His Touch Remains

2. The Guy

Whatever happens, things must go the way I planned it because if not, the purpose of living here would be wasted.

These people might throw stones towards me, might say the worst things about me, might be intrigued with my life but I was guarded. I buried my past to the deepest of my soul that I left it locked and untouched even by me. It was just there but I didn't want to trigger it. May it remain at rest forever even if my emotions were frequently stirred.

Maybe one thing that's helping me sane was the thing with Louisa. It's like one of the missing pieces of my life that I unveiled. It gave me purpose to avenge. It might not be for myself but the satisfaction that comes with it was what I was after at. Although I also get irritated. But what could I possibly do? I was just a human.

"My goodness, I couldn't believe you did it in the library. You know, I support you with what you're doing with Louisa and Venice but that's your workplace. What if you'll get fired or something?" Alex's brows creased, feeling worried about what happened yesterday.

Yes, gossip flew the fastest in this town. My friend Alex already knew before I even opened my mouth.

I shook my head. "That will not happen. Lana told me a while ago that she talked with the owner. Besides, it's not my fault so why would they fire me?"

"Are you sure? You gotta talk with the owner yourself. Say you're sorry. It's still not good that you did it there. Okay?" She gave me thumbs up. She's walking backward and a little ahead of me so we could see each other while talking.

We were walking on the field and many students were already roaming the campus. I was off to the town center for my part-time job while Alex will go home. We were neighbors, the reason why I got my only friend in town who's acting like an unnecessary older sister to me.

I groaned. "Everything's not good Alex. You just have to play and be done with it before the elders will see you. That's a bigger problem when that happens. Now I wonder why Louisa and I aren't being called to the Prefect with all the gossip around." The thought lingered on my mind. The afternoon breeze whistled crisply as the flags swayed in the four pillars few meters away from us.

"You know who she is. No one dared, even the teachers. You might consider yourself lucky but no. One word from her and they'll follow."

I pouted from the impossibility of it. "She's just a student. If that's true then this school...sucks. Why would they resist such an occurrence? Bullying is punishable by law. Isn't that written on our handbook?"

She sneered, turned around, and walked beside me. "I know right but those are futile. Written but not implemented. Useless, you know..." she breathed heavily. A second later, she directed me a cunning smile and said, "It's better so you won't get any record."

I chuckled softly. That's true especially now that I remembered my parents. They were upfront with my issues. They could make those rules happen or break them until my name is cleared. The only good thing about all of it. But once they knew, I would be reprimanded and my life would be back to hell. So it was better if this thing with Louisa remained unknown to them. I didn't want them to step into this town so I could keep silent and lowkey mystery to all.

I would not let anyone from my past hinder my present that's been going well even with Louisa and Venice on it.

"Yeah. I think it's better even considering that we're a Catholic school." I raised an eyebrow.

"What a sarcasm Leslie," Alex chuckled loud.

Her small-rounded face and short hair made her look younger. She's quite cute, considering her height. We were exactly the opposite. She looked approachable while I have a resting b***h face. People would often be intimidated by my sleepy eyes and quietness. Add my aggressiveness when I'm pissed and everyone would shut up and leave. And that I think it's better.

"So take care and don't get caught but still, say your sorry to Miss Josephine," she still insisted.

"I'm not even seeing her at the building. Believe me, Lana already did talk to the owners so don't worry about it too much. It's just a side hustle. If I will get fired, then I will search for another," I shrugged my shoulders.

"Hey! Watch out!" Someone shouted from the field and that's when we noticed a soccer ball flying in the air like a rocket coming in our way.

"Oh, damn." I grabbed Alex's hand and we successfully dodged it. My heart thudded from that almost accident but we did not make it as a big deal and continued walking.

She crossed her arms. "Okay then. Anyway, guess what?" she sounded excited.

"What? Don't make me guess, just spill it." Our conversation got interrupted when we heard my name being called by someone.

"Leslie! Leslie!" we stopped walking and turned to the back when a girl shouted my name.

We watched her until she stood in front of us, panting from running who knows where.

"What do you need?" I asked with no emotion.

"You need to come with me. My friend," she held her chest, still out of breath.

"What about your friend?"

"Louisa. She," she stopped to breathe again.

I straightened with the mention of the name then I looked at Alex. I looked back at the girl. "Where is she?"

"At the CR. There." She pointed at the CR near the gymnasium.

I handed my bag to Alex. "Hold this." I started to run.

"I'll just see you at home!" I heard Alex shouted but my eyes already caught the commotion in front of the CR.

People were in a circle and seemed to be enjoying the show, whatever was happening. When I drew closer, students noticed me and they moved sideways for me to walk in front of Louisa and Venice.

I stopped in front of them. "What are you doing?" I looked at the girl who was acting like a loser on the floor. I noticed the pail beside her and that could explain why she's dripping wet.

"Oh, don't worry. I was ju-" I raised my palm in front of Louisa's face.

"I'm not talking to you." I heard Louisa gasped and the students chuckled.

I slightly kicked the shoes of the girl when she didn't respond. She slowly turned her gaze up until her eyes met mine but immediately turned away. She looked like she's about to cry.

"Stand up and run if you don't want me to drag you there," I threatened. I won't drag her there. I am not Louisa's kind of b***h. I just didn't want to see someone pitiful especially if they don't deserve it.

And at the very least, why can't she just give me back the favor by doing what I just told her? But she just sat there! Ugh! So stressing.

"You really like meddling with my business, huh?" Louisa pushed the side of my shoulder, making me turned to her.

"And I told you I won't tolerate anything about this s**t!"

"Really?" She walked around the girl until she stood right at her back. She kneeled and grabbed the girl's hair which made everyone exclaimed. "I guess you can't tolerate this too?" she smirked.

"Please stop," the girl pleaded, cringing her face.

I heaved a deep sigh. "You left me with no choice," I shrugged and walked at her back. I leaned closer to her ears and whispered, "but to do this. Sorry, not sorry."

She glanced at me when I was about to pull her hair upward.

"Ah!" Her free hand grabbed my wrist as she cried exaggeratedly. She stood and the girl also cried in pain when Louisa pulled her too.

The students roared in excitement. I wasn't planning to spice it up as this wasn't really my forte of bitching but Louisa was really getting on my nerve!

"You b***h! Let me go if you don't want me to smash your face!" she shouted, still grabbing the girl's hair.

"We're hearing each other. Let her go and I will let you go!"

Venice advanced and she was about to attack me from behind when I turned around making the other two positioned in front of me, blocking Venice.

"Stay where you are or else I will rip her hair out of her scalp!" I tightened my grip.

"Ah!" Louisa and the girl cried more as we pulled each other. Louisa groaned in anger and let go of the girl who immediately ran away. Her other hand quickly grabbed my hair.

This b***h has lost her mind! How dare her?! I felt my scalp stretched and pain lingered. I grabbed her wrist and tried to pull it away but she was pulling my hair too tight!

"This is the last time I'm telling you this. Do not meddle with my business if you don't want your life ruined!" she shouted at me.

I glanced at her sideways and smirked. "I have nothing to lose."

As long as my secret was safe with me, I thought at the back of my mind, then I had to meddle with her business!

The murmur of the students becomes louder.

"Clarence!" Venice shouted.

My eyes followed her as she passed in front of us.

"Woah! What the hell is going on here?" a guy chuckled which made me more irritated. My brows furrowed when he stood in front of us. His hands were on his hips and Venice linked her arm on his.

"Clarence! Stop me or else I will burn this thing!"

I smirked. "Oh, you mean, you're hurt and you want me to let go by saying that to save your face?" Intelligent b***h.

The Clarence creased his brows and chuckled more. He looked at me interestingly like I was a new sight for him. Well, I actually was and so was he for me. And based on the linking of the arm, I was sure he was a friend of them. They even called a guy! This is unfair!

"Okay, you two. Don't be such stubborn asses and let go of each other's hairs," he demanded.

"You tell her to let go!" Louisa cried, not wanting to be defeated. The pride of this girl was way too high for her attitude.

At least for me, I was just avenging the girl even when I was hurting. Why do I need to go through this while helping others?!

I thought he will help Louisa but he turned away and started shoo-ing the students around. "Okay everyone, the show is done. You can go home now! It's already late. Go on. Go on," he said, with his hand maneuvering them to go.

The students started to move and we're still grabbing each other's hair.

"How about you? Aren't you going home?" His fake innocent eyes went from Louisa to mine. But we didn't move.

"Okay. Let's go, Venice." He pulled her hand and was about to walk. I didn't know if he was just trying us or what but we didn't budge.

"Wait," Venice stopped him then she turned to me. "Let go now Leslie," she said calmly, fighting the urge to say more.

I rolled my eyes. "I'll do that only if she says her sorry! I want justice for me and the girl and for all the students she bullied!" Saying that just made me angrier!

Her grip tightened and so did I. Our bodies jerked from pulling each other.

"I will! But I have to tell you that I will kill you first before you hear that word from me! Let go now!" she shouted the last words so loud like a mad dog, it reverberated in my ears!

"Aah!" She shook my head through her grip and that made me dizzy but I didn't submit my body to that. My breathing quickened with her sudden advance and my head palpitated because of anger!

Before I could even wag her head too, a calloused hand, which I was sure wass a man's, held my wrist so hard that it made me loosen my grasp in her hair.

"WTF!" I pulled my hand against him but he was so strong! My hand was hanging in the air as he held it up while my head's still bowed down because Louisa did not let go of it. She freely pulled my hair!

"Serves you right!"

"Louisa," said in a low voice.

"Apollo!" She hissed then let go of my hair harshly.

I almost lost my balance not only if this man's not holding me. I rested my other hand on my knee and sighed heavily to compose myself. My temples were palpitating so hard.

"Are you alright?" I heard Venice asking Louisa.

"Do I look alright to you?" she fumed. I heard her footsteps walking away. Then followed by another, probably Venice.

Finally, because I wouldn't want to face her after this bullshit she caused! I might punch her in the face!

"They are so wild bro." Clarence chuckled. I heard the other guy smirked.

That's when I realized, he's still holding my wrist. I am sure this is her friend too. Are they going to mock me too? Oh my God! I am tired.

I inhaled a large breath and brushed my messy hair backward as I straightened my posture. "Are you going to -" I froze, my mouth left hanging on the air the moment I laid my eyes on him.

My chest pounded aggressively. He-he… Mason. That's the first word that came into my mind. No, this couldn't be possible!

"I'm not Mason." He raised his eyebrows with the shock apparent to my face. His looks especially his eyes were Mason. It held the same darkness from the past.

I shook my head as I lingered my eyes at his wholeness. Dark... dark shirt... dark. He was dark. The more seconds I stared at him, memories started to crumble at the back of my mind.

His grip on my wrist suddenly became a familiar touch, it scared me. Trembling, I pushed his chest hard, he stumbled backward.

"Don't you dare touch me!"

"What the." His gave off a low chuckle.

I couldn't move but inside me, I was beginning to be fueled with anger, fear, and resentment all at once. And remembering everything it caused me, I wanted to avenge myself. I wanted it bad. I cursed this man!

"Woah!" Clarence reacted when I slapped the guy real hard.

He held his cheek that immediately turned red. He smirked in disbelief but his face turned serious upon meeting my eyes again.

"And what was that for?" his baritone voice echoed.

My chest heaved rapidly and tears began to flow on my cheeks. I couldn't control what I was feeling yet never in a second did my burning eyes left his. I wanted him to see how much I wanted to make him suffer. I wanted him to feel tortured alive, to feel death even when he's still alive.

"Do you care to explain what was that for?" he stepped forward as he looked for answers in my eyes. His brows become more furrowed with the confusion from my tears.

I stepped backward. "D-Don't come near me." I managed to say under my heavy breath.

His thick and quite protruding brows, his dark and brooding eyes, the sharp jaws, and the way he stood tall in front of me screamed unyielding dominance and danger.

As he stepped forward, the more my heart pounded. Before I could even burst, I turned around and ran away from him.