Asher's POV
I'm facing Damian now in the old gym that the university no longer uses. This is where his gang's base is.
"I've brought the compensation you asked for. In exchange, leave Aria alone." I said.
He took a drag from the cigarette he was holding and then threw it away.
"Just leave." he said. I frowned at his response.
"I've changed my mind. I don't need your money anymore; I want a game." he said with a smirk. I clenched my fist and glared at him.
"What are you talking about? Didn't you ask for money?" I said angrily.
"Do I need to repeat myself? I don't want your money anymore!" he shouted at me.
I immediately approached him and grabbed him by the collar. His henchmen quickly dragged me away from him. I tried to fight back, but there were too many of them, so I chose to calm down for now.
"Aria, she's beautiful. With a little more grooming, she could be added to my collection." he said, which boiled my blood.
I couldn't stop myself; I wanted to crush him with my fists. I kicked the person holding my arm, causing him to let go. I then punched another person holding me in the stomach. I punched and kicked everyone who blocked me.
Until I was close enough to Damian, who was calmly sitting in a chair as if he were enjoying watching me beat up his henchmen. When I finally got close to him, I punched him hard in the face. The force of the punch made him fall from his chair onto the floor.
"You animal, Damian!" I yelled at him after punching him. Blood trickled from the side of his mouth, but he just laughed. His other men seemed ready to come at me, but he signaled them to stop.
"Stop it; just let him be." Damian said. He wiped the blood from the side of his mouth, stood up from the floor, and looked at me with a defiant glare.
"You know, your friend Cairo is just as arrogant as you. Now that he's involved, I don't need your money anymore. I just want to play with you guys, hahaha." he said, laughing.
"If anything happens to Aria, you'd better be ready. I warn you!" I threatened him and walked out of the old gym.
It was pointless to argue with him further. What is he saying about Cairo being involved? Is Cairo facing Damian because of Aria?
I'm mad at Cairo after finding out that he ordered those two guys to ruin Aria's uniform with a cutter. He's really gone too far, I can't tolerate his behavior anymore.
So earlier, I confronted him in the room exclusive to the four of us. I didn't join the others at Hannah's bar because I was so angry with him. I just went home, and there's something I need to take care of.
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Aria's POV
Several days have passed since the incident when Kai entered Spring Hill University. Not a day goes by without him pestering me to transfer schools, but I haven't done it. I will endure all the difficulties because once I graduate, better job opportunities await me if I graduate from Spring Hill University.
Since that day, Cairo has also been quiet. He no longer bothers or harasses me, which I'm glad about. It feels like I should celebrate; I feel like my peaceful days at this university are finally beginning. I'm angry with him and hope he never approaches me again.
"Ms. Gozon, you haven't joined any clubs here at school. You're still a scholar. You need to be active and participative; you should register for some clubs now. Surely, you have interests or talents." said our adviser, Ms. Pam. It was our lunch break, and she kept me behind to talk.
"Okay, ma'am, I'll think about which club to join." I replied.
"Join a club today. I want you to be a member by tomorrow. You should have an answer for me about which club you joined when I ask you tomorrow." she said.
"Okay, I'll join a club... I'll use my break time to register." I said.
"Good, I'm glad we understand each other." she said, and then she left.
I started walking toward the club building. All the rooms for different clubs are there, as well as the registration area. As I walked, I thought about which club I might join.
I also thought about my interests and talents... hmm, besides my love for music, I used to like painting. What if I join the art club? But I'm not confident.
It's been a long time since I last painted, and I might not pass if I register for the art club. As I walked toward the club building, I passed by the music room. I peeked through the window. It's called the music room, but there's never anyone here.
Don't the members of the music club practice? Then I remembered the day Asher played "Close to You" by Thirteen Stars. His voice is also beautiful, and he plays the guitar well. I admire Asher, I think he's already a perfect guy. The girl who becomes his girlfriend will be lucky.
I don't know why, but I felt a pang of sadness thinking about it. What if he already has a girlfriend? I think he wouldn't notice me anymore. I shook my head, trying to get rid of these thoughts.
"Aria, calm down, what's wrong?... Control yourself." I said, lightly slapping my cheeks as I continued to look through the window of the music room.
"Aria, what are you doing here?" I heard a familiar voice from behind me, and when I turned around, it was indeed Asher.
I couldn't understand myself when I saw him; my heart suddenly started to race, so I held my chest. What am I feeling? I tried to compose myself.
"Ah, I-I was just passing by. I noticed that there always seem to be no one here in the music club, so I just peeked inside." I stammered.
"Oh, I see. Hmmm... we haven't been practicing much lately since there aren't any upcoming events at school. Maybe next month, we'll be busy again." Asher replied, and I just nodded.
"But you seem to come here quite often." I said.
"I'm just practicing a song." he answered briefly.
"You composed a song?" I asked.
"Hmmm, yes." he replied.
"Oh, why?" I asked curiously. I don't know why I was so eager to know. He smiled before answering.
"For someone close to my heart." he said.
Someone close to his heart? Maybe it's for someone he likes... does he have someone he likes? I didn't know, but I felt that familiar pang of sadness again. It's something I know I shouldn't be feeling. He was just looking at me.
"Do you want to hear it? Although I haven't finished it yet... I've only written up to the chorus and added a melody on the guitar." he added.
"That's fine, I'd like to hear it." I said.
Then we went into the music club. He took two chairs.
"Sit here for now. I'll just get the guitar." he said, and I sat down in one of the chairs. After he got the guitar, he sat down next to me.