The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

The plane slowly took off, and Annabel leaned back against the seat with her eyes closed, her mind in turmoil. David, this time, I’m really leaving you. Amidst the roar of the plane’s engines, her memories drifted back to the high school basketball court.

It was the last class on Friday, and students streamed out of the school gates like released birds. Annabel felt like she had nowhere to go. Going home was out of the question; her dad Thomas was always busy with business, and even when he was home, he would only find fault with her. As for her stepmom, a drama major, she couldn’t stand to look at her for another second. Going out to play wasn’t an option either. Last time, she almost caused a fatal incident at a bar brawl, and her friends were picked up by their parents as soon as they were released from the police station. She was the only one who spent a whole month in detention before Thomas’s assistant finally showed up. The terrifying experience in detention still haunted her.

At Shining High School, even a falling leaf could hit a few top students, but Annabel was an outlier. She was carefree and academically lazy. While normal girls enjoyed playing musical instruments and painting, her talent lay in taekwondo and grappling. Except for her desk mate George, she hardly had any friends.

George left as soon as class ended, and Annabel grabbed her basketball and headed to the court. Although she had few friends here, at least she had basketball, the one thing Thomas wouldn’t blame her for.

It was early winter, and the weather was getting colder. There were only two or three people playing basketball on the court, probably senior students who had been playing for a while.

Annabel entered the court, caught an incoming ball, and effortlessly made a beautiful three-pointer. The tall, handsome boy in the middle smiled at her friendly and gave her a thumbs up.

Annabel naturally joined them, and they didn’t finish until it was almost dark. Annabel said goodbye and didn’t want to go home. Instead, she grabbed her own ball and continued playing.

The court was empty, and the sound of the basketball bouncing echoed in the air. Even though she was playing alone, she kept going until she was exhausted and collapsed on the ground.

“Come on, keep going!”

She opened her eyes and saw the boy who had just left reaching out to her. He blinked at her, “Out of energy?”

For a moment, Annabel felt dazed. Against the vast, empty, gray sky, his face looked incredibly sincere and friendly. She suddenly felt that maybe not all the students here were as bad as she thought. She took his hand and stood up, “Let’s go, one more match!”

Watching him jump and intercept, Annabel realized that this guy’s basketball skills were much better than hers. He also occasionally gave her pointers on some foul techniques. Unable to help herself, Annabel laughed, “Is this how you win games?”

The boy said seriously, “It’s called having both courage and strategy, understand?”

Annabel was amused and was about to agree when her phone suddenly rang. As soon as she answered, her childhood friend Mason yelled from the other end, “Both your dad and your stepmom are here, why aren’t you?!”

Annabel suddenly remembered that today was his sister’s eighteenth birthday party, and their families were close. She was supposed to go, but she didn’t want to go with Thomas’s family of three. She had told Thomas that she’d be there early. Thomas, knowing that she and Mason were close since childhood, had agreed, but she had completely forgotten about it.

Annabel checked her watch and said she would be there soon.

As soon as she hung up, the boy she was playing basketball with stood opposite her, holding the basketball with one hand. He spoke first, “Well, I’ve got something to do too.”

Annabel said goodbye softly and left the court after packing up her clothes.

It was getting dark, and the campus streetlights had come on. The tall trees on either side made the road appear long and deserted. It was easy to spot a pair of students standing under a distant streetlight; they seemed to be a couple. The girl, dressed in a school uniform, seemed to be crying, while the boy, in a suit, stood with his arms crossed.

Annabel was in a hurry and didn’t pay much attention.

“Annabel!”

Annabel turned around and saw the suit-wearing boy calling her. It was none other than Logan, whom she disliked the most, and the teary-eyed girl was none other than Aria, rumored to be his girlfriend.

How could Annabel miss the chance to mock him? She walked over and taunted, “Oh, sneaking out from the banquet for a date? Does Thomas know?”

Annabel always felt that it was Logan who took her dad away from her.

Ignoring Annabel’s sarcasm, Logan calmly said, “I came for you.”

Annabel looked at Aria and then back at Logan in surprise. “For me?”

Aria looked at Logan with reproachful eyes. Logan handed a large paper bag to Annabel and said, “Quickly find a place to change into your dress. I’ll wait for you here.”

Annabel was stunned, seeing Aria staring at her with tear-filled eyes. Annabel couldn’t resist the urge to tease her and replied innocently, staring back at Aria with a pair of innocent eyes, “Don’t worry, darling. Even though Logan likes me, I certainly don’t like him, a scumbag like him.”

Aria ran off in tears without saying a word, yet Logan surprisingly remained calm. He then tossed the paper bag he was holding into Annabel’s arms. “Hurry up, the banquet has already started.”

Though Annabel was naughty, but in a family like hers, social etiquette was instilled in her mind from a young age. She couldn’t possibly attend a banquet in her school uniform.

She had just caught Logan in a good mood, “You go ahead to the school gate. I’ll be there in a moment.”

Annabel lingered in the restroom for a while before emerging to find Logan standing with his back to the entrance. His tall, slender figure stood in the quiet corridor. For a moment, Annabel felt as if Logan emitted a sense of loneliness, but she quickly dismissed the thought as absurd. How could Logan be lonely? As everyone said, he was the handsomest among the top students, the best performer among the handsome boys. The loneliness belonged to herself.

As Logan turned back and handed the suit he was holding to Annabel. Though she was wearing a long-sleeved dress, the early winter weather had begun to cool down, and she still felt a chill. However, she accepted the suit without hesitation, feeling its warmth from Logan’s body temperature.

Seemingly impatient, Logan strode away with long strides. “Hurry up, stop dawdling!”

Annabel caught up with him after a few steps and, for once, praised him. “Logan, you’re like my Doraemon.”

Still maintaining his cool demeanor, Logan made no response and continued walking briskly. If Annabel had been more observant, she might have noticed the slight reddening of Logan’s ears.

The Green Family car was waiting at the school gate. As Annabel got into the car, she began to question Logan. “Did you have a fight with Aria? Did I just help you?”

In truth, Annabel wanted to know whether she had helped or harmed him just now.

Aware of her thoughts, Logan replied, “Boring,” and then turned his gaze out of the window, ignoring her.