Pride-Niklaus's Point of View
♕︎ ♕︎ ♕︎
"Ain't no one as hot as me in Sky-Eden Academy. I'm the real deal." The words slipped out of my mouth easily, almost like second nature. Confidence wasn't something I had to force—it just radiated from me. And why wouldn't it? I knew the truth. After all, who could compare? Who could even come close? I mean, look at me. As far as I was concerned, it wasn't arrogance; it was just a statement of fact, plain and simple. I reveled in it, basked in the perfection that was me, until Dom's voice sliced through the air like a knife, pulling me back into the present moment.
"You posted," he remarked, eyes still glued to his phone. The glow from the screen reflected off his face, lighting up his features in an almost ethereal way. His voice wasn't just casual—it had a layer of curiosity, almost as if he was trying to figure something out. "You only post once a week," he added, his words carrying a hint of judgment.
I couldn't help but let a smirk play at the corner of my lips. "Of course I posted. It's the first day back. That's worthy of a picture, don't you think?" My posture straightened, and I let my confidence fill the space between us. I could practically feel the cockiness dripping off me. But Dom wasn't buying it—not for a second. His eyes narrowed in suspicion, and I could practically see the wheels turning in his mind. The mischievous glint in his eyes wasn't one I hadn't seen before, and I knew immediately that he was up to something.
"Funny," he said, his voice now laced with that teasing tone I knew all too well. "You and she posted at the same freaking second."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. A jolt of something—not quite panic, but close—ran through me. Scarlet posted? I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Scarlet posted?" The question left my lips before I could stop it, and I immediately regretted it. She never posted. Not on her account. Not in the way normal people did. She wasn't one for public displays. She liked to keep things close to the chest, enigmatic. The whole idea seemed almost impossible.
Dom raised an eyebrow at me, his smirk stretching wider as if he had me right where he wanted me. "Yeah? How do you know that?" he taunted. His voice was light, almost playful, but there was an edge to it. Like he knew something I didn't.
Kai, ever the instigator, leaned in with his own brand of mischief. "Exactly, how do you know that?" His voice held an almost sarcastic tone, and I could tell he was enjoying this. The two of them were ganging up on me now, and I wasn't sure whether I wanted to play along or just shove them both out of my way.
Ignoring the pair of them, I pulled my phone out of my pocket, my fingers moving with automatic precision. Curiosity gnawed at me. I scrolled through my feed, tapping on Pangea to go directly to her account. The suspense almost killed me, but I kept my cool as I clicked on her profile, waiting for the page to load. And then I froze.
Right there, in front of my eyes, was her post. It stopped me dead in my tracks. My mind scrambled to process what I was seeing, but there it was—her latest update, sitting in stark contrast to the rest of her posts, which were typically mundane, unremarkable. But this one... this one was different. This was a different Scarlet. A different side of her that I hadn't seen before. She was standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror, her reflection magnified.
The space behind her was completely foreign to me. The floor was made of sleek black-and-white quartz, and gold accents ran through the room, giving everything a luxurious sheen. The lighting was perfect—soft, flattering, creating this almost ethereal glow that made her skin look flawless. There was no filter, no playful, goofy pose—just her. Raw. Real. Perfectly poised. The kind of post you could tell had been meticulously thought out and curated, not something thrown together on a whim. It had power.
I found myself staring at it, almost entranced. She was wearing high-waisted black leather pants that hugged her toned legs, showcasing every curve. Her bow-shaped thighs were perfectly on display, and her waist was impossibly tiny, only accentuated by the pants' fit. The way the material clung to her hips made them appear even wider. The rest of the outfit followed suit—tight, long-sleeved black shirt that fit her body like a glove, showing off every line of muscle. Her broad shoulders were on full display, her sharp collarbones visible under the fabric.
And then there was the golden crescent moon tattoo on her left shoulder blade, shining softly in the light. It was so subtle, almost hidden, yet it held a quiet kind of mystery. The gold jewelry she wore added a touch of opulence to the look—necklaces layered around her neck, rings on her fingers, and earrings that glinted like little stars. A gold chain hung from the waistband of her pants, catching the light, adding another layer of richness to her outfit. Even her high-heeled boots had gold details and laces, making them look like something out of a high-fashion magazine.
I moved my gaze upward, following the cascade of crimson-red hair that flowed down her back, the curls tumbling around her hips like a fiery waterfall. Her nails were painted a sharp, glossy red, matching her hair and adding an edge to her appearance. And then, her face. Her lips, full and round, were curved into a small, almost mocking smirk. She wasn't smiling—just teasing. Provoking. As if she knew exactly the effect she was having.
And those eyes. Her golden eyes locked onto the camera with an intensity that almost stopped my heart. It was the same look she gave me when she was feeling bold—dangerous. She was practically daring anyone to challenge her.
Her makeup was flawless. Gold eyeshadow adorned her lids, perfectly blended to make her eyes stand out even more. Her long lashes were accentuated with mascara, giving her an almost hypnotic quality. Her high cheekbones were highlighted with a golden shimmer, and the double eyeliner she always wore only added to the striking effect. Everything about this post screamed confidence. It was like she was saying, I know who I am, and I don't give a flying fuck if you like it or not.
But what struck me wasn't just the image. It was the lyrics. The song choice was just as bold and unapologetic as her outfit, her presence, her entire persona. The lyrics from Boytoy by Halle Abadi blared across the screen, daring anyone who was watching to come at her. The words cut through the air like a declaration of independence, of power, of dominance.
※※※
Don't want a sad boy, cryin' every night.
Don't want a bad boy, he just wanna fight.
Don't want a mama's boy, who's lookin' for a housewife.
Don't want a pretty boy, who's ugly on the inside.
Don't want a tough boy, cuz his love is weak.
Don't want a fuck boy, he's just gonna cheat.
Don't want a lover boy, who's talkin' 'bout forever,
When we haven't even spent a night together.
I don't want a playboy, just wanna play with my boytoy.
He's so lucky, he's my boytoy.
Yeah, I know he love me.
If I break his heart, I'll buy another to enjoy.
All the girls are sayin' nothin's better than a boytoy.
If he's a rude boy, Imma shut him down.
If he's a frat boy, I'll get him kicked out.
If he's a bitch boy, then I gotta be a bitch, boy.
※※※
Isn't she a wonder? Asking for a boytoy, daring anyone to challenge her. And they say guys are the worst? Please. Scarlet had her own brand of dangerous allure. She didn't need to play by anyone's rules. The lyrics reflected exactly who she was—bold, unapologetic, and in full control of her life. She wasn't asking for love, she was commanding it, demanding attention and devotion without ever breaking a sweat.
I shook my head, unable to suppress the smile that tugged at my lips. Damn. She was something else. So unpredictable. So fiercely independent. It was something I couldn't help but admire, even if I'd never admit it aloud.
"Isn't she something?" Dom's voice broke through my thoughts, and I realized he hadn't been waiting for an answer. He was just observing, enjoying the fact that he'd gotten a rise out of me. He was practically grinning from ear to ear, like he knew something I didn't.
I glanced at the post one last time, my gaze lingering for a second longer than I intended. Then, with a subtle exhale, I turned back to Dom and Kai. "Yeah," I muttered, my voice low. "She's... something."
That damn girl. She never ceased to surprise me.