Chapter 19: Whispered Threats and Cold Shadows
1337 Words
The motorcycle hummed smoothly down the road. Leaning in close, Regina called out
over the wind, "Aster... you've really changed, you know?"
Allen blinked, glancing slightly back. "What? How?"
"When I first met you, your attitude was so awful I could barely stand it," she said with
a soft smile. "And now... you're actually kind of sweet and kind."
Allen smirked, his eyes tracking the road. "Oh? So I'm sweet and kind now, am I?"
Realizing what she had just blurted out, Regina's face flushed. "No! Wait, I mean—
that's not exactly what—"
Before her stuttering could spin out of control, Allen cut in quietly. "Thank you, Gina."
Regina blinked, her heart doing a small flip. "You're welcome. But don't go thinking
I'm just being nice, or—"
"Gina, don't stutter around me," Allen interrupted gently. "I don't judge you."
Regina stared at the back of his jacket, a genuine smile breaking across her face.
"Allen... you really are a good person."
Allen smiled to himself, a wave of affection hitting him. What am I going to do with
you? he thought. I know I've changed... but you don't even realize that you're the one
who made me like this, my Gina.
A moment later, he pulled the brakes. "Alright, here we are."
He parked the bike in front of the uniform store. They both stepped inside and
immediately spotted their high school's specific section.
Regina pointed toward a hanger. "Allen, look, there's your uniform!"
"And this one is yours, Gina," Allen replied, pulling the matching female outfit from
the rack. "Thank goodness we don't have to waste time searching for them."
They quickly paid at the cash counter. Regina checked her phone and turned to him.
"Allen, I brought my backpack with me, so we don't have time to go back home. Let's
just change in the dressing rooms here and head straight to school."
"Good point. Let's do it," Allen agreed.
A few minutes later, the dressing room doors opened.
Regina stepped out, wearing the crisp new uniform, her hair neatly brushed and her
makeup flawlessly done. She looked up and froze.
Allen was already standing there, waiting for her. In the sharp tailoring of the new
uniform, with his hair perfectly styled, he looked incredibly dashing.
Allen turned his gaze toward her, and his breath completely caught in his throat. He
stared at her for a long, silent moment. "Gina... you look absolutely beautiful."
Regina's cheeks burned, her eyes tracing his sharp features. "You... you look really
handsome yourself."
"Handsome?" Allen repeated, a sudden smirk playing on his lips.
"Beautiful?" Regina countered playfully.
Allen quickly rubbed the back of his neck, a deep blush dusting his ears. "Forget what
I said."
Regina giggled. "Now, can we please get to school? Otherwise, our very first stop in
the new building is going to be detention."
"Never," Allen stated confidently.
They walked back out to the motorcycle, but Regina paused, wincing slightly as she
shifted her weight. "Aster..."
"What is it?" Allen asked, holding the handlebars.
"Can you... can you help me lower the bike a little bit? While we were walking into the
shop, I accidentally twisted my injured ankle again."
Allen's expression softened instantly. He let go of the bike, stepping right up to her
with a teasing glint in his eyes. "Oh? Then why ask the bike to change? Just ask your
bodyguard to handle it, dear."
Before she could protest, Allen smoothly reached down and lifted her up into his
arms, carefully placing her onto the seat of the motorcycle.
Regina's entire face exploded into a brilliant red. "Seriously... since what day did you
become such a nice person?!"
"From today," Allen whispered, stepping onto the front of the bike. He reached back,
gently taking her hand and placing it firmly around his waist. "Hold on tight."
Regina smiled, gripping his jacket securely as the powerful engine roared to life. They
flew down the streets at full speed, racing toward the new academy grounds.
They arrived at the new school building a short while later. As they walked down the
unfamiliar corridors toward their classroom, Regina felt a knot of anxiety form in her
stomach. "Aster... I really think the teacher is going to be furious with us."
"No way. Just stay chill," Allen reassured her.
They stopped at the classroom door. Standing side by side, Allen knocked and called
out, "May we come in?"
The teacher looked up from the podium, nodding instantly. "Ah, yes, yes! Come in.
Allen, your father called ahead to let me know that both of you would be arriving late
today. Go ahead and take your seats."
The entire classroom went dead silent, every single eye tracking them as they walked
down the aisle together. The whispers started instantly.
The moment they sat down, Regina's best friend leaned over, her eyes wide with
curiosity. "Hey, Regina! Are you and Allen secretly dating?!"
"No! It's not like that at all!" Regina whispered back frantically, her face burning.
On the other side of the row, Allen's friend nudged his shoulder, grinning. "Allen, bro,
are you and Regina a thing now?"
Allen cleared his throat, looking incredibly awkward. "No. Why would you even think
that?"
"Come on, you guys arrived together, and the teacher literally said your dad called in
for both of you," his friend pointed out.
Stuck without a valid excuse, Allen quickly improvised. "Uh... our fathers are close
business friends. That's the only reason. It's a family thing."
Regina overheard him and internally sighed. Our fathers are friends, huh? Well, that
works.
The friends nodded, satisfied with the cover story. "Oh, okay. That makes sense."
Suddenly, the teacher tapped the podium, commanding the room's attention.
"Alright, class, quiet down. Today, we have a new transfer student joining our ranks.
Please welcome Noah William."
The classroom door slid open, and a boy stepped inside.
The moment Allen's eyes landed on the boy's face, his entire body went completely
rigid. For the first time in his life, pure, unadulterated shock froze him in his seat. He
stopped breathing.
Noah stood at the front, delivering a smooth, polite introduction to the class. The
teacher smiled, gesturing toward the rows. "Excellent. Noah, please go ahead and find
an empty seat."
Noah's gaze swept across the room until it locked directly onto Allen. Walking down
the aisle, he deliberately stopped right next to Allen's desk. Leaning down, he
dropped his voice to a chilling, venomous whisper.
"Hello, Allen. I knew we would meet again soon... because I told you before, your pain
is far from over."
Allen's heart violently hammered against his ribs. A terrifying wave of fear washed
over him, his hands starting to tremble uncontrollably as he stared straight ahead,
completely paralyzed.
Regina noticed the sudden shift instantly. She leaned over, her voice laced with deep
concern. "Aster...? Aster, are you okay?"
Noah's eyes flicked over to Regina, a dark, sinister smile forming on his lips. He leaned
back down to Allen's ear, whispering cruelly, "Is she Regina Macley?"
Panic flared in Allen's chest. "How do you know her name?" he hissed out in a terrified
whisper.
Noah let out a soft, mocking chuckle. "What, did you think I don't spy on your life?
Let's see how much time she has left."
Allen's breath hitched, his voice shaking with desperate rage. "Why...? What are you
going to do?"
"The exact same thing that happened to your mother and your sister," Noah
whispered coldly.
Before Allen could even process the horrific threat, Noah straightened up, flashing a
perfectly normal smile, and walked over to an empty desk across the room.
Regina grabbed Allen's sleeve, her heart aching at the sight of him trembling in sheer
terror. "Aster! Aster, please talk to me! Why are you frozen like this?!"
Allen swallowed hard, forcing his hands to stop shaking as he locked his jaw, his voice
completely hollow.
"I'm... I'm fine, Gina."
[Chapter Ended .
To Be Continued]
- Writer
