Chapter 138 I CHOOSE YOU

Chapter 138 I CHOOSE YOU
The board representative closed the folder.

The sound of paper against paper was sharp in the quiet office. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead. The clock on the wall ticked.

"There has been a serious discussion about whether both of you should remain part of this program."

Silence settled over the office like a heavy blanket. Jay stared at the floor, his hands still, his breathing shallow.

Noah's fingers tightened around his hand beneath the desk, knuckles white, grip desperate.

Coach Parker leaned forward. His voice was low. "So what now?"

The man across from him folded his hands over the folder. His suit was immaculate. His face was unreadable. "Now, Coach Parker, the board has given me two options to present."

Jay slowly looked up. His jaw was tight. His eyes were dark.

Coach's expression hardened. "What options?"

The man continued, his voice flat and official. "One of them will have to be transferred to another team."

Noah's face fell. The color drained from his cheeks. His grip on Jay's hand tightened.

"Or," the man added, "both players can be expelled from the program."

"What?" Jay muttered. The word came out sharp, disbelieving.

Noah turned toward him. His eyes were wide. "They can't do that."

Coach's chair scraped against the floor as he stood. His body was rigid. His hands were flat on the desk. "No."

The board representative looked at him. "Coach Parker—"

"No." Coach's voice hardened. "You don't get to walk into my office and tell me two of my players are being thrown out because they broke a rule that has already been addressed."

"The rule exists for a reason."

"And so does discipline." Coach planted both hands on the desk. The wood creaked beneath his weight. "They've already been suspended. They accepted the punishment. They haven't played a single training game since the decision was made."

"They violated the policy."

"They're teenagers who fell in love. And they paid for it."

The room went quiet. The hum of the fluorescent lights seemed louder.

Coach shook his head. "They haven't complained once. They haven't asked for special treatment. They accepted the suspension because I told them they had to."

The board representative remained unmoved. His face was stone. "The board has reviewed the matter."

"And the regulations?" Coach reached for the printed handbook on the corner of his desk. His fingers found the worn cover. He flipped through several pages, the paper rustling. "Let's talk about the regulations."

Outside the office, Jack stood frozen.

He had heard enough. Every word had cut through the door, sharp and clear. His father's presence alone had already told him this wasn't going to end quietly.

The man who had orchestrated everything was inside that room, watching, waiting.

But now Jay and Noah were being punished again. Because of him. Because he had refused to obey. Because he had chosen love over control.

Jack took one step toward the office. Then another. His hands were fists at his sides.

Luca caught his wrist. His grip was firm. "What do you think you're doing?"

Jack's voice was rough. "I have to go in."

"You can't just barge into the office."

"If I don't, they'll end up getting punished just like last time. Because of me."

Luca frowned. His brow furrowed. "What does that mean? 'Because of me'?"

Jack looked at him. For a second, he said nothing. The words were stuck in his throat. Then he glanced toward the office door. "My father is inside."

Luca's expression changed. The confusion shifted into something darker. "What?"

Jack swallowed. The sound was dry. "He did this."

"Did what?"

"All of it." Jack's voice cracked. "He threatened me. He told me to break up with you. He said if I didn't, he'd destroy your future. He sent people to watch us. He had you followed. He made sure the photographs of Jay and Noah got out."

Luca's grip loosened slightly around his wrist. His eyes were wide. "Why?"

Jack looked down. His voice was barely audible. "Because I disobeyed him."

Luca stared at him. His jaw tightened. "Jay and Noah weren't supposed to get caught?"

Jack shook his head. "He made sure they did. He wanted to show me what happens when people refuse to listen."

Luca was silent. Then, quietly: “All this…”

Jack nodded.

“All this because you didn’t agree with him? Because of me?”

Jack shook his head immediately. “No.”

“Jack—”

Jack looked at Luca. His eyes were wet. "Because I love you."

Luca's breath caught.

Jack stepped closer. His voice was raw. "Because I love you so much that he made me believe losing you was the only way to protect everyone." His voice broke. "And I believed him."

Luca said nothing. His eyes searched Jack's face.

Jack shook his head. "I thought if I let you hate me, you'd be safe." He looked directly into Luca's eyes. "But I was wrong."

His voice softened. "And now he knows I couldn't just stop loving you."

Luca's eyes glistened. His throat moved.

Jack looked toward the office again. "He wants to destroy everything around me until I give in." He took another breath. "And I'm done letting him decide who gets hurt because of me."

Luca looked at him for a long moment. His fingers were still around Jack's wrist. "You can't protect them," he said quietly.

Jack's shoulders dropped. "I know."

Luca's expression changed. Something shifted in his eyes. "But maybe you can stand beside them."

Jack looked at him.

Luca slowly released his wrist. For a second, Jack thought that was the end of it.

Then Jack turned his hand over. He held it out. His palm was open. His fingers were trembling.

Luca stared at his hand.

Jack swallowed. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Will you give me another chance?"

Luca's eyes searched his face.

Jack continued. "Not to forget everything. Not to pretend none of it happened." A pause. "To fight for us."

Luca stared at him. His eyes were wet. The seconds stretched.

Then—"Because I'm tired of running from this too."

Jack's breath caught. His fingers slowly closed around Luca's hand. "Luca…"

"I never stopped loving you."

Jack's eyes filled. He looked at Luca. "I choose you."

Luca's fingers tightened around his.

Jack shook his head, tears threatening his eyes. He took a breath. "I've always chosen you. I was just too afraid to admit it."

Luca looked toward the office. "Then let's go."

Jack looked at him. "Together?"

Luca squeezed his hand. "Together."

He took a breath. "Come with me."

Together, they walked toward the door. Jack pushed it open.

Every head in the room turned.

Jay and Noah looked up, their faces frozen. Coach stopped mid-sentence, his hand still on the handbook.

The board representative frowned, his mouth opening to speak. And Jack's father went completely still. His face was carved from stone.

Jack stepped inside. Luca remained beside him. Their hands were intertwined.

The board representative looked irritated. "You can't simply interrupt a board disciplinary hearing."

Jack didn't stop. "You can't just expel them."

The man stood. His chair scraped against the floor. "And who are you to stop that?"

Jack's eyes moved toward his father. Then back to the man. "I'm the captain."

The room went silent. Jack's hand tightened around Luca's.

"And if you're really going to expel them…" His eyes never left his father's. "…then you'll have to expel us too."

His father stood abruptly. The chair nearly fell. "No."

Jack didn't flinch.

The board representative frowned. "What exactly are you saying?"

Jack looked around the room. His voice was steady. "They aren't the only ones who violated the rule."

Luca's hand tightened around his. Jack lifted their joined hands slightly.

His father shook his head. "No, Jack."

"We're together."

His father's face drained of color. "No."

Jack's voice remained steady. "Yes."

"You're insane." His father's chair scraped back as he stepped forward. His voice was sharp. "You have no idea what you're doing."

Jack's eyes hardened. "For once, I do."

His father pointed at Luca. "You're throwing away your future for him?"

Jack answered immediately. "No." He looked at Luca. "I'm choosing my future with him."

His father stared at him. The room was silent.

The board representative looked between them. Then at Mr. Carter. "Mr. Carter, your son has admitted—"

"He's lying." The words came out sharply. "They're roommates. That's all."

"No, they're not."

Coach's voice cut through the room. Mr. Carter turned toward him, his face reddening.

The representative glanced at Coach. "Are you certain?"

Coach gave him a dry look. "I coach hockey players. I'm not blind."

Jay lowered his head, trying not to smile. Noah's shoulders shook slightly.

The board representative opened the folder again. "Then we need to follow the policy."

Jack's father stepped forward. His voice was loud. "You can't do that."

The man looked up. "Actually, Mr. Carter, we can."

Coach held up the handbook. "According to the team's relationship policy, any player found in a romantic relationship is subject to a two-month suspension."

The board representative looked at him. "That's correct."

Coach continued. "The maximum suspension period is two months, which happens to cover the remaining duration of this camp." He looked toward Jay and Noah. "Jay and Noah are already suspended." Then toward Jack and Luca. "Jack and Luca will be placed under the same suspension."

Mr. Carter stepped forward. "You can't do that."

The board representative looked at him. "Actually, Mr. Carter, that's exactly what we can do."

"But Jack isn't—" He stopped.

The room was silent.

The board representative's voice remained calm. "Your son has admitted that he is in a relationship. Regardless of who you believe he is dating, the policy applies equally to every player." He glanced at Luca. "And his partner has not denied it."

Luca's fingers tightened around Jack's.

The representative continued. "The policy does not distinguish between players based on status, family, or position."

Mr. Carter's jaw clenched. "You don't understand."

"No," the man replied. "I understand perfectly."

Jack's father looked at his son. For a moment, the anger disappeared. What remained was disappointment. His voice was quieter. "You're coming home today."

Jack's chest tightened. His father stepped closer.

"I need you at home."

Jack didn't answer.

His father waited. The seconds stretched.

Jack finally said, "I don't think I can do that."

His father's expression hardened again. "Think carefully."

"I have."

A long silence. Something hardened in his father's face. "You'll regret this."

Jack breathed in. "Maybe." He lifted his eyes. "But at least it'll be my regret."

Then Mr. Carter turned and walked out. The door slammed behind him.

Nobody moved. The echo faded.

Jay was the first to breathe. "So…" His voice was tentative.

Noah looked at him. "We're not getting expelled?"

Coach sighed. "Apparently not."

Jay looked at Noah. Then they both broke into smiles. Noah stood so quickly his chair nearly fell backward. Jay grabbed him. They hugged. Hard. Noah laughed into his shoulder.

"We're still here."

Jay nodded. "We're still here."

Then they turned toward Jack. Jay crossed the room first and pulled him into a hug. His grip was tight. "You idiot."

Jack laughed weakly. "Yeah."

Noah joined them. "You scared the hell out of us."

Jack looked between them. His voice was quiet. "I should've said something sooner."

Jay pulled back. "Yeah."

Noah nodded. "You really should've."

Jack lowered his eyes. "I'm sorry."

Jay bumped his shoulder. "But you did now."

Noah smiled. "You finally did."

Jack looked at Luca. Luca was already smiling. Not the careful smile. Not the uncertain one. A real one. His eyes were bright.

Jack reached for him. Luca stepped into his arms. They held each other quietly. For the first time in what felt like forever, Jack didn't have to pretend.

Coach watched the four of them for a moment. A smile slowly appeared on his face. He shook his head. "Troublemakers."

The boys looked over.

Coach closed the handbook. "I thought this was a training camp." He sighed dramatically. "But apparently I accidentally signed up for love camp."

Jay laughed. Noah shook his head. Luca smiled against Jack's shoulder. Jack laughed for the first time that day without forcing it.

Coach pointed toward the door. "Now get out of my office before the board decides I'm running a dating agency."

They laughed as they filed out. Jack kept Luca's hand in his. This time, he didn't let go.