Chapter 17

"How are you feeling?"

I lifted my head, pulling my attention away from the plate of pancakes to my father on the other side of the table. He was drinking coffee while fiddling with his laptop.

"Are you referring to yesterday?" I asked, playing with my food. My gaze shifted to the empty space beside me; it seemed Artemis had declined the invitation.

"Did you get into another fight with Sánchez that I don’t know about?" he shot back, taking a sip of his coffee. "If you had fought him the way you fought your sister, you would’ve fared much better," he accused, making me roll my eyes. "I saw that," he reprimanded, even without looking at me.

I bit my lip, studying him carefully, feeling an uncomfortable hole in my stomach just thinking about that damn night. I knew I could have done much better, but anger and surprise had left me completely blind and reckless.

"Matias is going to demand blood for blood soon," I reminded him, but he didn’t show any reaction.

"That’s called consequences, Ryuuji," he declared, finally looking at me for the first time. "And I’m sure you’ll follow the rules, won’t you?" he asked, and without waiting for an answer, he stood up and left the table.

I ate the last piece of strawberry and did the same. I walked through the mansion, hearing voices in the courtyard and garden as everyone organized themselves to go to school. I found Kenji outside, lying on the grass soaking up some sun, while Shin talked to Artemis near the parked car.

I approached slowly, listening to Artemis’s soft laughter. Shin was inspecting her face’s injuries, touching her gently and tenderly.

"Don’t get jealous," Kenji teased, catching my gaze, and before he could get up, I stepped on the tips of his hair, pulling him back down to the ground.

Smiling, I walked toward the car, hearing the insults behind me.

"Let’s go," I called out to Shin, interrupting his moment with the girl.

Kenji drove, and I sat in the front seat while Shin and Artemis sat in the back. A song from the radio dominated the car, just like the refreshing breeze coming through the window. My thoughts drifted to my encounter with Matias in the empty parking lot, the feeling of his mouth against mine, and his warmth embracing me against the cold.

"Ryuuji," Kenji called, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What?"

"Your phone," he warned, making me notice the vibration inside my uniform.

I smiled when I saw the name filling the screen.

"Isn’t it still too early?" I answered, feeling every beat of my heart.

"After the class ends, meet us behind the school," he instructed before hanging up, leaving me frustrated.

I sighed deeply, putting my phone aside, feeling the attention of everyone in the car.

"Who was it?" Shin asked eventually.

"Matias, the Lily gang wants to meet us," I revealed calmly, but each beat of my heart became painful. For a moment, I could’ve sworn he wanted something else.

"Blood for blood," Kenji murmured as he stopped at the red light.

"I warned you," Artemis muttered right after.

"Hey, it’s going to be fun," Shin said, tapping my shoulder, and I smiled, turning back to the window.

When we arrived at school, I noticed the commotion at the entrance. Kenji parked in the usual spot, and from a distance, I watched a tall woman with light brown hair wearing a black dress and red overcoat. She had a kind smile as she spoke with the press and took pictures with the principal.

"I didn’t know the Mayor would be here," Shin said, leaning between the seats.

"She’s giving a lecture before lunch. Principal Bervely told me," Artemis explained.

"Why didn’t you say so?" Kenji criticized, but I kept my eyes focused on the woman standing on the stairs.

"Dad was informed, but he said it wasn’t important," she answered, getting out of the car. "I need to go. As the student body representative, the principal asked me to accompany them," she revealed, her voice devoid of any enthusiasm.

Shin and Kenji chuckled softly.

"Good luck," they sang before the girl closed the door and walked away.

From a distance, we watched Artemis put on the white mask to hide her injuries and blend into the crowd.

"What are we going to do?" Kenji turned his head toward me.

Artemis was warmly received by both, and I watched the principal introduce her to the Mayor, the founder of the Lily Gang, one of the largest weapons and drug traffickers in the Americas.

How I hated her.

"This isn’t our problem," I warned, feeling every muscle in my body tense from the presence of that damn woman. "Let’s go to class," I called, leaving the car and ignoring the crowd.

***

As planned, we were released from classes before lunch for the Mayor's motivational speech in the gym. The hallways were filled with red uniforms, laughter, and lively conversation. Sitting on the edge of the window, I looked at the large trophy case decorating the hallway. Everyone who had a special day for the Academy was on this shelf, as well as many others scattered throughout the school.

"Artemis told all the Hebi to come to the gym," Shin suddenly appeared, he sat next to me and loosened his tie.

"Bervely would be disappointed if we didn't go," I commented, knowing that Artemis was right, there was no reason for the Hebi not to come to the gym. "You should go, the others too," I ordered, smiling when I saw a grimace form on his handsome face.

"Please don't make me do this," he grumbled, leaning his head against the wall.

"Don't be dramatic, that's Kenji's role," I declared, earning a hearty laugh from him.

"I'm not dramatic," Kenji replied as he approached.

" — Like a spoiled little princess — I scoffed with amusement.

Shin continued to laugh at his brother.

“Funny ones,” he muttered, frowning at me, but my wink forced him to smile with us.

“What are we going to do?” he asked, leaning against the wall.

They both watched me, waiting for the decision; the hallway was emptying quickly and soon everything would be deserted.

“Artemis wants everyone there, you better go,” I warned, looking at the trophy from the last Math championship next to a photo of me with the principal and the little numbers nerd. My insides churned and I forced myself to get up.

“And you?” Shin frowned.

“I’m going to sleep in the library, I don’t need to go. I’ll meet you at lunch.” And I walked away towards the library on the second floor.

My mind was tired from the long nights of sleeplessness, I longed for a little more sleep and maybe a cold drink when I woke up. I entered the library and was greeted by the smell of old paper and ink. I walked through the hallways, seeing the empty tables and chairs. Not even the librarian was there. Great.

I headed to the back, to the isolated tables, excited to turn off my mind and relax a little, but all my plans were dashed when I came across a boy sitting in the corner.

Matias was wearing headphones and looking at his open notebook with a Literature book. His red jacket was thrown over the back of the neighboring chair and the sleeves of his shirt were pulled up to his elbows, allowing me to see more of his smooth skin.

Without hesitation, I ripped off his headphones, making him look at me with irritation.

"Shouldn't you be by your mother's side like a good son?"

"What do you want?" he asked, pulling the headphones back and focusing on the book.

I sat on the table, watching his face with interest, but my gaze quickly went down to his neck and the open buttons of his shirt.

" You better go — he threatened, feeling my intense gaze.

" Why? There's no one here anyway, everyone is at that ridiculous lecture your mom gave — I reminded him as I stood up. Matias stopped writing when he felt me ​​stop behind his chair.

" What are you doing? — he asked.

" Stay still — I whispered in his ear, my hand went down inside his shirt, alerting him. I felt his soft skin and his muscles under my fingertips. I missed him so much.

" Ryuuji — he scolded, but soon bit his lip when he felt my mouth brush against his neck.

" I breathed in his unique scent, enjoying the sensation of our skin, I kissed the curve of his neck before pinching his nipple, which had already hardened with my few caresses. Matias wanted me, he was just too proud to confess it out loud, but his body could never lie.

" Son of a bitch — he swore breathlessly, but he didn't try to pull away from my touch, or my mouth.

" I know you're enjoying it — I murmured, running my tongue over his neck, tasting him and making him shiver.

“Shut up,” he ordered with difficulty.

“Always so angry. Always so proud,” I warned, running my hand down his abdomen, feeling him contract as I began to undo his belt and find his hardened cock under his uniform. — Your body likes me, Matias, just accept it — I declared, pulling his cock out of his pants, moving my hand, making a low moan escape his lips.