His Little Bird

The Central University cafeteria was packed with students. Loud pop music echoed through the crowded space while the smell of coffee and fries filled the air. Aria sat quietly in one corner with her laptop open, trying to finish her assignment. Her fingers moved quickly across the keyboard, but her attention kept slipping toward the boy sitting across from her. Ethan Carter. The star player of the university basketball team. He leaned lazily against his chair with an iced coffee in his hand, watching her struggle to focus. A soft amused smile played on his lips every single time Aria tried to avoid looking at him. His basketball jersey hugged his muscular body perfectly, making him look even more attractive than usual. Finally, Ethan broke the silence. “Aria, do you know how insanely hot you look when you’re concentrating?” Aria instantly blushed and tried to glare at him. “I seriously hate these cheesy lines, Ethan. And you know very well that when you sit in front of me like this, I can’t focus on my work at all.” Despite her complaint, she gently grabbed his hand under the table. “Let me finish this assignment first,” she whispered softly. “Then we’ll go to our favorite Mexican restaurant for dinner. Remember our date?” Ethan smiled warmly and pressed a small kiss against the back of her hand. “How could I forget? Every second I spend with you is precious to me.” For once, Ethan behaved like an obedient boyfriend and stayed quiet so Aria could finish her work faster. But at that exact moment— The large glass doors of the cafeteria suddenly burst open. Four massive men dressed in black suits walked inside. Their expressions were emotionless, cold, and dangerous. None of them spoke a single word, yet their presence alone was enough to silence the entire cafeteria. The loud chatter stopped instantly. Students moved away in fear, creating a path without being asked. Then he entered. Alex Moreno. The man before whom the entire city bowed its head. Every step he took carried terrifying confidence and power. He wore a black silk shirt with the top buttons open, revealing part of his tattooed chest. A platinum chain rested against his skin while an expensive Rolex gleamed around his wrist. But nothing about him was more dangerous than his eyes. Sharp. Cold. Predatory. Alex didn’t even glance toward the counter. He walked directly toward Aria’s table. His bodyguards surrounded the area immediately. Aria and Ethan froze in confusion. Everything was happening too fast. Ethan quickly stood up, trying to protect Aria despite the tension building in the air. “Excuse me,” Ethan said firmly. “Who are you people? Why are you surrounding us? What do you want?” Alex didn’t even acknowledge Ethan’s existence. To him, Ethan was nothing. His full attention remained locked on Aria’s pale terrified face. Alex slowly stepped closer and leaned one hand against the armrest of Aria’s chair. The strong scent of wood and musk surrounding him made Aria’s fear even worse. She completely froze. Alex’s fingers slowly moved toward the silver locket hanging around her neck. He touched it gently before pressing two fingers against the side of her neck as if checking her pulse. “Do you know something, Aria?” Alex murmured softly. “When I like something… I don’t share it with anyone.” A sharp crooked smile appeared on his face. It was the kind of smile that warned destruction was coming. Aria’s lips trembled. “W-Who are you?” she whispered fearfully. “Let me go.” She tried to move away, but Alex’s other hand wrapped possessively around her waist, pulling her closer against him. The entire cafeteria watched in silence. Nobody dared to interfere. Ethan finally snapped. “Take your hands off her right now!” He lunged forward and grabbed Alex’s collar— But within seconds, one of Alex’s bodyguards twisted Ethan’s arm violently and slammed him against the table. “Ethan!” Aria screamed in horror. “Please don’t hurt him!” Alex finally looked directly into Aria’s eyes. Then he leaned close to her ear. “So you’re begging for another man’s life while standing in front of me, little bird?” His voice was calm, almost dangerously soft. “That’s something I won’t tolerate.” Aria’s breathing became uneven. “I’ll let him go today,” Alex continued quietly. “But not again. Stay away from this boy from now on… or next time, I won’t be this merciful.” He glanced toward Ethan with pure disgust before finally releasing Aria. “Let him go,” Alex ordered coldly. “His remaining lifespan isn’t very long anyway.” Without another word, Alex turned around and walked out of the cafeteria. Only after he disappeared did the atmosphere finally feel breathable again. But Aria knew something terrifying had already begun. Even after Alex Moreno left, the cafeteria remained disturbingly silent. Aria’s body still trembled uncontrollably. The place where Alex’s cold fingers had touched her neck still burned strangely. Ethan slowly stood up from the table. Rage burned across his face while pain shot through his wrist from the bodyguard’s attack. But he ignored it completely. He immediately pulled Aria into his chest protectively. “Who was that man, Aria?” Ethan asked carefully. “Have you ever seen him before?” Despite everything, fear still hadn’t touched Ethan completely. He wasn’t just a boyfriend. He was the captain of the university basketball team. Fear didn’t exist in his blood. Aria shook her head while tears rolled down her cheeks. “No… I’ve never seen him before. But just looking at him was enough to understand that he’s dangerous. Ethan… please let’s leave.” Ethan guided her outside toward the parking lot and opened the passenger door of his jeep for her. But before starting the engine, he punched the steering wheel violently. “I know exactly who he is,” Ethan growled through clenched teeth. “Alex Moreno. Heir of the biggest criminal family in the city. Even the police are too scared to touch him.” Ethan’s jaw tightened. “When Alex Moreno wants something, he takes it. But that doesn’t mean he can take you away from me.” “Ethan, please… don’t fight him,” Aria whispered while gripping his hand tightly. “He’s too powerful.” Ethan turned toward her slowly. His eyes held only one promise. No matter what happened, he would never let anyone take Aria away from him. “I love you, Aria,” Ethan said quietly. “And I’m not going to stand there like a coward while someone puts his hands on the woman I love.” His voice hardened. “If he’s a devil… then I’ll fight him with my last breath.” He looked away darkly. “He touched you today. And I’m never going to forgive that.” At the top floor of the tallest building in the city— Alex stood silently before the giant glass windows of his penthouse office. The entire city stretched beneath his feet like it belonged to him. Because it did. A glass of expensive whiskey rested in his hand. Behind him stood Marcus, his most trusted bodyguard and right-hand man. Marcus placed a file on the table carefully. “Boss,” Marcus began carefully, “the girl’s name is Aria Lewis. Third-year architecture student. Her father is an ordinary accountant. And the boy…” Marcus paused. “Ethan Carter. Captain of the university basketball team. He was recently selected for nationals. They’ve been together for three years.” Alex went completely still. Three years. The words felt poisonous inside his ears. Without warning, Alex hurled the whiskey glass against the wall violently. The glass shattered into pieces across the floor. “That worthless boy has been touching her for three years?” Alex roared furiously. “Something that was supposed to belong to me… another man has been enjoying it all this time?” Marcus remained silent for a moment before speaking carefully. “Boss, Ethan Carter isn’t someone who backs down easily. His father is a retired army officer. And Ethan himself is… brave.” Alex slowly smiled. A cruel smile. A terrifying smile. “Brave?” Alex laughed darkly. “I want to see how long that bravery lasts once I start destroying his entire world.” His eyes turned dangerously cold. “I’m not going to kill Ethan Carter immediately.” Alex walked toward the window again. “I want him to watch.” His lips curled slowly. “I want him to watch while I lock his precious little girlfriend inside my cage.” A dark dangerous obsession burned inside his eyes. “I want him to fight for her…” He smiled again. “Because hunting becomes boring when the prey stops trying to escape.”