~ 28: Scowls From Hell - Part 2 ~

I saw red, and for the first time, I couldn't keep my temper on its leash. I slapped him across his face, not even remembering that a mark was all it would need for people to chase me down to hell.

"Why did you do that?" I screamed, losing control of myself in its entirety. I threw him to the ground, sat on him in a rage to beat him up. Then I continued in the same tone, "Do you have any idea what you are doing by harming yourself? You are acting just like those people who seek attention through self-harm!"

"I'm punishing myself," he replied dryly. "I can't keep you close to me where I can see that you are doing well. I'm unable to save myself, let alone your friends. I wished for something that wouldn't come true, so I'm beating myself up for even trying that hard. After all, you wouldn't have eyes for beauty but one's personality."

"Get straight to the point," I remarked back softly, holding back my tears after hearing him speak of how hard his life was, despite all the optimism and humour that he shows.

"Can't you be the only one for me? Am I that stupid and pathetic for you to hate me with all your heart? Will you stop caring for me just because I'm rich, or because I was once abandoned by my own family?"

"Your weird choice and way with words will really knock me out cold someday," I said with a sigh. "What can I, a poor county girl, even get a rich and handsome person like you?"

"Your love," he said in the same tone as me. "There's nothing more I could ask for."

I was taken aback by his response. So I believed he was flirting with me as usual.

"What do I get in return, Mr Aoki?" I asked with a small smirk, amused at his choice of entertainment. "This is a give-and-take world, as you said, so you can't deprive me of my heart without giving yours."

"It's already yours," he whispered in the shell of my ear, sending tickles. "You had already stolen it the day you had saved me from my plight."

He pecked me on the lips, startling me. Then he tenderly kissed each of my fingertips, increasing my heart rate instantly. I was never accustomed to such kind of affection throughout my school life.

"And if I can't give it because I don't trust you?" I asked, flushing lightly at his actions.

"Then I will find a way to make it happen," he answered. At my large eyes, he responded with a smile, "Without 'that' method, of course."

He was going to pick me up in his arms when I pushed him over and started spluttering. I coughed out more blood than before. What I hadn't noticed the last time was the blackish fluid floating in it.

He rubbed my back, trying to soothe me. I suddenly felt light-headed and had almost touched my head to the ground if he hadn't caught me. He carried back in his arms all the way to my allocated bed in a new room, sitting beside me all the time. He didn't leave until I fell asleep.

The next morning, I was discharged with great difficulty, but Mel was still in a coma. Her father had stayed back until the morning, thanking me with endless gratitude that I started to feel a little guilty for not leaving any earlier.

Throughout the whole day, the absence of a friend nagged me. I didn't see Aidan at all since that morning. I had waited near the staircase for a few minutes during recess before I went back to complete my assignments. Thankfully, I got no detention. Although some teachers did ask me about Mel and what happened with me, the day hadn't been very eventful.

I would cough up little spouts of blood and black fluid on my handkerchief from time to time, but I wouldn't be too bothered about it. After serving at the bookstore and wishing the merry man a happy weekend, I jogged off to the main corridor near the lobby.

Aidan had been happily waiting for me, with a slightly apologetic look on his face for not making it during recess. His excuse was that he had been called to the track for the upcoming marathon. I wasn't worried by the people near him, yet one particular person had me looking his way. The black leather jacket replaced with a dark brown one and the eyepatch over the left eye, there was no mistake as to who he was.

He gave a glance before he looked away like the day before had meant nothing to him. Aidan turned his head following my line of sight. Lucas, feeling someone's eyes on him, directed his strong gaze towards his left.

Their faces hardened and attained the shade of a volcanic stone. There could be a thunderstorm any minute with how tense the atmosphere was. The corridor had quietened down and everyone had started to leave, sensing the danger.

I was able to catch one sophomore in the meantime, who had continued to stay back and watch the show along with the others, and asked her, "What's the problem with the two of them?"

"They are rivals at everything, including track field races. The only great thing is that they don't share the same classes. They would be throttling each other with their bare hands."

Understanding the fatality of the situation, I quickened my pace and came to stand between them, facing Aidan. I compelled him to come away, and promised him to treat ourselves with a cold food item to keep him chill.

If electricity could penetrate through the body from one's eyes, this situation proved it. I was as still as a mouse, coaxing Aidan to forget the past and come away. Only then had Lucas spoken since the first time.

'Meet me at my lair,' he said in his piercing deep voice, sending shivers down my spine.

'Where?' I asked, turning to meet his eyes with my sad ones. But he had already vanished from our sight.