Damien watched as Ria walked into the house before he reversed the car and drove off. Ria stepped into the house to meet her anxious mother and sister.“Arianna Mahmata, where have you been?!” Mrs. Mahmata yelled.“Sorry mom,” Ria said as she tried to sniff back her tears. Her mom soon noticed that and moved closer to her.“What’s wrong? What happened?” she asked as she pulled Ria closer to her. The moment Ria got into her mom’s embrace, she burst into tears startling her mom who hugged her and patted her head.“It’s okay,” her mom said although she had no idea about what might have happened. Dani also looked on in confusion and surprise.Ria continued crying in her mom’s embrace, Damien’s story reverberating in her head. He just had to go through such a thing and no one had an idea about it. He suffered and almost died in the ring while trying to pay his father’s debt. He had lost his dad.The thought broke her heart so much as Ria remembered her own dad. She was seven when he died.
“Ria, you are the cheerleading captain, you shouldn’t have given to Zara just like that,” Janet said with a frown and Ria smiled.“I intentionally let her have it,” Ria said with a sinister smile.“I took her as my friend and she got jealous instead of getting envious. Let’s see how long she’ll last shall we?” Ria asked and Ava burst into laughter.Ria smiled widely as soon as she sighted Damien from afar, he was talking to Hazel with a frown and Ria pouted.“What’s the relationship between the two of you?” Ava asked and Ria turned to her.“Who and who?” she asked.“You and Damien” Ava replied and Ria smiled.“Nothing. I like him so I’m chasing him” Ria replied and Janet and Ava’s mouths dropped open. They watched as Ria walked through the crowd and latched herself unto Damien.“Did I hear Ria well?” Ava asked as she brought out her pen and tried to use it to clean her ears.“I need to talk to him, are you saying anything important?” Ria asked Hazel who looked at the two with a surpri
Everything seemed to be falling into place as the school seemed to be void of any drama as the final-year students are preparing hard for their exams and submitting their college applications.It has also been over two weeks since Damien and Ria confessed to each other. Although everyone had noticed that they were now on good terms, except Janet, Jason, and Ava knows that there is more to their friendship.“Come with me after school, I have something to show you,” Damien said and Ria pouted.“What is it?” Ria asked and Damien chuckled.“I just said I’ll show you when we get home” Damien replied and Ria laughed.“I don’t have a good feeling about it,” Ria said and Damien laughed.“It’s not as if I’m going to sleep you,” Damien said and Ria smacked him playfully on his arm.“I’ll like to see you try,” Ria said as they announced that the last class for the day had been cancelled.“God is even on my side,” Damien said with a smile and Ria laughed. Each time she sees him, it’s as if she’s
Ria watched calmly as Damien wore his gloves. She had watched Damien fight two times after the first time he brought her to the underground ring and she knew how good he was. But considering that after today he wasn’t going to be fighting again; Ria felt weird about it.She knew these people weren’t going to let him go just like that but Damien had assured her that he was going to be fine so she couldn’t do anything about it. She could only pray in her mind.“Don’t look like that, I’ll really be fine” Damien said and Ria nodded as she dropped a small peck on his lips.Damien tapped her nose as they walked out of the room. Everyone was yelling at top of their voices. He walked into the ring and raised his hands at the referee who checked him and Damien turned to his opponent. It was a young man who was a few years older than him. Merely looking at him, Damien knew he was the real deal. He chuckled lightly; these people had finally pushed him to the wall.He walked at Ria who was lookin
Damien rubbed Ria’s back comfortingly as he pulled her along and walked after the burly men. Ria watched as they led them to another part of the fighting ring.The area was surprisingly well-lighted and bright. There were rows of burly men with weapons making Ria latch herself to Damien.“He’s inside,” One of them said as Damien pushed the door opened and stepped inside the room.It was a large spacious office and there was a fan rolling as Damien and Ria stepped into the room. Three men were seated on the sofa in the middle of the office.“Damien, have your seat,” one of them said with a smile and Damien sat down and pulled Ria with him.“Mr. Lee, I have fulfilled our part of the agreement. I have as well also repaid my father’s debt. Isn’t it time to let me go?” Damien asked calmly as one of the men laughed.“It’s hard to let one of our strongest fighters go just like that,” he said and Ria frowned as she looked at the man disgustingly.“Just like that? Viper, I fought for a year” D
Ria held Damien’s hand as they walked out of the old house. Ria took one last look at the house as they walked outside the house. Ria looked around and was surprised at the number of black cars in front of them.She easily recognized the dragon tattoo on the cars as the same one on Damien’s stomach. She allowed Damien to pull her towards one of the cars and the window was slowly wounded down.“Is it all taken care of?” a voice asked in the car and Damien nodded.“Yes, boss” Damien replied.“Hmmmmm,” the voice said.“Thanks, boss” Damien said his voice solemn.“Take care of yourself, Damien,” the voice said as the glass went up and the cars sped out of sight.“Who were those?” Ria asked and Damien smiled at her.“People you don’t need to pay attention to,” Damien said as he led Ria to the car and he drove off. Damien couldn’t express how he was feeling. He didn’t feel free, he was just calm and he tightened his grip on Ria’s hands as he drove toward his apartment.He had her beside him
Ria was the first to get to school the next day. She smiled sweetly at Ava who started clicking pictures of her immediately.“Girl you are glowing” Ava exclaimed and Ria laughed.“Is it because he asked you to marry him yesterday?” Ava asked with a smile and Ria’s smile grew wider.“Maybe, who knows?” Ria asked as they sat down.“Where’s Janet?” Ria asked as Ava scoffed.“She’s like you. if you can’t find her, you won’t see Jason” Ava replied and Ria laughed.Ria raised her head when she saw a shadow fall over her and she snickered seeing Gabriel. As Ria had said, his popularity had hit rock bottom after that day, his friends stopped talking to him, and he was also benched by the soccer team. If he didn’t play in any matches soon; it would really be hard for in to get into a soccer school and talk less of a top-notch one.He had no option but to seek out Ria again. They definitely had to date again even if it was for show. Gabriel gave Ria a small smile as Ria glared at him.“What do
“It’s everywhere on the school forum,” Ava said as she scrolled her phone.Damien shrugged his shoulders as Ria fed him a fry “You know how active the school forum had become since Hazel became the president” Damien said and the girls burst into laughter.“Arianna Mahmata!” Zara yelled as she stormed into the cafeteria startling everyone. Ria frowned upon seeing Zara and Penny.“How shameless will you become? You stepped down from being the captain as if you wouldn’t do anything. What the hell did you tell the cheerleaders?” Zara asked as Ria slowly rose to her feet.“Shameless?” Ria asked as she stepped out of her seat.“If anyone should be asked who is shameless I think it should be the both of you. I thought you guys were my friends yet all along I was called a snake and a viper by my friends. I gave everything and did all a friend does and gives to her friend as a friend, I helped you every way I could but what did you guys do? You stabbed me in the back neatly” Ria said as she tu