DEVIL'S HIGH

CHAPTER 16

SAMAEL’S POINT OF VIEW

I walked back to the chemistry lab, losing interest in walking around the library. I was confused at her sudden change in attitude and I doubted if she was tricking me the more I think about her sickening smile. And yet, for some damn reason, I wanted to believe that she was genuine. I have never had someone who thanked me so gracefully and I wondered if she really thought of me as a decent guy despite our family history.

I scoffed at myself for even thinking such stupid thoughts and quickened my pace to meet my friends and share the good news. I don’t care about how she thinks of me, as all I need was for her to leave this place and never return.

The chemistry lab was empty at this hour of the day and I could hear clinging of bottles from inside. Did they start already? My suspicion was confirmed as I listened to Asmodeus’s shouts getting louder the more I neared to the store room.

“You know why I didn’t leave her even after I knew she was cheating on me?”

There was no response from the others and I smiled, thinking how uncomfortable Leviathan and Damien must look right now. I opened the door without knocking and found my friends sitting on the floor with a bottle of beer in their hands. Asmodeus was lying with his head on Levi’s lap and his feet on Dam’s lap. What a satisfying view!

“She made me smile, bro. I would be happy even if she just winked at me from the other end of the corridor.”

“What a cliche, A.”

I mumbled and sat next to him, grabbing a bottle for myself from the almost empty crate.

“Says the one who has never been in love.”

I shook my head in amusement and brushed off his rude comment. He was right about it, anyway. I don’t believe in something called love since I have heard of my father falling for different women, whether humans or demons. My mother too had her own share of romance stories and I have even seen them both discussing about their adventures proudly. I never understood what was there to be proud of. My parents called it as an open marriage, but I call it as an open betrayal.

“Do you know that I always knew she loved Damien?”

Dam took a sharp breath and cursed under his breath for indirectly being the reason behind his friend’s break up. He was a total play boy and never settled for one woman, but I am certain that Keres was not in his list of f**k buddies. We may be demons, but our friendship was made of loyalty and trust, and neither of us would do anything to break it. And that is why Damien was feeling so uncomfortable now. He was afraid that a misunderstanding would jeopardize his relationship with A.

“But I wanted her to be with me, even if it was for someone else. I thought I could change her heart by loving her more, by forgiving her for all her mistakes. We are not perfect and I am not a saint to judge her, so I loved all her flaws as much as I loved her character. We had our moments, guys, and I was a fool to think that it was real. The way she looked at Damien on the ground yesterday…. I totally snapped. I am not a saint to forget that and put up with her again.”

Leviathan replaced his empty bottle with a new one and grimaced at the plain crate. He gestured at me to go and buy some, but I flipped him the bird and continued listening to my grieving friend. Levi sighed and carefully placed A’s head on my leg and glared at me before heading out with Damien’s wallet, the latter having no idea.

“Dam?”

Asmodeus’ words slurred, and I knew that he was totally drunk. He might say something irrevocable, so I tried to shut him up by placing my hand over his mouth, but it didn’t work, as he kept on licking my skin like a dog with rabies. Damien looked at me with troubled eyes and asked me to let him be.

A lifted his head from my thigh and moved towards Damien slowly. I expected Asmodeus to hit him but snorted on seeing him squishing Dam’s cheek.

“I won’t let a girl ruin our friendship, bro. You are my sun, moon, clouds, and fire. I love you, Damien.”

And just like that, he puked all over Damien’s lap and I burst out laughing. Leviathan was missing a funny show. Thank hell, it wasn’t me who went for the beer. I took out my phone and started recording the commotion taking place between my best friends. Damien was both relieved and disgusted at Asmodeus’ confession as he pushed A to the ground and yelled profanities. It would have been a pretty sentimental scene if the dumb guy didn’t empty his stomach, but I prefer this over an emotional drama.

I slowly slipped out of the room so that I do not have to help Asmodeus clean up, and it would be better if they spent some more time together.

I went in search of Leviathan, replaying the video I just took. Should I post it on social media? Then everyone would come to know about Keres’ and A’s break up. Since it’s not something I should be meddling with, I decided to just sent it in our group chat.

The photo of Kiara passed out on the books was right next to the video, and I selected it as well to show them. But weirdly, I couldn’t press the green button. I kept staring at her innocent face and bit my lips in distress. Why do I feel like what happened today should be a secret between us? Something only we know.

I have never been double minded when it came to my friends since I shared everything with them, but I couldn’t just imagine them seeing this picture of Kiara without feeling disappointment. Did she do something to me?

I un-ticked the image and just shared the video, quickly putting the phone back in my pocket. I exhaled a sigh of relief and my forehead scrunched in confusion. Why the hell was I relieved?

My line of thoughts was interrupted by a thud and I heard some shoutings a few lanes away. I decided to check on it and found a guy pushing a random girl to the wall. These kids have no shame.

“I am sorry, but I really need to do this.”

I was about to turn away, but the familiar voice made me stop instantly. Kiara?

I moved a little forward to get a better view and my body began trembling with anger on seeing her hugging a m*****f****r. He was definitely enjoying it, as I saw no movement of rejection from him.

“What the f**k is happening here?”

I shouted and saw her looking straight at me and her eyebrows raised up in question. She let go of him and pushed the other guy a little, but I lost it when he pulled her towards him and hugged her again. She looked surprised as well as her eyes widened and she began shaking the oddly familiar f****r.

I stormed to them and literally tore him away from her, my vision blurring with all the new emotions. I raised my fist to punch him but it stopped mid air, seeing Leviathan.

I turned to see Kiara, who looked bewildered and totally disoriented.

What kind of unexplainable situation is this?

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