Students can be seen in the classroom 3-A minding their own business. Some are doing their make up, while some boys are singing and playing guitar, some were sleeping and some have nothing to do but to pick a fight with the grade conscious students or the nerds.
On the farthest part of the classroom, at the back, beside the window, sitting a student who just observed what his classmates are doing. He don't have any fun to do but observing the chaotic classroom he's in. There are some who notice him but didn't bother to interact and some are really clueless of his existence. For some who notice his presence, they would often freak out due to his clothing styles and attitude. He's always wearing a turtle neck even during summers and a black gloves. He also wear his spectacles. He had a somewhat different eyes from the rest. A yellow pupil and a green iris. Some classmates would try to give a smile but will immediately take it back upon being glared at with his piercing eyes. Since then, no one would ever approach him and they treat him as non-existent individual which is beneficial for him. He don't want to be in the spotlight and just want to study peacefully. He don't really study that much, he just study enough to get a passing grade. 'But still, if it will make me have my purpose to live, I'll do it.' After his class, he will immediately head out, not to go home but to be on his work. He have a small stall in the market as he sell different sea foods or products. That's where he get his daily expenses and the remaining money will be save for his tuition. The market is usually closed up to 9 P. M, enabling him to have enough time to sell his fishes and other products. His classes also start at 9 A. M so there's nothing to fret much, besides if he had tones of projects, he can go 3 days without sleep. "Tales!" A girl waved her hand and called his attention. He didn't gave any reaction but just go straight to where she is. Her name is Rea, living on the same apartment with the room next to his. "Did you know, that there are really many customers in the morning? They really like how fresh the fish is. And of course, they also really like accommodating I am..." she starts to blabber about what's going on when Tales is still in school. He didn't ask her to manage his stall, he's fine with himself and the money he makes but this girl insisted on helping, of course not pure help. She has a share of $4 everyday. And she's the one who insisted that, that should be her share. There's something sketchy about her, that's what Tales thought first but he can't deny the fact that she's a great help. "Okay, thank you..." he stated and grab a $4 on his wallet, handed it to her. "You can now go. I'll take care of the rest." he coldly stated. Her face distorted in some manner looking smug and disappointed. "Tch, you still haven't change Tales, but you make me fall for you harder. " she cheekily stated and wink. He look at her blankly. 'Right, she pesters me so much. ' He ignore her statement and start managing the stall. " See you at home, amore. " she exclaimed and went home. His face almost grimace. He didn't mind her and tend to the approaching customer. "How much is this?" the woman asked as she pointed the crabs. "$7.60 per kilo." he answered briefly. "Then can I get one?" "Yes." However, before he can even packed those crabs, an old woman stormed in front of him, looking at him with a mad expression. The woman shimmers with those gold jewelries and full blast make-up. Tales on the other hand doesn't seem to be surprised. " Are you Tales Rutherford? " She asked while raising her eyebrows. " Yes, I am. " " Huh. " she scoffed. " At last! " Then she put both of her hands on her waist. "Do you know how much of an effort I put just to find you!? Your mother owe me $6000. She said she would pay me back but it's been 6 months, I still haven't heard anything from her. Now, as his son, it's your responsibility to pay for her debts!! " She strongly stated. Tales expression remained blank. Though the customer seems to be startled. " I no longer live with my mother. I don't know about her debts and I don't have any intention to pay for it." He clearly stated and started to weigh the crabs. " Hey! " She shouted. " If you don't want to be in prison, pay her debts! It's your responsibility as her child! Huh! How can she have the nerve to ask for money when her son is just a vendor. " While looking at him upsidedown. Tales sighed. He's used to it now since a lot of people came to him, asking him to pay for his mother's debt. And a lot of people also belittled him. " As long as I didn't sign any paper that I will pay for her debts then I shall not. Now, would you mind to scram, my customer is feeling uncomfortable with your presence. " " You!! " the old woman shouted in anger but instead of paying attention to her, Tales just handed the 1 kg of crabs to the customer. " Thank you ma'am, come again. " "Hey old woman, Tales is working. Don't bother him or you will..." A loud thud was heard after another vendor loudly chop the meat of the pig. Yes, at times like this, the other vendors will also help him cast away these kind of people. Probably because they felt pity towards him. The woman had no choice but to leave. Tales look at her back and sighed. 'I... no longer have a mother. ' Just then, he continue to tend to his customers until 9 o'clock in the evening. After that, he went straight to his apartment which is like a 50 meters away from the market. However, the alleys are so dim because of poor street lights and there aren't much people passing by. Though he always walk alone, he can never get used to the dark. He's afraid of the dark, although he's been battling that fear. *Tak* *Tak* *Tak* The sound of shoes echoed as he walk. But it's not just his shoes. There's another one. He keep walking while his eyes slowly glance on his side, attempting to look at the man's shadow through the dim lights. He hold on tightly on the strap of his bag. As he continue to walk, he bump into something. He slowly return his eyes to the front and look upward, only to see a 6 foot tall man wearing a black tuxedo with a thug face and a bald head. Looks like a gangster. Another footsteps from behind him stop, a few centimeters away from where he is standing. Despite the fact that he's being cornered, he showed no fear and look directly to the mans eye. "What do you want?" He firmly asked. "Tales Rutherford, come with us." His authoritative voice that makes you unable to refuse but not to Tales. "I won't." "Then we have no choice but to resort to violence." Another voice from behind. As if that's the clue of what Tales has been waiting for, he immediately pull out the small knife from his pocket to protect himself, but before he could even react, a syringe with a drug was struck to the side of his neck that made him lose his strength, enough to let go of the knife. His senses also started to fade as he wobble and collapse on the road. "Carry him." "Why would I? You should carry him." "Idiot! Just carry him. I don't care how you'll do it. Drag him or something. The boss is waiting for us. " That is what Tales heard before he completely loses consciousness. 'The boss? 'Cold. The first sensation that Tales felt as he regained consciousness. He opened his eyes, greeted by the lights on the ceiling. There are people chattering but he can't understand any of it. He tried to stand up but he can't. His body doesn't have any strength and on top of that, his hands were handcuffed. His eyebrows met in confusion and blink his eyes multiple to times to clear his vision and roam his eyes. The place looks like a basement. There are at least 15 men wearing black suits, some are standing while some are sitting on the gasoline barrel. He tried to observe everyone to gather information and to stall time until he will regain his strength. "Mmph." And unfortunately, his mouth is also covered. He gritted his teeth. He don't see any reason why would he be abducted! Well, if it's the debt of his mother, there's no way that they'll abduct him. It's not like his mother owe a very large amount of money. His mind stop thinking when he realize sometimes. His eyes look fr
"Want to be my bodyguard and escort?" A replay of what the man said echoed in Tales head. "You're nuts." He said as he tried to break free from his grasps. But the former didn't even loosen his grip and just smirk. "Choose." He said. "Be my bodyguard and my escort or be a prostitute in my club." The struggle intensified as Tales, despite his efforts, found himself unable to break free from the man's formidable hold, escalating the tension in the bizarre encounter. He then remembered he have a metal tube on his hand, Tales tried hitting the man with the metal tube, but the man, despite his injured hand, caught it. "You never learned." He stated and signal his men by nodding. "Hold him, restrain him." Restraining the person and bringing him to the ground. And in a blink of an eye being overpowered and outnumbered, Tales succumbed to the combined efforts of the man and his accomplices. He found himself restrained and forced to the ground, trapped in a dire situation with uncertain
Tales face remained stoic as he's sitting beside Raja who is so carefree in sitting. The blood that splattered on his face and shirt are already gone since he change clothes and clean his face. They were currently sitting on the passenger seat and he don't even know where will this man take him. He glance at the man only to met his eyes. He immediately look forward. "If you're bothered by the man I kill. He deserves it since he's a traitor." after a moment of silence, Raja spoke. Tales keep his mouth shut. He don't want to know and it's not like knowing it would change the fact that he killed it with enjoyment on his face. After a moment, they arrive in a familiar place. Tales immediately look at Raja with a lot of questions plaster on his face. It's his apartment. "Oh?" Raja spoke. "Now that you're one of us, you shouldn't live in this garbage place. How can I let my favorite toy live in this cramped apartment, right? " he stated with such innocent tone that if anyone hears woul
They arrive in a glamorous mansion of the psychopath. It was grand and impressive blending itself to the other luxury buildings to avoid suspicion. Tales, move his gaze to different directions scanning the house. The house itself is big enough to host thousands of people. Despite the luxurious appearance it has a discreet and tight security, from the security cameras placed inside and outside the building to the armed securities dressed civilian to mix with commoners. They went inside and he was in awe at how extravagant it is. Though, his expression remains the same. Plain. Emotionless. He can't help but be amazed of the house. Big walls painted gray, with no frames or any designs, sunken seating in the middle of the room, two sleek armchairs and a modern coffee table featuring wooden and marble elements is sitting in front of the seat. The light colored marble floor and the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling designed in a multi circular gold-rimmed fixtures. There is an open
Raja entered his room, but what he found was Tales, shirtless and without any undergarments, standing in front of his bed. His forehead creased as he looked at him. He couldn’t believe it, knowing that Tales was always repulsed by the thought of showing his body to him, let alone having sxx. But the Tales standing before him now was in a trance-like state. His eyes were dazed, devoid of liveliness, and he had a grin on his face, as if being pleasured by something. Raja let out a small laugh. He wasn’t sure how to feel. “What are you doing here?” “Raja, don’t you want to fuck me?” Tales' words came out almost as a whisper. “Yeah, I do,” he answered without hesitation. “But I don’t get it—why would you willingly walk towards your predator?” Tales stepped closer towards him, the air between them creates an unspoken connection. His gaze directly locked onto Raja’s, and there was a teasing smirk on his lips as he knelt, his movements slow and deliberate. Raja’s breath caught, anticipat
In the cold, unclean and contaminated basement, where walls have splatter, Raja looked Tales like a predator while tapping his left foot on the floor as if he's analyzing something. The sound of his foot tapping echoing off the walls. Tales stood chained, wrists and ankles cuffed, his gaze is agitated but powerless. The faint bruises on his face are throbbing but he couldn't care less and it only fuel his defiance. “So,” Raja began, voice full of disdain, ,“are you going to keep your mouth shut forever, hm?” Tales smirked, his face seems like taunting him and even if he knows how stupid his idea was,he still don't want to give in. “I’m not going to grovel if that’s what you’re after. Just get it over with.” Raja’s eyebrows met, a cruel smile appeared on his lips. “Still so proud. I’ll enjoy breaking that out of you.” He then walk towards the right side of the wall pulling the lever, to tighten the chains holding Tales, forcing him to stand on his toes, straining under the weight.
Knock! Knock! Knock! Tales grimaced as he heard loud knocks coming from his door and opened his eyes. He had dozed off to sleep in the middle of planning his escape from this hellish situation. He immediately got out of bed and opened the door, not minding his bed hair and unkempt appearance. One of Raja's stern-looking men greeted him, holding a black box. "What?" he asked. "Get changed," the man said, handing him the box. "Boss is waiting outside. He ordered that you should be there by 7:30!" Then he left. 'What?' Tales didn't ask further questions and closed the door. He immediately looked at the wall clock and saw that it was already 7:25. He only had 5 minutes to prepare? Raja must think he has superpowers or something. Nonetheless, he shouldn't complain unless he has a perfect plan to kill that bastard. For now, he just needed to get on his good side. He was asked to get changed, so it must be clothes. He opened the box and saw a black suit, a gun, and a knife beside it.
Raja can smell the animosity of Tales base on its sharp gaze on his back. He cares no less. He knows that Tales wonders why he acts like that and may think that he is a lunatic but who fucking cares when it's true? And that old man is a traitor, and a traitor should be beheaded. He's merciful enough to gave that old man a short time to share the same air like him. How dare that old man, attempted to solicit his prostitutes with much wage than his? And one of his men even help with the plan! There's no way he could let it go. Raja discreetly glance at Tales who's maintaining his poker face but his body language says otherwise. Upon leaving the company, in the lobby, a lot of employees were shocked by how they were covered with blood but no one is fast enough to report them to the authorities. Of course, if someone is courageous enough to report them, he needs to spend some money to shut those personnels which will eventually increase his hatred towards Calder.When they arrive toward
The air around them shifted.It was like the world had gone silent for a brief moment before the storm.Tales gripped the phone whom he immediately snatched away from Raja, staring at the image on the screen. Ria—bound, bruised, with her eyes showing exhaustion yet with defiance. She wasn’t broken. Not yet.However they'll do anything to make her submit.And that was enough to make Tales' blood run cold.He turned to Raja, eyes asking for his opinion—no... A help. And looks like, Raja will honor his request. The barely restrained fury. The dark promise of violence lurking behind his unreadable expression.They immediately called the suspect to ask for their location or what they want however, no on pick up the call that made them feel even shitter. Then—Raja’s phone vibrated.A message.> Unknown: Stop calling for information. Let Tales save the girl.Tales' entire body went rigid. His jaw clenched as his fingers tightened around the phone.Another text.> Unknown: Don’t look so pis
The air was laced with the scent of blood and smoke as Raja and Tales stepped out of the ruined hideout. Their boots left behind dark footprints, but neither of them looked back. Raja immediately called Claren to ask for a clean up of the area. Authorities might suspect and investigate them. He can no longer be complacent now that he's planning to cut ties with father."Alright. On the way."Now, it was done.The past had been confronted. The ghosts had been silenced.But at what cost?Tales' hands were still trembling, the weight of the knife lingering in his grip even though he had already wiped it clean. His body felt light, almost numb, like he was drifting between reality and something else. He didn't feel any remorse yet the emotions he felt now is so deep that he can't really ignore it.Raja walked beside him, silent, his presence a steady force against the storm inside Tales’ chest.For a long time, neither of them spoke. The surroundings around them felt unnaturally quiet, as
“Raja.”A voice.Familiar. Firm.He stopped.Slowly, he turned.Tales stood a few feet away. His face was tense, his eyes locked onto Raja like he was trying to read him. His breathing was steady, but there was something behind it—something controlled, like he was forcing himself to stay calm. Raja on the other hand was surprised. But he chooses not to let Tales' know through his expression.Raja raised an eyebrow. “You followed me.”Tales stepped closer. “I’m not an idiot.” and walked slowly towards where Raja and Clein is. Tales’ gaze flicked to Raja’s hands—his sleeves, stained with blood. His expression darkened. “You found them.”Raja didn’t answer because it's obvious.Tales clenched his fists. “You killed them.”Raja shrugged. “Of course, I did.”Tales stared at him, his throat bobbing. He don't know what to feel. He's thankful but at the same time he's uneasy. “I never asked you to do this.”Raja let out a quiet laugh, one without humor. “You didn’t have to.”Silence. Tales f
Raja stood in the alley, surrounded by bodies. The air smelled like blood, thick and full of tension. The fight had been quick—too easy. They had begged, made excuses, tried to run. For Raja, it didn’t matter.They were dead now.He rolled his shoulders, wiping the back of his hand against his cheek. A smudge of blood smeared across his skin, but he didn’t care. His focus was elsewhere."In order for me to locate them, tell me your location."Raja can't believe what he was hearing. Apparently, Zaden thinks that he's a fool. Wow?! Licking father's ass made his head got bigger, huh?"Where are you?" Zaden's voice was indifferent, accompanied by the faint clacking of a keyboard in the background.Raja smirked slightly. "Close."More typing. "That's not an answer.""Don't need to answer if you already know," Raja muttered, his tone just as flat.A brief silence as if proving Raja's words. Then, Zaden continued. "You're near the location. Their boss is hiding in an old gambling den—still a
Raja moved through the crowd, his pace slow, unhurried to avoid being notice. But inside, his blood was boiling. His hands itched to wrap around the throats of the men walking ahead, completely unaware that death was already watching them.Then, his phone vibrated in his pocket. His eyes flicked down as he be look at the screen. Zaden.He answered without breaking stride. “What did you find out?"Zaden’s voice is still professional and cold. “Right. You told me to dig into the gangs operating around Tales’ hometown. See if any of them were involved in… well, you didn’t give me details, but I assumed it was bad.” A pause. “I found something.”Raja’s grip on the phone tightened as if he had been waiting for this moment. “They were known as the Crows. They ran the underground trade in that area. Small-time, but brutal. They sold people off for slavery in illegal auctions , extorted businesses, took what they wanted. Word is, a woman with a gambling problem sold her own kid to them.”Raj
That voice—He turned, eyes widening slightly.Ria.She stood a few feet away, her expression shifting from disbelief to relief.“Tales!” She hurried toward him, looking him over like she couldn’t believe her own eyes. She immediately wrap his slender arms towards Tales' body out of excitement.Tales stiffened. “Ria?”Ria clench his teeth. She don't know what to say to Tales but one thing she knows is that she doesn't want to let go of Tales. She look up as if to touch his face, then hesitated, her brows furrowing. “I’ve been looking for you!”Tales blinked. “Looking for me?”'Why would she look for me when I clearly told her that I'm moving out?'Raja, who had been silent until now, tilted his head slightly, his sharp gaze settling on the woman in front of them. He don't what he's feeling but he's sure it's not happiness. He's not happy in the slightest to see this woman.Ria finally seemed to notice him, her eyes flickering to Raja.And then… narrowing slightly.Her entire posture s
The sun hung lazily in the sky as Raja and Tales drive through the road, their pace was neither fast not slow. The world they passed by bustled with life—vendors shouting, children laughing, the scent of street food filling the air.Tales leaned against the window, watching the scenery shift from clean roads to rougher neighborhoods. He exhaled slowly, fingers tapping against his thigh.Raja, on the other hand, was anything but tense.He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other casually resting on Tales’ knee.Tales glanced at him. “Hands. Off.”Raja just chuckled and didn't take his hands off. Instead his fingers enveloped to Tales' fingers too. Tales had already guessed where they were going. The familiar roads and infrastructure give away hints. And as much as he didn’t want to set foot in that house again, he didn’t resist when Raja tugged him along.Surprisingly, Tales didn’t hate it.He's being insufferably clingy.He leaned into Tales’ space with every opportunity he got li
The tension in the dining hall had evolve into something heavier— anticipation to achieve freedom but dreadful to the chance that they'll not survive. However, the decision had been made. They would all follow Raja and severe ties with Father. But now came the true test of their resolve.But before Raja could begin discussing strategies, an uneasy voice broke the silence.“Um…”All eyes turned toward Liam, one of the younger members of Unit 1. He was usually quiet, never one to speak up in these meetings. His fingers fidgeted against the rim of his cup indicating how frightened he is but at the same time, he wants to know. His face was slightly pale, as if he had been holding in his question for too long.“Liam?” Raja prompted, raising an eyebrow.Liam hesitated, clearly regretting speaking up after meeting Raja's cold gaze. He swallowed hard, avoiding eye contact. “I—uh—about the… the six punishments…” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, rubbing the back of his neck.Raja’s eyes na
The first thing Tales noticed when he woke up was warmth. A steady, solid body—presence beside him.For a moment, he forgot where he was. Forgot everything that had happened the night before. But then he felt the slow rise and fall of Raja’s chest against his back, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and it all came rushing back.The confessions. The anger. The pain. The decision to move forward.'We did it.' Just the thought of remembering their steamy was enough to make Tales blushed yet he immediately composed himself.Tales blinked at the morning light filtering through the window blinds. He was still wrapped in Raja’s arms, his back pressed against the other man's chest. Their legs were tangled beneath the sheets, and Raja’s hand rested loosely against his stomach.His entire body felt sore, but strangely… he didn’t mind. He bit his lower lip and slowly place his hand against Raja's. The feeling of disdain was nowhere to be found. That's strange but just now, he's just relieved.