Chapter 304: Fate On the Line
Clyde shifted his grip on the fishing rod, the faint creak of the reel breaking the still hum of the lakeside. When he turned his head, he caught Micah staring across the water, his chin tilted slightly down, his phone clutched in the other hand. His gaze was unfocused, watching dazedly. The boy was so still, so lost in whatever thought that Clyde paused.
"Something happened?" Clyde’s voice was quiet but edged with concern. "Is it about home? Do you need to go back?"
Micah didn’t look at him. "No..." His voice trailed, the pause stretching as if he were debating whether to say the rest. Finally, he added. "Do you think you can change your fate?"
Clyde’s heart skipped a beat. His brows drew together before he answered. "Yeah. I’ve always believed in achieving greatness by effort rather than luck. So... yeah, I think you can change it." His gaze sharpened slightly. "But I’m guessing that’s not the real reason you’re asking..."
Micah leaned back lazily. "Yep. That’s right." The lazy tone contrasted with the flicker of something guarded in his expression. "I want to give back everything to him and change his fate."
Micah lowered his voice. "But I am scared of that dream. Can you... help me?"
He tilted his head then, finally looking up at Clyde. The sunlight caught the lenses of his glasses, turning them into reflective shields that hid whatever was in his eyes.
Clyde couldn’t gauge the emotion behind them. And that unsettled him almost as much as the suddenness of the question.
"Do you have doubts about it?"
Micah chuckled. "No, I don’t."
He let his eyes drift back to the lake, following the lazy bounce of the fishing bobber, his smile faded. Then, after a pause, he said. "Even if it meant doing something silly or dangerous?"
Clyde replied without hesitation. "I do anything, except something that puts you, Micah, in danger."
A slow smile spread across Micah’s lips, brighter this time. "Then it settled," he said, pushing himself up from the chair. "Let’s go back to the condo. I wanna discuss my plan with you with no one around. This is boring anyway."
Before Clyde could reply, Micah was already walking away from the water, his steps quick.
Clyde exhaled through his nose, set his rod down, and called out. "Dylon! Come here. Grab this."
Dylon jogged over, looking puzzled as Clyde passed him the rod without explanation.
The moment Clyde turned to follow Micah, the fishing line jerked sharply. Dylon blinked, then gasped. Excited. "Ah! One got caught!" he shouted, fumbling to reel in. The surface of the lake broke with a splash as a large fish lashed free of the water, silver scales flashing in the sunlight.
The others gathered instantly, crowding around Dylon, marvelling at Clyde’s luck. They had been sitting here for over two hours with nothing to show for it, and Clyde, barely ten minutes in, had somehow landed the catch of the day without even trying.
But Clyde didn’t hear the praise. His attention was fixed on the figure ahead, already halfway up the path. Micah’s stride was brisk, almost restless, almost urgent.
Clyde increased his pace until he caught up. "Slow down," he said, his hand brushing briefly at Micah’s elbow before dropping away. "What’s the rush?"
"I just got excited. You know, I have never had anyone to share it with. I want to hear your opinion."
"Isn’t it better to start by telling me what that dream was?" Clyde asked, tone light but eyes intent.
That made Micah pause mid-step, the gravel crunching under his shoes as his pace eased. "Right...Here also should work." He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and glanced at Clyde.
"Promise me first you won’t laugh until I finish..." Micah mumbled, feeling embarrassed to utter the novel’s nonsense content out loud.
Clyde stared at him. "Alright."
Micah moistened his lips and began. "My family, Darcy, and I got tangled with four men, men with their own antics and schemes. And I don’t know who moved first or how, but somehow, the Ramsy family couldn’t stand against them. We got weak. Darcy... Vulnerable with them." His voice dropped a notch, his ears red, hoping Clyde wouldn’t ask what exactly it meant.
"Four men?" Clyde just caught this part.
"Yeah," Micah’s eyes dropped to the ground. "They went after Darcy...and used me in the process... I know it sounds absurd."
"No," Clyde’s answer came immediately. His expression didn’t waver. "If you believe it could happen, I do too. So who are they? What will they do?"
Micah bit the inside of his cheek, his heartbeat skipping for reasons he didn’t want to name. The way Clyde believed him without hesitation made his heart flutter. This man... he indulged him too much. It was dangerous how steady Clyde’s support felt.
"You know them. Aidan Wilson... Silas Durant. Leo McKay, yeah, the big star... and one from our uni, Archie Norris, a gamer."
Clyde was taken aback. "I can understand Silas, but...why the others? How did they even meet Darcy? Or got attracted?"
"Haha," Micah laughed under his breath, though it was humourless. "That was my question too... anyway, they are the worst. So I ask my grandma for help."
"Your grandma knows?" Clyde’s voice rose slightly.
"Yeah. I showed Darcy to her at the birthday banquet. You know Darcy....he is so similar to my grandma’s brother. So she guessed it instantly." Micah said, his mouth tilted in a faint bittersweet smile. "But now you are here, I have to cancel that plan."
"What was it?" Clyde asked, curious.
"To spread news that I had been disowned," Micah admitted.
Clyde stepped closer, closing the gap between them in a few strides, and flicked a finger against Micah’s forehead. "You are really an idiot! Who would suggest something like that?"
"Hey!" Micah’s eyes flashed as he argued back. "In the first place, I shouldn’t even be in that position! And I was desperate."
"Micah... you..." Clyde’s voice closed off. He reached out again, but this time he stroked Micah’s cheek gently. "I know it’s hard... but they are your family too, don’t hurt them like that."
Micah blinked rapidly, subconsciously leaning into Clyde’s palm, seeking the warmth. It felt safe there, dangerously safe. Then he swallowed hard and nodded.
Clyde itched to embrace the boy, but instead, he took back his hand. "Good. Just call it off." His gaze softened, though his fingers curled at his sides.
"Finally...You aren’t jumping or avoiding my closeness. I assume you got rid of that weird bug, huh?" Clyde smirked.
Micah’s relaxed face, all at once, turned into deep beetroot. "When did I do... that?" he stammered.
Clyde shook his head in amusement. "Yeah, it was probably my imagination," he said, reaching out again and patting Micah’s shoulder. "Let’s pack up and go back. You wouldn’t enjoy it anyway now that your head is all so wound up."
Micah forced himself to remain motionless. He was just starting to forget about that dream before Clyde brought it up again. No, he should act like always. Otherwise, Clyde would tease him more. Anyway, that serious talk had dulled the dream’s effect.
"What about others?" Micah asked, looking toward the lake. "I should go and say goodbye. It’s rude..."
"Don’t worry about them. I’ll text them." Clyde replied and grabbed his hand, leading him forward toward the condo.
Micah’s lips curled briefly into a smug smile before he stepped up beside Clyde.