Chapter Two- Kai

It's not like I hated my high school. I had a lot of happy memories attached to it. I was the school president, after all. I was hated by a few for my uptight personality but the rest were chill with me. Expect a certain troublemaker and his gang. He hated me as much as I hated him. Hunter Steele, the man I couldn't forget even after ten years. It's not because he was someone special to me. It's because he was someone I despised more than anyone and it was rare for me to hate anyone.

Though I was well respected at school, it didn't mean I was keen on coming back to the reunion. I hardly had any contact with anyone from school so it didn't make sense for me to come here. If only it weren't for Hunter Steele.

“I don't feel good about it, Kai.” Alex droned near my ear, making me huff out of frustration.

“Alex, will you stop worrying over nothing?” My annoyance was evident on my face.

One look at my face and he understood he was overreacting. He took a drink from a passing waiter, turning away from me.

“I just don't want you to get hurt again.” He confessed, making me lose my grip on annoyance and soften my features.

“When will you stop acting like my overprotective big brother?” That made him crack a smile and soon after I joined him.

“ I'm 4 months older than you and I'm your cousin. So, technically, that gives me the right to act like your overprotective brother.” I rolled my eyes at his reasoning.

“Distant cousins. You and I hardly share the same blood.” He scoffed, waving a hand at someone who didn't look familiar to me.

“Who is it?” I asked.

“I would have hollered if I knew his name. He just looked familiar.” He said, making me shake my head.

He and I were no different. We both had bitter memories from the school though I didn't have any idea what went wrong with him nor did he know what happened to me. To each their own, I guess.

“And don't you dare disrespect our blood like this. I can hear our ancestors crying from their graves.” I smacked his head, making him drop his drink.

I missed this. I missed him. I didn't know we would fall back to our old habit this easily. But maybe there were a lot of things that I didn't know.

“You fucking idiot-” He stopped mid-sentence, grabbing my collar to size me up jokingly.

“What?” I laughed as I watched him freeze in his spot. Did he see a ghost?

Getting my collar freed from his grasp, I looked behind me to see Hunter entering the room. Now, I knew why Alex froze.

Hunter Steele entered the room with oozing confidence. He stood tall, taller than I last saw him. His boyish features were replaced with adult handsomeness. He grew a stubble which entirely changed the way he looked. He looked more domineering, more confident and above all more unapproachable now. He wore a gray suit with a black turtleneck sweater underneath, giving some extra weight to his successful businessman reputation. Though he looked more handsome than I would I like to admit, it wasn't going to change the way I felt about him.

It's been over ten years. We weren't teenagers anymore. I thought over the years my hatred for him would decrease but the opposite happened. I clenched my jaw, folded my fists into balls watching him high fiving one of his douche friends, laughing without any care of the world, unaware of my hateful gaze at him.

“I don't want him anywhere near you.” Alex grumbled behind me. There was clearly someone else who disliked Hunter more than I did.

“Alex, hold your horses. I'm an adult now. I can handle myself.” I reminded him in a firm tone and eyes that held seriousness and confidence.

“Now go and clean your shirt.” He looked reluctant, glaring at Hunter's way who still didn't have any idea about us.

“Go. I will tell you if I need anything. For now, I need to settle something with him.” I saw his lips twitch. He wanted to give his input but he held himself back. Good.

“I need to do it alone.” My voice didn't show any weakness which made him groan.

“Remember, I will be watching that bastard.” I nodded my head at him before he went towards the washroom.

Now that I was alone, I could let out a shaky breath. My heart was beating fast and I was sweating suddenly even though it was somewhat cold inside the room. I had to remind myself that Hunter didn't hold any authority over me and I could face him.

With that determination set in my head, I took long strides towards him, eyes twinkling with amusement. I've learned to school my features a million times just so I could use it today and I knew I wouldn't fail myself. I walked confidently like a predator looking for prey.

“Parkar! Hey, President!”A loud voice held me back from approaching Hunter.

I turned to my left to meet with a familiar face, but I couldn't put a name to the face.

“Hey! I didn't know I would find you here.” He grinned at me so brightly that his face shone brighter than the disco light balls which were hanging from the ceiling.

“Oh, hey there.” I gave him a little smile of my own, “I was swinging by the town so decided to drop by here as well.” By my awkward smile he could tell I didn't recognise him.

“Dude, don't tell me you don't remember me! I'm Russell. Andrew Russell, the guy who stole your assignment and got an A+ with it while you got a B+ with mine because I swiped ours and changed the names.” He kept grinning as if he didn't just admit to his crime.

Now that I thought about it, I knew this kid. He was the class clown. I had to beg my teacher to give me another chance for the assignment just because he stole it. And guess what? Until now I didn't know it was him.

“For someone who almost ruined my perfect GPA, you sound too cheerful, Russell.” He replied to my taunt with another grin.

There's something seriously wrong with him. He looked too happy. I've never met such a happy adult.

“Hey, I knew Mr.Adams would give you another chance. You were the model student after all.” He slapped my shoulders, making me glare at him.

“Chill out, dude. We are adults now. So, let go of old grudges.” He spoke as if he knew I were here just to act on my grudge against Hunter.

When he handed me a drink, I took it. I needed it before I went to Hunter.

“Well, the grudge is new actually. I didn't know you stole it.” That made him smile sheepishly, shrugging his shoulders.

“Oops.” He muttered.

“Did you meet Hunter? You would be surprised.” He asked as soon as I took a sip. I wanted to spit it out but I held myself back.

I shook my head.

“I know you two were arch enemies back in the days. But he is a changed man now.” This new information spiked my interest.

“What do you mean?” I asked, looking back at Hunter who was still busy with his friends, the only difference was that he had two girls in his arms now.

A scowl found its way to my face. It was stupid for me to get mad at him for shamelessly flirting so openly. I had to remind myself that he was shameless from the beginning.

He pointed his hand towards Hunter and spoke with a smile on his face, “He is nothing like before. He doesn't fight. I even heard he even donated half a million dollars to a charity. Never knew that dude could turn into a saint. He was an absolute beast-” Just to prove him wrong, Hunter swung at a guy on cue, making him fall to the ground.

“You were saying?” He shut his mouth.

“Or not. Alright, let's stop talking about him and let's talk about you. What-” He was interrupted again by Hunter.

Our eyes followed Hunter as he climbed up to the stage, shoving away the dj. Once a bully, always a bully.

“Hello, my sweet fellows. I believe I don't have to give any introduction.” Hunter's voice bloomed inside the room. By then Alex came back to the room and found me with Andrew.

It felt strange to listen to him. He sounded so different. His voice went deeper over the years.

“That's right. I'm your one and only Hunter Steele. And I'm here to make a special announcement.” The crowd got quiet by this point and waited for him to make an announcement.

“You see, I had a special friend when I was in high school. You all knew that friend very well. Losers always make themselves known. Unfortunately, my friend was a coward and left the town, hiding from reality.” I gripped the glass tight enough to break it.

He was still an asshole, wasn't he? I wanted to punch him so hard.

“Luckily, my friend found his courage back and decided to show up! Here's to the newly found bravery of my friend and to the hope that he is no longer a loser. Everyone, welcome Kai Parker!” Suddenly I was under the spotlight.

I thought he didn't know I was here and watching him. Turned out he knew all along and went all the way just to humiliate me in front of everyone. Fine by me. If he wanted to make a scene, I would show him how to make it.