"I'll wait for you in the ground."

"Okay," Sam winked and jogged for his P.E class.

I turned towards my class and took a seat near the window. A light breeze caressed my skin, giving a soothing effect.

The bell rings and like that the school ends. Everyone excitedly rushed outside as they are free from school. Some are going to hang out, some are going to practice and other stuff.

I gathered my belongings and ambled outside. Pulling the earbuds from my jacket pocket, I put them on and played the song Permission To Dance by BTS on my phone.

I was humming to the music when my gaze fell on my shoes and I learnt my shoes' knot is untied.

Thank goodness, I saw it on time otherwise I would have tripped.

I crouched down and tied the knot. Humming, I turned the corner and I was in my own world and didn't notice someone's coming from the opposite direction and bumped into something hard which made me fell straight on my butt.

Ouch! That hurts!

"Pardon me..." Rubbing my head, I looked up and came face to face with none other than Axel who has crouched down, forwarding his hand. He also has his earphones on. His eyes holding a soft look but on realizing it's me, his eyes widen for a split second before having a cold look.

"You!" he yelled pointing directly at me and stood up abruptly. I paused the music and so did he.

"Look where you are going!" He said curtly.

I stood up and retorted, "You should watch out for your steps too." Dusting my clothes, I looked at him. He averted his gaze, knowing very well he was at fault too.

"It's alright. I forgive you even though you didn't apologize." I smiled at him. He looked straight into my eyes, his eyes carrying a curious look but after a second, his look changed into a confused one and he slightly shook his head like he was in a trance and backed a step.

"What the hell? Why are you following me, you punkster?!"

I opened my mouth but he didn't let me speak as he clenched my jacket and pinned me to the wall.

Not again. I let out a weary sigh.

"Look at me!" He snapped; hitting the wall behind me. He lifted my chin and made me look into his dark brown eyes, which were blazing with anger.

"If you think you will look cool or you have any other intention"- he cocked his head to the side- "let me clear it for you. I don't befriend anyone and not punksters like you!" He said pressing each word as he cocked his eyebrow and a second later, a cold glare is directed towards me. He glared hard. Everyone else would have trembled and surrendered to his glare but it takes more than that to scare me. My father's aura is more intimidating than his glare.

"Excuse me, Mr. Martin." I removed his hand from my collar and smoothened my clothes. I cleared my throat and locked my gaze with his.

"Firstly, I am cool enough. I don't need to be in someone's shadow to look cool or whatever other intentions you are talking about," I said making air quotes like Samantha.

"And pardon me but you are being self-centered. I didn't follow you. We study in the same school and are in the same class so it's common for us to bump a few times.

"And to make it clear to you, I'm not that clinging type. I respect other people's space. If you forgot, let me remind you, I did say I'll wait for you but I'll not stop making little efforts to persuade you. I did try in the morning but as you avoided me, I respected your decision." I sucked in some oxygen as I was out of breath.

"And now it's my fault that we collided here, huh?" I gazed at him; a frown creased his forehead. His eyes have a foreign look as he stared at me.

I clicked my fingers in front of his eyes. "Off to earth, Martin." He literally chuckled, a dry chuckle as he shook his head.

"You respect my decision, right?" He looked straight into my eyes with a piercing look.

"Then do me a favor and leave me alone."

"That I can't do. Why are so stubborn and want to be alone?" He asked meeting my gaze.

"That's none of your concern," I muttered gazing down as I don't want to look into his eyes, knowing very well I will give in. His eyes are just like mom, full of warmth, unwavering, and something I don't wanna know.

"Ha! You say I am being stubborn than what are you! You can't force someone to be friends with you and what's the shit with this friend's thing. What's so great about it? For your own good, you are with someone and when he is no longer of any use to you or you are bored, you abandoned him and move forward." I retorted back, frustrated. Passing my hand through my hair, I tried to calm myself.

Why? Why this guy makes me lose my temper every time? I don't want to remember it. I don't want to get through that again.

"That's where you are wrong Martin," he argued, looking at me intently.

"It's not the fault of only one. Both are responsible for it. The bond you share shan't be that fragile that it can be broken so easily." His words shocked me but I didn't let him see it.

"So you are now saying it's all my fault because I let him walk away!" I snapped, partially angry at myself because what he said is somewhat true.

"Exactly! Did you try to find out why he did so?"

"What if I did!" I growled. My eyes blazing with anger as I clenched my hands, my jaw tensed as a vein popped in my forehead.

"Then you didn't try your best."

He gaped, his eyes wide with shock-like he didn't mean it or to hurt me. "I-"

I shook my head, raising my hand, gesturing him to stop.

I am not hurt at all. Deep down, I know I'm at wrong here. I am hurt and others are hurt too because of me.

I'm really pathetic. I wasn't able to protect even one person close to me. I lost everyone dear to me. That's why it would be better if I stop him here. I don't have any power left nor do I will be able to bear any more partings. In the end, we both will get hurt.

Please stay away from me.

"Maybe you are right!"

"Maybe I'm not as stubborn as you. I should have locked him somewhere."

"What?!" He asked, shock visible in his tone as he stared at me wide-eyed.

"Are you crazy or something?"

"Yes, I am. Get it in your head and stay as far as possible from me as it's good for us both."

"There you go again, wanting to be alone. Ask yourself is that what you want! You have once failed that doesn't mean you always will. Life is itself a challenge and we are living that challenge so why are you afraid to take another challenge."

This guy is persistent as hell. Ha! I bet he is the kind of boy who gets everything he lays a finger on.

"You don't get it, do you? I don't care about that shit. I don't want you to interfere with my life. It's that simple."

"It's not that simple. Everyone needs someone to share their grief and happy moments. Because of that one bad experience, you are refraining yourself from all the fun and happiness you deserve."

"Like hell, I care for that."

"Yeah, like hell you care for them. It's clear as water in your eyes." I closed my eyes and stepped away from him.

"Who gave you permission to look into my eyes and don't make things up?" He chuckled.

"What are you so afraid of?" He asked stepping towards me.

You.

I'm afraid of you. I'm afraid I'll hurt you which I don't want.

Heck, this guy is stubborn. I have never seen someone so determined.

"Alright!" He huffed.

"I won't persuade you anymore with my words. I won't do anything from now on." I took a breath of relief.

"But I won't leave you alone. You can call me stubborn because hell, I am stubborn. Just see, how I will make you change your decision." He smiled and pushed past me, leaving me dumbstruck.

Hell, this guy is something. What's he gonna do now?! I need to be careful from now on.

††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††††

Hello. How are you all?

Here's another chapter.

What do you think about it? Don't forget to share your views in the comments and vote if you enjoy reading it.

Till then bye ;)