Chapter 3 Setup
Adrian nervously sipped the juice Jasper had bought for him earlier. He lifted his head carefully and looked at the man sitting across from him. Jasper held a phone in one hand, his expression tense as he scrolled through something on the screen. Adrian had never expected to see him again. In fact, he had given up on that thought a long time ago.
But now that Jasper was right in front of him, something warm spread through his chest. Maybe today was not as terrible as he thought. His eyes slowly studied Jasper’s face. Jasper had changed since their university days.
His shoulders were broader now, his chest stronger like someone who carried years of pressure without rest. His jaw had become sharper and more defined, giving him a colder and more mature look. And his eyes… They were still the same blue Adrian remembered, but now they looked colder, and glassier as if exhaustion had settled deep inside them.
Jasper suddenly lifted his head, snapping Adrain out of his thoughts. Jasper dropped his phone onto the table with a sigh before leaning forward slightly.
“I never thought I’d see you again,” he said with a small smile. “I once thought about calling you, but my phone got stolen.” He shook his head lightly at the memory before continuing.
“And even if I didn’t contact you, why didn’t you contact me? You had my number, right? Then suddenly, I stopped seeing you around.”
Adrian smiled nervously and lowered his head. His fingers slowly played against each other beneath the table — an old habit he had whenever he felt nervous. This, didn’t go unnoticed by Jasper.
“I’m sorry,” Adrian said quietly. “Life didn’t go the way I planned.”
“Even so, I’m your friend,” Jasper replied softly, his eyes still fixed on Adrian’s restless hands. “So… what exactly happened all these years?”
As Jasper watched him fidget nervously, thoughts filled his mind. Had Adrian really been struggling this whole time? Was he wrong for assuming Adrian was fine and simply moved on with life? Want actually happened?
Jasper studied him carefully. Adrian had not changed much, but his eyes looked tired, like he was carrying too much for too long.
“I got caught up with medical bills,” Adrian finally said after a short silence. “My mom became seriously ill and had to be hospitalized.”
He paused before continuing more clearly. “I’m the only person she has, so I had to take care of everything. That’s when I switched to part-time studies. But it wasn’t easy at all. I also had to take responsibility for my younger brother.”
Jasper’s expression softened immediately.
“And you didn’t tell me any of this?” he asked quietly. “You could’ve come to me.”
Adrian shook his head with a small smile. “I didn’t want to burden you.”
Jasper let out a low sigh. “So… have you managed to pay the bills?”
Adrian looked down again.“No. At first, she kept going in and out of the hospital. But now…” He swallowed lightly. “The doctors said she has to stay there permanently.”
For a moment, Jasper did not speak. “I’m sorry, Adrian,” he said sincerely. “Is there any way I can help?”
Adrian smiled and shook his head again. Typical Jasper.Always willing to help without hesitation.
That was exactly why Adrian never told him anything back then. Jasper was too selfless for his own good.
“What about you?” Adrian asked, quickly changing the topic. “How are you coping? I heard about the scandal… and what happened during the match. It’s all over the internet.”
Jasper sighed and leaned back against his chair.
“I’m still trying to find a way out of it.”
“Don’t worry,” Adrian said with a small smile. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out. You’re Jasper, remember?”
Jasper chuckled softly. “You still haven’t changed those cheesy lines.”
Adrian laughed quietly in response. The tension between them slowly faded as the conversation continued. They talked for hours about old memories, university days, and stupid things they used to do together.
For the first time in years, it truly felt like they had found each other again. Before leaving, they exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch.
Though deep down, Adrian doubted they would ever meet again. Who was he kidding? This is the Ice Hockey Tyrant. He is a celebrity now and spending time with someone like him would never be easy.
Night
After driving for a few minutes, Jasper finally reached his penthouse. The moment he turned off the engine, he stepped out of the car and walked inside. The quiet of the building swallowed him as he made his way in. He dropped onto the couch with a heavy sigh. His body felt drained.
After meeting Adrian, he had stayed in the car for a long time, making calls to his sponsors and asking for support with the scandal. One by one, they all gave him vague answers. No one was willing to stand firmly with him. At some point, Jasper stopped expecting anything at all.
It felt like the people who once surrounded him had quietly stepped back the moment things became difficult. He leaned his head back against the couch.
“If I ever get out of this mess, I’ll make sure I pay you back the same way, Kyle,” he muttered under his breath, his voice edged with frustration.
His phone rang and he glanced at the screen. The name on the caller ID made him let out a tired breath. It was Coach Miller. He hesitated for only a second before answering.
“I still haven’t found anyone yet,” Jasper said first.
There was a short pause on the other end. “Come to the team office tomorrow,” Coach Miller replied.
Before Jasper could ask anything else, the call ended. Jasper lowered the phone slowly and let it fall carelessly onto the couch beside him.
Early the next morning, Jasper went straight to the team office. When he arrived, he was asked to wait in the reception area. He sat there for a while before someone finally came to call him in.
Inside the meeting room, Coach Miller and the agency team were already seated, speaking quietly among themselves. Jasper walked in and took the seat facing them.
One of the Agency team member who had a serious expression on, cleared his throat, “We are here because of your scandal issue,” he said flatly. “An issue that happened because you were not careful.”
Jasper frowned immediately. “I didn’t do it,” he said firmly. “I don’t even know where that picture came from. I was set up.”
“Set up?” another member repeated. “By who?”
“The NorthVale Vipers,” Coach Miller said.
