Maverick's Mansion...
Skylar sat with legs crossed, back leaned on the backrest of the bed in her bedroom. She had a laptop on her lap, and books bedside her on the bed. Studying when she heard a noise at one of the windows, her gaze flew there but there was nobody there so she continued studying. The sound came again, it was as if someone was throwing stones at the window. Thinking it would be Ryan she kept her laptop and walked to open the window pane, She stared down at the garden, over the pool but there was no one there. She was going to shut the door when her guardian Angel appeared from nowhere.
"Skylar" he called
"Ah!" she yelled scared and landed her butt on the floor. Angel was going to help her up "Stop! Don't come close, don't touch me"She quickly got up and took a few steps away from him "what are you doing here?"
"You thought about me, that was how you summoned me earlier"
"You sure have a way of answering questions, don't you?"
"You said a short prayer back in the bus, prayer to Saint Michael the archangel." Angel went on to recite the prayer "Saint Micheal the archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray..."
flashback on Skylar saying the prayer on the bus. "And do thou, O prince of heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen" End of flashback. "You're angel Micheal?" she asked
He smiled, it was like nothing Skylar had ever seen before, the most beautiful smile "Your guardian Angel"
"Um,...I didn't get the chance to thank you earlier" She bowed to him "Thank you Saint Michael for saving our lives"
"There was no need for that, just doing my job" They heard a knock on the door and her gaze flew there then back to him "One thing before I leave, don't think of me all the time because if you do I'd appear to you and I can see it makes you really uncomfortable" then he was gone that instant.
She heard the knock "My sky, it's daddy" she heard her dad say and quickly ran to sit on the bed and replaced her laptop on her lap "Come in Dad, door's open"
Anthony entered "Oh! Didn't think you'd still be studying, am I disturbing? Maybe I should..."
"Come on in Dad" she cut in smiling
Anthony smiled back. He drew the study chair and sat beside her "How're you feeling?"
"Happy...and...thankful that I didn't end up getting kidnapped earlier" she replied.
"I'm sorry you had to go through that awful experience but I'm glad you're safe now. The MSA have got their hands on deck in search of the perpetrators of the crime. I'm sure they'll be caught soon"
"Do they have any leads yet?"
"The captain mentioned something about it being a kidnap for ransom or human slash organ trafficking syndicate case"
"I see.."
"I ordered bodyguards to protect you until this case is solved"
"There was no need for that dad"
"We are worried, those people might come back and we don't want to be caught off guard like today," Anna Maverick said from the door, Anthony left it open. She walked in "We the parents of HU had an online meeting and we made sure the authorities tightened the security of the university, you're not leaving this house without bodyguards until this case is cracked"
"But..."Skylar was going to protest
Anna interrupted "No buts sky, understand that we're worried about you"
She sighed "Fine.Thanks, Mum, dad"
"Love, we should retire to bed now," Anna said to Anthony "nighty night, sky" She wished her daughter
"Nighty night Mum"
"Good night, my sky" Anthony replaced the chair.
"Make sure to turn off the lights "Anna reminded and the couple left the room, Anthony shut the door behind them.
*******
Ryan was waiting by his car at the general parking lot for Skylar. They were to have a general statistics class; medicine, architecture, and engineering students always had combined classes whenever it came to a general course.
Skylar's car pulled into a parking space at the lot opposite Ryan's and two bodyguards got down first, one got the door for her:she didn't drive herself as usual. Ryan chuckled at the sight and went across to meet her "Hey, best"
"Xup, best"Skylar replied and they did their friendship handshake.
"The whole school is swarming with bodyguards 'cause of nursing students" he couldn't hold his laughter.
"I didn't want them, just wanted to make mum and dad happy" they started.
"Obviously, guess what today is?"
"Basketball practice"
"You're coming right?"
"Sure, like I ever missed watching you play" she bumped into someone.
"Yeah, couldn't make it to the gym 'cause I had early morning class..." KK was on the phone when Skylar unconsciously hit his shoulder while walking past. "watch where you're going, bitch" He angrily pushed her and she almost reached the floor but Ryan was quick to catch her.
He obstructed KK who was already leaving "you don't treat a lady that way, what if you had hurt her, had it been I wasn't quick to hold her she'd be rolling down the steps by now" he scolded, yelling.
"Do I look like I care? Tell your girlfriend to learn how to stay outta people's way" KK said nonchalantly.
"She's my best friend and I won't have you disrespect her"
"Suit yourself" KK was going to leave
Ryan pulled him back "get back here..." A punch from KK landed on his face which sent him to the floor.
Skylar rushed to him "Ryan! Are you okay?" She helped him up, and by the time they looked up the two bodyguards were pointing their guns at KK "What are you both doing? Put away your rifles, you're scaring students and he's not a criminal" she ordered her bodyguards.
KK unexpectedly pulled his gun from his pants and aimed it at Skylar, her heart jumped to her throat, he was scaring the shit out of her.
"KK, put away your gun, "Ryan asked rather calmly.
KK ignored him and said to Skylar "Tell your bodyguards to put away their guns first miss VIP, I mean it's pointed right at your head, anything could happen, you know"
"You wouldn't dare, your life would be ruined"Ryan challenged
"My life is already ruined, you should think about your bodyguards 'cause if anything happened to you, their lives would be ruined too" KK threatened her at gunpoint, he didn't care about the repercussions that'd come after that.
Skylar's bodyguards didn't wait for her to say, they replaced their guns from where they brought them out, and KK put back his gun too. Then, they heard a police siren, they were there to arrest KK, everyone was confused about how the cops heard of the incident, no one knew who alerted them. They didn't just arrest KK without a handcuff, they asked the others to follow them to the precinct for questioning.
*******
Skylar's parents were there as well as KK's, they stood in the lobby of the precinct. Mr Kenshin was scolding KK
"What were you thinking, KK? Threatening your fellow student at gunpoint? Have you totally lost it? Why are you so bent on tainting my good name"
"Are you really doing this in the presence of these people? Did you see her father scolding her in front of you? This is just some fucked up shit right here"
"You dare talk back at me? I can see you've completely gone berserk"
"I talk back at you all the time, it's now a big deal 'cause we're in public?."
"KK!"Vivienne Kenshin called "I won't have you disrespect us like that"
"Yeah, go ahead, I'm the spoilt, disrespectful, useless son, who doesn't deserve to be a Kenshin. Say it; you always say it..." A resounding slap from Kenshin landed on his face interrupting the flow of his words.
Skylar held her mouth, stopping herself from gasping loudly. What a toxic family, she thought. KK was indeed stubborn, he wasn't just cold and heartless in school, it applied to everywhere and anyone.
"Mr. Kenshin, no one got hurt, I'm sure this was..."Anthony was speaking for KK
He rudely cut him short "Stay out of my family's business"
"Don't talk to my husband like that you spoilt brat" Anna scolded angrily.
"I don't need him to speak for me" KK fired
Kenshin landed kk another slap on the other side of his face, which turned his face sideways. He looked back at Kenshin with red, anger-burning eyes and began walking away.
"I'll make sure to revoke your rifle license before you kill someone else," Kenshin said in anger not minding his words.
KK faced him "like I care" He got his gun, threw it on the floor to Kenshin, and walked out on all of them. Skylar and Ryan glanced at each other, Ryan was holding an ice bag over his chin.
"I'm so sorry Mr. Maverick for all the trouble" Kenshin apologized
"It's alright, this was all a misunderstanding. Please go easy on him, he's just a kid" Anthony said politely.
"He's twenty and definitely not a kid who should know his right from wrong. Please excuse us, we'll go ahead first" KK's parents left.
"Did I hear him right? Before you kill someone else?' have kk killed someone before? I hope nobody else heard" Skylar said to Ryan almost whispering.
"Makes me wonder what kind of a monster he is?" Ryan said.
*******
The sound of the basketball thudding on the floor, the sound of students cheering at the players.
"Steve over here" Ryan called and Steven passed the ball to him. He threw it for the net but KK attacked the ball and sent it back to him with a slap, the ball hit Ryan's stomach and he fell to the ground.
Ryan was in unit one and KK unit two:each unit has a total of six players, making the team a total of twelve players.
KK scoffed "What a pussy"
Ryan charged at him "You're getting on my nerves KK"
"What did I do?" KK pretended.
"Quit acting all dump, you purposely fired the ball at me" Ryan yelled angrily.
"So, what If I did? What are you gonna do? You'd better back off if you don't want another black cheek" KK said nonchalantly
"You bastard, I'm the captain of this group and I can take you out of this team whenever I want" Ryan fired "So, mind the way you're being disrespectful here"
"Who made this guy the captain in the first place, we all saw how you fell to the floor, like a pussy..."
A fierce blow landed on KK's face, and it came from Steven "I won't have you insult the captain like that. I've tried putting up with your rotten attitude for far too long KK, you've crossed the line" he yelled angrily.
Skylar was now standing, hoping they wouldn't fight, she was among those who took the front seat to cheer the players.
"Why does KK always have to ruin everything" someone complained.
"It's his fault, it's always his fault" she heard someone else say.
"I hope they teach him a lesson he'll never forget...fight!" It was a guy this time. In no time other students joined in echoing for them to fight. Skylar didn't like the idea.
KK pushed Steven on the chest "You dare hit me?"
Steven pushed him back "What? You wonna fight? Bring it on mother fucker"
"Fight! Fight!! Fight!!!"
"Let's make a bet; I bet on Steven," A student said to his friend beside him.
"I bet on KK, though I don't like the guy"
"Get ready to lose bro, can't you see the whole team has ganged up against him, they are gonna beat the hell outta him"
Skylar angrily glared at them "You two are freshmen, right? Making a bet on your seniors? You both are shameless" She thought "Guardian Angel please do something"
A security officer walked into the court and blew his whistle at the guys "If anyone dares to throw another punch, I promise to lock you up in the school cell overnight, all of you, no food, no water, just mosquitoes to keep you company"
"And who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" KK asked rudely.
"C'mon now, don't be rude to an elder" the security guard warned.
"You're just a security guard, I could have you fired in a snap" KK threatened.
The guard snapped and the basketball hit Kk's head "Ou! Who did that?" he asked looking around, the boys laughed at him.
"I did" the guard replied nonchalantly.
At that moment, Skylar knew who that was "Saint Michael" she whispered and smiled.
"What a daring guard, doesn't he know who KK is?" one of the players whispered to another.
KK scoffed "Have it in mind that it's your last day at HU" That said, he took his bag and left the court, through a smaller door to where the locker room and bathroom were.
The guard left and the audience began to leave the court, the players headed out of the court.
Angel returned the security guard safe and sound back to his sleeping place, exactly the position he took him and left his body.
Skylar was the only one left in the court, she was waiting for Ryan to wash up. She sat, busy with her phone when she heard a voice "Skylar"
She was startled and then calmed. Even after knowing it was Angel, she still gave space "Thank you for not letting them kill each other. That KK guy mean trouble"
"Cold and heartless might be a cover, the things we go through or have gone through in life put us in positions but at heart it's different," Angel said
"Talking about KK? That guy is a pain in everyone's ass"
"Cold and heartless is the only way he could keep his pain trapped inside, the only way to scar the wounds so they don't hurt again"
"You mean he's going through something?"
"That day he'd not be able to take it anymore is close, when that day comes, everyone would be responsible for whatever happens"
Ryan approached her "Shall we?"
Skylar stood up, stood beside him, and whispered "he's here"
"Who's here?"
"My guardian Angel" she replied.
Ryan looked around and waved to the air "Hello!"
"He's seated there" Skylar pointed at the chair
"Hello" Ryan waved again at the invisible being then said to Skylar "Can we go now?"
"You don't believe me, do you?"
"Of course I do" he tried hard to sound convincing.
Angel moved a finger from one end to another and Ryan's eyes widened in shock, he could see the being seated exactly where Skylar said he was, everything on him gleamed heavenly white; from his head down to toe but the next second he couldn't see him again "I just saw him now but he's disappeared"
"He's still here, he only made you see him for a split second," Skylar said to him
"Bye, for now, Skylar," Angel said, his wings appeared as he flew away.
"He's gone now" she announced "Believe me now?"
"I've always believed you"
"But with doubts, let's go now"
*******
KK walked through the open door leading to the living room, he had his architectural materials with him.
"Where are you coming from by this time?" He heard his father ask, his both parents sat in the dining but it was already past dinner time. He was sure they were waiting for him to return home.
"None of your business," kk said heading for the staircase.
Kenshin angrily stood up "Take another step and you'll be out on the streets" he warned.
KK stopped to face them "What do you want?"
Kenshin walked toward him holding a newspaper, and Vivienne followed behind. "You're on the news KK, the incident from earlier got to the press, do I always have to clean up after your mess?"
"I never asked you to," KK said nonchalantly.
"I've had it up to here with you KK, all you do is humiliate our name and you never feel any remorse about all your shitty actions" Vivienne yelled "do you know how much we just wasted to take down this piece of information? When do you plan on stopping this rebellious act of yours?"
Kenshin noticed his black cheek "What's that on your face? Did you get into another fight? What is wrong with you KK?"
"They pulled their guns at me first, now everything is my fault 'cause I tried to defend myself? Since Kenton died you both only see me as a murderer, why didn't you just throw me in prison back then?!"
"Yes, it's all your fault, it's always been your fault, it's all your fault your brother died" Vivienne yelled, her eyes glittering in tears
KK nodded sadly "Then maybe I should die too" he ran upstairs.
Kenshin embraced his weeping wife.
Skylar kept tossing on the bed and adjusting the duvet, but she couldn't fall asleep, her mind kept wandering on Angel's words earlier about KK
She sat up "Guardian Angel!"
The next moment, the window pane went up and Angel sat there "Worried about KK?"
"I'm not worried about him, I just wonna help him" she replied
"You can't try to help someone you're not worried about; when humans are worried about someone, it means they like that person, right?"
"Noway, I don't like KK, there's nothing to like about that jerk. He tried to kill me for Christ's sake"
"It's a bit too late, time is almost up," Angel said
"What do you mean by that?" Skylar asked
"There's little a chance you might succeed"
"How little?"
"0.1"
"I'm willing but I need your help, tell me his story"
"It's not in my place to, I'll be defiling the law of paradise, I'm not his guardian Angel thus, I can't help you"
"You're not his guardian Angel but you should know who his is, help me so, I can talk with his guardian Angel"
"It's impossible, of all the guardient I guard, you're the only one who can see and converse with me and I don't know how you managed to do that. It's impossible to speak with Raphael 'cause you'll never see him"
"Angel Raphael?...alright then, I'll think of something myself"
"Goodnight Skylar" He smiled, that breathtaking smile that could strike a chord in someone's heart.
She dazed for a while and then snapped out of it, yeah, he was gorgeous but he was her guardian Angel and it was unholy to droll over him "I can't ...say...goodnight 'cause you don't sleep, right? Bbye Angel...don't forget to shut my window" she chuckled, he only smiled. She lay down, backing him, a smile still lingering on her lips and Angel was gone that instant.
*******