"Will you take something, Sophronia?" Mysie inquired, a smile on her lips.

"One coke, please, thank you!" I returned the gesture. On our behalf, she placed an order with the waiter.

I smiled at my friends who were dancing on the dance floor at the moment. We barely arrived at the party a few minutes ago, and they were already totally inebriated. The party was held in one of the Merciless' clubs. It wasn't cheap or third-class like other clubs. It seemed more decent in a manner that would puzzle you, because I was perplexed myself just a few moments ago!

The club was massive, well-kept, tidy, and hygienic. Mercilessly, it turned out, were the people who valued discipline, cleanliness, and perfection. The venue was lit up with low lighting, as well as DJ lights and music. It was loud and packed, with people dancing, making out, and lounging on sofas. In the center of each sofa, tables were perfectly set. A bar was also located by the dance floor. On the first floor, I learned there were few rooms. In conclusion, the club wasn't all bad!

Mysie introduced me to her boyfriend, Senior Ryder Philip, who was a member of the S Racers. The guy was such a charmer! As a result, we were seated with Senior Aylwin. We, his gang mates, Azura, and a couple other people sat at his table. They were all laughing, chatting, and going about their day. Except for Senior Aylwin, who seemed to be more preoccupied with concealing his feelings.

Boy, there's a gesture called smiling; do it occasionally; it's good for your health!

That was the first time I had seen Azura smile, considering the fact that she didn't say anything and just gave slight smiles or smirks on occasion. Even her words lacked emotion the majority of the time.

Perhaps Aylwin has influenced her. What a terrible influence the guy is!

I sat silently throughout, listening to their conversations and sipping my coke. It was probably my fourth coke. Did I mention I was a coke addict? Heck, I was!

I glanced around and saw Saphy and Felix laughing by the bar, Damy flirting with a guy, and Ivy dancing with Austin. This young lady was in desperate need of some self-control lessons. Poor Austin! She pulled him to the dance floor in front of everyone. The boy couldn't even say anything. Huh!

After a few minutes, I joined them on the dance floor as well. It was preferable to being alone and staring at nothing. I was drained, so I returned to my seat.

Mysie and Senior Ryder were not here anymore, maybe spending some time alone. Basically, I, Azura, Faith, Claire, S Racers, and a couple of new girls and boys, Senior Kyla and Senior Aria, made up the majority of the table. Yup, Faith and Claire were there, too!

Claire had warned me to stay away from Ken the last time we met, and she herself was flirting with him. Ken wasn't any different. A few hours ago, I caught him red-handed. It was amazing how ironic the situation could be!

My glance was drawn to the curly-haired brunette, who was attempting to entice Senior Aylwin's attention, but he was too engrossed with gazing at me. Not in that sense, but for the fifth or sixth time tonight, our gazes collided. The stare was neither too long nor too brief. It was quick and accidental, but it was enough to make my goddamn breath seize!

Each time it happened, I swiftly averted my eyes, sipping my coke, hoping to make it better for both of us.

Talking about the curly-haired brunette with bright brown eyes. She was Kyla Ward, an Australian. She was a senior as well as the student council's president.

Next came Aria Romano, half-Italian and half-American. She was the head cheerleader in her senior year. She was a blonde with black eyes. They were both attractive, though, with their long and lean bodies. She was clad in a provocative one-piece that exposed the majority of her body. She was practically flinging herself at Senior Aylwin, who seemed uninterested in her.

Faith and Claire joined a group of boys on the dance floor. They were all gossiping when Azura's voice stopped us. "I see, Aria, your habit of throwing yourself on others hasn't left until now," Azura said, her lips curled into a deep smirk.

Senior Aria's facial features were absolutely priceless. She looked annoyed, humiliated, and hurt.

"Says the one who's desperate to get someone's attention," she snapped. Senior Kyla seemed to be fighting back a chuckle.

"Don't forget who you're dealing with!" Azura said, her face irritated. Her language was ominous and intimidating.

"Oh yes, how could I forget?" She feigned a gasp before smirking, "I'm speaking to the one who was rejected by Aylwin." Holy molly, cabbage-broccoli!

"Enough both of you! You've had your fill of each other! If you both want to fight, you can leave now. We're trying to enjoy ourselves here, but it seems like you two have different plans. " A man next to Senior Aylwin, whose name I assumed was Chase Gavin, spoke up. While his words brought them all to a halt, their glares continued. If only eyes could kill!

Keep staring at each other, and your eyes will pop out at any moment!

I'd finished my fourth coke and was in desperate search of a fifth. I went to get a bottle of coke. Mysie emerged out of nowhere and joined me as I was taking it.

"Hello there! Having fun? " She gave me a polite smile as she set her order for vodka.

"If watching those two girls glare and bicker is fun, then I'm having a great time!" I responded with a sigh and a roll of the eyes. She chuckled.

I began sipping my coke and peering around the room before my eyes fell on those familiar dark blue orbs.

A nod in yes, a shake in no! That's what he'd been up to all night!

"You know, you're the first girl I've met who doesn't see him as a piece of raw meat waiting to be devoured. Instead, you see him as a brand-new research project, one that you're trying to find out despite the fact that the formulas are missing." I was taken aback by Mysie's remark.

"Look at everyone here; they're all showing feelings, but this guy!? Man, is he a robot or what? He shows nothing! How can anyone be so good at covering up their emotions? Seriously, how? Doesn't he feel something? Love, pain, pleasure, sorrow, rage, frustration, at least a little bit! " I said as I turned to face her.

"The guy, sitting there among everyone, seems to be very rough and rugged," she smiled back, "but the reality is—there's a very soft person behind the façade of a cold-hearted man." Her words left me perplexed.

"You know, I moved from Chicago to New York two years ago. This place was unknown to me. It was an unfamiliar place for me, as was anything else. We planned to go to a club one night with all of our friends. They ditched me later that night. " She sighed, zoning out.

"It'd be an understatement to say I was terrified. I cautiously made my way back to my dorm with a lot of bravery. After a short distance, I came upon a group of extremely drunk young men. I didn't pay attention to them and kept up the pace. They kept trailing me, whistling and doing all kinds of obnoxious things. They had me in a tight spot. I did everything I could to fight them, but there were five of them and I was alone. My mind went blank for a split second. My mind was hijacked by a slew of pessimistic emotions, none of which were useful. " She took a sip of vodka before politely smiling at me. Her eyes became glassy.

I kept my mouth shut and waited for her to finish.

"It felt as if acid was being poured on my body by their touches. I continued to sob, struggle, and scream until I became numb and dizzy. I was about to give up when a stranger came to my rescue. He tackled them and was able to save me. My clothes were ripped in a few places. I-I... " Her words died down. I squeezed her shoulder softly.

"You know, Soph, what precisely did he do to deserve a spot in my heart?"

"He never ever looked at me with a wrong intention in his eyes. He picked me up, took me to the hospital, and dropped me off at my dorm safely. He came to check on me every now and then after that incident. To me, he is a brother. Even today, I always seek his advice in any situation. " She finished and took a deep swig. She brushed away a single tear that had fallen from her cheek. It wasn't difficult to figure out who she was referring to.

"He appeared stoic the whole time I spoke with him. Although he doesn't show us, I know that deep down somewhere, he too has feelings. It's just that he doesn't show it. He is a one-of-a-kind in a very special way! Aylwin Eldred is different in a way that no one else is! " With a grin on her lips, she turned to face me.

My mind was preoccupied with registering each word she said. "Does that memory still haunt you?" I finally asked, thinking.

"Nah, not anymore!" she said with a shake of her head.

"However, recalling them instills terror in me. You know, Sophronia, sometimes I wonder what would have happened to me if Aylwin bro hadn't appeared at the time... " I squeezed her shoulder, cutting her off.

"You know, Mysie," Sucking a deep breath, I stated, "There are a lot of things out of our control. If you keep thinking about your past, you'll end up with a lot of destructive "what ifs" and "maybes." The churning of anxiety sometimes leaves an indelible mark on our spirits. The core essence of our heart gets caged by the terror of our past events, transforming them into lifelong traumas. "

I gazed into her orbs, "It's best to move on. Moreover, such situations are part of our lives. Mysie, life is about conquering terror, not just surviving it. I know it's challenging, but it's not impossible. Anyways, enough of this philosophy. I'm going back. See you later! Smile and enjoy! " I playfully clashed my coke with her vodka, winking at her.

I excused myself and took my coke, giving her a final warm smile. She needed some solitude right then in order to clear her mind and help herself. I headed towards my seat and made myself comfortable.

I opened my Instagram account. I looked up his username. I continued to browse through his posts until I had an epiphany. I smiled.

'The one who has millions following him is sometimes the one who can't even follow his own soul. We all have facades, but letting them dominate our lives!? Nothing could really be more disastrous! Aylwin Eldred has surrendered himself to his façade. Indeed, he has! '

"AYLWIN FUCKING ELDRED, WHERE THE FUCKING HECK ARE YOU?" I flinched when I heard a sudden outburst. As I raised my head, I saw a familiar face with piercings.

No way! Not this time!