My Stepbrother, My Enemy {BL}-Chapter 20: A Mysterious Rivalry

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By the time the final bell rang, I was practically bouncing in my seat. Every tick of the clock felt like it was dragging on just to tease me. As soon as class ended, I hurriedly shoved my books into my bag and dashed for the gym, trying to mask the inner panic I was feeling the whole way there.

When I got to the gym, the Wolves’ basketball team was deep into practice. Their white-and-green jerseys shone under the bright lights, sneakers squeaking on the polished court, and the noise of bouncing balls mixed with sharp whistles filled the air. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

I hesitated at the entrance, gripping the strap of my bag. There were only a few students on the benches, mostly girlfriends or diehard fans who actually knew what a rebound was. Meanwhile, I was just trying to remember how to breathe.

I found an empty spot near the back of the bleachers and sat down as quietly as I could. My heart was racing—mostly because I was about to watch Ethan play, but also because Adrien was here too. Of course he was. He was the Wolves’ golden boy, the star player, and the coach practically worshipped him like he was a celebrity.

To make matters worse, he definitely looked the part. His dark hair was tied back, sweat glimmering on his temples, and he moved with this effortless mix of focus and that cocky confidence that drew everyone’s attention. Every time he scored, the sound of the net snapping was followed by excited cheers from his teammates. He thrived on every bit of that praise.

What a jerk.

I sank a little lower in my seat, hoping he wouldn’t spot me.

Then my gaze landed on Ethan.

He was at the other end of the court, spinning the ball with ease before making a perfect pass and sinking a clean three-pointer. I couldn’t help but be in awe. He looked even more confident than usual—relaxed, grinning, with his golden hair damp from sweat and those blue eyes sparkling with determination.

Okay, so maybe I was staring. A lot.

He glanced my way, caught me watching, and shot me a quick smile. My stomach flipped so hard it felt like I might drop my bag right there.

I wanted to cheer for him—really, I did—but the words got stuck in my throat. I wasn’t like the other girls who screamed his name or waved signs. I just sat there, my cheeks burning, clutching the strap of my bag like it was my lifeline.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Adrien look my way, his expression unreadable. The ball moved through his hands again, and he took another shot, sending it perfectly through the hoop. His teammates cheered, but he didn’t react—just took another shot, like he was incapable of missing.

I swallowed hard, shifting my focus back to Ethan.

If the universe were fair, I’d be invisible to Adrien and magnetic to Ethan. But knowing my luck, it was probably the opposite.

At one point, Adrien grabbed a towel from the bench but, of course, the universe had to mess with me. He lifted the hem of his jersey to wipe the sweat from his face instead.

For a heart-stopping moment, my brain completely short-circuited. His abs were... insane. Lean, defined, and infuriatingly perfect, like someone had carved them just to make me feel bad. The lights caught the sheen of sweat on his skin, making it look like it belonged in a slow-motion commercial.

I froze, my eyes wide, and instantly wanted to slam my face into the bleachers.

Oh my God, Noah. Get a grip. That’s your stepbrother, not some random hot guy on a screen.

And an arrogant one at that.

I mentally slapped myself, forcing my gaze back to Ethan so quickly I almost gave myself whiplash. Ethan was easy to focus on—safe, charming, genuinely kind. He was laughing with one of his teammates, his voice carrying across the court. Just looking at him made my heart slow down a bit, grounding me again.

But something had shifted in the gym.

Ethan and Adrien were now on the same side of the scrimmage, but their teamwork had vanished. Every pass, every rebound, every play had turned into a subtle showdown—Ethan landing a clean shot, and Adrien following up with a harder one. Ethan blocking Adrien’s drive to the basket, only for Adrien to smirk as he stole the ball back moments later.

The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It wasn’t just about basketball; it felt personal, like there was some deeper issue neither of them wanted to back down from.

I leaned forward a bit, watching their glares collide midcourt. Ethan’s expression was tight but calm, all quiet focus. Adrien’s was darker—controlled rage simmering just beneath that smug exterior.

The whistle blew sharply in the gym, but neither of them broke eye contact for what felt like ages.

I frowned, leaning back. Whatever was brewing between them, it was definitely more than just a game.

At long last, practice wrapped up after what felt like forever. The players started heading towards the lockers, laughing and pushing each other around, but I remained seated, waiting for Ethan like he’d asked. I figured he’d grab his stuff and come over any minute now.

Unfortunately, the universe didn’t show me that kindness.

Adrien’s friends—Jace, Liam, and the rest of the charming crew—spotted me right away. I froze, my stomach dropping as they exchanged glances that made me want to just disappear.

"Well, well, if it isn’t little Valentine," Jace said, swaggering over like he owned the place. "Didn’t expect to see you back at the court after that whole pool incident. You stalking Adrien now or what?"

I forced a laugh that sounded as awkward as it felt. "No, I’m just... waiting for someone."

Liam leaned in a bit too close, grinning. "Oh yeah? Who?"

"Ethan," I blurted out before I could stop myself, my voice shaking slightly. "We’re meeting up for a class project."

They exchanged smirks like I’d just told the funniest joke.

"A project, huh?" Jace chuckled. "That’s what they’re calling it now? C’mon, you can tell us. He your boyfriend or what?"

"H-he’s not my boyfriend," I quickly replied, heat rising in my cheeks. "It’s really just for English class, okay?"

Liam whistled softly. "You’ve had a crush on him since freshman year, right? Man, you really don’t give up, do you?"

I clenched my fists, wishing the ground would just swallow me up. "We’re not dating," I muttered.

Before they could come up with another jab, a familiar voice cut through their laughter behind them.

"Back off."