CHAPTER 019.
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Despite the silence enveloping the two of you sisters, the tension hasn't completely faded. You press yourself closer to the window, never wanting to brush arms with hers even just for a second, as you silently regret leaving your hoodie behind that that would have at least made you feel more secured.

Actually, you don't even want to be here.

So drained by the previous occurrences, you have only wanted to stay inside your room and hide yourself under the blankets of your bed. Unfortunately, it was a wish ungranted as you were immediately pulled away from your safe place. You then found yourself being imposed by your frantic mother. Criticized even.

✭  𝕱𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖍𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 ✭

How dare you be selfish and make her worry in the past few weeks?! She said. And how dare you return yet still continue to waste more the money she and your dad have spent on your tuition.

You were humble and respectful when you tried to request for a day. Just a day for you to at least recover your energy and take a break. But she was not having any of it. Blinded by rage and displeasure, she only gave you an earful scolding.

So you swept your gaze to your sister and tried to seek help from her, hoping that she'll listen to your request and try to convince your mother for you since she did seem kinder last night. Maybe, just maybe, she actually got her character development.

But you were only left disappointed when she actually joined your mother in berating you.

"You should listen to Mom. She only wants the best for us. She doesn't want us flunking our grades because she wants us to have a good future," Nikki said as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear like she is one obedient daughter unlike you.

Your mother let out a loud relieved sigh. "Oh thank God that He's still merciful enough to give me a child who isn't a pain in the head and actually understands me."

Her forehead wrinkled as she shot you a look of scorn. "What did I do to give birth of an ungrateful brat like you? You shouldn't have returned if you haven't realized your faults at all."

Words after word were being hurtled at you. You could only lower your head when the two teamed up in pointing out your idiocy, your insolence, and your errors.

✭ 𝕱𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖍𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝕰𝖓𝖉𝖘 ✭

In other words, you feel humiliated and hated. This is exactly the reason why you left this hell in the first place. Worry? As much as they try to conceal it, it is clear as day that their words were dripping with spite.

Gosh—and you almost fell for it again.

They never really cared.

You inwardly mock yourself.

A bitter smile is just form on your face when she suddenly places her hand on your arm.

You immediately stiffen.

Her touch seems to ooze with warmth and care. She gently pats you as if trying to coax you back to reality. And it did work as it actually manages to slowly pull you out from your aggrieved thoughts.

Dazed and somewhat confused, you blink your eyes at the strangely warm gesture. However, you still don't bother to tilt your head and pay heed to her.

That doesn't seem to discourage her as she continues with her actions. "(Y/N)," she calls out to you, patting for your attention over and over again.

Still feeling resentful, you brush her calls aside. Paying attention only to the streets outside, viewed through the school bus' tinted window.

Honestly, why in the world is she even here beside you? She has friends waiting for her at the backseat—friends that she has always been with and would always choose over your company.

But strangely, she chose to sit beside you and annoy you, or whatever shit she is doing right now.

When you have enough with her noise, you harshly pull your arm away from her touch. Glaring at her, you snap at her to shut up.

She immediately gets taken aback, not used at all to such a violent feedback. She didn't expect that you'll lose control after a few minutes of being a nuisance as she had always known you to be tolerant.

"Are you mad?" She asks.

You stare at her, blankly.

Despite the hostility you've displayed towards her, she didn't turn her gaze away. The curiosity in her (E/C) eyes slowly fading as the stare goes on. It eventually drops straight to a blank look in the end.

And when it does, you feel something bad in your guts, prompting you to immediately break the stare and look away from the danger.

Somehow you feel like you have reached her limits.

Wait!

You furrow your brows.

Why should you care if you reached her limits.

Let her be angry for all you care. She should know why you're even acting like this in the first place. After all, isn't she one of the top students in her class? She should be smart to realize.

You were so deep in your thoughts that you didn't even realize that she had actually initiated herself to lunge. A fucking painful stinging sensation suddenly breaks you out of that mental space, forcing a soft yelp out of your pursed lips.

"Ow!"

You narrowed your eyes.

Looking at the red traces of nail mark left on your skin, you realized that you had just been pinched.

You quickly turn to glare at your seatmate—whose seat is only close enough to be considered the responsible culprit of that pain.

Sure enough it was her, with her cold, guiltless smile. Gone is the kindness on her face earlier. Nikki has finally reverted back to the two-faced person you had always known.

Somehow, even though you were as heck mad, you instantly lost your courage once you saw that smile. Your glower had instinctively subsided; you feel that familiar fear crept over you again. Your heart beat spiking up; you suddenly have the urge to escape and dash somewhere, somewhere that is away from her.

But you couldn't.

Not when you're inside this school bus right now, heading to school. Not when she's in front of you, blocking your only path to escape.

"I've been patient, (Y/N)," She finally drops her act and sneers at you; the words only accessible to your ears. "I tried to be kind, but you're the one who's testing my limits."

She pinches you yet again. Harder—deeper—as if she's actually making certain that it is to the point that her manicured nails actually draw out blood from your flesh. You bite your lips as you resist the urge to cry. Because while it fucking hurts, the last thing you ever wanted to do is make a commotion.

Fussing over a tiny pinch in the public eye is just hell embarrassing. While you would be able to manage to humiliate your sister, you'll also humiliate yourself in the process. A double edged sword! What's the point of placing everyone's attention on you guys when it would cause you more shame?

Tears build up in the corners of your eyes. "Fucking let me go, Nikki," you quietly hiss at her.

She only laughs, scornfully. "Aw, you seem like you're about to cry, little sis," she emphasizes the last two words so sweet—so sickeningly sweet that it almost give you the urge to vomit.

For a second, you almost thought that she would never let go. But a few seconds later, she eventually did. She tilted her head to different turns of direction, seeming to scan for any unintentional witness. When she caught no one, she made herself comfortable in her seat. Like you, she still cared about her reputation.

You heave a sigh. You don't even bother to check if there is blood in your skin; you immediately hug your wrist closer to yourself, scooting yourself closer to the window and away from the bitch, unconsciously slightly trembling at that moment.

Nikki casually looks at her nails, not exactly bothered at your fearful reaction. In fact, she seems to delight on it; it bloomed a lovely grin on her face.

"If you're planning to argue with me, you'd better check yourself first and make sure that you can actually take a stand against me."

When there's no response from you, your sister turns to look at you again. She quirks a brow as if waiting for you to challenge her authority; but when she sees your humbled form, her appearance slowly shifts into a smug expression.

Really, you're such a fool! You actually dared to disrespect her. Well, now that she reminded you of your own place again, you should know never to anger her any more.You being quiet and submissive like this suits you better. She didn't want to hurt you again, so it's time that you actually start behaving.

Nikki plug on her white earphones to distract herself with kpop music.

On the other hand, you have your head lowered.

Gaze falling on the screen of your phone that had just been lit. A message was suddenly received—sent by someone that you had almost completely forgotten.

The emptiness in your eyes fade, replaced by anxiety. Your body stiffen. As if on instinct, you immediately screenlock your phone.

✭ 𝕿𝖎𝖒𝖊 𝕾𝖐𝖎𝖕 ✭

When you were heading to class, your phone beeped again, causing you to let out a sigh. When you take a glimpse, you saw that another message from the same number had just went through. This time, Dark was asking when you'll be free, so that he can take you out for a coffee again.

Your nose crinkle, repulsed. You have no idea where did he even get the idea that you'll hang out with him again. You weren't really modest in showing your displeasure; and after all that mess that happened, you thought that he would also finally conclude that you're nothing but trouble.

He was also still hard to read as ever. In the text, there was even a smiley face "🙂" emoji in the end of the sentence, and you had no idea if whether you'll take it as an attempt of him trying to be friendly, or he's trying to threaten you again.

You didn't bother to reply. You just block him right there and then, hoping that that will be the last time he'll reach out to you.

Surely, he won't try to reach you again. Right?

With how rude he treated you yesterday, Dark doesn't seem like he was affected by the fuck luck. Unless—you bite your bottom lips—unless, if that was really the effect on him.

He was obviously built different. He seemed like a psychopath. Maybe, it was because of that, that the effect of fuck luck on him was also different? Who knows, he might have now turned into an obsessed psychopath. It wasn't just obvious because he had been so rude and violent in treating you.

And yet, the little clues were right there in plain sight. You only had to pick it up and decipher it.

Despite barely knowing you, Dark wanted to spend time with you. He wanted to know you. And he was also flirting with you. Plus, let's not also forget the fact that he just spammed you a few minutes ago, asking where have you been, why did you leave him, and he was asking you out again—you grimace—for another coffee "friendly" date invitation.

Your body turned stiff at your stupid hypothesis. So if you're going to look at the bigger picture, then it's not just those waiters? It's also him? But how about Star? Was he also affected?

He was also weird at times. By weird, he was also too kind and friendly for no reasons. And yet that could also mean nothing. Maybe he was really that type of a charitable person, and you were just overthinking things.

Or—he was really affected. Luck did mention that he was part of the fuck luck, but it's strange that he didn't seem that lovesick to you. In fact, he even let you go, not bothering to chase you after again.

So, what's really exactly happening? Your forehead starts to crinkle at how complex everything is. Where is even Luck? He hadn't appeared for a long time already, and I only had this white cat trailing after me.

Wait—white cat!

You quickly snap your head to his right and voila! There he goes, just strutting beside you. As if sensing your gaze, he looks up at you and blinks his yellow eyes at you in greeting.

You quickly fucking stop in your tracks, about to warn the cat for whatever hexing plans he's about to commit. And yet you're not even able to finish your sentence as your body gets hit by something—something hard and big. It sends you almost crashing down to the cold cemented floor and breaking your head.

A frightened gasp breaks out of your throat, not totally fucking expecting this cliche clumsy moment. Luckily, you were snatched by the wrist right on time before you can receive concussion.

However, the thing is... in order for you to be pulled away from the floor, you have to be pulled into something else. In this case, it's the chest of your savior. You found your nose being overwhelmed by a heavy earthy scent as your head gets cushioned by his broad shoulder.

"Are you alright?" He spoke out. His voice was husky and deep and familiar? It almost sounds like... Ares? You freeze at the thought.

No way! There's no freaking way! Your breathing quicken as you immediately turn to one direction, having this feeling that the cat is still standing there, waiting for you to accept his gift or c̷̻̘͓̖͈̻͙̘͊ṳ̵̬̤͓̥̥͆r̶̢̡̢̗͕͚̞̬̬͈͘ş̸̞̹͕̞̞̥̝͎̀͛̈͋̓̈̔̕é̸̡̪͙̬͓̝̥̿̾̓̋̀̀—as he happily basks in your worries and fears.

Turns out you're right. The beautiful cat hadn't moved from his place. In fact, he stands there so still that he almost looks like a statue. If not for the blinking of his eyes, you would have thought him so. He stares at you as if expecting. You saw his fluffy tail twitch once he catch your gaze.

"Hello?" The man repeats again; his tone is gentle and patient like it wasn't him at all. You would have been comforted if this was anyone, but this was Ares.

ARES!

The school's bully! Your sister's ex-boyfriend!

While he doesn't really bully you, you have a gut feeling that deep inside that he despises you. Well, why shouldn't he? After all, you were the ultimate reason why your sister called off their relationship.

While you and your sister may not be close, but you still care for her. You saw it yourself just how toxic he was. It wasn't only because that he was a bully, you saw how he never really cared about your sister's feelings. Their relationship was all about him, him, him.

If ever there's a time that he didn't get what he wants, he would always create a scene. He would scream at her, throw things everywhere, and sometimes he would also pinch her in the arm till it bruised. Hell, he would even dare do that in public. It was scary, way scarier than the things you experienced with your sister.

You might not like your sister, but you never wanted her to be trapped in such a vicious relationship. You couldn't consider this bad karma. So you did your best to talk her out of it. It might have taken a while, but she eventually realized that she was only being treated as an object, not an object of his affection.

So you never wanted to be associated with him. Not like this. Never.

Ares, on the other hand, was also confused as to why he's suddenly acting like a gentleman. He is a prideful man; he knows deep inside that his ego won't let him be kind to anyone, especially to a weak, stupid girl like this. If he was in his normal self, he would have let her fall to the floor—scream at her and probably even kick her. But right now, he's acting

c̷͖̃̀̑͑͝ͅr̶̛͔̟̋͗̾͐͂̃͜å̶̢̛̛͔̤͈̝͇̼̩͓̇̂͂z̸͚̻̲̗̻̟̟̠̏̇̉̊̚͝y̴̟̹̱͙̝̲̮͑

Compared to his usual self, he was being careful with her right now, holding her like she was a fragile teacup that could break whenever. Strangely, he didn't even feel the need to let her go. He just wanted to stay and hold her close to him forever. This way, he can always feel her, touch her, and smell her.

Smell? At the sudden thought of curiosity, he sniffed in. His eyes automatically fluttering shut once he got a whiff of her. Suddenly, he felt like he had an out of body experience. This was way better than the cigarettes he smoke. Not only he felt high, he felt like he was in heaven.

FUCK!

God, it was only just now that he realized that her scent was this addicting. What is this? He feel like he could drown in this. Ares let out a shaky sigh. He never felt like this before.

He felt like if he closed his eyes longer, he might eventually drift to eternal unconscious, lulled to sleep by her warmth and scent. So he struggled to open his drooping eyes—struggled to return back to reality and dismiss this sudden intoxication.

But when he does open his eyes, he felt like time had stopped ticking. The world had stopped revolving. His heart had stopped beating. He finally saw her face, and it was you.

YOU! How the fuck could he ever forget your face. He hated you. You were the reason why Nikki realized that he was just using her.

And yet, despite the animosity he was bearing for you for a very long time, he could not carry himself to push you. Instead, he only wanted to pull you closer to him. What is this feeling?

When you blinked your eyes at him, he felt like kneeling, kissing her feet—pleading to never do that again. When he perceived the slightest fear in your gaze, he felt like crouching—crouching himself into the smallest ball form he can muster as if he was actually the more affected one between the two of you.

And then when he heard you speak his name, it was that moment—oh fuck, it was that moment when he realized that his heart had stopped beating for him and had started beating for you.

And just like that, his soul was forever taken. The school bully was gone and now replaced by someone completely unlike him. For the first time and forever, Ares entertained the idea of being a slave; and he had no complaints if it was being your slave.

Just don't be scared of him—just don't hate him. He'll gladly do anything to change your views toward him. He would even kneel. He would even kiss your feet. He would even gladly ḱ̷̜͒͌͑͑̋̌ȉ̷̦͍̰̟̜̠̪̳̎̉̔̔͆l̵̨͇̲̅̾̿͒́̆̔͘̚l̶̼̼͚̖͈̰̊̈́͑͊̃ ̸̧͍̬̞͎̮̜̖̺̟͋̾͗̿̍̐ḩ̶̢̧͈͎̬̣̉̏͑̒̂́͋̐͝į̷͙͕̲̹͋͛̀m̴͙̘͔͕̹͚̤̟͚̑̑́̔̐̇̽̿͜s̷̯̳̟̆͛̉̎͜ͅé̷̠̤̖͍̠̻̞͎͍́̓̄̀͜l̵̛͚̯̭̫̥̬̖͈̬̓͑̈́̍͑̈́̚̚f̷̛̩̺̳͙͖͔̪̓̏͗̊̿́̕͝.

Ares couldn't help but draw out a dreamy smile as he release you from his hold. His demeanor had completely changed. There was no signs of a hotheaded misogynist but only a lovesick fool.

"(Y/N)," the red-haired man drawled as if savoring the taste of your name in his tongue. "Are you alright?" His dark green eyes carried concern as it skimmed your form from top to bottom.

"Do I have to carry you to the hospital?" he asked as if it wasn't the weirdest question to ask to a girl that was obviously safe and alright.

You flinch and take a step back.

"No, I'm fine." You weren't able to hide the tremble in your voice when he also takes a step forward to you in response.

You immediately spot the hurtful expression that flash across his handsome face, but you don't care. You don't care because why would you? With how many people he had already hurt and victimized, that's probably nothing to him.

In fact, you think that he deserves more—more of this emotional pain. While you wouldn't like anyone to suffer this fuck luck predicament, you somehow don't feel guilt for having him be involved with this too.

It's probably the sadistic side of yours talking, but you have the urge to get back at him with this—make him taste his own medicine by also hurting him, manipulating him, and treating him as an object.

Like the people that he hurt, it should also be instilled in him that he is also of no worth—that he does not deserve to be respected at all nor to be even be loved by anyone.

You shake your head.

But there's no way you'll do that. Even if he's affected by fuck luck, it's way impossible for you to control him like that. He'll probably hurt you first or worse. So you can't stay here any longer, you have to go. Go before he actually does something!

"My legs weren't broken anyways. You don't have to, but thank you!" you hastily breathe out before quickly bolting yourself into a run. While exhaustion might already be seeping in your muscles, you still never dared to stop. You just run and run—and run until you reach your class on time.

"(Y/N)!" Ares calls out for you, trying to get you to stop, but no—nothing can stop a person who is already determined to leave. His face falls even further. He felt the heart in his chest seem to constrict. He places his hand on it, seizing the garment of his clothes as if that would help ease his pained heart.

"Meow."

Suddenly, Ares was interrupted from his emotional turmoil. He looked down and saw the white cat from earlier sauntering toward his direction. At first, he was suspicious—and then he was repulsed.

He never really liked animals, not even adorable ones like this. So when it suddenly touched him, he almost kicked the Persian cat away.

Almost.

Because strangely, when he was about to do so, something seemed to whisper to him, coaxing him to stop and not hurt the kitten. Instead, he should keep it.

ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ
ᛕꫀꫀρ ꠸ꪻ

Ares had no idea if he was finally going crazy, but he could hear voices in his mind. They were murmurs; he couldn't identify if it belonged to one or numbers. All he can make out is that they were telling him to keep the animal. Right now.

His sight was suddenly flickering. For a few seconds, he couldn't see; and the next, he could. He was feeling faint. It wasn't just the voice that was doing this to him. He was also suddenly filled with this unexplainable urge—an urge to just follow this voice and get this over.

No, wrong. It's not completely unexplainable. These voices finally offered him to see their visions, these glimpses of possibility. And GOD, the impossible sight just immediately drove him into a frenzy.

He was suddenly sweating; and his face flustered deep red. A gasp breathlessly broke out from his throat, and he was obviously caught by the euphoria of seeing him and you together.

You stepping hard on his hand as he softly pressed his bruised lips to your sole. The cat was nestled in your arms while it was being stroked by you.

The voices spoke of the truth!

His pupils abnormally dilated, immensely taken by the vision. Not that he found it odd or appalling. In fact, he even found the thought of being humiliated by you arousing. His ego may be huge, but he will gladly lay it down for you. And if it pleases you, he'll even let you beat him to black and blue.

Ares is not a masochist. In fact, he hates pain. If someone hurts him, he makes sure to return it back. Ten-fold. He rather be the one who inflicts pain to others. But for you, it's a different case. He never sees himself hurting you; and if he does try to imagine it, no—he just can't. You're the only one who can hurt him, and he will gladly accept it, your charity.

His breathing was unconsciously starting to get heavy. If he keep this cat, then maybe he'll get you to accept him. If he keep this cat, then maybe he'll also get you to love him.

A smile rose to his lip. Provoked by such a temptation, he didn't seem so dizzy anymore. He had no time to be dizzy anyways. He doesn't have time to even dawdle; he has to steal the cat now.

As if he was in a trance, Ares slowly lowered his body. He extended his arm and was now about to pick the cat carefully for himself. Close. He was almost close. If he managed to take this cat and cage him, then he'll have (Y/N). Forever.

But just as his hands were about to snatch the feline, claws were suddenly drawn out; and he was scratched hard.

"Fuck!" he roars out a swear.

The people around him flinching at the loud noise that he suddenly gave out. Ares holds onto his wounded right hand, glaring at the cat for the harm that it had inflicted. Fortune mainly blinks at the crazy fool with taunting innocence.

"You—!" Ares angrily snaps and is about to make another attempt again when the cat easily dodges his grip by pouncing to the right.

"Meow!"

The cat sticks out a tongue before eventually dashing off to somewhere, maybe to create and send more good lucks to his temporary ward.

ugh sometimes i miss the feeling of being completely immersed in writing. these years have just been too busy for me to write.