The last bell of exam week rang announcing their freedom.
Hunter felt a quiet confidence, knowing he'd performed well. Aiden, on the other hand, merely echoed Hunter's positive sentiment with a shrug, more for show than genuine trust that he had performed well.
The class announced an after party. And since Aiden wanted to participate saying he wanted to keep it as a memory with his boyfriend, Hunter reluctantly agreed to accompany him. But Hunter strictly prohibited him from drinking any alcoholic drinks no matter how much Aiden whined or tried to be cute.
Amidst his failing attempt to convince Hunter, Sophia watched from afar. She wasn't listening to her friends talking or drinking the juice in her hands. Her eyes were focused on a giggling Aiden who was sitting tightly close to Hunter. Pursing her lips, she put her drink away and stood up. Her heart thumped and told her not to do it. But she argued that it's her only chance.
She knew she might not get another chance to speak to Aiden after today. Despite witnessing Aiden's undeniable closeness with Hunter, a nagging doubt persisted in her heart. Did Aiden genuinely feel a romantic connection with Hunter, or was it merely close friendship? She vividly recalled the school trip where Aiden had casually mentioned liking girls. What if he truly did and she'd forever regret not voicing her feelings today? Only by trying could she uncover the truth.
So approached them with a loudly thudding heart. She took a deep breath as she stopped in front of Aiden.
"Aiden, can I talk to you in private for a moment?"
"Huh?" Aiden stopped laughing at Hunter's warnings and looked at her. Hunter narrowed his eyes and directed a glare at Sophia. Aiden, ever the oblivious one, might not have grasped Sophia's intentions, but Hunter, like everyone else in the school, was well aware of her crush on him. "Why?"
Sophia's eyes widened at his dumb question and blushed. "I'll t-tell in private. So will you—"
Aiden looked up at Hunter and his scary expression and thought that she must be scared of Hunter. He shook his head and elbowed Hunter. "Hey, ease your brows. You're scaring him."
Hunter turned his gaze to him and rolled his eyes. Sophia still stayed frozen. Aiden sighed. "Alright, let's go."
Sophia's face lit up as Hunter let him go because he has faith in his love. So, he doesn't have anything to worry about.
Aiden followed her to a quieter corner of the hall. "Alright, what do you want to talk about?"
In private, Sophia's nervousness calmed down a bit. "So…I you know. For a while, I've been thinking about whether I should tell you this or not. It's..uh.."
"Sophia, I have to go back. Please be clear," Aiden encouraged her with a smile.
"Huh..yes," She seemed to lose herself in his charming smile. Her hands fidgeted and her voice was barely above a whisper as she confessed. "Aiden, I...I really like you. M-More…more than just a friend. I h-have for a while now…"
Aiden's eyes widened as he left completely stunned. He felt a wave of awkwardness wash over him as he didn't expect for her to say. His mind spinned for a moment as he didn't understand how to take in her confession. More than that, he was surprised that a school topper and beautiful girl like Sophia would like him.
He didn't want to be a jerk and didn't want to outright crush her feelings. He gave her a sweet smile before making her understand that he's already taken. His silence and smile, however, was misinterpreted. Sophia, seeing his lack of immediate rejection, took a hopeful step closer. He didn't reject me! He likes me too, right.
Before Aiden could react, she leaned in an attempt to kiss him. He instinctively flinched and pushed her gently but firmly away, his hands flying up as if to ward off a physical blow. He rubbed his hands together while his cheeks flushed from the awkwardness.
"WOAH! W-wait! Sophia, I...I can't," he yelled and moved backward, clutching his chest in fear with wide horrified eyes. "I...I have a boyfriend."
Sophia froze and her face was drained of any color at his push. The realization hit her like a cold wave. The embarrassment was immediate and deep but she finally understood. He doesn't like her.
Aiden cursed under his breath, rubbing his temples. How did things turn out like this? What should I say? She's just staring at me. Hunter, please help me!
"I'm sorry! I shouldn't have said anything!" Without waiting for his answer, she ran away in embarrassment.
"Sophia, wait!" Aiden called out but she was already out of the door.
Just as he was trying to process the awkward encounter, a familiar but unwelcome voice cut through the party's noise. Aiden's mood dropped even more.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here," Liam sneered, emerging from the corners with a few of his hulking friends. "So many admirers, Aiden? I'm feeling a little jealous of you. You broke her heart."
Aiden rolled his eyes but a wave of weariness washed over him. Not wanting to see his disgusting face, he turned to leave but Liam was quicker and stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"Not so fast, pretty boy." Liam's hand snaked out and grabbed Aiden's arm, twisting it behind his back with surprising force before Aiden could understand what's happening. Aiden winced and tried to pull away but Liam's grip was like iron. "Once I ravaged you, I'm sure that beggar doesn't want you anymore. I'll keep you by my side then."
"Let go of me, bastard!" Aiden struggled hard as Liam pinned him down to forcefully kiss him.
"Stop fighting!" Liam was taller and bigger so he easily overpowered Aiden. "I have waited for so long. I have been dying to touch you."
"No! Stop!" Aiden used his whole strength to push him but failed. Hot tears rolled down his face as he cried out. "Hunter! Hunter!"
"That beggar won't come this time," He laughed and bit Aiden's jaw.
"Hey!" They all turned towards the source of the voice which turned out to be of Nick's.
Nick, who had wandered away from the main party to go to the washroom, stumbled upon the scene after hearing Aiden's screams. His eyes widened as he watched the scene. Aiden who was pinned against the wall. His shirt wrinkled, eyes wide, mouth trembling in cries. Aiden had never been this happy seeing Nick's stupid face in his life.
Liam was looming over him with that twisted smirk that instantly made Nick's blood boil. Liam's friends stood a few steps away, keeping guard like hyenas.
"The hell—? Before he could even shout, he lunged forward, shoving Liam with all the force he could muster. "Get the fuck off him!"
Liam stumbled but didn't fall. He greeted his teeth at the intrusion and barked to his friends. "What are you doing? Take care of him?"
His friends jumped into action, and within seconds, Nick was on the ground, fists and kicks raining down on him. Nick cried out as a brutal punch landed squarely on his jaw, sending him stumbling. Even through the pain, he reached into his pocket and fumbled for his phone, barely managing to tap Hunter's contact. With a guttural roar, he managed to gasp out, "H-Hunter! Aiden needs you! Hunter!"
Aiden, meanwhile, was still crying and struggling uselessly under Liam. Liam's face was menacingly inches away from his own, a sickening smirk playing on his lips. Liam was about to force a kiss when a blur of motion and loud growl suddenly snatched him away from Aiden, yanking backward with such violent force that his feet left the ground.
Nick, groaning, somehow managed to pull himself up and scramble towards Aiden, pulling him into a protective embrace. They both watched in dread as Hunter, who looked terrifying and unrestrained in fury, stood over Liam.
Hunter had never felt this kind of wrath before. It wasn't hot, rather it was freezing cold. Like his veins were full of broken glass instead of blood. His breath came in short bursts, his chest rising and falling like something caged and feral. He couldn't breathe. He didn't want to breathe. All he wanted was to destroy the person in front of him.
His fists curled so tightly the skin stretched over his knuckles, and his nails dug into his palms until they stung. He welcomed the pain, it gave him something to focus on besides the roaring, monstrous scream inside his skull.
"HOW.DARE.YOU?" Hunter's fist, fueled by a terrifying cocktail of fear and vengeance, slammed into Liam's stomach with a sickening thud. The force of the blow was so immense that Liam gagged, a gush of blood and bile erupting from his mouth as he crumpled to the floor, gasping for air while clutching his abdomen.
Hunter didn't stop there or give him time to even breathe. Hunter straddled his chest and mercilessly poured fists on his face.
"These hands—" Hunter grabbed Liam's wrist and slammed it against the ground, hard enough to bruise. "—you touched him with these fing hands?!"
Before Liam could even scream, Hunter bent the wrist back sharply.
"Arghhhhh!!!!" Liam shrieked, but Hunter didn't stop. He grabbed the other wrist and twisted it until he heard another sharp snap. Liam writhed and sobbed, blood gushing down his face, but it didn't register to Hunter. He wasn't seeing him as a person anymore. Just something that had hurt Aiden. That needed to be punished.
He turned his chilling gaze to Liam's friends, who now looked terrified. He moved with a speed and ferocity that seemed almost inhuman. One friend went down with a crack as Hunter's elbow connected with his temple. Another stumbled back, clutching a rapidly swelling nose after Hunter's knee drove upwards. Hunter moved from one to another, each punch, each kick, delivered without any mercy. He didn't just beat them, no, he demolished them, leaving them groaning heaps on the floor.
The aftermath of Hunter's furious rampage landed both him and Aiden in the principal's office. Principal Thompson, who was already bitter from the memory of the previous incident, also caused by Hunter, scowled at them from behind his desk. He only knew Hunter had brutally beaten several students, not the terrifying reason behind it. This was the second time Hunter had been involved in such an incident, and the principal's disdain for him was unbearable.
"Hunter, Aiden, do you have any idea the gravity of your actions?" Principal bellowed, glaring at both of them.
After some students informed the teachers about the fight, the injured were quickly rushed to the hospital. Liam, beaten badly with a broken nose and fractured wrists, along with other students were taken away as the teachers tried to control the chaos.
"This is a school, not a boxing ring! Hunter, your violent tendencies are a serious concern for the students of this school. This is the second time you've resorted to such extreme measures! What do you have to say for yourselves?"
Hunter remained silent, if he got his hands on Liam again, he wouldn't shy away from completely killing him. Aiden, still shaky, could only manage a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head. The principal sighed in anger.
Aiden's mother arrived shortly after. After a brief, clipped exchange with the principal, who conveniently overlooked Liam's actions and put all the blame on Hunter, she steered Aiden out of the office and into the car.
As they drove home, Aiden felt suffocated seeing his mother so silent. Finally, Aiden broke it, his voice small and fragile. "Mom...it wasn't Hunter's fault. Liam...he tried to...he tried to assault me. If Hunter hadn't..."
Aiden's mother gasped and abruptly stopped the car, her eyes widening in horror and then narrowing with a fierce, protective anger.
"He what?!" She wished he was joking but Aiden's nod made her heart sink. She pulled the car to the side of the road, her hand instinctively reaching for Aiden, pulling him into a tight, desperate hug.
"My baby! Oh, Aiden, my brave boy." Tears welled in her eyes as she squeezed him tighter. "That monster! I swear, I will kill him. He won't get away with this, I promise you."
Aiden clung to her, the fear finally giving way to a different emotion. "Mom...I love Hunter," he whispered, his voice muffled against her shoulder. "You have to save him…Okay. They will make false accusations against him."
She stroked his hair gently. "I know, sweetie. He's been such a good friend to you."
Aiden pulled back slightly, looking up at her with earnest, tear-filled eyes. "No, Mom. I love him. Like, love him, love him."
His mother froze, her expression shifting from comfort to a momentary shock. She studied his face and saw honesty in his gaze. A soft smile slowly blossomed on her lips, and she pulled him back into another warm embrace, rocking him gently.
"Then why are you crying, silly?"
"Because I t-thought you'd be angry," Aiden confessed, wiping his tears. "And scold me. And tell me...tell me to never see him again."
She chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to his hair. "Hey now, who do you think I am? Some Disney villain, plotting your misery? My baby is free to like anyone, anyone at all, as long as he's happy and the other person loves him back. I don't care about Hunter's gender, Aiden. And honestly, who could be better than Hunter? He's the nicest, most respectful gentleman I've ever met. He clearly cares for you so much."
"I know right," Aiden smiled between hiccups.