Nita's unexpected defense stunned Rodrigo, leaving him speechless. He never anticipated that she would come to his aid, especially considering their strained relationship.
With Nita's influential father serving as the school principal, the guards had no choice but to accept her version of events. Furthermore, with Connor unconscious and unable to dispute the narrative, the truth seemed firmly in Rodrigo's favor.
"Connor tried to attack me, but Rodrigo intervened and defended me," Nita asserted. "Right Ella?" seeking confirmation from her friend Ella, who nodded vigorously in agreement, still unable to find her voice amidst the chaos.
Accepting Nita's account, the guards made arrangements to transport Connor to the hospital for treatment, sparing Rodrigo from immediate consequences.
"And it's best to keep this incident quiet for everyone's sake," Nita advised before they left, her tone firm yet subtly warning. "Imagine the consequences if Connor were to discover who spread the news about his altercation with Rodrigo. It would only bring more pain and trouble."
Recognizing the potential repercussions, the guards nodded in silent agreement, fully aware of the ruthless nature of Connor and the dangers of crossing him.
As they departed, Nita swiftly silenced Rodrigo before he could express his gratitude for her intervention.
"I didn't do that because of you," she stated sharply, cutting off any potential misunderstanding. "Don't mistake my kindness for love, care, or affection. I don't give a fuck about you."
Rodrigo was left speechless, watching as Nita and her friend walked away without a second glance.
"I think she likes you, buddy," Ben whispered into Rodrigo's ear, attempting to offer some consolation.
"Very much not," Rodrigo replied bitterly. "She just made it clear that she doesn't care about me. I can't keep lying to myself. She's not meant for me."
"Don't give up hope. You'll find the right person eventually," Ben reassured him, trying to lift his spirits.
"Yeah, maybe in heaven or hell," Rodrigo replied cynically as he turned to leave.
The sound of classroom bells echoed through the halls, signaling the start of the day's classes. Ben hurried back to his lessons, eager not to miss any important material. Meanwhile, Rodrigo felt little interest in the academic pursuits that surrounded him.
As the two friends parted ways, Ben called out a final warning: "Don't do anything stupid, buddy!"
Rodrigo's response was cryptic yet laden with resignation. "That depends on your definition of stupid," he muttered quietly before disappearing out of the walkway, his thoughts weighed down by the turmoil of his emotions and the uncertain path that lay ahead.
*******
"Help! Someone help me!" a woman's panicked voice pierced the air, drawing attention to a commotion on the street.
"Someone snatched my blue purse just now!"
"I dropped it here and it disappeared!"
"There's a huge sum of money in it!"
Rodrigo, however, continued walking, his expression void of emotion. In his hand was the very same blue purse, which he calmly inspected while ignoring the woman's distress.
Extracting a portion of the money from the purse, Rodrigo left the remainder inside before placing it on an empty seat in a public area. With a nonchalant shrug, he continued on his way, muttering to himself, "What is life without a little trouble?"
Entering a shop that sold legal firearms, Rodrigo found the attendant engrossed in paperwork, oblivious to his presence. Approaching the counter, Rodrigo inquired, "How much for a small gun?"
"Huh?"
The attendant's shock was palpable as he registered Rodrigo's request and youthful appearance. His gaze bore into Rodrigo with a mix of disbelief and concern.
"A small gun? Like a Barrett M82A1?" Rodrigo clarified, his tone unwavering.
"Why does a kid like you need a gun like that?" the attendant questioned, his apprehension evident.
"I want to make the world a better place for my love... I mean, my crush. I want to make her happy," Rodrigo explained, his words tinged with determination.
"You're too young to be handling something like that. Besides, I don't have that model here," the attendant responded firmly, refusing to entertain Rodrigo's request.
"I'm an adult, I'm 19," Rodrigo asserted confidently. "What do you have?"
The attendant hesitated, glancing nervously at the array of firearms on display before turning back to Rodrigo. "You don't have a license, do you? I can't afford to get in trouble," he cautioned, concern evident in his tone.
"Trouble it is then!" Rodrigo shrugged, dismissing the attendant's warning as he proceeded toward the displayed guns.
"You might want to stay away from there!" the attendant urged, but Rodrigo paid no heed, his determination unwavering.
As Rodrigo continued browsing the selection, unaware of the attendant's actions, a policeman suddenly burst into the shop.
Casually sipping a cold drink, the officer seemed unfazed by the situation, his gun holstered at his side and handcuffs in hand.
"If I were you, I wouldn't do that," the policeman warned, prompting Rodrigo to turn around.
"What business does a kid have with a gun? Are you involved in some gang activity?" the officer inquired, his tone stern.
Rodrigo shook his head in response, indicating his innocence.
"Get over here!" the policeman commanded, gesturing for Rodrigo to approach him.
Rodrigo started walking towards the policeman, his movements deliberate and confident, displaying a boldness that seemed to disregard any consequences.
"You don't strike me as someone who has the money to buy a gun. Are you planning on stealing it?" the policeman queried, suspicion evident in his voice.
"If I were to steal a gun, it would have to be loaded," Rodrigo replied cryptically.
With lightning speed, Rodrigo seized the policeman's gun, wrenching it forcefully from his holster before bolting away. The officer was left stunned and unable to react in time as Rodrigo vanished into the distance.
Before the policeman could even think to alert his colleagues, Rodrigo had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a bewildered officer and a trail of uncertainty.