn’t able to answer him or look at him. He lowered his head. By this time, his bus already left and he felt happy inside. He looked at him shyly and said, “Let’s go.”

They took a detour and went to Max’s apartment. As he was entering the password of his door, Fluke’s eyes were on it.

“The code is the day we got together. It’s the date when we started our relationship.” Max said as he entered the code. With that, the door opened and they slide in. Fluke was smiling.

He made him sit on his couch which was in the centre of the room, while he went in to keep his bag.

For a while Fluke scanned the whole room. Not many things were kept. Only the important things were seen which he uses in his daily life. The kitchen was beside him. It was clean and well-maintained.

“Mochi! You want soft drink or coffee?” Max came out of the room and asked him.

“Anything’s fine.” Fluke smiled.

“Have this.” He placed a can infront of him. It was the same one that Fluke bought him from the convenience store. “I usually have this drink and I want you to know about it.” He sat near him.

“Ok” Fluke nodded. He loved the way Max was getting jealous. “Tell me whenever you want; I’ll get it for you.”

“Really?” He looked into his eyes.

“Yes, but secretly.” Fluke whispered.

“Umm...Mochi!” Max bit his lips.

“-----“ Suddenly Fluke’s concentration epicentered towards Max’s lips and he was unable to process anything.

“Can we continue that?” Max’s face suddenly turned red.

“That?” Fluke blushed.

“That...we...did...before the ...match...” Max was hesitating. “Can I?” He bent his head towards Fluke’s face.

Fluke could see Max’s eyes fixed on his lips as he gradually narrowed towards his face. ‘SHITT!! Is it really happening?’ Fluke flushed. He wasn’t ready for this.

‘Is he going to ....going to...KISS???? NOOOOOO!!

How do I react in such a situation? HELLLL!!!!!!’