credits: ladykika09

credits: tabibimbap

Dara’s eyes darted left and right, unable to move. Tattoos, piercings, weird hairstyles - the guys surrounding her looked scarier and more intimidating than the InterSAT gangsters. Judging from their uniform logo, they’re from the university located downtown.

“You’re a former Bridge Rose student, aren’t you? You look so pretty and innocent”, one of the guys inched closer and sniffed her, making her shudder in disgust. “And hmmm….you smell so nice!” He exclaimed. “What are you doing in InterSAT? Just transfer to our school!”

“Excuse me, p-please let me pass”, she tried to steady her voice, but to no avail. She’s scared as hell.

“Just hang out with us for a while. We won’t harm you.” The guy smirked at her and tried to wrap his arm around her again, but Dara rapidly stepped aside. She tried to pass but the others kept on blocking her path while laughing, thoroughly enjoying her frustrated expression.

“Oh look, she’s about to cry!”

“Aww. Come here, I’m going to make you feel better.”

Dara was hugging her bag like a shield while her mind kept on screaming Jiro’s name. She was about to fish out her phone but due to nervousness, her bag slipped from her grasp and her stuff tumbled on the ground, making the thugs roar in laughter. She slumped on the pavement and clumsily picked up her things with trembling hands.

Jiro!

“HEY!” she heard an unfamiliar voice from afar. Dara looked up and saw Arden Lee walking towards them, his hands shoved inside his pockets. He has his usual bright smile on his face but his eyes convey something different. “Want to have fun with me instead?” He asked and kicked one of the thug’s shins.

“You assh-..UGH!” The guy wasn’t able to finish as Bullet’s fist forcefully connected on his face. The other thugs were about to retaliate when someone shouted from the InterSAT back gate.

“Bullet, do you need a hand?” One of the members of the Fire 39 called out jokingly.

“Nah, I got this!” Bullet shouted back and grinned at his gang members. Dara glanced at the back gate and saw that at the corner, there is a stair going up to the turf of the Fire 39 gang.

“D-Did he say Bullet?” The thug asked his other member.

“Damn. It’s the leader of Fire 39. Let’s go.”

The guys surrounding Dara immediately ran off, leaving her and Bullet behind. Not knowing what to say, she hung her head low and just busied herself on gathering her things and stuffing them back inside her bag. To her surprise, Bullet slumped on the ground as well and tilted his head, catching her eyes.

Dara sheepishly looked at him and upon seeing that he was smiling at her, she quickly averted her eyes. “Thank you for helping me”, she murmured.

“Can’t you say that while looking at me?”

She lifted her gaze and looked directly on his eyes. “Thank you for helping me”, she said.

“You’re really pretty, and you’re welcome!”

Dara blinked at him in bewilderment, not knowing how to react.

“Call me Bullet”, he winked.

Flirt.

“Thank you, Arden Lee”, she said and stood up. She was about to walk away but Bullet grabbed the handle of her bag, halting her steps. She glanced back and saw his amused smile.

“Isn’t Ice Lord waiting for you at the front gate?”

Dara pulled her bag from his grasp and shifted her gaze elsewhere, unable to respond.  Bullet let out a soft laugh and glanced at his gang members who were eyeing them from afar. “I’ll be back later!” He shouted and waved at them coyly when they started howling and whistling.

He then turned around and started walking ahead. “Let’s go. I’ll walk you home”, he said.

“What? Wait!”

***

Dara’s POV

Nope, this is not what I was expecting when I decided to go through the back gate. Walking home with Arden Lee, or Bullet, who is the current leader of the Fire 39 never crossed my mind.

After sending a text to Jiro that I went home early to cover up the mess that I’ve gotten myself into, I stole a glance at my unexpected savior. Bullet always has a smile on his face that makes him look like everyone’s best friend.

“Is Ice Lord going to punch me because I walked you home?” he suddenly asked.

“Are you scared?”

“No, just curious.”

“Curious of what?”

“Curious of your relationship with him. Curious of you”, he replied and gave me a lingering look.

“There’s nothing to be curious about”, I said, focusing my gaze on my feet as we walked slowly. “And no, he won’t hurt you. Why would he?”

Bullet did not press on. We both walked in silence for a while. “Namee told me you and Montecillo are a couple.”

“That’s not true!” I AM GOING TO KILL NAMEE!

“Really? Everybody in school thinks so too. And she said you kissed Ice Lord-”

“Don’t listen to her!” I shrieked in astonishment. Seriously, that girl needs a lot of prayers because I’M GOING TO EAT HER LIVER! Gosh! I can’t believe her!

I was plotting more sinister ways of murdering Namee when Bullet’s boisterous laugh entered my ears.

“You’re still cute even when you’re angry”, he said and pinched my cheeks. I rubbed the spot that he pinched and glared at him. “If you and Ice Lord are not a couple, why is he so protective of you?”

That question again. The question I’m dreading to hear. “He owes a lot to my father”, I answered in a dispirited voice. “You really don’t have to walk me home. I can manage from here.”

“I insist”, he said and darted his eyes around. “Montecillo is also from this neighborhood isn’t he? What will he do if he sees us together?”

“He will glare at you. And then he will kill you”, I joked.

He laughed and shoved his hands inside his pockets while glancing at me. “It’s okay. My gang mates are already plotting my funeral the moment I told them that I’ll walk you home.”

I smiled and looked at him, studying his features. He’s really not bad and is quite good looking, to be honest. I bet girls are throwing themselves on his feet with just one wink.

“Why are you staring? You’re making me blush”, he said while grinning at me.

“You really like girls, don’t you?” I said with a slight smirk.

“Eww! No. Girls have cooties!” He exclaimed dramatically. I chuckled at his exaggerated expression. “Just kidding”, he said and nudged my shoulder. “Namee also told me that you don’t like me because I’m a flirt.”

“Oh my gosh! Does ever stop moving?!” I exhaled furiously. “Don’t lis