Chapter 23: Talks

"Who are you calling? Ambulance?" I say, my eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Mikey."

"Mickey?" I say, pronuncing it differently.

"Mai-ki." He corrects my pronunciation.

"Who's that?"

"My bodyguard, secretary- manager…"

"All in one?"

"Yeah, almost."

"What's he gonna do? Is he also a plumber?"

"You ask too many questions."

"And you never answer them."

He slowly smiles in a cheeky way.

I stare at him.

He stares back the same expression on his face.

"Are you liking the view?"

I blink as I try to look away but my eye keeps going back to him.

"You just look funny." I say, almost sounding like an excuse.

"Funny?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm." He scratches his chin as if thinking something. "Give me another excuse."

"Excuse? That was not an excuse."

"It was almost believable but you can do better." He smirks teasingly.

I roll my eyes and sigh.

"Hazen-"

"Yes?"

I stop as he suddenly answers. He waits for me to talk.

"The class is gonna start soon-"

"I know, just wait a minute." He interrupts.

I glance towards the school entrance as I see four men with black suits on walking to us. One of them stops right in front of Hazen, it must be Mikey.

"Sir, you called us?"

"Yeah, I need new clothes and fix that." Hazen points at the sink.

"Alright." Mikey nods and signals the man behind him and they start fixing the sink.

"I want the same shirt that i'm wearing." He looks at me up and down. "And get her a nice dress."

I stand there with a confused expression, i'm not wearing a dress…?

"No, there's no need." I look away.

"Why not?" He walks towards me. "You're also wet, planning to walk around like this?"

"Yes, they'll dry."

"I don't think so and before that you'll catch a cold."

"I don't want to wear a dress-"

"So… what do you want to wear?"

"Nothing-" I splurt and freeze.

He raises his eyebrows.

"I mean- I don't want to change, I will wait until they dry."

"Alright." He turns to look at Mikey. "Get a hairdryer too."

They leave as he instructs them. I look at the man who are fixing the sink.

"Sir, it's fixed."

"Good, go."

"You won't thank them?"

"For what?"

Of course, did you forget who you're talking to? I softly sigh and look at those men.

"Thanks." I smile as they leave.

"You never thank me."

"For what?" I say mimicking his tone in a mocking way.

10 minutes later

Those men come back with a box in their hands.

"Sir, everything that you needed is in here." They put the box down as Hazen signals them to leave.

And I don't know why am I blowing on my clothes as if they will dry faster like this.

He chuckles lightly from behind me. I look back.

"That won't help, come here." He grabs my wrist and goes towards the gym storeroom.

"Why do you keep dragging me around? And why are we going there? Are you gonna lock me up?"

He keeps walking without answering as we reach inside he frees my wrist and takes a hairdryer out of the box.

"Will you electrocute me?"

He sighs and looks at me.

"Oh… it's a gun in the shape of a hairdryer." I say splurting whatever comes to my mind.

He plugs in the hairdryer and looks for the button to start it.

"Do you ever answer someone?" I continue.

He doesn't answer.

"Do you think not answering someone makes you look cool?" I roll my eyes. "You're wrong because that makes you look rud-"

He starts the hairdryer cutting my words. I close my eyes as the air hits me.

I am unable to speak over the noise.

Hazen focused intently on the task at hand, his expression serious as he moved the hairdryer methodically over my damp clothes.

After what felt like an eternity, Hazen finally switched off the hairdryer.

The sudden silence making it awkward.

I look at him.

He unplugs the hairdryer, his gaze on me all the time.

"What?" I try to sound 'scary' but my voice coming out softly.

He smirks slightly and doesn't stop staring.

I stare back but get intimidated and look away.

"Idiot." I mumble looking at the door.

"Hm?"

I turn my head to him wanting to repeat but stop.

"Why are you taking your shirt off?!" I look at him up and down a slight panic on my face.

"Because…" He stares. "You're staring me too much so I thought why not give you a better view—"

I suddenly take the hairdryer and point it towards him as if I was holding a gun.

He puts his hands up.

"Don't shoot me please." He says sarcastically.

I sigh at his dramatic reaction and put the hairdryer down.

"I'm leaving." I turn around.

"DON'T MOVE!"

"Ah!" I immediately turn around as he shouts.

"There's something on your back." He says, an expression on his face that shows fear.

I freeze as my heart drops.

"W-what—"

"Shhh." He slowly and carefully comes closer. "It's on your face."

"W-w-whaaat face?!" I whisper in panic. "Take it off of me."

He comes closer squinting his eyes.

"Hurry up." I shut my eyes tightly.

I feel his finger brushing my hair strands away from my face.

"Done?"

"Hmh." He says after a moment.

"What was it?" I open my eyes slowly.

"Your hair." A mischievous smile on his face.

My expression goes blank. Blinking several times I shut my eyes again and purse my lips together calming myself.

I open my eyes and he's already shirtless.

Not knowing what to do I move around and as I turn around I bump my head against the wall.

"Ow." I rub my forhead.

"You should be careful."

"It's all because of you, Idiot." I turn around glaring at him.

"Because of me?"

"Yes, don't you have any manners? Who does this?" I eye him up and down again and look away.

He throws his shirt at my face.

"Are you actually—"

"You can cover your eyes with that."

"I don't need that." I throw the shirt back at him.

I turn around and leave. Why did I even stay there I should've left earlier.

He really is fit and muscular.

Whatever.

I walk to my class and as soon as I enter everyone starts staring, this is why you should never be late for class.

After some questioning I sat on my seat. My eyes catch Brian staring at me, I avoid his gaze.

"Lia? can you come and solve this?" Mr. John calls me.

I hate mathematics.

I look at the blackboard and my mind suddenly goes blank.

I get up and the door opens as Hazen enters the class.

"You're late." Mr. John says.

I am standing in front of the blackboard hoping the teacher would faint so I can run away.

"I know." Hazen answers back.

He looks at me and than at the blackboard.

I keep staring at the math problem, how the hell do I solve this?

"Why don't you solve this problem with her, Hazen?" Mr. John hands him a chalk.

Hazen nods and stands beside me facing the blackboard.

"This is easy." He says while writing. "Need help?"

I look at him and try to act like it's easy. "No, this is for kids."

"428."

"Huh?"

"The answer."

Does he think i'm dumb?

I am.

"That was not necessary." I whisper acting like I could solve this problem.

He smiles.

"Teacher? can I solve Lia's problem?" Brian says raising his hand.

Mr. John looks at me. "Lia—"

"I don't mind." I smile and put the chalk down.

"I already told you the answer." Hazen whispers.

"And what about the process to get the answer?" I whisper back. "It's not that I can't solve it, it's just today I feel…" I try to think of an excuse.

"Feel what?"

"I feel—"

"Lia? let me." Brian puts his hand forward.

I look at him and smile as I hand him the chalk.

"Thanks." He steps closer towards the blackboard. "Can you move back?" He looks at Hazen.

"No."

Goddamn so much tension in between them.

"Uhh… i'll move." I move away and walk to my seat.

"I thought you were smart in maths?" Alex looks back at me, his tone dripping with taunt.

"You also have thoughts?"

"Of course, too many."

"Don't you need a brain for that?"

"Well thankfully I have a great and healthy brain." He smug smiles. "What about you?"

Mine doesn't function.

"Is it filled with me?" He raises his eyebrows playfully.

"What?" I ask him confused.

"You brain, what else?" He smiles evilly. "Oh yeah yeah, your heart too."

"My heart is filled with blood."

"And brain?"

"Murder." I glare at him.

"Cute."

"Shut u—"

"You talk too much." Hazen cuts me off as he sits on his seat.

"I didn't even—" Alex talks.

"I'm not talking about you." Hazen says.

"Me?" I point at myself slightly dramatically.

He nods.

"I am the quitest person ever."

"Really?" Hazen crosses his arms over his chest.

"Lia, I heard you're really good in drawing." Alex says ignoring Hazen.

"Who told you that?" I ask.

Since when do I know how to draw?

"A bird."

"What are you Cinderella?"

"No, Snow White." Alex grins.

"When are you planning to 'die' then?"

"Why? are you planning to wake me up?" He grins again but playfully.

I roll my eyes and try to concentrate on the teacher.

Brian silently stares at me. I look at him and softly smile in response he looks away.

What—? Why did he look at me as if I am his enemy.

Suddenly I don't feel good.

"What?" Hazen asks.

"Huh?"

"What's with that expression?"

I calm my face.

"What expression?"

"It looked like you were about to faint." Alex explains.

"I just look like that, it's my resting face."

"It's something els—"

I cut off Hazen and stand up.

"Teacher can I go outside, I don't feel good."

Mr. John lets me go out. I walk out of the class and sit on the ground.

I should talk to him.