It was getting very chilly and Seb was only in her Jersey, with a full sleeve thin cotton inner from inside.
Iven couldn't resist to issue worry for her.
"It's freezing!!! Why are you dressed so lightly?", he asked.
"Ah, I was feeling stuffy until the practice", Seb said,"But my sweater, ...actually your sweater, is hanging onto my bike".
"My sweater?", Iven had forgot about that as he rose his eyebrows.
"Don't you remember?", Seb looked disappointed.
Iven tried to recall it, when the image of their first encounter came into his mind.
"You, still wear that!!!", he exclaimed,"It's even strange that you still have it. I thought it's already been burnt or trashed out".
"Why do you think so?", Seb asked curiously.
"To extinguish your grudge against me of course", Iven replied,"It must have reminded you of....of my....sick deeds". He looked down and fumbled a bit.
"True!", Seb nodded,"It reminds me of you, but not your deeds, .....but your kindness".
Kindness!!! Iven's eyes went up. That's the oddest compliment he has ever got. Handsome and sharp were his compliments. Cruel, rude and cold were his criticisms. He was familiar with them well. But kindness wasn't something he was told often.
"And you know...", Seb spoke again,"....The sweater is really useful. But...if you want you can take it back".
"No it's fine", Iven quickly denied,"Just have it. I'm glad it's useful".
There was no way he could take it back and let such a compliment coming from Seb just wash away into nothingness. Moreover, it's her who is using it. He was too glad.
"My bike!!!", suddenly Seb exclaimed and took off fast.
Iven pulled back his mind and checked the situation. He saw the bike too, totally unharmed, leaning onto the wall beside the lane, and his sweater hanging onto the handle. It was safe after all. That was the 1st thought that came in his mind.
The 2nd thought was that, it was the end of his journey. He only promised her to walk her up to her bike and then go separate ways. He quenched his eyes till the time Seb was busy embracing her bike, till she would walk up to sat bye to him. Just a moment long.
Finally Seb walked up to him with her bike beside her and the sweater covering her.
"It's suits you", Iven said.
Seb rubbed the back of her head due to embarrassment.
"Well then, I should get going", Iven said it though he was the one who didn't want to.
"Leaving?", unexpectedly, Seb had the same thoughts. Her face fell.
"Yeah! You found the bike safe and sound. You don't need me to ride it all the way to your house", Iven tried to sound cool. It didn't work. He rather sounded as if he was forcing himself.
Seb was no naive. She caught it instantly.
She is one of those rare ones, who speaks straight forward on the spot. She handles the consequences later and blurts out what she actually feels.
"Just walk me till my house, will you!", it was like an order from her side.
Iven flushed. Even Seb feels the same way as him. But he didn't want to expose it so openly,"Is it a very good idea?".
"Won't you?", Seb answered his question with another question as well as succeeded in her motive. That was a trick. It was full proof technique which never failed her.
And after a while, they found themselves walking towards Seb's home. Seb wasn't riding her bike, and Iven kept his hands pocketed the whole time. It defined their personalities each.
They talked about silly stuffs and guffawed on what they said. Strangely, they both found themselves admiring each other for no such trait expressed. They just discovered the uniqueness within their point of view. It helped to blossom their untitled relationship even more.
All of a sudden, Iven paused on his tracks alarmed. Seb had also noticed the reason.
From the pitch darkness, a shadow was emerging right towards them.
"Stand back Belle!!!", Iven hissed. Seb although maintained her current position.
Seb had pretty impressive eyesight. Even in the dark, it didn't defy her. The approaching figure was of a female's. Seb gasped on her breath when she realized the person.
"Hold on Iven", she said to stop making matters worse.
The female was in front of them now. They could see her stunned expression. She looked at Iven once and switched to Seb. The situation was on hold for a moment. Then she looked at Iven again and kept staring.
Iven had no idea what was going on. He felt little uncomfortable with the continuous stare of the women on him. He leaned down to Seb's ears and whispered," Belle? I think she's checking me out".
"Shut it Iven!!!", Seb spoke through her teeth.
Then she took a step towards the girl with an nervous smile,"Eric....uh...I can explain".
Iven recalled the name. Seb mentioned it once. It's her best mate. He couldn't control his weird sense of humor during that moment,"Ah!!! Things have gotten a lot more interesting".
Seb turned back immediately. Her eyes were shooting laser. Iven looked away and shut up. But Erica had already started walking. She was clearly annoyed at being kept in secret.
Seb shoved the bike on Iven, who caught it off guardedly , and chased after Erica.
Seb reached up to Erica and blocked her way with her arms spread wide.
"Stop!! You've got it all wrong !", she said.
"Are we even friends Seb???", Erica asked rolling her eyes.
That pierced Seb like a sharp dagger. But she resented to answer too quickly, lest Erica would leave. She controlled her emotions,"It's a misunderstanding. I was about to say you soon".
"When is the soon?", Erica beamed,"So that's why you have been acting so strange lately. I'm not telling you not to mess with with boys, but you kept it all away from me, WHY??? Will I interrupt that badly???".
Erica started to leave again.
Seb caught her wrist.
"Let go!!!", Erica yelled but she had no power to free herself from Seb's iron grasp.
"You've got to listen to me", Seb begged,"Trust me like you always do".
Erica lost it. She was frustrated.
"I've been doing that this whole time Seb. But what did I get in return? Am I not trustworthy enough to confide what's going on in your life?", Erica said,"How can you be so selfish?".
Seb couldn't contain it longer. She possibly couldn't tell Erica about the meet with Iven and how they came closer. She'll feel more betrayed. She said whatever she could to save herself from the situation.
"He's my distant cousin dammit!!!", she lied unintentionally. That's the best she could do.
Iven had reached up to them and had heard Seb clearly.
I'm her....what???.....he thought to himself. I thought I made myself clear hat I won't take her as a sister. What a shame!!! Now I'll have to give in to her insignificant lies. What a drag!!!
"How did you come to know your so called distant cousin out of the blue?", Erica wasn't still ready to buy it.
Iven was about to open his mouth to Seb's rescue, but she beat him to it," Bro called me up. He sent him with some errand and asked to meet me. He came himself as Bro asked him!".
Iven had to admit. Seb had an excellent ability to form on spot lies and make them look true. The challenger will have no other weapon to attack with. Now she will have to believe her. He was right too.
Erica's voice softened a bit,"So, why didn't you tell me earlier???".
"I just met him a week ago, and coincidentally today. Any more inquiries???", Seb said boldly. With that, she put an terminator to Erica's complain. She had turned the tables in such a way, that blame swapped itself and started hovering on Erica. She started feeling guilty to have doubting on Seb without a chance to explain.
"uh....I....well...seb...I was so...", Erica tried to find words for her conduct.
"You don't have to be sorry", it was Iven this time.
He was trying his best to act modest in front of another girl which is also Seb's friend.
"Mistakes happen", he said as art of seduction showered from his voice,"I'm glad you understand".
He sure knows how to dazzle women, Seb thought, it comes out so naturally from within him.
Iven did nothing extra. Even his normal words would attract a girl pretty strongly. It's his unnatural prince looks, charismatic charms, deep voice and sharp attitude that did the magic.
Both Seb and Iven noticed a thing. Erica was blushing enormously.
But they had different thoughts regarding that.
It's going in the right track, Iven thought who had no idea about women's nature.
Not good, not good, absolutely not cool!!, thought Seb.
She elbowed him once, Iven replied with a wink.
He stretched his hand out to prolong the conversation. He was trying his best to impress Seb, but she didn't expect nor want these all.
"I'm Iven", he said in his usual accent.
But Erica's heart skipped 2 beats at once. She hesitantly took his hand and shook it.
"and you are...", Iven spoke the first line for him.
"Erica!!!", Seb replied for her as she was too nervous. Erica just nodded once.
"Pleased to meet you", Iven said,"You're a remarkable lady".
BANG!!!
2 inaudible gunshots took place at once.
Once pierced through Erica, making her face cherry red.
Another stung through Seb, drawing blood from her face.
What the hell is he up to!!! Seb was screaming in her head. She had to interrupt," What are you doing here anyway Eric?"
"Oh!", Erica returned back from the fantasy world,"I came to check on you. You were going to return late so Mum prepared some curry for you. I brought so that you don't have to cook", saying Erica lifted a foiled packet of box.
"Ah, your friend is very caring", Iven said. Erica smiled at the compliment.
Seb stamped on Iven's feet and threw him a negative glance which said, enough already!!!
She shrugged her shoulders and her eyebrows went up to a frown.
Iven stopped and was taken aback. He didn't understand his mistake at all. He thought that things were going perfectly this whole time and didn't get any of Seb's gestures. So why was she complaining? This move backfired and Seb seemed pissed!
"Ah.....What would I do without you", Seb said to cover the moment,"I was indeed starving".
"Yup!!! Why don't I make some main course to go with it?", Erica suggested.
"That would do good, let's go", saying Seb walked over and took the bike from Iven.
"What am I supposed to do?", Iven pointed at himself innocently.
Erica was waiting to ask him,"Why don't you join us? I've plenty for 2".
But Seb gave a death stare and said,"Scram!!!".
Both Iven and Erica looked at Seb with confusion.
Seb gave a nervous smile and realized that her expression was too obvious,"Iven has to go and take care of something".
Erica looked at Iven,"Do you?".
Iven looked at Seb,"Do I?".
"You do, don't you?", Seb spoke through her teeth. Iven received his signal. But he was still bewildered when he went with her plan," Oh yeah!!! I have to go. I have some work to do, sorry".
"Oh!", was the only thing erica managed to say,"Alright next time", she forced a smile.
Iven nodded politely and exchanged a smirk with Seb before walking away and disappearing int he darkness within no time. When he was sure that he was out of sight, he led out a huge sigh,I'm sure that she was checking me out!", he exclaimed," Didn't Belle notice that?"
He recalled and judged Erica's behavior from earlier. Than he realized that why Seb was acting so weird. He chuckled to himself as he remembered Seb's act, he found them too cute.
Need to avoid this friend of Belle, he thought, i can sense what will happen if I let this continue. Handling one women is enough in my life already.
When he was engrossed in thoughts, his phone rang.
-Hello?
-Yuka here, I've got news.
-What is it?
-I thnk he's back in town, that's why Heeld and the others sprang into action.
-Did you cross check it?
-Mak and Juan did. They were sure about it.
-What gives?
-The photographs, I've seen them too.
-It's not good, be alert.
-We've got our guard up.
Yuka hung up.
In a second, Iven switched back to his other half.
This is not cool at all, he thought, why the hell did he have to return now??? And when things were getting slightly better in his life????
This time, it'll be his last time, it'll be the last fight!!!
Iven was sure that he'll make it the last fight. But he wasn't aware that a terrific situation awaited him!!!
A single wrong move, and he'll put all of them in danger!
All of them he had sworn to protect up untill now.
Whom he had cared for,.....and whom...he had started caring for!