Chapter 13

At the end of classes, I didn’t find Matias at school, nor did I see his motorcycle in the parking lot. The red-haired boy had also disappeared, and I felt irritated imagining them together. When we got home, I went to my room to take a shower before training. I was a little surprised that Shin and Kenji hadn’t asked anything about the blood staining my clothes.

After the shower, I found the twins waiting for me with the coffee table full of food. Everything looked so delicious that, even with my damp, messy hair, I sat on the floor and started eating.

"I’m starving," Kenji grumbled, serving the hot drinks.

"Are you coming to training too?" Shin asked with his mouth full.

I nodded, still focused on the food, picking up a bowl of Gohan, several pieces of fillet, and vegetables. I sighed in satisfaction at the well-seasoned meal, having missed real food so much. I kept devouring everything while the twins talked about their plans for the night.

"It’s been days, and you still eat like you were locked up," Shin remarked, calling one of the servants to take the dirty dishes.

"Try being locked up, eating that disgusting slop, and then we’ll talk," I suggested, sitting in the swivel chair at my desk. I needed to catch up on my homework. After the fight with Matias, I hadn’t been able to concentrate on much.

"Need help?" Shin asked, stopping beside me.

"Shouldn’t you be taking care of your own assignments?" I shot back, looking at him with amusement.

"Don’t lecture me. The problem is over there," he said, nodding toward his brother. Kenji was lost in his video game. "Have you seen his grades? He’s almost looking like a Lily," he grumbled, making a face.

"Kenji," I called, spinning my chair toward him.

"Hm?" he murmured without looking at me.

"Have you finished your schoolwork?"

"I’ll do it later, I’m busy now," he replied, shrugging.

Shin licked his lips and looked at me with a mix of excitement and expectation. Without saying anything, I got up and approached the couch. Kenji cursed when I grabbed his shirt and pulled him away from the video game. His brother just watched as we left the room and headed into the hallway.

"Hey, Ryuuji," he grumbled, but I ignored his protests, keeping my grip firm as we entered his room.

I threw him into the swivel chair, receiving an irritated glare. He grunted when I pushed him, pinning him against the desk.

"You’re not leaving this room until you finish your homework," I warned, my mouth close to his ear.

"But I just ate, and I can do it later," he said, nibbling his lip.

"Shin told me your grades dropped while I was gone. Do you want to lose your scholarship and end up in a shitty public school?" I asked, assessing his profile. "I’m back now, Kenji, and you’re going to bring your grades up."

Kenji let out a long sigh, and I smiled as he rolled his dark eyes.

"I’ll see you when you’re done," I said, closing the door behind me as I left his room.

Back in my own room, I started studying while Shin scrolled through his phone on my bed. After a long time focusing on my books, my gaze drifted to the forest, feeling the calmness of the simple and comfortable moment I had forgotten existed. I had forgotten many things in the reformatory, but pain, blood, and screams were something I could never erase. No matter how much time passed, they kept invading my dreams and thoughts, devouring peaceful moments like this one.

"What is it?"

Shin’s soft voice pulled me back into the warm room.

"Nothing," I answered quietly, but Shin moved closer and sat on my lap.

"What’s wrong?" he insisted, looking into my eyes. "You know I’d do anything for you," he reminded me, touching my neck.

"You can’t help me with this," I said, lowering my gaze to his lips, savoring the weight of his body and his warmth.

"How would I know if you don’t tell me?!" he shot back, kissing my jawline and slowly moving down my neck.

Over his shoulder, I watched the sky turn dark blue. I barely felt the sensation of his lips against my skin.

"I was thinking about Takashi," I confessed. The name slipped from my lips like poison—bitter and toxic. The memory of his voice made my stomach turn.

"You shouldn’t. He doesn’t deserve to be remembered," he stated firmly, holding my face and forcing me to look at him. "He got what he deserved. Only idiots think otherwise," he assured, easing his grip.

"Then there are a lot of idiots in Hebi," I remarked, still trapped in the brown of his eyes.

"If I had been there, I would’ve done it in your place," he murmured.

"No," I shook my head, not breaking his gaze. "I wouldn’t have let you go that far for me, even knowing you wouldn’t hesitate," I commented, analyzing his disheveled hair and slightly parted lips.

"I decide how far I’m willing to go," he countered confidently, grabbing my shirt.

"You decide?" I repeated slowly, furrowing my brows, but Shin fell silent at my question, letting the quiet swallow us. "Ah! That’s what I thought," I whispered, studying his face carefully. He bit his lip, and the light in his eyes was cold and deep.

I grabbed his face, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Hey, if one of us has to sink even deeper into the darkness, I’ll be the only one to do it," I assured, giving him a small smile. "Don’t think about it anymore, okay? Now, come on, kiss me," I ordered, making him lean toward me, capturing my mouth in a deep, heated kiss.

It had been a long time since we last kissed, and now that I thought about it, his kiss hadn’t changed at all. It was still warm, like a beautiful summer day—before the world darkened and white turned to red.