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​🖤 ​💥 The Alley Ambush
​The air hung thick and stale, smelling of damp concrete and old dust. It was an "abundant street" in name only—a forgotten, narrow path squeezed between decaying factory walls. This wasn't a place for casual strolls; it was a battleground.
​Around them, four figures lay sprawled and still, their forms indistinguishable shadows in the deepening twilight. They were the opposition, now thoroughly defeated.
​Standing amidst the wreckage was Felix. He was a striking sight, leaning over with an easy, lethal grace. He wore a sleek, black leather rider's jacket, the kind that promised both speed and danger, zipped high against the chill. His hair, dark and perfectly tousled, was punctuated by three startling, crisp white color strips that cut across the side, making him look less like a fighter and more like a mysterious, attractive anti-hero straight out of a graphic novel.
​Felix wiped a thin smear of blood from the corner of his mouth—a silent testament to the recent brawl. He looked completely unfazed.
​"Come," he called, signaling with a sharp, two-finger beckon.
​From the shadows, Gabriella emerged. She wore a simple, dark hoodie and jeans—functional and unassuming, a contrast to Felix's flamboyant style. The narrow path felt hostile, but as Felix grabbed her arm and began to drag her, pulling her close, there was a confusing blend of urgency and a strangely protective roughness.
​"Let's go, before they come to," he muttered, his voice a low growl near her ear.
​They took three steps before a groan announced the return of the enemy. A large man stumbled up behind them, raising a fist for a desperate, final attack—aimed squarely at Gabriella.
​Instinct took over. Gabriella didn't hesitate. She didn't even fully turn. With a breathtakingly swift rotation, she delivered a clean, hard side-kick that connected with a sickening thud to the man's ribs. He crumpled immediately, hitting the ground with a grunt that choked off into silence.
​Gabriella straightened, a flicker of pure, fierce satisfaction—a tiny, wicked smile—playing on her lips. It was the smile of someone who had suffered and was now dealing out justice, even if it was just against a hired thug.
​Felix was genuinely impressed. His eyes sparkled, and he actually clapped once, a sharp, appreciative sound. "She is more interesting than I thought," he whispered, a hint of danger and admiration in his tone.
​Gabriella caught his gaze, her fierce smile twisting into a cold smirk—a wordless challenge that said, You have no idea.
​But the high-voltage rush of adrenaline was too much. The smirk faltered. Her vision suddenly narrowed, the dark alley walls closing in until everything went black.
​Felix's shock was immediate. "Hey! Hey!" He lunged, catching her just as her knees buckled, her body going completely limp. He lowered her gently, his hand reaching up to touch her cold cheek. The tough-rider mask cracked, replaced by a sudden, intense concern.
​Without hesitation, Felix scooped her up. She was surprisingly light. He lifted her against his chest, her head resting near his shoulder. Revenge was the game, but now, this fragile girl in his arms complicated everything.
​📞 The Queen's Breakdown
​In the penthouse apartment miles away, the atmosphere was sterile and quiet. Raina, a girl of porcelain beauty and steel nerve, sat hunched over her glowing laptop.
​She wasn't watching a movie; she was watching her own sins.
​The first clip flashed: a younger, vicious Raina, surrounded by giggling minions, bullying a scared girl, dumping a full milkshake over her head while the girl sobbed—a past cruelty.
​Raina flinched. She quickly clicked the next file. The video was shaky, recorded on a rooftop in the dead of night. It showed Raina, her eyes manic, chasing Kevin—a former acquaintance—until she cornered him. She watched in mounting panic as the younger version of herself, looking like a "crazy girl," pulled out a box cutter and, with a terrifying, emotionless precision, slashed his wrist.
​She slammed the laptop shut. The reflection in the black screen was distorted by a sudden sheen of sweat. She covered her face, the carefully maintained façade shattering. One hot, heavy tear slid down her cheek and onto the back of her hand.
​"Why did you do that?" she whispered, her voice choked with a grief that sounded like self-pity. "If you didn't... we would be together... right?"
​Ring. Ring.
​The sound of her phone was a jolt of ice water. She picked up, her voice instantly returning to its cold, controlled tone. "Hello?"
​"It's me. Did you get the pendrive, right?" The voice was familiar, yet unexpected.
​Raina's eyes narrowed with immediate suspicion. "Jake... It's you, right?"
​"Yes, it's me."
​"How did you know?"
​"Did you forget? I'm the tech genie," Jake said, his tone dry. "I saw the CCTV footage. You got what you wanted. Now, leave Gabriella. Don't even touch her."
​Raina let out a sharp, mocking chuckle. "What? Are you protecting her?"
​"Yes." Jake's reply was unwavering.
​Raina's smile vanished. She scoffed. "Do you want to go against me, like Ronnie, by standing by that Gabriella's side?"
​Silence.
​"Wait," Raina said, a new edge creeping in. "I'm sure you aren't like him... Right, Jake?"
​"Did I say that?" Jake's tone was infuriatingly normal.
​Raina groaned in frustration.
​Jake chuckled softly. "But... that doesn't mean I will stay quiet when you touch her." His voice dropped, becoming deeper and deadly, a warning that made Raina's skin prickle.
​"If she didn't interfere with my business, I wouldn't," Raina said, biting her lip in annoyance.
​"That's good."
​Suddenly, the landline rang. Raina, forgetting her smartphone call was still active with Jake, snatched it up.
​"Hello?"
​"How many times do I have to call you? Your call was engaged!" The voice was sharp and impatient.
​"Felix? Why are you calling? Is anything urgent?"
​"Your friend, Gabriella, is in the City Hospital," Felix stated.
​Raina's face went from annoyance to stark alarm. "What? But where are you? How did you know?"
​On the smartphone, Jake listened to every word. His eyes widened in absolute shock. "What? Raina, Raina—"
​Raina was too focused on the landline. "I met her by chance. Now that's not important. Do you know her parents' number?" Felix asked.
​"Ah... Wait. I know her friend, Dona," Raina said, reeling off the number.
​"Why are you giving her friend's? Don't you know her parents' number? She isn't your friend?" Felix asked, his curiosity piqued.
​Raina, pissed off by the questions, snapped, "No! More than that! Stop asking questions!"
​"She said the same thing too," Felix murmured, confused. "Okay, bye."
​"Wait," Raina demanded, her voice softening slightly. "What happened to her?"
​"She fainted. I don't know. The doctor is looking at her. I have to go," he said, and hung up.
​Raina was left with the dead landline receiver in her hand, suddenly noticing her smartphone screen. Jake was still on the line.
​"Hello?" she said, coldly.
​"What happened to Gabriella? I heard everything!" Jake's voice was frantic, full of palpable panic.
​"She is in the hospital," Raina said, her face expressionless.
​"Which one?"
​"City Hospital."
​Jake immediately hung up. No goodbye, no retort.
​Raina stared at the phone. She scoffed, rolling her eyes in utter disgust at his clear devotion.
​🏥 The Confession
​Outside the City Hospital's Emergency Ward, Felix paced anxiously, his rider jacket feeling heavy.
​A nurse called his name. "How is she?" he asked immediately.
​"She's anemic, so she fainted. It happens," the nurse explained, before her expression turned judgmental. "Is this how you look after your girlfriend? You need to be more careful."
​Felix was genuinely shocked. "What? Girlfriend?"
​Before he could deny it, the nurse shoved a medicine prescription into his hand and walked off, already busy. Felix stared at the paper, repeating the word, Girlfriend.
​He walked into the room. Gabriella was sitting up, pale but alert.
​"Are you okay now?" Felix asked gently, his voice unexpectedly soft.
​Gabriella nodded. "Thanks."
​"No mention," he smiled. "I informed Dona. She will come."
​"How did you know her?" Gabriella asked, confused.
​"Raina gave me the number. I have to buy this medicine," he said, glancing at the prescription, then heading for the door.
​Gabriella watched him leave, her mind churning. Raina said? It was all confusing.
​The door burst open. Dona rushed in, her eyes wide with panic.
​"Gaby! Oh my god!" Dona hugged her tight, then immediately inspected Gabriella's arms and hands for injuries. "Are you alright? Did they harm you?"
​"I'm fine, really," Gabriella reassured her. "No. Felix fought them off. He saved me."
​"Felix? Who?"
​"Raina's fiancé," Gabriella said simply.
​Dona's eyes widened. "Him? But... why was he there?"
​"I don't know. I'm confused, too. What was he doing in that abundant street?"
​💊 The Declaration
​In front of the hospital pharmacy, Felix had just bought the prescribed medicine. As he turned to leave, a figure slammed into him. The pharmacy bag, containing Gabriella's medicine, fell, and the contents scattered on the ground.
​"Oh, you—" Felix started, his face contorting in pure annoyance. He stopped when he looked up.
​It was Jake.
​Jake muttered a quick, dismissive "Sorry," but when his eyes registered Felix—the attractive rider with the three white strips—he ignored him completely and walked away, practically storming into the hospital.
​Felix, furious at the rudeness and the scattered medicine, quickly gathered the items and followed.
​He reached Gabriella's room just in time to see Jake practically run to the bedside.
​Jake grabbed Gabriella's hand, his grip tight, his face etched with absolute, raw concern. Gabriella's eyes widened. Dona watched, stunned.
​Gabriella tried to pull her hand away, but Jake held fast. "What happened to you?" He reached out and gently touched her forehead, a gesture of profound familiarity and worry.
​"She's anemic," Dona supplied quietly.
​Jake froze. He remembered. A flash memory—a nurse telling him the same thing 2 weeks ago, when Gabriella had fainted in school. The memory snapped him back to reality.
​Felix, standing in the doorway, coughed loudly. He had seen enough.
​"Who are you," Felix demanded, his voice low, cold, and challenging, "to Gabriella?"
​Jake turned slowly, meeting Felix's gaze with a hard, unblinking intensity. He knew he had no rights, but he was done hiding.
​He stood tall and looked the attractive rider straight in the eye.
​"I'm her Boyfriend."
​Dona gasped, her eyes going wide with shock. Felix's expression went from suspicious to dangerous. And Gabriella—she was utterly confused.
​Felix and Jake stood opposite, the air vibrating with instant, hostile rivalry. Jake had just laid claim to Gabriella, but his face held a hidden truth, a secret history. Gabriella looked from one intense face to the other, her hand still clutched in Jake's. Which one of these dangerous men was telling the truth, and what was the real story connecting them all—a story that had started long ago with a terrible crime and was now culminating in a war for her heart?
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To be Continued...
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