Thirty Four

***Adonis***

Man, my name on her lips gives a different kind of feeling and I hate yet like it.

I feel so whipped and that seems bad to me because I just met her. But at the same time, especially when she is close to me, especially now that I have held her in my arms and had a feel of her lips on mine, I kind of like being whipped.

Chuckling silently with my strides getting slower, memory of her voice calling my name flew into my head and for the first time, I did not question my decision to look for a fresh start.

It might be foolish and selfish of me to say this, but, I am glad I met her even though I being danger to her. Perhaps I can protect her and get an opportunity to feel good at the same time.

“Ugh, what am I doing?” I suddenly came to face reality and recalled that someone might have seen Ruby and I getting into a heated moment. A heated moment that I could have been tempted to advance into something desirous.

My eyes began to scan the surrounding classes from where I was and at the same time, I schemed how I was going to deal with the moment. Just when I proceeded to walk down the corridor, I heard approaching footsteps and soon, the dude named Bryan Lockwood was facing me, a smirk on his face.

The smirk on his face told me enough. He was the one that saw Ruby and I.

“You are going to blab, right?” I said solemnly as I halted my steps and locked eyes firmly with him.

“Actually…” His chest popped forward a bit. “I am thinking about keeping mute.” His scanty brows arched a bit. “I don’t want to interfere in my friend’s love life even if it is a surprising one.”

“Your friend?” I could sense some air of insanity around him already. “Ruby is not your friend. And it is quite audacious of you to say that considering everything you are being accused of doing.”

“Well,” Bryan scoffed. “It is quite audacious of you to be kissing a student, but that is not important. What is important is the question I have for you.”
My eyes narrowed as my stance shifted uncomfortably.
“I just wish to know what it is like to kiss her.”

The smirk on his face became larger and it was obvious what he was trying to do.
“How is that your business?”

“I like her.”

“You don’t threaten someone you like,” I retorted, my voice still managing to be calm.

“And you don’t put someone you like in danger, Mr. Klaus.”
My face wore a frown instantly. He knows something. “Or should I say Adonis Malcolm Klaus? A.K.A The Ruthless?”

“How do you know about that?”

Bryan’s face wore a certain look. “I know a lot Mr. Klaus but I can’t help but wonder why someone like you, who is young yet dangerous would ever consider working as a teacher. Is it because of her?”

“How do you know?” I maintained my firm stance and my eyes narrowed sternly at him. “Such knowledge is not obtained ordinarily.”

“Well then, you have an idea of how equally dangerous I can be,” his voice retorted in a way a rival would speak. “You don’t want to cross me Adonis.”

“No.” My arms crossed and I took a threatening step closer towards him. “You don’t want to push your luck. Aren’t you that girl’s murderer? I don’t like to meddle in issues that don’t concern me, but if you do something rash, I will make sure you rot in jail for eternity.”

“Why not expose me now? I am sure Ruby will open her legs some more for you if you do something so heroic. You should-”

My jaws clenched hard as I tried to keep myself from ramming him into the wall. “Your choice of words show how careless you are. Whatever is giving you the strength you are relying on will fail you sooner or later if you keep this attitude up.”

“Whatever man. Just know this…” That insistent smirk on his face annoyed me so much, I wondered if I should really find a way to get him behind bars. “… I wasn’t the only one who saw you guys, keep that in mind.”

“What?” He was probably trying to mess with me, but there was a chance he was being serious.

“You heard me. If you are going to be making out with her, do it somewhere that is not close to this school. The woman who saw you guys must not be given an opportunity to ruin things.”

“Who is this person?”

“I can’t tell you that Mr. Klaus, I don’t want to.”

“You-” I almost swore at him.

“See you around. And, I must commend your teaching skills, you hardly look like a man who used to kill people.”

As I watched him walk away with pride in his steps, I added him to the list of people I needed information about. He is too stupidly gutsy to be left unchecked. Then, I wondered if someone else really saw us. If there is, I might have a lot more work to do.

Recalling that I had told Ruby I wouldn’t be coming back to that class, I proceeded towards the main part of the school but I was hardly few steps out of that deserted area when I sensed something strange.

It felt like someone was watching me with an intent to hurt me. But recalling the fact that Ruby is being targeted because of me got me rushing towards the room I had left her in. Thankfully, she was no longer there, but the broad back my eyes fell on got me threading the worry path once more.

“Who are- Carlos?” I was surprised to see him there no doubt but definitely, he was on an assignment. An assignment I wished wasn’t involving Ruby. But it obviously does.

“Hey boss. I was supposed to get her but I couldn’t.” His eyes couldn’t meet mine and it was obvious how torn he was.

“Maximus is really serious about this, yeah?” I relaxed a bit and walked closer. “Do you think I should end all these by giving in? Should I just come back?”

“You don’t want to. I know what that place does to you. I know you don’t like it,” Carlos said and I smiled appreciatively. He just gets me every time.
“This girl, Ruby Powers, do you like her?”

My lips wore a small smile. “I think I do. And it is a bit worrisome.”

“Liking some isn’t supposed to be worrisome. In fact, when you like someone, you don’t get to think so much, you just do things like some controlled fool.”

I chuckled slightly at his statement before my face wore seriousness again. “So, Maximus asked you to kidnap her?”

“No exactly.” I frowned. “He is planning something strange. He asked me to film you guys being together.”

I shook my head at my former boss display of childishness. “He is planning to expose us without doing much work. That’s rather disappointing. So…” I locked eyes with Carlos. “Did you get anything?”

“No. I don’t think I can do it either. You are my only friend, I don’t want to do that to a friend.”

I appreciated his words again after a sigh escaped me. “Thank you Carlos, I owe you a lot.”

“You should be careful. How is being a teacher?” His question bore a hint of surprise at my choice of impromptu career path and I guess it could be quite shocking.

“It is no different from leading a small portion of a gang. The only things missing are tough looking men and upgraded ammunition. Besides, it is fun to be in a real school environment. I never got to experience a school life.”

“Yeah, you basically grew up in the gang. You deserve a long break from that hell hole.”

A scene flashed in my head and I felt nostalgic for a while. “I am glad too,” I replied almost absent-mindedly.

“I should get going. Make sure you protect her well, if she is precious to you.”

My right foot scratched the floor gently. “She is.”
Carlos threw me a short smile before he walked towards the window, opened it and helped himself out of the room.

A swift look at my phone made me realize I had a class in thirty minutes and soon, I was leaving for the staff room, my mind being numbed to prevent numerous thoughts from haunting me.

When I got to the staff room, the earlier arrest was the topic being discussed and as usual, I avoided their rather useless chatter and walked towards my seat. But someone was already waiting for me, eyes looking like they could murder me.

“Uh… Jake, right?”

He ignored my question. “We need to talk.”

“Grab a seat then.”

“No. There’s a high chance you might want to punch me or I might be tempted to kick you.” I frowned, unsure what to make of his serious yet weird expression. “Let’s go somewhere else.”

My eyes briefly checked the group who were still talking then I checked the time and figured it would be reasonable to take my materials along. So, after doing that, I locked eyes with the guy in front of me and said with the hope that I won’t actually have to punch him, “Okay, lead the way.”