Chapter 57

Another year passed by, but this year was different. Ray trained only at the weekends, and he spent more time with his mother, feeling safer and warmer, and being happier. He was still cold and sharp, and his will to be stronger didn't fade away, yet he gave himself some more caring, which made Taria's heart more relaxed. Steven started teaching him boxing, and Taria would always cheer them both energetically. "You can do it, Ray, don't give up", she would always say, filling him with positive energy so he would be able to keep going.

One day, after the training with Steven ended, Taria took them both to eat ice cream at the normal place they go to. Strawberry flavor for her, chocolate for Ray, and vanilla for Steven, and the three of them sat down enjoying their ice cream.

"You did a great job today", Taria said, patting Ray's head softly, then she looked at Steven and patted his too saying "you did great too".

"Ah.. thanks", Steven said then he started staring at something again while his face was turning red slowly. Taria could feel that he was acting strangely since they entered the shop, and when she turned around, she realized the reason behind his strange behavior.

"oh, so she is the reason behind you being weird", Taria said while smirking

"Wha..what do you mean?" Steven said while his face turned completely red

"Mom meant that you have romantic feelings for the girl with short brown hair who is eating chocolate ice cream on the table behind us with her two friends", Ray said calmly

"Shhhhh she will hear you", Steven whispered

"Who is she? Is she your classmate?" Taria asked with stars filling her wide eyes

"Y.. yeah, she is my classmate", Steven said

"Why do you like her?" Ray asked

"She.. she looks at me differently. There is no fear in her eyes when she talks to me, unlike my other classmates, and her eyes are.. they are..", Steven said

"pretty?"

"Smart?"

"Lovely?"

"They are sparkling just like yours", Edrian said after popping out of nowhere

Steven blushed as he felt embarrassed after Edrian described exactly what was on his mind. He tried to avoid their gazes yet he could feel two pairs of eyes staring at him, so he said "I will go to the bathroom", and got up fast.

"Hello, Ray", Edrian said

"Hi..", Ray replied coldly

"I will give my life to be treated less coldly by your highness", Edrian said sulkingly

"Give it then", Ray said coldly

Taria started laughing softly. She was tired of the stiff atmosphere between Ray and Edrian, and she knew that her son was the one who is still holding onto it, yet their usual fights always make her feel better. Taria knew that Ray's heart was pure, even if he seemed cold and sharp, and Edrian knew that too, which was the reason behind his countless attempts to befriends him.

"What should we do?" Taria said

"I think it would be better if you both stayed out of it", Ray said calmly

"Why? we must help him", Edrian said

"Said by the old single himself", Ray said, sending a spear into Edrian's heart

"That's mean, Ray. He must have been in a relationship even once, right?" Taria said, sending another spear into Edrian's heart as he never even had his first kiss yet, however, he preferred to lie in order to keep his pride in front of the only child he feared.

"Of course, I was so popular when I was in high school. I don't even remember how many relationships I've made then", Edrian said, crossing his arms and leaning backwards

"See, I told you", Taria said

"Yeah, I saw that I was right when I said you need protection, mom. This man is obviously lying. His hands are shaking, and his face got redder which means his heart is faster than usual, add to that the fact that his appearance is normal at Germany and he is not particularly special at anything, so there is no reason for him to be popular", Ray said calmly, but this time, instead of sending a single spear, he smashed Edrian's heart like a dough

"Is that true?" Taria said, yet thankfully, Steven came back and ended that unfair fight.

The four of them went out of the shop after enjoying their ice cream and having some peaceful talks, then they all decided to go to Taria's apartment to continue their peaceful talk .

Once they reached the apartment, Taria and Edrian drowned Steven with questions about that girl, while Ray went straight to his room, trying to avoid the hurricane his mother and Edrian created.

Taria and Edrian kept talking to Steven, not giving him a chance to say a word, however, the doorbell rang, and Taria asked Ray to open it as she was busy investigating with Steven.

Ray went calmly and opened the door, yet the person standing there forced him to freeze as if he saw a grim rapper. Taria noticed that Ray took so long, so she stood up and went to see who was there, however, she had no clue that the person standing in front of her could turn her whole world upside down