Spade's POV
My men were ready to douse the two fools in front of me with gasoline in a split second when a blade suddenly flew across my face, swiftly heading straight toward the gasoline gallon, causing it to puncture.
I turned toward the direction where the blade had come from, and without even blinking, I felt the sharp edge of another blade press against my neck.
"Enjoying this?"
Even though I couldn't see her yet, I knew exactly who it was. Slowly, I turned to face her. She looked the same. Long black hair, a black hat, a blouse that appeared as if it hadn't been ironed. The only difference now was the irritated expression on her face.
Why was she glaring at me as if inviting me to make things worse, to mess her up even further?
But I had to admit, this girl really impressed me. I didn't expect to see her again this morning. Worse still, here she was, a blade now pressed against my throat.
I stepped closer to her, but to my surprise, she suddenly grabbed my collar and yanked me toward her, catching me completely off guard.
"If you think you have all the students here under your control, you're wrong," she said, staring directly into my eyes with an intensity I couldn't ignore.
I smirked at her words. "All the students here belong to me. Including you," I grinned, testing the strength of my hold on my own confidence.
Her narrowed eyes grew even sharper at my statement. Common. Don't be that cute, it's annoying.
I was about to remove her hands from my collar when, out of nowhere, a punch landed squarely on my face. In an instant, I was flat on the ground, the force of her blow so powerful it felt like my jaw had dislocated. Before I could even attempt to recover, she was already stepping toward me again.
"None of them, and especially not me, are yours to own. Embed that in your brain!"
Her words made my ears burn. I stood up and grabbed her, pulling her close until there was barely any space between us. I smirked, challenging her. Let's see if she could still talk.
"What now?" I asked. "Intimidated?"
Instead of getting angry, she smiled. To my surprise, she yanked me even closer.
"Arg, fuck!" I could almost feel her breath against my chin.
"What now?" she repeated my words, her tone calm but laced with something darker as the space between us became nearly nonexistent.
Woah, this girl is something else, I almost said out loud.
Without warning, she pushed me away, walking toward her two friends and untied them.
I was about to grab her arm to stop her when suddenly – BOGSH!
My vision blurred for a moment as she tossed me aside with surprising strength.
Damn this girl! I'm almost 6 foot 3, and yet she flipped me over so easily.
I slowly got to my feet, rubbing my hips in an attempt to relieve the pain as I watched the three of them walk away.
"The three of you, stop!" I shouted. They paused and looked back at me. "The three of you! You're out!"
"What?" one of them asked.
"You are no longer part—"
"Spade. You can't do that."
We all turned toward the person who spoke. It was Louren.
"And why not?" I asked him, my voice low and serious.
"She is the new member of Class A."
I stared at him, disbelief creeping into my expression. "What? What did you just say? She's... a member of Class A?" I asked, unable to hide my astonishment.
"Yeah, I just received her admission form from admin."
What does that mean? Is she an heiress too? But from which family? I've never heard her name before!
"And what makes you think that fact will stop me?" I asked, my voice edged with irritation.
"You know you can't insist on that, especially when it comes to Class A member," Louren replied seriously.
His words made sense, but I couldn't ignore the fact that she was a member of Class A. Still, I wasn't about to let her slip away.
"Let's make a deal," I said, running out of options.
"Deal?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, and since you're on their side, I'll let you be their companion. If you all win, they can stay. But if we win, don't even think about showing your faces here again," I said, addressing all four of them.
"Including you, Louren."
"Call," he answered with a smile, one that only made my blood boil.
Tss. If it were just him, the chances of him winning would be higher, but with those trashy two, it's impossible.
"What do you say?" I asked, turning my attention back to the Amazonian girl.
"Such a childish. So, what are we going to do?" she asked, clearly unimpressed but intrigued.
"Car racing."
*******
BBO Headquarters
Xyrine's POV
"Look who's back. The assassin turned university student – XJ Mt—"
"I need a car," I interrupted Jacob's teasing words before he could go any further.
He stared at me for a moment, his lips curling into a mischievous grin. "You know, there's nothing I can't provide for you, my princess," he said with a wink, his voice dripping with playful charm.
I shot him a pointed glare in response. "Really? Funny, because it feels like just the other day you nearly let me die."
He burst out laughing. "Haha! Well, an order is an order. Besides, a handsome young man saved you, my dear princess." He winked again. So annoying.
I turned away from him, trying to ignore his irritating banter. "Anyways, I need a car. A racing car."
Jacob's grin faltered for a second, and he raised an eyebrow. "Right, I forgot. You're a university student now, and it looks like you're enjoying every moment of it."
I let out a sarcastic laugh, the bitterness seeping into my voice. "Fool. Do you have any idea that I'm practically walking on the edge of a grave every single day because of this damn university? And if I don't win this race, it's not just me—other students will get caught up in it too!"
He flinched slightly at my intensity. "Woah, where's that menacing aura coming from?" He stared at me with eyes wide. "Alright, alright, since it looks like you're serious about this, I'll help you out." He winked again, but there was a slight unease in his smile.
"...And I need a racing track to practice on," I added, my voice unwavering.
He stared at me for a long moment before bursting into laughter. "What? Practice? For that? You? So those kids really got on your nerves, huh?"
"And they will pay for it," I said firmly.
"Ohh, chill. You're getting all high-strung again." He shrugged, clearly trying to brush off my seriousness.
I ignored his comment, flicking my wrist as if dismissing the conversation. Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was only 9 a.m. The race didn't start until 8 p.m., meaning I still had plenty of time to practice.
A wicked grin slowly spread across my face as I stared into the distance. "Let's see who you're messing with, Spade, the fucking deck card."
[After 8 Hours]
The sun was starting to set, casting an orange glow over the track. My body ached from the relentless laps and tight corners I had pushed myself through, but I wasn't stopping until I had perfected every move. I checked my watch again—almost five in the evening. My eyelids felt heavier with each passing second, and exhaustion was starting to settle in my bones.
I leaned back into the headrest of the car, trying to steal a few moments of rest. But the weight of my eyelids kept pulling me into a daze. I closed my eyes for just a second, and the world around me seemed to blur into nothingness.
Montreal University
ELLA'S POV
"Yessss! For sure, we're gonna win tonight!" I said, practically bouncing with excitement as I walked alongside Tong.
He looked at me skeptically, one eyebrow raised. "And how do you know that?"
"Because when I woke up this morning, Xyrine was already gone. Can you believe that? She woke up early just to practice!"
Tong's gaze shifted, a strange glint of curiosity flickering in his eyes. "Who's with her?"
His voice suddenly sounded... different. Why did it sound so much more attractive now? Like a deep, smooth tone that sent a strange shiver down my spine. Ack! What am I saying? I refused to answer him, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.
"I'm asking you, who's with her?"
Why was he so persistent? I groaned internally but didn't respond, keeping my eyes darting around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the 4 KINGS, not wanting to deal with Tong's increasingly insistent questions.
"Hey, twerp! I'm asking you, who's with her!?"
I froze, my heart skipping a beat when he called me "twerp." "Who's the twerp? Me? Twer—Waaah!" My words were cut off when I turned around and my eyes widened in shock.
Spade. Ren. Ten. They were standing right behind me.
Wait, where's Tong? When did he leave me here?!
"Are you deaf?" Spade's voice was colder than ice as he glared at me. "I'm asking you, who's with your cousin?"
I felt a lump form in my throat as I tried to speak, but my tongue felt like it was tied. "Ah… well, when I woke up earlier, she was already gone, so I don't know either..."
"Stupid," he muttered, his voice cold and dismissive, before he turned away, walking off with Ren and Ten without a second glance.
Once they were out of sight, I immediately touched my cheek, feeling the heat rise in my face.
Shocks! Did he just talk to me? My heart was racing, and I could barely breathe as I stood there, flustered and overwhelmed by the close proximity they had been in earlier. Ack!
I took a few shaky breaths, trying to calm myself.
But then, a thought pierced my mind, snapping me back to reality.
Where is Xyrine Jean?!
Spade's POV
7:30 PM
As soon as we stepped out of the car, the overwhelming roar of students hit us like a tidal wave. The air was thick with excitement and energy, their deafening screams reverberating through the open space. I scanned the crowd, my eyes darting over the faces, searching for the girl with the infamous heavy hand—the one I knew would be trouble. But there was no sign of her.
"Looks like they're not here yet," I heard Ten mutter from beside me, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Ren snickered in response, the sound a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Don't tell me they've already backed out?"
I shook my head. "Whether they show up or not, they're bound to lose," I said, my voice steady, though I couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in my gut.
A few minutes passed, and just as I was beginning to wonder where they were, a sleek car pulled up behind us. The engine rumbled as the door swung open, and a woman stepped out.
My heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, my breath felt a little shallow, and I couldn't understand why.
Huh? What's with this sudden palpitations?
I watched her, unable to look away, until the recognition hit me like a jolt. I couldn't help but scoff. 'Tss. Palpitations, my ass.' I glanced at my wristwatch, checking the time to distract myself.
Quarter to 8... so where the hell is she?
I turned toward her, irritation beginning to build up. "Where's your idiot cousin?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
She blinked, taken aback. "H-huh?"
I sighed in frustration. What's with this twerp? Why does she always sound like she's chewing her words?
Time check: 8:40 PM.
"Dammit!" I finally muttered, the frustration bubbling up.
"Dude, chill! They're probably coming." Ren's voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. His gaze was fixed on the road, his expression playful, as if he didn't see the urgency in the situation. I turned to see what he was looking at.
The next car that pulled up made my pulse race again. My eyes narrowed on the figure who stepped out, my heart pounding even harder.
What the hell is going on with me? Did I drink too much caffeine? Damn it, I don't even drink coffee.
"Wazzup, bro!" The guy who got out of the car greeted us, his tone casual and laid-back.
Ren, always the friendly one, slapped Louren's back. "Dude! Ready for the race?" he asked.
"Yeah, good luck!" Louren replied, his grin wide and full of energy.
"Yo! What's up?" Louren turned to me with that same smirk.
I narrowed my eyes, not in the mood for such greetings. "Hey, do you know what time it is?" I raised an eyebrow. "It's already quarter to 9! Can you explain why the rest of you aren't here yet?" My tone was sharp, irritated by the delay.
Louren just smiled, his grin widening. "Is there something to smile about—"
Before I could finish, a sudden screech from behind interrupted me. We all froze, our eyes snapping toward the sound. A car had screeched to a halt right in front of us, its tires squealing as it slid into place with a controlled, almost showy precision.
Ha. Trying to show off?
"She's finally here," Louren said, his gaze fixed on the car as he glanced at me.
The moment the words left his mouth, something inside me clenched. My heart did an odd flutter, like a skipped beat, then hammered in my chest. I stared at the car, my pulse racing, an inexplicable feeling rushing over me.
Bathump.
I quickly turned away, my thoughts swirling. Fvck. Is there something wrong with the energy drink I had earlier?
"What was that?" Tennessee asked, his voice tinged with awe.
"What an entrance," Ren commented, his grin never fading.
I couldn't stop looking at the woman stepping out of the car. She wore a loose black shirt and a cap that shadowed her face, giving her an aura of mystery.
What's so amusing about someone dressed so boyish? I thought, yet my heart continued to pound.
Bathump.
I turned away, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. Wait, I need a drink. Right, I need to drink.
I hurried back to my car, grabbed a bottle of water, and chugged it down. But the erratic rhythm in my chest didn't subside.
Holy fvcking shit! What was that?!
Xyrine Jean's POV
"XJJ!"
I jumped in panic at the sudden call of my name, my heart leaping into my throat.
"Ouch!"
I hit my head on the roof of the car in my panic. Wait, why is it so dark?! My mind scrambled for a moment before my eyes snapped to the wristwatch on my arm.
I blinked, eyes widening as I saw the time. It was well past 8. "Hey, Jacob! Why didn't you wake me up!" I shouted in frustration.
"Is it my fault you were sleeping like a log?" He chuckled mischievously.
I clenched my fists, the adrenaline kicking in. "Arg! Whatever!" I turned the key, the engine roaring to life. I had to make it.
I couldn't afford to be late.
[Race Track Venue]
When I arrived at the track, everyone was already gathered. The crowd buzzed with energy, the atmosphere thick with anticipation.
"Cuz, where have you been? Why didn't you come earlier? Spade's been grumpy as hell," Ella greeted me.
I glanced at Spade. He stood there, his expression is dark, clearly annoyed. I was about to approach him, but just as I took a step forward, he suddenly turned and stormed toward his car.
Woah! What was that? His attitude is really something.
I couldn't just leave it like this. I had to confront him about the deal. I needed him to confirm his words, to make sure everything was still in place and that he wouldn't back out at the last minute.
"Hey, Spade! Come out!" I shouted, trying to get his attention, but he didn't respond. I repeated myself. "Hey! Come out!"
He just ignored me, acting as though I wasn't even there.
Frustration boiled inside me. "You arrogant bastard, if we win and you don't keep your word—" I was cut off as someone suddenly grabbed my arm and yanked me against a car.
I gasped for air, taken by surprise. "W-What are you doing?" I stammered.
Instead of answering, Spade pressed his arm against my shoulder, his face inches from mine. I swallowed, frozen.
Shet. Is he possessed?
His voice was a low growl. "Arrogant?" His gaze held mine, intense. "If you can beat us, don't just say it. Prove it." Without another word, he shoved me away like a fvcking trash and hopped into his car.
I stood there, shocked and confused, trying to comprehend what had just happened.
"Arg! I will prove it! I'll make sure you lose. Arrogant!" I yelled, kicking his car in frustration.
"Always so intense when you two fight, huh? Always leaning against things," a voice suddenly cut through the tension.
I turned to find Louren standing there, a smirk on his face.
I raised an eyebrow to Ten. "So?"
He just laughed, shaking his head.
"Are you okay?" Louren asked me, concern flickering in his eyes as he looked at me.
I automatically glanced down, feeling the sudden rush of nerves. "Y-Yeah. I'm fine. I'll just go over there," I mumbled, eager to escape the moment and him.
Why do I feel so nervous when I'm near him? This is so annoying.
The race finally started, but my mind was too scattered to focus properly. The rules were simple: two teams, passing the flag back and forth to reach the finish line. It was me and Tong versus Spade and Monique, with Louren and Ella racing against Ren and Ten.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, heart pounding as the countdown began.
"READY! On your mark..."
I drew in a shaky breath.
"GO!"
Spade's POV
"Fvck! That girl is fvcking novice!" I barked as I slammed my door shut, storming out of the car.
Fvck this. My gaze shifted to Louren's team, and a wave of anger surged through me. I knew it. We were bound to lose the first round, all because of Xyrine. She drove like a damn F3 driver—but so reckless, and out of control. How the hell could she drive like that? It was insane.
"Look what you've done. They won the first round," I snarled at Monique because she keeps on screaming earlier.
"I'm sorry, okay? But don't worry, I'll make sure the next round is ours," she said, her devilish smile creeping back.
"Hey, What the hell are you up to?"
" I did it just for your sake, Spade!"
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" My voice raised, the rage inside me flared.
"Their loss is our gain!"
"ARE YOU FVCKING INSANE?!"
I couldn't stop myself from yelling. People around us were starting to take notice, murmurs and whispers swirling in the air. My gaze snapped toward the race track, my heart sinking when I saw Louren's car beginning to lose control.
Shit.
"MONIQUE!" I shouted, shaking her. "If anything happens to that car, you're a fvcking dead!"
I didn't wait for a response. I turned, my body moving on instinct, my mind racing. As I reached my car, I saw a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. A car zoomed past me at breakneck speed.
"Dammit!" I cursed, realization dawning on me. It was Xyrine's car.
Without thinking, I threw myself into my car and started the engine. I had no time to waste. She was driving too fast.
What the hell was she planning?
I glanced back at Louren's car, my heart skipping a beat as it teetered dangerously close to the cliff. Then, my gaze snapped to Xyrine's car, which was speeding toward him.
I pushed the pedal to the metal, my stomach in knots. Then, the sound came—a loud, bone-rattling crash. Everything seemed to slow down as I slammed on the brakes, not even realizing I had stopped until I was sitting in stunned silence.
I could barely move, shock keeping me frozen in place.
Cars pulled up behind me, and I heard Ren's voice.
"Holy shit! It's almost!"
"That's nerve racking!" Ten urged, his voice panicked.
I snapped out of my daze and got out of the car, racing toward the wreckage.
"Ha! You are indeed crazy," I muttered as I approached the scene, my mind still reeling.
What kind of person would block their car at the edge of a cliff just to stop a car with no brakes?
As I drew closer, I saw Louren and Xyrine's cousin scrambling to get her out of the car.
"Xyrine! Xyrine! Are you okay? Please open the door!" Louren shouted, desperation in his voice.
But Xyrine didn't respond.
"Please, cous, get out of there!" her cousin pleaded.
I push forward. If they couldn't open the door, I would. Just as I reached out, the door creaked open. The tension in the air was thick as we all stopped in our tracks.
And then... a girl stepped out.
The moment she did, I felt my heart jump, my chest tightening. It was like everything stopped.
I couldn't breathe.
This... was strange.
And then, the sensation hit me.
My heart beats....
SO FAST.