Asher's P.O.V
We're currently in the infirmary because Cairo's overreacting. He got a bruise on his cheek from the punch that girl threw. And now he says he wants to rest. He's still angry, unable to accept that someone dared to stand up to him and wasn't afraid of him.
We've started an investigation and background check on her. Her name is Aria Avery Gozon from a lower-class family. She's a scholarship student here. I didn't expect to see her here, though. I first met her when I saved her from losing control of her bike.
And all I can say is she's really different, someone who would stand up to and challenge a Cairo Hayes. Well, I can already tell she's going to have a rough time in the coming days.
Cairo gets angry frequently. There's not a day he isn't upset or angry. But now, I've never seen him this furious before. I think he'll do anything to make Aria's life miserable.
His two friends are still laughing by his bedside.
"Dude, she called you a monkey." Sade said, unable to stop laughing, and Denzel joined in.
"Dude, it's like she took you down." Denzel added, still laughing. Cairo's nostrils are still flaring with anger.
"Hey, Asher, give me that... What's her name again?" Denzel asked, grabbing the folder from me containing information about Aria.
"Hmm, Aria Avery Gozon... Her name is as unique as her personality." Denzel said, chuckling again.
"Hey, can you two stop laughing?" Cairo snapped.
"She can't do this to me! She'll pay for this." Cairo said, still irritated.
"Actually, she's the girl I mentioned last week—the one I saved when her bike brakes failed." I said.
I had shared that incident with them before.
"And I never thought I'd see her here. And worse, she's the one who's going to challenge Cairo." I added.
"What are you talking about? Challenge? I'm telling you, this is just the beginning. I'll make her beg for her life." Cairo said angrily.
"Tsk, you just can't accept that she called you a monkey." Sade said with a laugh.
"Of course not. Never in my entire life! With my looks? Who does she think she is calling me a monkey? That damn cockroach!" Cairo shouted.
"Cockroach?" we asked in unison, including Denzel and Sade.
"Yes, a cockroach. She's irritating, a low-class like a cockroach." Cairo said, and we laughed again.
"So what's your next step, dude?" Denzel asked seriously.
"Just watch." Cairo replied. He seemed to have a plan. Even we, his friends, struggle to stop him. Whatever he wants to do, he'll do it, and we can't do anything about it. Poor Aria.
"I'm heading out." I said to the three.
"Where are you going?" Cairo asked.
"To the music room." I replied briefly. The three nodded.
I needed to go to the music room to practice a song for someone.
As I was walking, I passed by the old building. It's on the way to the music room. Suddenly, I heard a commotion by the trash can and went to check it out. I found Aria lying on the ground, half her body inside the overturned trash can. I couldn't help but laugh at her current state.
"Ah... Hi?" she greeted awkwardly.
I quickly went over and helped her up.
"What are you doing in the trash can?" I asked.
"Earlier, I was chased by angry students who are Cairo's fans. I had nowhere else to hide." Aria explained, brushing off the trash from her uniform.
"You know, to end this, just apologize to Cairo. So you won't have to endure this anymore." I suggested.
Cairo's anger is something else.
"But I didn't do anything wrong. Besides, you're his friend, right? So you're siding with him. You're one of the four princes." she said, bowing slightly.
She then opened her bag and took out the jacket I lent her, handing it to me.
"Thank you, here's your jacket." she said. I took it.
I sighed before speaking.
"Yes, Cairo is my friend. Even though I don't agree with what he's doing, he won't be stopped by us. He'll do whatever he wants." I explained.
"Is that how it is? Even if he's in the wrong? Even if he's wronged many people, we should be the ones apologizing to him?" Aria said angrily.
"It's not about that. I'm just thinking about your situation if you keep fighting him. I'm just warning you, Aria." I said. She didn't reply. I hope she considers what I said.
"Just one apology, Aria. You have to swallow your pride. I know you want to study peacefully, and that's the only thing you need to do to end this." I added.
"I'll think about it." she said.
She was about to walk away when I grabbed her wrist, making her stop and look at me in surprise.
"For now, just stay with me. Many students are angry with you. If they see you here, they might do something to you." I said.
"Come with me." I said, and she followed.
We went to the music room. There was no one there, so she was safe from the angry students.
"Fine, I'll apologize to him. I've realized you're right... I didn't come here to fight." Aria said, sitting on the stage.
"Good, don't worry. I'll convince Cairo to stop after you apologize to him, and everything will be okay." I said, picking up a guitar.
I sat down near Aria, tuned the guitar, and started strumming and singing. Aria watched me.
"Hey! That's my favorite song. 'Close to You' by Thirteen Stars." she said.
I stopped, surprised that she knew the song.
"Really? It's my favorite too, along with the band Thirteen Stars." I replied.
"Wow, why are we the same? Do you know how to play their song 'Melancholy'?" she asked.
"Of course, I know how to play all their songs." I said.
"Quickly, play it for me." she said excitedly.
"Sure." I replied, and I played 'Melancholy' by Thirteen Stars. She sang along with me and clapped after I finished.
"Wow, you're amazing. I wish I could play the guitar too." she said.
"Do you want to learn?" I asked.
But before Aria could answer, Cairo, Sade, and Denzel burst in through the door.
When Cairo saw Aria, his expression darkened again.
"What's that cockroach doing here?!" he shouted.
"Cockroach?" Aria asked in surprise.
"Yes, you're a cockroach! You're irritating!" Cairo said angrily.
"This damn monkey!" Aria retorted.
"Cockroach!"
"You monkey!"
"What did you say? Take that back!"
"No, you're a monkey!"
I just scratched my head. Earlier, Aria said she would apologize, but now things are different.
"Dude, enough already." Sade and Denzel said, laughing.
"No, I'm not stopping. Did you hear that? She called me a monkey again. Damn cockroach!" Cairo shouted angrily. We couldn't help but laugh at him. He just can't accept it.
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Aria's P.O.V
I collapsed onto my bed at home, still annoyed by what happened. That Cairo is so irritating. Calling me a cockroach in the music room earlier. I've changed my mind. I'll never going to apologize to him, no matter what. He's so arrogant, it's infuriating. I'll fight him; I have nothing to fear from him.
The next day, when I arrived at the university, I prepared myself for the trouble Cairo would cause. I headed straight to my locker to get my P.E. uniform since we had P.E. class. When I opened my locker, I was shocked to find it filled with cockroaches, some of which flew towards me.
I couldn't think of anyone else who would do this to me.
"CAIROOOOOO!!!! YOU'RE SO ANNOYING!!!" I screamed as the cockroaches flew towards me.
The students around were horrified by the cockroaches, running away and screaming.
"Tss, you think you can make me surrender like this? You're wrong!" I said angrily, as the cockroaches swarmed around me.
I immediately took off my shoes and used them to swat at the cockroaches flying around.
"Okay, let's go! You cockroaches, prepare yourselves!" I shouted, swatting at the cockroaches one by one.
"Yahhhhhh!" I screamed as I hit a cockroach with my shoe, crushing it. I made sure to hit each cockroach thoroughly.
I didn't realize how many students were watching me, including the four princes, who watched me eliminate the cockroaches one by one.
Only one cockroach was left. I angrily smashed it with my shoe. All the cockroaches were gone. I then walked up to Cairo, who was standing by the lockers.
"Is that all you can do? Tsk... Maybe if I sent a monkey to your locker, you'd faint from fear!" I snapped at him, dropping my shoe on the floor and putting it back on.
"Wow, she's really something, dude. Just give up already." Denzel said.
"I told you she's different." Asher said with a smirk.
Cairo clenched his fists, extremely angry at what I said. The crowd around us was buzzing with whispers, but I ignored them. I went back to my locker to get my P.E. uniform. I was running late for my P.E. class, so I left, letting them continue to cause a commotion. That annoying Cairo.