The Beauty And The Bad Boy

Every breath you take..

And every move you make..

Every bond you break..

Every step you take..

I'll be watching you..

The song played smoothly over the radio, elating the mood of the people in the house early in the morning. Along with the sweet song, the sound of plates clattering and aroma of delectable foods flew around. Inside the kitchen were two middle aged women, with their faces creased and hands and legs working simultaneously as they moved around the kitchen, making breakfast. But that didn't stop the women from gossiping.

"Did you hear about Paul's daughter?" The woman with black hair said, flipping the pancake as she looked at the blonde haired woman who was busy making the coffee.

"Uh... Paul's daughter? No, Alicia. Why?" Georgina replied, her eyes darting between Alicia and the coffee.

"His daughter ran away with a boy in her college last week. Mrs Smith told me last night" Alicia replied with a heavy face, her eyes widening slightly noticing the almost burnt pancake.

"Jesus Christ! That girl did what? Kids these days" Georgina was fast to reply, her full concentration now on her neighbour's daughter rather than the coffee.

"Yes, gina, not only that the girl even took some of his money before running away" Alicia spoke in disdain, sighing dramatically.

"Seriously mom?" Just when Alicia was about to open her mouth to continue their highly interesting topic that sweet voice interrupted her, making the both women look back with a sly grin on their face.

"Lily..." Alicia said, a sheepish grin emerging on her still young face.

"Yeah, it's me," the girl answered, a chuckle leaving her mouth as she leaned forward, jumping on the countertop and sitting, earning a small slap from her mother.

"How many times did I tell you not to sit there? It's the kitchen, young lady, not a place to put your ass like that" Liliana rolled her eyes, laughing with her Aunt Georgina.

"And how many times did I tell you to stop gossiping, Mom?" She asked back, shrugging her shoulders. The smile on her lips reached her eyes as she was radiating optimism.

A loud sigh escaped Alicia's lips as she poured the batter again, nodding her head.

"We were just talking, young lady. You should know what's going around in your neighborhood and-" Alicia turned around, one hand on her hip while the other held the spatula

"If you did something like his daughter did, we wouldn't just sit here and disown you like paul did, I'll find you and beat your clumsy ass and then will drag here back before marrying you off to whoever you ran away with" Alicia finished, turning back to cook like nothing happened while Lily's mouth dropped at her mother's words.

She resisted the urge to tell her to visit a mental hospital because she had literally gone crazy.

"Did you take all the books? Everything? Your pouch?" Alicia asked, settling the plates on the dining table.

"I did mom! Chill" answered Lily, climbing down the countertop. One thing she loved was this morning banter with her mom and aunt. Them gossiping and then her intertwining and getting scolded while watching them cook together was her favourite thing.

"Hasn't he woken up yet, Gina?" Alicia asked while looking at the clock, making Lily's head snap to a particular room that was on the corner of the second floor.

"God knows, 'Cia. I saw light coming from his room till midnight. That boy might have played video games till midnight and slept in the morning" Gina sighed, her eyes rolling on their own at the mention of her dear son.

"I'll go and check on him, or he will be late for college." Georgina uttered, her legs moving to the stairs but was soon stopped by a hand on her wrist.

"I'll go and check on him, Aunt Gina. You can continue your work" Liliana said, her eyes had this sparkle at the mention and the smile that broke out in her face couldn't be stopped.

While Georgina fought back the urgue to laugh at the young girl, it was all in her eyes, Liliana likes her son and Georgina liked Liliana like her daughter.

What more could she ask for?

Without waiting for a response Liliana was fast to turn her heels and sprint upstairs when her body slammed against the hard body of another person. Her body stilled as she gulped, the intoxicating smell of his manly cologne drowning her from every corner, her face was pressed against his clothed chest, her hands clutching her hoodie tightly. Her eyes blinked, before she tilted her head up to meet the stimulating blue orbs of his.

And their eyes connected and she felt his aqua marine orbs engulfing her fully, she wasn't thirsty but she gulped, her lips parting softly while admiring him, his hair was of the same color of his mother's, blonde. It wasn't long, but long enough to reach his eyes and from the way they looked, she concluded that he just ruffled them.

And her eyes fell on his thick dark eyebrows, it was his eyes and eyebrows. The way his eyebrows would knit together whenever he's angry or thinking, those made him two times more attractive. And his nose, the perfect nose she had ever seen, and his lips, his lips weren't pink but a nude shade, giving a manly look to his features, but she doesn't know if they are soft... soon, Liliana grinned at that thought.

"Done staring?" The question broke her little dreaming contest as she blinked her eyes innocently, taking a moment to grasp his words.

"O-Oh... Sorry" she quickly took a step back, giggling awkwardly before she looked behind quickly and her cheeks burned watching her mother and aunt who quickly looked away, wiping the imaginary dust off from the chair and counting the glasses on the table as if they saw nothing.

And her eyes darted back to him, who was looking at her with no specific emotion in his eyes. And a part of her heart whined, he never showed any interest in her, Hell, he never even speaks to her unless he's forced to. They aren't related, her father and his father were the closest friends, and their wives happened to be bestfriends as well. And soon after the wedding the couples moved in together and ever since then these two families are together.

It was him who was born first, a few months different but they grew up together. He was the first man her eyes caught. The man who would stand up for him and his friends in front of bullies, the one who never failed in any of his subjects, the one who always did his best in sports. And on top of that, his love for his mother. And she couldn't find a man better than him in her life. In these twenty years she lived with him and beside him, no one needed to tell her heart how to love a man because from the age she could remember, she was in love with Adrick stone.

"Morning" Liliana beamed, her lips spreading to form a smile which meant only for him.

"Hmm" at his response shrunk her smile as she watched him walk past her, straight to the kitchen where his mother was before she watched him hurrying out, grabbing his car keys.

"Adrick wait" her eyes widened as she ran to grab her bag. It is the first day of their junior year. Last month his dad bought him a car and luckily his father allowed him to take the car to college but with Liliana in it.

But Adrick continued his walk, not even bothering to look back to stop. Liliana almost stumbled reaching for her bag as she hurried, skipping breakfast.

"Adrick!" The sound of his mother stopped the man on his track as he let out a strangled sigh, knowing where this was going.

"Why aren't you waiting for her? You two are supposed to go together" She uttered, looking at her son with a disappointed look. And Adrick's jaw twitched at that mention and look. One thing he disliked was disappointing anyone and especially his parents.

"She can take the bus," he replied, clearly showing that he's not interested in the idea of driving to college with her.

"Then you can take the bus with her too." Georgina uttered, her hand moving to hold her son's hand.

"You both go to the same college, Adrick. Give her a ride, please?" And that sweet plea of his mother was enough to stop his protest. With a nod of reluctance he agreed but his eyes hardened when he saw her running towards him.

Without wasting a second he was inside his car, slamming the car door shut as he started the engine, not even making sure the girl in the passenger seat was fine or not and soon the car hit the road.

Adrick's knuckles turned white from gripping the steering wheel tight. The anger and tension penting up and he felt like he would explode any moment. His eyes fell on the reflection of the woman sitting beside him through the rear view mirror, Liliana Celeste Suarez.

The girl who has been with him since he was born and the girl he despises the most.

Why?

Because the second they grew up, everyone was busy trying to get them into a relationship. They didn't care if he had any feelings for anyone else or if he would fall in love with someone else, all he heard from his childhood was that she was his and he was her.

When his friends found out about this, they started making fun of him, telling how he can't date anyone and as if he's from a royal family by calling the arrangement 'betrothal'. And his father and mother seemed to have no problem with that, in fact they seemed to like the idea.

It was all her, even though he had good grades, his dad prefered her. His mother liked her as well. He had seen the way they both look at her, why couldn't his father smile at him like that?

And that was the beginning of the hate. And the second he realized that the girl is in love with him, his hate for her grew. If she's in love with him, ain't no way his parents would let him love or marry anyone else.

Adrick bit his lip in anger as he suddenly applied the break, making the car jerk before coming to a halt. Liliana squeaked, holding the car door with one hand while the other went to palm her throbbing heart.

"Get out" Adrick uttered, making her blink. Her eyes wandered around to see the junction. Their college was just one turn away.

"What?" That question left her lips as she gaped at him like an idiot.

"Get out, Liliana. I don't want anyone in the college to see us together. You can walk from here" he uttered, his fingers tapping the steering wheel, showing his impatience.

"But Adrick-"

A shriek left her lips when he hit the accelerator and applied break again, jerking the car. Her eyes suddenly turned glassy as she looked away, clearly getting the meaning.

Getting out of the car she was about to say something when he drove past her like he didn't even know her. And she stood there, her heart throbbing but painfully, her eyes blinking but with tears in them.

She loved him too much...

And he hated her much more..

• • • • • •

"You look like shit, girl" The voice of her best friend brought Lily back to earth as she looked to see Olivia looking at her, her both eyebrows raised in a questioning manner.

A sigh of sadness left Lily's lips as she hugged Olivia's hand, walking past the gate to college.

"It's something related to Adrick, right?" Olivia asked and her brown eyes rolled when Liliana didn't respond.

"That jerk!" Olivia mumbled, her face scrunching in anger. She never liked that guy, and she didn't know what liliana saw in him.

"Don't call him that, 'Via. He must be just worried, you know. On one hand, he's right, seeing us together will 'cause unnecessary problems." Liliana uttered, a clear attempt to assure herself and her wailing heart.

"What about the other hand?" Olivia asked back, getting enough of her defending Adrick.

"Lily... You're just wasti-" Before Olivia could finish the deep-throating sound of Harley Davidson reverberated, grabbing the attention of girls and boys.

Liliana's head also snapped when the bike drove past her with an inch distance, a gasp leaving her mouth in shock. Her eyes followed the guy, she had never seen someone coming here on bike, and especially not this one. Her hazel eyes blinked twice when she saw the group of girls who were walking in front of her stopping to admire the man on the bike, already throwing comments.

She watched as the guy parked his bike, that branded one screaming its power as she watched him get off but once he removed the helmet which was covering his face and her hazel eyes saw that pitch black orbs did her jaw drop.

Ace Nathaniel Vargas...

Born enemy of Adrick.

"What are you thinking, Lily?" Olivia asked, wiggling her perfect brows at a distressed Liliana who was in her own little world for the last five minutes.

"I don't know, 'Via" a soft sigh escaped her lips, her face contouring in confusion.

"Ace, He's back" she muttered, still in daze.

"So what, Girl?" Her friend queried, not understanding why Lily was getting nervous for no reason.

"He and Adrick were never on good terms, whenever they see each other, fight would be inevitable" she whispered, her eyes moving around the classroom to find the man with ocean blue eyes.

"There was a huge fight on the first day of college when they realized they both were in the same college. He even broke Adrick's arm" Lily shook her head at the memory that happened almost two years ago.

A chuckle left Olivia's lips as she heard that. She was never a fan of Adrick and hearing this weirdly made her happy.

"Then?" Olivia chirped, enthusiastic to hear more.

"After that Ace just disappeared. It's now that we're seeing him" she answered, her mind playing back all the fights they used to have.

While Olivia shrugged, listening to the past. With that personality, it's hard to not have enemies for Adrick.

Liliana's tensed up face eased a little when she caught the face of the man she was thinking all day. In one word, she was worried. The man already had a bad mood and the news of his dear enemy coming back would only worsen it. And she really doesn't want him to fight anymore, this will only make him distracted from studies.

Adrick's eyes for a split second got connected with Liliana's, and he saw how her eyes were looking at him with such tender emotions as if she's worried and concerned for him yet she'll be there with him, but all he could do was looking away.

He doesn't need pity or sympathy, especially not from her.

And soon the class went into silence once the professor walked in, all the enthusiasm and bickering stopping. Liliana let out a huff, pulling her books out, partially relieved at the realisation of knowing Ace isn't coming.

'Maybe he's here for some other reason' Liliana thought to herself, it was then her breathing became normal. She swirled the pen in her hand, noticing how cold her palms had turned.

Seconds passed and minutes passed, with Liliana thanking God each and every passing moment, her eyes once in a while looking over to make sure Adrick is fine.

It was exactly after thirty minutes of the class when the door to the room pushed open, attracting the attention of all students including the professor.

And their eyes snapped towards the one who was standing there, his hands tucked in his pockets while his bag hung loosely on his one shoulder. His head straight as he looked at the professor, who let him in with a nod of disappointment.

And Liliana's eyes widened watching him, he was in the same class with them? The sound of his boots connecting with the floor was loud as he walked past the students, her eyes roamed over his features and she swore she saw the side of his lips curling to form a smirk, which directed to no one but Adrick.

Her eyes soon went to Adrick, and as expected he was bursting with anger, his eyes darkened and narrowed, his thick brows almost connecting while his jaw was twitching as he clenched it.

And as expected everyone's eyes were on the man who walked in their class in the middle with that cool attitude. His big frame is covered in a black loose shirt with a black cargo. A silver chain hung on his neck, and the head of the snake tattoo peeked out from the collar of his shirt.

"He's hot" Olivia gasped, her eyes twinkling in pure admiration. The boy with no doubt looked like a man, the way he carried himself, and he looked exactly like the bad boy everyone would fall for but hard to get.

"Olivia!" Liliana shook her head, focusing her eyes back on her book and fighting the urge to comfort Adrick.

"What? Seriously, Lily? He's definitely a hottie. Your guy is just jealous" Olivia laughed, her laugh turning to a giggle watching Liliana's expression.

"Adrick is not jealous, okay? Ace and Adrick both are good looking and what if he's handsome, he's a bad boy" Liliana defended, drawing circles on her text book.

"A bad boy who stole every girl's heart" Olivia giggled, making Liliana's eyes draw to the man who was now seated on the very back. Her eyes lingered on him for a second before she looked away.

"That doesn't make him a good guy"

• • • • • •

"Man, is he back?" The words of his friend entered Adrick's ears, making him fist his hand.

"He was gone for like two years and now he's back?" Another one said, shrugging and joining the conversation.

"The nerve! He beat the hell out of you, even broke your arm and disappeared like that and now he's back like nothing happened?" The third one uttered, a chuckle leaving his lips.

"Adrick also beat him back, why aren't you talking about that?" The first one, Jake repeated, crossing his legs.

"Still breaking a bone is hard, bro" Alex repeated, patting Adrick's arm despite knowing he's riling him up.

"He's definitely up to something, Man. And from where the hell did he get a Harley Davidson?" Carter uttered, looking at the bike outside with sparkling eyes.

While Adrick remained calm on the outside, his nerves were throbbing in anger, fury coursing through his veins. His muscles on the jaw twitched, a nerve on his neck popped.

He wouldn't forget that day, he couldn't. It was supposed to be like any normal day, the first day of their college but on the very first day they both were admitted to the hospital.

Ace and Adrick never get along, and will never.

In others eyes they both are equal, in looks, in strength, in intelligence and in everything.

But they don't know that the same poles always repel from each other, not attract.

Slamming his hands on the desk Adrick rose to his feet, grabbing his bag and trotting out. He wanted to be alone, he wanted some peace. From the day he was born, he never found an ounce of peace.

Just when he was about to open his car's door, a hand slammed it close. And the fingers were too familiar that he didn't need to look at that person to know who he was.

"Missed me, Pal?" Ace uttered, his spine chilling voice echoing, his raven-black orbs gleaming.

"Fuck off" Adrick snarled, taking a step forward, their eyes connecting, glaring at each other.

A chuckle left Ace's lips as he took a step closer as well. The corner of his lips tugged upwards to form a smirk.

"Scared? Well, you should be, you don't want your limps on plasters again, right?" He chuckled, winking, his tattooed arm shooting up to run through his hair.

While Ace watched Adrick returning the smirk with his own, cracking his neck muscles.

"Yeah, and we don't want you to run away scared and go hiding, right?" He uttered, with a shrug, the smirk halting to glare.

"My name isn't Adrick stone to get scared and go hiding, Man. I'm Ace, Ace Nathaniel Vargas, so maybe you should think twice before spouting nonsense.." Ace stepped back, chuckling, his eyebrow raising quickly in a teasing manner before he swung his leg, getting into his bike, purposefully roaring the engine.

"And about hiding, you were always better on it than me" Ace finished, his eyes suddenly losing their playfulness as they turned cold, almost dead. His hand turned the accelerator more, increasing the roaring of the bike. With one last glare, he kicked the gear, driving away.

While Adrick kicked his car, his eyes turned bloodshot, and as much as he try to ignore, the last few words he spoke burnt.

Because one will always be accountable for his actions.

Opening the car door, he hopped in, throwing the bag to the passenger seat, slamming the door closed. Turning the engine, his foot was just about to kick the accelerator when a voice penetrated his ears.

"Adrick!" His head snapped out to see liliana running towards him, her face full of concern for him.

Liliana panted as she reached the car, her nimble fingers touching his side of the door.

"Are you okay?" She whispered, her hazel eyes looking into his blue ones.

"Do I look so?" He muttered, looking away. His heart skipped a beat at her question, and he wanna tell her he's not. He wanted her to wrap her arms around him like she always does when he's sad. He wanted her to run her fingers through his hair like she does when he's sick. But all he couldn't do was ask her...tell her.

"Let's go home" she uttered softly, holding the door to open it when he interrupted.

"Take a bus, I'm going somewhere else" the annoyance was clear. He needed to clear his mind. The appearance of Ace bought some memories he worked so hard to push behind his head, some memories he thought were gone.

"Wait Adri-" before she could utter he already drove past her, leaving her again all alone

• • • • • •

"Idiot, Stupid, Moron" Liliana muttered, pinching the leaf she plucked from a plant on her way. She was walking home since he left her alone in the college. She didn't even take money thinking he'll drive them back.

"He and his mood swings" she grumbled, her lips twitching to a pout. Her eyes were set downcast as she walked, no care about the world around her.

"What does he think of himself?" She murmured, tearing the leaf with no mercy. One thing she hated the most was walking. And walking alone was just a big no. Even if someone offered her a million dollars to walk a mile, she would sit home doing nothing.

"Donkey faced jerk-" stomping her feet she suddenly crossed the road but her eyes widened in alarm watching the vehicle speeding forward, the speed made her legs go numb. Her body stilled in the middle and sweat beads adorned her forehead, it was as if her whole system shut down.

A loud scream left her lips as the one who rode the bike shifted its path, it was like the bike touched her but didn't touch exactly. The shock made her legs wobble as she landed straight on her butt but her eyes popped out, covering her mouth with a loud gasp when the bike and biker fell down with a thud.

"The hell?" If earlier her eyes were about to pop out, now they popped out hearing the voice of the owner, it was then she took a look of the vehicle and her throat parched.

While Liliana's breath caught in her throat when he removed the helmet, her obsidian eyes looked down at her. She blinked, and blinked , not being able to open her mouth or say anything.

"Did you and your family take any oath to harm people?" Ace groaned, glaring down at Liliana who gaped at him as if he just grew out a pair of horns.

"What do you mean?" She narrowed her eyes, looking at him dumbfounded.

But instead of responding all he did was get up and take his bike.

"Yo! You almost killed me and then yelled at me and now go without apologizing?" She asked, getting up as well, wiping the dust off her hands and legs but winced when her hand accidentally grazed against a small cut.

Her head slowly snapped to him when she heard him sighing, blinking but cocked an eyebrow when he pointed his finger at something.

The traffic light showed green, which means she wasn't meant to walk at that time. The mistake was on her part, not only that he even risked his life and his bike to not hit her.

Lily bit her lips, she was too lost in her world that she forgot to look at the road and signs.

"Here" her neck craned up when she heard his voice, looking up she found him already looking at her, before looking at the hand which was extended to her direction. She watched as he opened his palm, a small band-aid inside.

Her eyes fluttered back to his stoic ones as he motioned her to take it with an impassive face.

"N-No thanks" she uttered, looking around awkwardly. Her eyes were dilated, and her fingers fidgeting with each other out of habit.

A sigh of annoyance left his lips as he moved forward, reaching down to grab her supple hand before placing the band aid on it, closing her palm. With one last glance he moved away, getting back to his bike and wearing his helmet.

"Sorry" she uttered, looking down.

"It was my mistake. And...thanks for saving my life, if you didn't swift the bike at the right time, we both would've been hurt. I owe you" she said, blinking and looking up at him. Her eyes for some reason couldn't look away from his black ones. As if they were stuck on him.

Without giving her a response she watched him speeding away, her eyes back on the band aid on her hand that he left for her.

• • • • • •

"Why are you so lat- Oh my god! What happened, Lily?" Alicia's voice trembled, her legs practically running towards her daughter.

"Nothing mom, just slipped and fell," she answered, shrugging. Her lips widening to form a small smile to make her mother believe.

"Jesus! Your hands.." Alicia slowly traced the area where the band aid was, her touch soft and caring.

"How did that happen, Lily? You were supposed to be home one hour earlier with Adrick" Georgina rushed forward, equally worried as she examined Lily.

"It's fine, Aunt. Olivia and I had some plans, that's why I told Adrick to leave first" she lied smoothly, smiling and shrugging before moving forward only to be stopped by seeing Adrick.

"Adrick! Why are you so careless? You two were supposed to come together. She walked home all the way and now look" His mother scolded, her face scrunching up in anger.

"No aunt, it's not his fault" Liliana cut off, her eyes blinking in nervousness.

"You couldn't even do one thing right, Adrick?" The voice of his dad caught him off guard.

"Didn't I tell you clearly and straight to go and come back together? The car belongs to both of you" his dad uttered, looking at Liliana before looking back to his son.

Adrick watched as his father walked past him with his head shaking. And it took him everything not to let the tears out of his eyes. Was it his fault that she didn't know how to walk?

"Ad-" before Liliana could finish, Adrick stormed upstairs, making her follow him almost quickly. Her eyes softened watching him on the rooftop, looking up at the night sky. Hisbhands were in a tight fist as she approached him quietly, her soft hands holding his rough ones

"Adrick" she mumbled softly, her hands unclenching his fingers.

"Sorry" she muttered, looking up at him, her eyes and heart begging him to look at her.

"It was my fault, sorry Adrick" she mumbled again, almost desperate. She wanted him to look at her and forgive her, she didn't think it'll turn out like this

"Adrick, please say something" she begged, holding his hands tightly.

And she watched as his head tilted down, his aquamarine orbs looking at her with no emotion in them, or was it hate she saw in them?

"I wish we never knew each other, Liliana. I wish you were never in my life"

_______

A whimper left Lily's mouth as the girl covered her quivering lips with her hand, her brown orbs were glassy, messy with crystal tears. She sat on the balcony of her room, gazing out of the window to seek solace, her heart was breaking, throbbing as if it was taking its last breath.

It hurts, it hurts to hear that you are being hated by someone who you love the most. All her life she only wished for one thing, and as much as introvert she is, she was an extrovert for him. As much as timid she is, she was strong in his case, she was bold, vise whenever he needed her. She lied awake when he was sick, she stayed with him when he was down, she cheered him up when his dad scolded him and she hugged him assurance when he gave up on anything, only to hear that the same person wished she wasn't there..in his life.

Her fragile hands weren't able to suppress the agony as a small sound left her lips, escaping out through the gap between her fingers. Her voice was hoarse, a visible example of how long she was crying.

"I hope you'll love me like I meant something for you one day"

• • • • • •

With a burst of intense will power, Adrick forced his eyes open, revealing irises tinted with streaks of blood shot red. The effort was clearly painful as his eyebrows came together in a tight grimace, a visible sign of the suffering he was enduring. His jaw clenched tight as he fought to swallow down the pain that threatened to overtake him.

He didn't mean those words, heck! He didn't mean any of those words.

He was angry, frustrated... above all, abandoned.

That was his father, who was always more proud of her than his own son. He heard that father's love sons the most but then why does his father care more about his friend's daughter than his own son?

Is it because she's timid? Fragile? Chirpy? And that he's cold, emotionless and stoic?

Is it his fault? Don't parents love their children no matter how they are?

A single tear drop rolled down his eyes as he was forced to suppress all his feelings. He was already weak in his father's eyes, he didn't want to lower his impression on his father's eyes anymore.

Liliana...

A soft sigh left his lips recalling her heart wrenching reaction to his words. He knows he hurt her, but he was hurt too. It was normal for him to hurt others when he was hurt, that was something he always did to lessen his pain, or to make everyone else also feel what he's feeling.

Deep down he knows, he knows that Liliana is the only good thing that happened to him. A girl to love you with her heart, pure and genuine. And he knows her like the back of his hand. As much as he wants to believe that his mother was the only person who loves him, he knows it's not true.

He has caught her skipping school to stay with him when he's sick, helping him with homework by saying out the answer aloud as if rechecking it, giving him food when he's hungry saying she cooked more, giving him hugs when he's down saying she's the one feeling down.

But somewhere deep within, he couldn't acknowledge any of it. Maybe the small spark of hate that has brewed inside him since they were children. Maybe the bitter memory of everyone pampering her more. Maybe the sadning fact is that his father also cares more about her than his son.

The sound of footsteps quickly gathered his attention as he wiped the tears away, schooling his expression. And his ears soon caught up to the familiar footsteps.

"You're still here?" The sonorous sound of his father reached his eyes, making him straighten his posture.

"Yes"

Adrick watched as his father advanced forward, standing beside him, the man carrying himself rich and well.

"I expected more from your part, 'rick" Daniel said, his eyes staring right ahead. His hands tucked inside his pockets as he let out a sigh.

Adrick's hands clenched tight into a fist, all the softness his eyes had for Lily vanishing into thin air.

"You are older than her, you should've taken care of her" his father continued, his voice plain and rough.

"She ain't a baby" adrick uttered, meeting the coldness of his father's voice with his own.

"You aren't one as well"

"Why are you here, Dad?" Adrick asked, his blue eyes not ready to look at the man beside him, his role model, his hero.

"I know you don't like Lily, but trust me and your mom in this. She's the perfect girl for you, we only want your happiness" Daniel said, and Adrick failed to see the softness in his eyes, the slight tenderness of his voice and how his head turned to the right to see his son who was so caught up in his own world, his eyes glaring daggers.

Adrick turned around, meeting his father's blue eyes with his own. His eyes held a million stories, as much as he tried to suppress them, his eyes couldn't hold them back.

"Happiness was something that left me a long time ago, Dad, if you didn't notice. At least let me have my own opinion in this matter, you tend to forget it's my life to live"

• • • • • •

"What made your face scowl like that?" One of his friends asked, a chuckle leaving his lips as he wrapped an arm around Adrick's shoulder.

"Leave me the fuck alone" Adrick snarled, his jaw clenching hard.

"Oh C'mon, You are always in a bad mood, but you look worse today. What's wrong? Did your princess work you up?" He let out a laugh, clearly pissing Adrick off.

"I said leave me the hell alone" Adrick snapped, making his friend raise his hands up in the air in mock surrender.

Just when he was about to utter something his eyes caught the familiar silhouette walking in, donned in a black crisp shirt tucked inside a white cargo, that platinum silver cross chain hanging on his neck attractively. His jet-black hair was slicked back to perfection, with a few strategically placed loose strands falling onto his forehead in artful disarray, accentuating the striking gleam of the eyebrow piercing that was prominent against his smooth, fair skin.

"Isn't that Ace?" His friend let out, raising an eyebrow at Adrick who looked in the direction only for his scowl to deepen.

But before he could say anything, his friend was already in front of Ace with a grin on his face.

"Hey man! Couldn't talk to you yesterday" He grinned, his blonde hair swaying with his movements.

While Ace just raised his eyebrow, his eyes stuck on the scowling man behind the blonde.

"What made your friend whine like an elementary school girl?" Ace asked, poking his inner cheek with his tongue.

A laugh escaped his friend's lips as he came back to circle his arm around Adrick, who shoved him away with a cuss.

"Is the brave boy Adrick having mood swings? Want your mommy, Adrick baby?" Ace mocked, a chuckle leaving his lips as he gazed at Adrick.

"He's just pissed that his parents want him to date Liliana" adrick's friend replied on behalf of him, that grin not leaving his face.

Ace's forehead creases at the mention of that name, Liliana. That 5 feet 2 inch girl with long black hair that reached below her hips, brown orbs like melted chocolate, porcelain skin like a doll....and the brain of an idiot.

"What? The Adrick boy hates his future wife, huh? Heard that your dear parents already fixed your marriage with her. Sucks to be you, man" Ace muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose, smirking.

"Do I need to personally tell you to shut up?" Adrick stepped forward, his aquamarine eyes sending daggers straight to his eyes.

"You ain't my freaking dad to shut me up, Boy. And if you're that eager to shut anyone up, go and tell that to your father. Aren't they too eager to set you up with that quirky girl?" He chuckled, shaking his head at him, making Adrick rile up.

"Don't bring my father into it"

His gaze hardened, the playful glint in his eyes extinguished in an instant. Voice steely, he retorted, "Isn't it in your genes to bring up family during a fight?"

"That's the past" Adrick groaned, his eyes twitched, before he clenched his jaw hard.

"Would that make any difference?! If anything, that makes me wanna bury your filthy self down the ground alive, make you know the worth of life, each breath you have and let you feel how it feels when you get to know that you're the last few breaths of your life" Ace snarled back, the two men standing in from of each other, their toes touching and eyes connected with a heating glare.

"Don't think too highly of yourself, Ace. You ain't a saint either" Adrick uttered back, fighting back the guilt that he always suppressed.

His eyes narrowed into a steely glare as he growled out, "Well, I'm damn sure better than you, you bastard."

"Oi Oi, what are you both planning? A second world war in the middle of school?" Adrick's friend piped in.

"If you both don't remember, you two broke my car's front glass in the last fight. So in no way you both are gonna rip each other's head here." The boy shrugged, before a light bulb on his head.

His friend flashed a wide, eager grin as he proposed, "How about we settle this with a good old-fashioned match? A formal competition to see who truly reigns supreme." The men stared back at him, disinterested and unamused, their eyes lacking the same enthusiasm. It was clear that they weren't impressed by his proposition.

He scoffed and muttered under his breath, "Do you think I have time to waste on some loser?" He adjusted his bag on his shoulder and gave a dismissive shake of his head, making it clear that he wasn't interested in participating in the proposed match.

"What? Don't tell me you're scared, Ace. Maybe you don't have anywhere to run away like last time?" Adrick said, a cruel smirk emerging on his lips, which almost reminded Ace of the Adrick he once knew.

"Fuck off"

As Adrick took a step forward, the air seemed to thicken with tension. His eyes locked with Ace's in a glare, the intensity palpable between them.

Ace observed as Adrick's smirk widened even more, revealing a cruel glint in his eyes. "C'mon, if you win," he drawled, the words dripping with condescension, "You can demand anything from me." The offer hung heavy in the air, adding to the intensity of the moment. His stance was relaxed, but Ace could see the underlying hint of menace in Adrick's eyes, warning him of the consequences of accepting the challenge.

"...And if I win"

"Then you'll make Liliana fall in love with you"

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