An almost rusted ice pick. Its sharp tip flashes in Hayden's eyes.
Hayden saw it almost instantly, even before the guy fully took it out from the side of his pants.
That wretched grimace floating on his face was similar to the countenance Hayden had encountered.
It was a hideous look.
A look with the intent of killing.
Prodding slowly towards the feeble Liam, the guy releases his weapon. He was tightly clutching the ice pick top-side down and his hands weren't even trembling.
When the guy got close, his friends who were bombarding Liam with their feet gave way for him to kick Liam on the side.
Liam grumbled in excruciating pain. He was already weakened by the collective beating of his aggressor so that kick pushed his dog stand to fall over to the side.
Liam curled in agony as he murmurs, "fuck~..."
The guy laid the heel of his shoe on Liam's head and swirled it in a digging motion.
"You've meddled with the wrong person, big guy. Does it feel good being humiliated?"
Liam smirked it off. "Fuck yourself."
Enraged, the guy gets down on his knees without removing his heel from Liam's head. Then, his ice pick rose.
It was not pointed in the body or the head.
Instead, it was directed to plunge right down Liam's neck—a soft part of the human body where a rusted ice pick will sink like a fork… in a hard boiled egg.
Then, without a touch of hesitation, the ice pick deliberately slams down.
At that fleeting moment, as the thing makes its way down to pierce Liam's throat, a heel comes lunging straight. It booted the guy's face, sending him tumbling away from Liam.
"Who the hell is that punk?"
"I've never seen him on campus before."
The other aggressors grunted.
The guy got back up, pulling his nearly dislocated jaw in place. "..." He remains still, looking pensive.
The student who jumped in to rescue Liam ripped a portion of his sleeve and offered it to Liam.
"Can you fight?" Hayden asked.
Liam took Hayden's hand and anchored himself back up before taking the ripped sleeve and wiping his vision clear.
"Oh, I surely can!"
The half-dozen enemies surrounded the two as they stood leaning back-to-back.
Just then, before the second skirmish commenced, a reeking stench stung everyone's nose.
Then in the distance, a truck loaded with pigs drenched in mud is heading down the place.
Then instantly, as soon as they spotted the truck, the crowd scrambled and everyone fled in a chaotic rumble. They all ran in different directions as if the place were getting raided by the cops.
~~~~~~~~~~
"I thought I'd made it clear to not meddle!"
After fleeing to the chaos, Aubrey ends up on the side road in front of a milk tea shop.
And of course, Hayden stuck with her like a leech.
"If I hadn't stepped in, you'd be spending your next seven days at your friend's funeral," Hayden argued in a calm monotone.
She moaned in frustration. "Urgh…! He would be fine even without your help, so don't act so boastful… the only reason you beat those douchebags is because you're a demon hunter."
Aubrey was obviously wrong. Hayden could destroy those guys even if he were just a normal human. At a young age, Hayden was trained by none other than the physically potent DH in the world, agent Kangaroo, his colleague. After being mentored by Kangaroo for a year, Hayden substantially enhances his hand-to-hand combat at a rate where he could compete at an international level.
"Without that advantage, they would definitely beat you to a pulp. You even tore the school uniform Dad gave you. Seriously, can't you glue it in your puny brain that you don't have to take this bodyguard duty stuff seriously? I don't need your help so don't intervene. We made a covenant and you must stick your tongue out and sit like a well-trained dog. I don't expect any further disobedience, got that?"
"Understood," Hayden replied.
Aubrey grabbed her phone in her school bag and as she was unlocking the password, Hayden said something that furrows her brows.
"However, just to clarify, it wasn't because you seem bothered watching your friend get beaten to a pulp."
"What?!" she groaned.
"Liam is also my classmate. I'm just trying to help a potential friend… and I most certainly didn't save him because of you."
That was a lie from Hayden. Hayden is a principled person; he will do anything necessary in order for a mission to be accomplished. In this circumstance, Hayden actually wouldn't feel any guilt if Liam ended up dead. He only saved him because he was trying to get close to Aubrey's friend, for it's easier to certify the protectee's safety by being in her circle.
Aubrey's eyebrows furrowed further. "I don't give a goddamn care if you didn't do that for me!"
"Okay, sure… then why do you look irked?"
She reached her boiling point. Her fingers caught a tight clutch on her school bag and furiously hurled it at Hayden, her throw carrying the frustration she's been holding.
Hayden made no effort to dodge. The bag thudded against his chest, then dropped to the floor with a heavy slap.
As the scene unfolds, the eyes of the curious customers inside the milk tea shop are on them. Many customers are watching them through the windowpane as they enjoy their drinks, thinking they're in a melodramatic Opera show.
"You think they're breaking up?..."
"Poor guy."
Comments sounded from the customers.
Aubrey noticed it, embarrassed to the bone.
"Ugh!! Carry my bag!" She crossed her arms across her chest before walking out, her face about to erupt in vexation. "Let's go elsewhere."
Aubrey phoned her friends as they walked along the side road. They agreed to meet at 7-Eleven and ultimately decided to have a drink there.
After a short walk, Aubrey with his bodyguard behind, arrived at the place. They waited in front of 7-Eleven, and in a matter of seconds, Aubrey's circle arrived one-by-one.
There were six of them in total, two guys and four girls including Hayden. The sky is also starting to dim, the half-sunken sun barely peeking on the horizon.
"Oh! It's the transferee guy!" Liam exclaimed.
He approached Hayden with an ecstatic smile. "You really saved my ass back there…" he tapped Hayden's shoulder. "What's your name?"
Hayden secretly glances at Aubrey in his periphery, and she's growling like a cat about to scratch.
"He's Hayden. Is that right?" Camille spoke for Hayden.
"Yeah," Hayden said. "And you're the girl I talked to before the fight began. You said the place was raid-free, so why does everyone flee when that truck arrives? My first impression of you would be a liar if you don't explain."
"Well… that really wasn't supposed to transpire," she reasoned, chuckling.
Liam pulled his phone close to Hayden's eyes, flashing an Instagram account. "Is that your account?"
"Yeah. That's me."
"Great! I'm sending you a friend request, and I'll also add you to the group chat. You're awesome, I genuinely like you." Liam quickly glanced at the other before asking, "Y'all cool having him in the group?"
"Of course."
"Definitely."
"Sure, add him," Camille consented.
The only person who wasn't pleased by that proposition was Aubrey. She's not saying any word, but it's written all over her face. One more push and she'll bite.
"Can you guys save that for later? I thought we were here to drink," Aubrey barked.
"Jeez, Aubrey, what's with the surly attitude," Liam muttered.
"I'm just saying save the chats for later… you know, when we're seated."
"Good point. Let's settle in then."
They all entered the 7-Eleven and were instantly disturbed by a little commotion over the counter.
There were no other people inside, except the two punks and the cashier.
"C'mon dude, surely they won't notice if two packs of cigarettes gone missing, right?" a punk who has tattoos imprinted across his entire body is persuading the male cashier.
"They…" the timid cashier hesitated. "...they will charge me for that."
"Dude, what's the big issue? It's just two packs of cigarettes. Just cover it for us," the other punk said.
"We're friends back in elementary school, right? You always treated me back then, so do the same now." The punk leaned over the counter and reached for the cigarette.
"But…"
"But what?" the punk glared at him. "Are you saying we're not friends!" he spontaneously roared in his ear.
The cashier jumped, flinching so hard his spine shuddered. Fear took hold, and his voice trembled as he said, "Nnn-no. No… Yeah, we're friends."
The punk let out a degrading smirk. "We've always been."
As Aubrey's friends stay put and watch, Aubrey herself has already made her move. She grabs two bottles of alcohol and strides over to the counter.
"Move over, jackasses." She dropped the bottles on the counter with a clunk. "I'm a paying customer, unlike these two, so how about you serve me first?"
"Uh, of course," the cashier said, taking the alcohol and scanning it.
"Watch your language," the punk grunted to Aubrey.
"Wow, life hit you that hard, huh?" Aubrey folded her arms, chin tilted up, and foot firm on the floor. "Did you drop out of school, scraping by like this… What? your dads ran off without leaving a penny? Makes sense you can't afford a cheap cigarette."
"Tryna pick a fight, chick?" his fist slammed against the counter, making the bottle wobble. "Now I'm goddamn pissed!"
Furious, the punks lurched toward Aubrey, cracking their fingers. However, they froze upon seeing two towering figures rose behind her. Their shadows loomed over, chest puffed, eyes dead serious, lips curved downwards, expressions so fierce it made the punks shrink in place.
"Leave the cigarettes and buzz off," Liam ordered.
Nervous, the punks rudely tossed the pack of cigarettes over the counter and left moping.
Aubrey turned to the cashier. "Are there cups we could use?"
"I'll grab a few," he said, reaching under the counter.
"Those punks won't stop, you know," she added, watching him. "Not unless you stand up to them."
The cashier set the disposable cups beside the bottles and feigned a chuckle, "yeah, well… I'd rather stay out of fights."
Aubrey slid him the payment, shrugging, "If that's what you think is better."
Afterward, the group settled at a table outside the 7-Eleven and drank for hours, chatting casually.
Hayden wasn't a drinker, but for the sake of his bodyguard duty, he forced himself to join in. The alcohol dulled his taste buds, but in return, he gathered plenty of intels about Aubrey and her friends.
This circle wasn't as bad as Hayden assumed. They split expenses evenly and drank in moderation. No one got wasted… except Camille, who ended up crying over her ex.
By 9p.m., they tidied up their mess and called it a night. Liam gave the three girls a lift, while Hayden and Aubrey booked a ride together.
Eventually, the two made it back to the mansion safe and sound.
The night air was cool, brushing past them as they walked along the lantern-lit yard. Hayden walked a step behind Aubrey, silent, his gaze drifting upward when he noticed a lady in a sleeping gown on the balcony.
Grace sat there, serene as ever, her elbows resting on the rail as she looked down at them. When she spotted the two, she stood and descended the staircase to greet them.
Aubrey brushed past Grace with a weary smile. "Night," she mumbled, slipping through the door and heading straight upstairs without another word.
Grace's gaze followed her for a moment before turning back to Hayden. "Sorry for making you work overtime," she said, but then, she noticed the tear on his sleeve. "Wait… what happened? Are you okay?"
"The uniform's just cheap," Hayden replied. "Tell Esperanza I might need a new one."
Grace smiled faintly. "Got it. Do you want to come inside? There's something I wanted to tell you."
"Say it here," he said. "The longer I stay on duty, the more you'll have to pay me."
She let out a soft laugh. "Dad was right… you really are obsessed with money. He talks about you a lot, you know. To tell you the truth, I was actually thrilled when I heard a mercenary of your caliber would be our bodyguard."
Hayden didn't respond. His gaze stayed on her, steady and unreadable.
The silence stretched between them. Grace's smile faltered for a moment, and she lowered her eyes, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, acting coy.
"Guess it's just my misfortune you weren't assigned to me," she murmured.
The sadness in her voice faded almost as quickly as it appeared. She straightened, brushing the mood away with her usual brightness. "On another note, if you ever need help paying your grandmother's hospital bills, you can ask me. I'd be glad to help."
Hayden's brows twitched. He masked his reaction with a calm tone. "Where did that come from?"
"Dad mentioned you're working hard because of your grandmother," she said. "I think that's… really admirable."
Before Hayden could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Franklin's name flashed on the screen.
"I can manage," he said, slipping the phone out. "You shouldn't involve yourself in my affairs," he added, his voice sounding as if it's a warning. "See you tomorrow."
Grace nodded, offering him a courteous smile. "Later then… good night."
Hayden gave a curt nod before turning away and walking into the night. The mansion lights had faded behind him, and when he's far enough where no one could overhear, he answered the call and erupted.
"You dickhead!" Hayden yelled at the phone as he glided down the dark walkway.
"What the fuck was your problem, brat?!" Franky yelled back. "Throwing tantrums again?!"
"Running your mouth on that dickhead Esperanza, huh? That information about my grandmother's situation is reaching the ears of people who shouldn't know."
"Just shut it, brat," Franklin quipped. "If you get on his good side, who knows, he might solve your problem."
"I don't accept unpaid help."
"You're still the same egoistic brat as ever," he sighed. "Anyways, bring spare clothes and the wolf mask to school tomorrow."
Hayden froze mid-step, the phone pressed tightly to his ear. His breath hitched.
"You're insane…" Hayden uttered, a sudden realization dawned on him.
The only time Hayden brings his mask is when he has to kill.
But the thing that perplexed Hayden was why at school?