Keith stood up, feeling the remnants of exhaustion from his busy routine, but his focus was sharp. His phone buzzed. It was Ronnie: "Yo, ready for tonight? We're heading to Saia's."
A party at Saia's sounded like just the break he needed. He hadn't been to one in ages. The adrenaline of past events had left him restless, but tonight felt different. Maybe because Saia would be there.
Keith stood up and walked toward the bathroom. His usual oversized white shirt and joggers didn't feel right.
He needed something sharper, something that reflected the night ahead. He grabbed a checked flannel, paired it with beige cargos, and slipped on his Jordans. A quick glance at the gold watch and earrings on the counter, and he was set.
The outfit fit him well, and with his tall frame, he looked pretty damn good.
Ronnie walked in just as Keith finished adjusting his shirt. His eyes widened. "Damn, man. You look good tonight."
Keith smirked as he fixed his collar. "Appreciate it."
Ronnie chuckled. "Man, seeing you in that oversized white shirt all the time was getting old. You should definitely switch it up more. Hmmm, maybe I should start working out too. I want a six-pack like yours."
Keith raised an eyebrow, glancing at Ronnie with a half-smile. "Good luck with that."
Ronnie laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, right. Not happening."
Keith's lips curled up at that, but he didn't respond. They had more important things to do than talk about workouts.
As they headed outside, Keith spotted the Ducati Panigale V4 parked by the curb. Ronnie's parents were quite rich, so they had gotten it for him on his birthday.
Keith couldn't help but admire the sleek lines and polished frame. "Damn, that bike's a beauty," he commented.
Ronnie grinned. "Takes more than just looks to handle it."
Keith shot him a look as they hopped on. "By the way, will Harper's friends be there?"
Ronnie snickered. "Leah and Jenna? Yeah, I think so."
Keith scoffed. "No, the guys, idiot."
"Yeah, they'll be there too. Don't worry about it," Ronnie muttered, clearly not thrilled at the idea of those guys showing up. "It's just... you know, the whole scene's a mess sometimes."
Keith didn't answer immediately. He was lost in thought for a moment. A girl, her friends, her boyfriend, and drinks—well, if that ain't a recipe for disaster, I don't know what is.
The last thing he needed was complications. He preferred when things were simple, when he was in control.
Suddenly, Keith's eyes went cold. 'If anyone stepped out of line tonight, they wouldn't be walking away without consequences.'
They revved the engine, the Ducati roaring to life as they sped down the road.
**********
Saia's house party was in a massive penthouse near a construction area of upscale residential societies.
"I never knew she was this rich," Keith remarked, his voice laced with mild surprise as he took in the sheer size of the place.
"Oh, you didn't know? Her dad's a millionaire. And since Saia's the only child, it all checks out. Dating a millionaire's daughter—smooth move, Mr. Kumar," Ronnie teased with a knowing grin.
"I'm not dating her."
"Not yet. Who knows about the future?"
As they stepped through the entrance, a wave of booze and smoke hit Keith like a wall. His nose wrinkled. 'Ugh. Great start.'
"Oh my gosh, Ronnie! You're here! You're, like, so late," a cherry blonde with sharp brown eyes and a bubbly tone called out, sashaying toward them.
"Yeah, traffic was brutal," Ronnie replied, leaning in for a light kiss, which she returned with enthusiasm.
"And who's this?" Her gaze shifted to Keith, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
Ronnie smirked. "Surprised? Keith doesn't usually show up in normal clothes, huh?"
"What? That's Keith?" Harper blinked, visibly thrown.
"Hi, Harper. You look good." Keith managed a tight smile, offering a polite hug.
"Oh my God, Keith, you should totally dress like this more often. You clean up so well!" Harper giggled.
"I'll consider it."
"Alright, you two have fun. Come on, babe." Harper tugged at Ronnie's arm, leading him away.
Keith bumped fists with Ronnie as he passed. "Drink responsibly. Call me if anything goes south."
Ronnie waved him off. "Relax, man. You're too tense. Have fun for once."
'Fun, huh? Sure.' Keith sighed, scanning the 3-story penthouse. The place was packed with liquor bottles, smoke clouds, and couples oblivious to the world.
At the edge of his vision, three guys were glaring at Ronnie. When their eyes landed on Keith, their attempt to intimidate him fizzled under his cold stare. They quickly looked away and scattered.
'Those must be the three idiots. Better keep an eye on them.'
"Keith, I thought you weren't coming."
He turned to find Saia standing there. The sight of her made him pause.
She wore a sleek black and red one-piece, paired with circular earrings and a ruby choker that gleamed under the dim light. She looked effortlessly stunning.
"Hi, Saia. 'Stunning' feels like the right word here," Keith said, pulling her in for a brief hug.
Saia smiled, her cheeks tinged pink, as she handed him a tequila cup. "Thanks. You look good too. You should dress like this more often—it suits you."
"You're the third one to say that. Guess I'm starting a trend," Keith said, raising a hand and shaking his head. "No, I'll pass. I don't drink anymore."
Saia blinked, her lips parting slightly. "Oh," she said, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.
"Hey, do you want to go outside? It's way too crowded for my liking," Keith suggested, his voice barely audible over the loud chatter.
Saia glanced at him, then nodded. "Yeah, it's getting a bit much in here."
They wandered outside to the pool area, the muffled thump of party music fading into the background. Keith's eyes flicked over the luxurious pool. 'A pool, too? Figures.'
"So, how's college treating you?" Saia asked, her voice calm and clear.
"Bit boring, honestly. Analytics class is the only thing that keeps me awake."
"Yeah, you do look bored most of the time. Except during sports or analytics—then you seem alive."
Keith raised a brow. "So, you've been watching me, huh? Not bad, being noticed by someone like you." He gently ruffled her hair, noting how perfect it felt under his fingers.
Saia, who could barely reach his arm, swatted his hand with a pout. "No, it's not like that! Wait... did you just make fun of my height?"
"Maybe." Keith's lips twitched as he looked away.
They both laughed, the moment breaking into a comfortable silence as a light breeze passed by. Standing by the pool, away from the noise and chaos, Keith felt a rare sense of peace.
The feeling didn't last. He caught Saia gazing at him, her eyes soft, yet intense.
Keith's thoughts raced. 'Older women, supremacy aside… Saia's smart, cute, funny. Maybe…'
"Fuck it. Go with the flow," he murmured to himself.
Tilting closer, he caught her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. Saia leaned into him, her blush deepening.
Moments later, Keith scooped her into his arms, his voice dropping. "Let's take this inside, shall we?"
Saia nodded, her breath hitching.
Just as they turned toward the penthouse, a sharp crash echoed through the air, followed by slurred shouting.
Keith froze. The spell shattered. He gently set Saia back on her feet and rushed inside.
The living area was a mess. A crowd had formed around Ronnie, who stood with a split lip and bruised arm. At his feet lay a shattered vodka bottle.
Across from him were the three idiots Keith had clocked earlier, Ethan at the center, his stance aggressive. Harper stood between them, trying to calm things down.
"You've got to be kidding me," Keith muttered, his jaw tightening.
Harper's voice cut through the noise. "What the fuck are you doing, Ethan?"
Keith stepped forward, his eyes cold and sharp. "Ethan," he growled, "you just ruined my Friday."
"Shut up, slut. All that fawning over you, and look where it got me. As for what I'm doing, isn't it obvious? I'm teaching this dickhead a lesson." Ethan's voice was slurred, clearly drunk.
As Ethan stepped toward Ronnie, someone grabbed his shoulder. He spun around, shouting, "Who the fuck i—" but the rest of the sentence was cut off as Keith landed a punch squarely on his face.
"Arrgghhhh, fuck," Ethan groaned. The sound of his nose breaking echoed, followed by gasps from around the room.
Before Ethan could react, Keith dropped to one knee and grabbed his leg, tripping him flat on his face. Ethan's arms flailed briefly before he struggled to regain his bearings.
Ethan's friend lunged, throwing a wild punch. Keith dodged, stepping in close and driving a knee into his gut, winding him. The guy staggered back, gasping for air, and before he could react, Keith twisted him to the ground.
The third guy hesitated, eyes wide with uncertainty, then charged. Keith sidestepped, his Jordan connecting hard with the man's groin. The man crumpled, his face contorted in agony, veins popping as he whimpered.
The room fell silent, the only sounds being the groans of the incapacitated men and the faint murmurs of onlookers.
Keith stood tall, surveying the scene, his breath steady.
Looking around, he noticed the crowd—most were either cheering or filming the fight. A few girls were giving him flirtatious looks. 'Filthy. I'm done with this shit.'
He had made his point and wasn't interested in lingering any longer.
He walked over to Ronnie. "Looks like you got your ass handed to you, huh?"
"No, just a light shove from a drunk asshole. Thanks. You really saved me there."
"Yes, thank you, Keith. I didn't know Ethan would go this far," commented Harper.
"Real classy friends you've got, Harper," jibed Keith.
"Hey, it's not Harper's fault. No one knew Ethan was gonna pull something like that," said Jenna, one of Harper's friends.
"Shut up, bitch. Was I talking to you?" Keith growled, his annoyance rising. Jenna had been one of the girls trying to flirt with him, making his mood worse.
Keith's words hit their mark, and Jenna bristled, but he couldn't care less. "Come on, Ronnie. Party's over. You're going back."
"I'm good, I can stay," Ronnie protested.
Keith locked eyes with him, his cold grey gaze making Ronnie flinch. "You're going back."
Ronnie nodded quickly, a shiver running down his spine. "Okay. Yeah, you're right."
**********
"Call me when you get home," Keith said, turning to the cab driver. "Make sure he gets back safe."
The driver, a kind middle-aged man, gave him a thumbs-up and a smile.
"Hey, Keith, be careful, okay? Something about tonight feels off," Ronnie called, sticking his head out of the window.
"Fucking red flag, lad. Don't worry, I'm strong," Keith replied with a grin. "And yeah, I'll bring your bike back."
As the cab pulled away, Keith felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find Harper standing there.
"Hey, Keith, I didn't know Ethan would do something like that. I really like Ronnie, and I hope this doesn't mess up our friendship. He listens to you, so I hope you don't mind," she said, her tone apologetic.
Keith raised an eyebrow. 'She isn't mad that I sent him back? Interesting.'
He smiled. "Don't worry, Harper. I misjudged you too. And tell Jenna I'm sorry. I shouldn't have called her a bitch. Well, it's not like she isn't one, but I shouldn't have said it out loud."
Harper laughed. "You really do speak your mind, huh?"
"It's not like I've done anything wrong. No need to sugarcoat it." Keith grinned, then added to himself, 'Well, sometimes it might be necessary.'
"Keith? You listening?"
"Uh, yeah. Can you repeat that?"
"I'm heading back inside. We're cool, right?"
"Yeah, sure. Call me if that bastard tries anything again."
"Oh, and by the way, Ethan said he'll get you back. Watch out for him, okay?"
"True that," Keith muttered under his breath. 'A man's ego is more fragile than glass. And now, this is all on camera too. He'll be pissed.'
As Harper walked back inside, Keith felt a rumble in his stomach. 'Maybe I should get something to eat...'
Just then, Saia approached.
"Want to take a walk? Clear your mind a bit. I saw you deep in thought. Anything on your mind?"
Keith chuckled. "You're observant. Good quality to have. Helps in a lot of things. As for me thinking, I was just thinking about my father. I miss him. Gonna give him a call tomorrow."
"My dad's always too busy. I barely see him, even though we live under the same roof," Saia said with a sad smile.
Keith walked beside her, his hands in his pockets. "So, what's the deal with you and all these parties? You always seem to be the center of attention."
Saia let out a soft laugh, but there was a sharpness in her eyes. "It's not about being the center of attention. It's just easier than facing what's really going on."
Keith glanced at her, sensing there was more to the story. "What's really going on?"
She hesitated, her gaze flickering away before returning to him. "You wouldn't get it. It's a mess. Sometimes it's just easier to drown things out with noise and distraction. Makes it all feel less... heavy."
Keith nodded, his tone softer now. "I get it. Sometimes distractions are the only way to keep your head above water."
Saia looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Yeah, well, we all deal with it differently, don't we?"
"Guess so," Keith replied, his voice quieter. "But it's all just temporary, right? The noise, the distractions… they don't fix anything."
As they walked, Saia glanced at him, the weight of their conversation lingering. "Maybe. But they sure help us forget for a while."
Keith nodded, but his attention snapped to an SUV speeding toward them from the corner of his eye. It was barreling toward them with reckless speed, tires screeching as it swerved through the parking lot.
"Saia!" Keith shouted, reflexes kicking in. Without thinking, he shoved her out of the way with all his strength.
The SUV slammed into his side, sending him crashing violently into a nearby construction site. His body flew through the air, hitting the ground hard with a sickening thud.
His head spun, pain exploded in his ribs, and he crumpled against jagged debris. Everything blurred, the screeching SUV fading into the distance.
"That's for hitting me, cunt! Hope you remember this in the hospital!" Ethan shouted as his SUV peeled away.
Saia, still catching her breath, took a few seconds to process before realizing what had just happened. Her face went pale, and she screamed, "KEITHHHHH!"
She rushed to where Keith lay in a heap. When she saw the blood pooling beneath him and the twisted angle of his leg, she nearly fainted.
A sharp metal rod was impaled deep through his side, likely puncturing his liver. The jagged end of the rod protruded at an unnatural angle, blood pouring from the wound.
She stumbled back, nearly overcome by the sight.
"Keith, no... no, no, no!" she screamed, trembling as she reached for him, trying to keep him conscious.
"Keith, Keith, wake up! Please, don't die! Oh no, no, no!" Saia cried, shaking his limp body, her voice breaking with panic.
"Calm down, Saia. I'm not dead, just in a lot of pain. Call 911 and give me some water if you have it. Lift me up gently, and don't pull the rod out. It's keeping me from bleeding out," Keith managed to croak.
Saia nodded quickly, lifting his head to give him some water. He drained the bottle. She dialed 911 as fast as she could.
When she returned, she told him the ambulance would take about 20 minutes. "Fucking Ethan , he's dead," she muttered, fury in her voice.
Keith tried to chuckle but winced. "After telling everyone to be careful... guess I messed up."
"Sshhhh, don't talk. You'll make it worse," Saia scolded, exasperated. "How can you laugh right now?"
Keith shook his head slightly. "It's not that painful. Adrenaline's still working. I just hope I'm unconscious when it wears off."
"You pushed me. Why?"
"Instinct. Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault."
With each passing second, the pain grew sharper, and Keith could feel himself slipping. He fought to stay awake, but his body was betraying him.
"Keith, please stay awake. Don't fall asleep, okay? It'll be really bad if you do," Saia pleaded, panic creeping into her voice.
Keith's last thought before the darkness fully claimed him was, 'Shit, Dad's gonna be pissed. I'll miss him.'