HER INNOCENT SLAVE (ENGLISH)

HER INNOCENT SLAVE 11

(HIS) Chapter 11

My feet halted in an instant when I saw Lucas leaning on the wall beside my door. He stood up straight as he watched me close my door.

"What are you doing there?"

He licked his lips and looked at the backpack I was wearing on my back.

"You don't remember what I told you yesterday?"

"About what?"

He reached for my bag but I moved it away from his hand. He bit his lower lip when I didn't give it to him.

"I told you yesterday that we'll go to school together again."

I hooked my thumbs on both straps of my bag. I looked up at him and raised my brows with a grin. His gaze dropped to my lips that were slightly pouting. He failed to hide the redness of his face.

"I thought you didn't like going to school with me?"

He sighed and cleared his throat. His eyes turned serious as they locked on mine.

"You might get into another fight."

"What happened yesterday? I didn't start it. If they don't come to me, I won't get into a fight."

He slowly nodded.

"That's the reason why we should go together to school. If you're near me, they can't come near you. They will not pick on you if you're with me."

"Really? How's that possible when we're in different buildings?" I asked dramatically before turning around to head downstairs. He immediately followed.

By the time we reached the last step, he quickened his pace and went ahead of me toward the main door. When I came out, he was already opening the door of his car. I rolled my eyes and just got in without arguing. He kept glancing at me once he got inside. When I looked at him, he was staring at my seatbelt.

"You don't wear seatbelts while driving?"

"Am I driving right now?" I reasoned, shrugging my shoulders.

He still hadn't started the car. He narrowed his eyes on me.

"How about the last time I saw you breaking the traffic lights? You weren't wearing seatbelts then either?"

"Argh!" I rolled my eyes and just pulled the seatbelt. Once I wore it, I looked at him with a sharp arch of my brows. "See?" I pointed at the seatbelt. "Now, can you please start driving and stop your nagging?"

He sighed while shaking his head. He licked his lips before starting the engine.

"Does your wound still hurt?"

When he asked, he glanced at my neck. It was already bruised and drying. I laughed first before answering.

"No. My doctor is good. With extra service."

I grinned as I watched his reaction. His ears and neck turned red. He turned his face toward the window, avoiding my eyes. He cleared his throat after a while and slowly stopped the car at a red light. I glanced at the countdown numbers and pouted. There were still two seconds left but he already stopped. He looked at me again and stared at the scratches on my neck.

"Avoid fighting again," he said with a sigh.

"Can I really avoid it? What do you want? For me to just let them beat me up?"

He shook his head and shifted his seat so he could face me.

"No. I mean, you shouldn't provoke them. The more you provoke them, the more they won't stop—"

I clicked my tongue loudly in irritation, making him stop. I also faced him.

"So the truth finally comes out. You act like you're concerned, but the truth is, you blame me for what happened yesterday!" I glared at him.

"That's not what I meant—"

"That's what you mean! You just said I provoked them! That if I don't provoke them, they will not do that! You are blaming me, Lucas!"

He fell silent. A car behind us honked, making him face forward. The other vehicles had already started moving. He glanced at me once before driving again.

"That's not what I meant. You—"

"Shut up," I ordered firmly.

I crossed my arms and stared straight ahead. From the corner of my eye, I could see him glancing at me. My brows were knitted the entire time until we reached school. As soon as he stopped, I quickly got out and angrily walked toward my building.

I heard him call my name as he closed the car door, but I didn't look back. Even hours later during a lecture, I was still frowning.

I was the one they came after in the building. He didn't even see what happened, and yet he said it was my fault, that I provoked them to fight me? I even walked away when they tried to trip me.

Yeah, I gave them my middle finger, but they deserved it. I had no plans of fighting, but I wasn't about to just let them gang up on me either.

I grabbed my bag impatiently when the bell rang and my classmates started leaving. I was already at the door when my feet stopped. Lucas was leaning against the wall beside the door, just like this morning outside my room. When he noticed me, he stood up straight. We locked eyes, but I walked past him.

"Lucienne, I'm wrong, okay? I used the wrong word. I'll take back my words."

I walked fast. His steps were normal, but he still kept up because his legs were longer than mine.

"Lucienne."

I didn't look at him. My brows stayed furrowed as I kept walking.

"I used the wrong word, Lucienne. I don't mean that you are provoking them. What I mean to say is . . . don't let them hurt you." His voice was low. It was like he didn't want to explain, but it was bothering him.

I slowed down and shot him a side-eye. He was watching me closely, weighing my expression.

"Why are you following me? I thought we don't meddle with each other inside the school?"

His lips parted. He was about to speak again, but then we saw his friends approaching. I immediately stepped back once they arrived. His girlfriend quickly held his hand, but he was still looking at me.

"What are you doing here?" Catelynn asked, which made him glance at her.

"Ah." He looked at me. "I just asked something."

Catelynn nodded and turned to me. She noticed the wound on my neck. She looked into my eyes with what seemed like sympathy. I stayed quiet and averted my gaze from her, only to meet Leela's. She was staring at me while holding a book.

"Your scratch on the neck is huge. Won't that leave a scar?" Rome asked, moving closer to inspect.

I touched the wound. I glanced at Lucas, who was staring at me again. After I remembered the medicines he gave me after what we did last night, I looked back at Rome.

"Probably not. I have medicine for it."

"Those people you fought with didn't come to school!" Rome again. "Did you get scolded in the office?"

I glanced again at Lucas. I shook my head at Rome and walked ahead toward the canteen. I had no idea what happened to those people I fought with. All I knew was they went straight to the hospital because they were injured. Maybe that's why they didn't show up at school. Lucas had gone to the office, so I had no idea what he told them that kept me from being called in.

I went straight to the food line while they looked for seats. There weren't too many people but it was still noisy. I stood tall, arms crossed. I figured Lucas wouldn't bother me in the canteen because of the crowd. That he'd be too scared to approach me in a place where many could see.

That's what I thought. But I was wrong, because not long after, I smelled him right behind me in line. I glanced sideways, thinking I might've mistaken someone else's scent. But our eyes met. It really was him. It seemed like he volunteered to get food for everyone.

"You misinterpret what I said," he explained before I could look away.

The person in front of me glanced back, checking who spoke behind me. I didn't respond. I just stared at the people ahead in line, lazily waiting for it to move forward.

"Lucienne." Then his hand touched my waist.

My lips parted slightly. I could no longer ignore him because of that. I wasn't supposed to be the nervous one—he should be. But it was my heart that almost burst out of my chest. I looked at him. I brushed his hand off and checked their table. My eyes met with Leela's.

"I'm not blaming you. I'm just worried. That's it," he continued.

My eyes widened when he stroked my arm. I looked up at him. His eyes were already waiting for me to turn to him.

"What are you doing? Leela is looking at us," I warned.

He glanced at Leela before returning his gaze to me. Then he went quiet, but I could hear him exhaling deeply behind me.

"You didn't get food for you? You only ordered a drink?" Catelynn asked Lucas.

"I'm still full," he answered softly.

He had just arrived at the table with his friends' food. We waited in line at the same time but I got back to the table first. I was already eating when he returned to the table. He, on the other hand, only had a soft drink.

Everyone else had food. He sat across from me. I kept eating even though I could feel his eyes glued to me. Even when I excused myself to leave early and go back to class, I could still feel his gaze following me.

After class, I bought a drink before heading straight to the parking lot. The moment I stepped out, Lucas and I locked eyes.

He stood up from leaning on his car. He opened the door for me. I drank from my bottle and bent down to get inside.

But before I could, he pulled me by the waist and trapped me between his body and the car. I almost choked because I hadn't swallowed the water yet.

I looked up at him with my lips closed. As soon as I looked up, his lips met mine. My lips parted and the water spilled into his mouth. Some of it dripped from the corners of our lips.

"Lucas—" His tongue slipped inside my mouth. I dropped the bottle of water I was holding.

His eyes were closed and his hand was at the back of my head to keep me from escaping. His kiss was slow, almost making me close my eyes. He gently nibbled my upper and lower lips alternately. When we were both out of breath, he released my lips and stared at me.

"Stop making me anxious. I'm wrong. I'm sorry, please."

My heart was pounding. I didn't know if it was because of the sudden kiss. I had forgotten why I was even mad. I nodded slowly, which made him smile. He kissed me hard once more, then helped me into the car.

He went around and started the engine. Before we could leave the parking lot, I spotted Leela standing by another car, staring at Lucas's car. I followed her with my gaze until we passed.

Did she see us? If she saw us, why was she expressionless? She only gripped her book tightly, but her face showed no sign of shock.

"Have you been friends with Leela for a long time?"

I stared at him as he fixed his hair in the mirror. After running his fingers through it, he looked at me.

"Five years? Why?"

"How is she as a friend?"

"What do you mean by how is she?" he repeated, frowning.

"What is she like as a friend? She seems so quiet."

Lucas nodded. He played with his lower lip while watching the cars through the side mirror.

"She's always been quiet. But she always joins us whenever we hang out."

I pouted. I had a strange feeling about her. Was she really quiet because she was shy? Or was she deliberately keeping quiet? During the days I was with them, I always caught her watching Lucas. Even in the parking lot. There was plenty of space to park, yet her car was always near his. I didn't know if she saw us kissing or if she just happened to see his car when we passed and followed us with her eyes.

"I think she saw us."

Lucas frowned at me.

"When? Now?"

"Yeah. I think she saw us kissing."

He laughed.

"How? She went home an hour ago. Our whole batch ended class early. I waited for you in the parking lot for an hour."

"An hour?"

"Yeah. An hour. So it's impossible she was still there. What would she even be doing there? Watching me?" He laughed.

I stared at Lucas. I turned to the door window, thinking. An hour? What was she doing there all that time? Just staring at Lucas? I shook my head and pushed the thought away. Maybe she really just liked to observe quietly. And maybe she had something to do inside school, which delayed her. If Catelynn finds out tomorrow, that's not my problem. That will be Lucas's problem.