===== Chapter 28   [ Part 3 ] =====

It was for a fluttering moment, but the image you exhibit before him with that big and bright smile of yours makes him reach out a hand. His self-control dissipating as he's unable to resist the temptation.

Just like the kittens he is very fond of, you look far too adorable.

Your innocence is spilling as you smile without a clue to the actual current situation. Your eyes twinkling in mirth before blinking rapidly when his large hand lands on top of (H/C) hair, slightly disheveling it.

Whispers begin to emerge among the crowd; the gesture the young man has made towards (Y/N) certainly caught their attentions. They are curious—  and shocked. A few of the witnesses instantly recognize Chaos to be the one who kissed Dante a few days ago.

Of course, his identity is unknown to others. They don't know what class he is or what his name is. But they are certain that he is an associate of Alessio and Dante. The principal of the school— Eliza Nikolaise— might have just let him remain here, considering that the man is an aquaintance of her dearest son.

Even so..

It is only for today that they happen to witness this man accompanying (Y/N).

They don't really seem so close with each other before, even when they both have ties with Alessio and Dante. But now, it's different. Just earlier, he was seen talking with her and smiling. Now, the man is even patting her head so affectionately.

Did she manage to seduce someone again?

Startled, (Y/N) takes a step back.

The big smile on your face, faltering, as an uncomfortable expression replaces the former instead. In addition, you're hella confused as you finally realize that Chaos isn't suffering fright right now despite not having his cat with him.

... wait, his cat!

How could I forget Snow?!

A troubled look instantly settled on your face. "You left Snow alone at the table?!" you exclaim, sounding really distressed.

Chaos, who has been looking down at his outstretched hand in a trance, jolts back to reality when that hand is suddenly clasped by you. Before he can even process it, he is being pulled away.

Reaching the table, the cat is nowhere to be found.

Oh, no...

You release your hold on his hand as you immediately crouch to inspect if the cat is under the table. To your dismay, he isn't.

You bite your lips, looking even more troubled than ever, as you avert your eyes to the other tables. Everything seems normal— not a furry animal crossing your line of sight.

You look up at your friend.

His brows furrowed as he stares down at the floor.

He seems deep in thought.

"Chaos!" you snap at him, not quitely pleased by his current behavior. Why in the world is he still standing there? His cat is missing, yet he does not seem to even care!

From your voice, he once again snaps out.

Chaos looks so confused from everything that you feel sorry for yelling at him.

His emerald eyes blinking at you several times; the man opens his mouth for a second. Not a single word leaves his lips though as he soon decides to close it again. You are left staring at him with a questioning look.

"Chaos?"

In the corner of your sight, you spot his hand trembling. As if realizing that you took notice of it, he immediately hides that trembling hand of his behind his body.

"I.. I.." he tries to speak again but is obviously struggling. You sigh, realizing that you made a mistake. Even when he doesn't seem scared earlier, he still has phobia. It won't magically disappear.

"Hey, hey... it's okay."

The harshness of your voice earlier was gone without a trace; you started to apologize for scaring him. On your face, etched a genuine, apologetic look.

"I didn't mean to scream at you earlier. My emotions just got the better of me, but I wasn't mad at you. It's just.... I was worried for your cat."

"I—" His voice trembles as he speaks, "I know.."

"I'm sorry too." He averts his gaze away.

You nod at him as you again continue your search. The man stays behind you, aiding you as well.

The hand he has hidden from your sight is still slightly trembling—trembling not from the fright but from the warmth that has been accidentally bestowed to it.

Lunch time ends, but there's no sight of the kitten. You can only resume your search mission later after taking your afternoon classes.

•     •     •     •     •

"You crazy bitch!"

Dante glared at the girl before him; unconcealed anger clearly expressed over his face. The girl doesn't care though; she just beams at him.

Before, she would have trembled so much in fear if she found herself in the midst of his wrath; but now, things are different. She felt like she has some control over him, so she becomes resistant to all his bad mannerism.

"And you're a crazy bastard." She laughs. "That's why I think we're a perfect match made in heaven... or rather hell. Hehehe," Ia jokes, trying to lighten up the tension inside the room.

Dante is not even least amused.

"The fuck are you saying. Are you a psycho?!!" Dante growls at her, who only laughs at his statement as if he just said a joke.

That, of course, only frustrates him more, causing him to punch the wall. "You think that's fucking funny, huh? The next time I hear that hyena laugh again, your face is next!"

"You won't dare, sweetheart," Ia hums.

Dante scowls at her. This girl is really a bitch.

Feigning innocence— he won't even be surprised if what she did earlier was part of her schemes. "Sweetheart?" He gives off a sound like he is completely repulsed by it. Wait no, he is fucking repulsed by it.

"And how the fuck are you sure I won't dare?"

He gives a menacing smile; teasingly, he leans closer to her sudden flustered face

"You don't fucking know how many times I killed someone with these hands of mine. I don't even need a gun to do the job," he darkly whispers, only making her face go redder than ever.

Hot.. so freaking hot.

She had always has a thing for bad boys. So when he's acting like this in front of her, she can't help but be scared and excited at the same time.

Her fantasy instantly vanishing as she sees him raise his fist; he doesn't seem to hesitate in what he is planning to do.

Is he seriously—? Her eyes widen as her lips hastily leaves an answer.

"(L—L/N)! (L/N)! You wouldn't want her to know that you fucking punched me," she stammers in a panic. The magic word, instantly working on the violent man as he stops his fist in mid-air.

"(Y/N)?" he repeats, chuckling after.

Hearing your name being uttered by her disgusting lips infuriates Dante.

Hah, this bitch. He runs a hand across his blonde hair. She really is asking to be killed. "... she wouldn't even know anyways. Besides, I'm not planning to punch you."

Ia blinks her eyes; he snorts at her dumbness.

"Didn't you hear what I said earlier? I said that I'm going to kill you," he says in an earnest tone as he looks at her straight in the eye.

Ia gulps at how dead serious he is, but it couldn't be?

He wouldn't dare...

"Hahahha with your looks, you're killing me right now," she jokes once again. Though it sounds weak and more timid than earlier.

Dante only scoffs at her pathetic self before proceeding with his murderous intentions. The bitch is taken aback with the man suddenly wrapping his hands around her neck in the roughest manner.

Okay, he isn't lying at all.

Ia's vision starts to blurry; she doesn't get the opportunity to struggle. Her lungs is starting to lose oxygen, but why does her heart still beat fast in this dreadful situation.

She guess she didn't really mind being killed by him. At least, in this time, that (L/N) was not the star of the show; it was her.

A grin makes way up her face. The bitch only looks so delighted by him killing her. Dante frowns, displeased, perceiving that his plans are not really working out as it should be.

The plan was to threaten her— scare her. But instead of being terrified, she seemed happy to die. Of course he would gladly give her that, but he can't kill her here. In addition, he really wanted her death to be the most painful for her.

As he releases his grip, Ia's weak body collapsed to the floor. She has both her hands grasp her bruised neck as she desperately begins to gasp for air. "You—" A word starts to leave her pale-colored lips. "You really tried to kill me," she coughs out.

Dante smirks.

"I was not lying when I said I kill people."

He suddenly lowers himself to her eye level, placing his hand on her cheek. "And I wasn't lying when I said I'm going to kill you. So don't you dare get complacent that I let you go today. I still fucking need you to fix what you did there back then."

Ia stares at his face, slowly falling into a trance.

He's really really fucking handsome.

"Heh.. So that's why you choose to make me live." The girl smiles. "It's still for that slut.."

She winces as Dante suddenly smacks her hard on the face in rage. "You had really better fucking learn to shut up, bitch before I lose my control and kill you here."

(Y/N) Ia holds onto her cheek that's surely to be tainted purplish-blue the next few days.

Tears slowly brimming in the corners of her eyes; she is beginning to resent the girl who has the same first name with hers more and more.

"There's nothing special about her; what made all of you like her?" she whispers.

Dante stands up, unresponding.

As he himself also doesn't really know the answer as well.

It's just one day he suddenly realized he has feelings for her— romantic feelings for her. Such a shame that he is not the only one who like her.

There are others too, a lot others.

Dante doesn't know if he might have stood a chance in winning her heart; but he's far too late anyways to even know the answer.

The fight is already over as soon as he realizes he likes her.