NOVPUBAfter a while;
The atmosphere in the lounge was tense. Zack was forced to kneel, his head bowed and a fresh red handprint marking his cheek.
Everyone surrounded him, their expressions filled with anger and disgust. 𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝙤𝒎
Rina stood nearby in silence, her heart pounding in panic. Will he sell me out?
But Zack remained loyal to her.
Taking a deep breath, he clenched his fists and spoke.
"I… I like Leiza," he admitted, his voice hoarse. "But she's too hard to get close to. I thought if I could break through her defenses, she'd see me differently. That's why I… I stole the injection from Rina's bag and used it."
Rina nearly gasped, but she bit her tongue. "He's covering for me…" She thought, although she wondered why. She doesn't know what Zack went through the night. He definitely doesn't want to implicate her now that he understands the potential consequences. And unlike him, Rina's background is a bit weak to face Leiza's wrath too, now that there is no substance they had for any kind of blackmail.
Zack lowered his head even further. "I know I screwed up. I shouldn't have done it. I let my emotions take over and did something horrible." He looked directly at Leiza. "I'm sorry. Please… just give me one chance to make up for it. I promise—I will never do anything like this again."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Then—
THWACK!
Leiza's foot connected with Zack's face, sending him sprawling onto the floor.
Everyone flinched.
Zack groaned, holding his face, but he didn't retaliate. He knew he deserved it.
Leiza stood over him, her body trembling with fury. "Don't ever show your face in front of me again," she spat. "If I see you near me or my friends, I swear, I'll do something I might regret. And I'm sparing out of my friendship with Rini, not because your father is a fucking mayor."
No one spoke.
Leiza turned on her heel and stormed toward the exit. "This vacation is over," she announced coldly. "Everyone pack your things. We're leaving."
Wendy, Ciesta, and Max exchanged glances before nodding. They knew better than to argue.
As the group began to move, Rina hesitated. Then, she stepped forward.
"I… I'm really sorry for Zack," she said, bowing slightly. "I'll make sure he understands how badly he messed up. I'll stay behind and punish him more."
Leiza shot her a look, but she didn't say anything. With a final glance at Zack's pitiful state, she turned away and walked out.
One by one, the others followed.
The vacation was over—but the consequences of this night would linger far longer.
The journey back was suffocatingly silent.
Leiza sat with her earbuds in, listening to music, her expression unreadable. She didn't acknowledge anyone—not even her closest friends.
Azzy, on the other hand, remained indifferent. He gazed out the window, quietly appreciating the changing scenery. At least we're leaving early…
When the plane landed, Ciesta hesitated before trying to speak. "Leiza—"
But Leiza didn't respond. Without sparing a glance at anyone, she strode toward the sleek black car waiting on the runway.
Azzy followed behind, expression calm as always. The others could only watch as the car door shut behind them, carrying Leiza and Azzy away.
Upon arriving at the grand estate, Leiza stepped out without a word and headed straight for the house.
"Leiza—" a deep voice interrupted.
Her uncle stood there, arms crossed, his piercing gaze observing her.
She barely spared him a glance. "I'm tired, Uncle. Excuse me." Her tone was short, and without waiting for a response, she rushed past him toward her room.
Azzy stopped, sighing internally. He turned to Leiza's uncle and gave a short bow. "Sir, I should explain—"
As Azzy recounted the events, Leiza's uncle's face darkened.
"That little bastard…" His voice was a low growl. His eyes flared with rage. "Does Zack think he can do as he pleases just because his father is a mayor?"
His hands clenched into fists.
"No one—no one—dares offend my family and walks away unscathed. Neither the brat nor his fucking father." His voice was ice-cold, laced with deadly intent.
Azzy simply stood there, emotionless. He had expected this reaction.
*
Soon after, Azzy reached Leiza's room, sensing the weight of her emotions even before he knocked. He had expected her to ignore him, to bury herself in solitude, but to his surprise, the door clicked open almost immediately. Without a word, she walked back inside and collapsed onto the sofa, hugging her knees.
Azzy stepped in cautiously, closing the door behind him. He sat beside her, studying her tense expression before gently patting her arm. His voice was calm, steady. "It's over. Nothing happened to you. Just breathe."
But Leiza shook her head, biting her lip as her eyes welled up with tears. She had held herself together in front of everyone else, but now, in the safety of her own space, the dam broke. Her voice trembled as she spoke, each word laced with bitterness and betrayal.
"I trusted Rina… She was one of the few real friends I had. And she—" She choked on her words, wiping her tears aggressively. "I knew she was behind it. After I warned her to stay away from you, she looked at me like she wanted to rip me apart. And now… because of that bitch, I don't know if I can trust anyone again." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I don't even want to go on vacations anymore."
Azzy remained quiet for a moment, letting her vent her emotions. Then, with his usual calmness, he said, "Life is like refining gold, Leiza. Gold is valuable, but to become something beautiful—an accessory—it has to endure fire. It has to melt completely before it can take shape. You should be more vigilant, yes, but don't let this incident distance you from the people who have done nothing wrong to you. Don't let one betrayal make you distrust everyone."
Leiza sniffled, staring down at her hands as she absorbed his words. Then, slowly, she wiped her face and took a deep breath. "Thank you," she muttered, her voice steadier than before.
Azzy smiled slightly. "Go freshen up. We can go out after noon and spend the weekend however you like."
Leiza blinked, caught off guard. Her lips curled into a small smirk as she turned to him. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
Azzy met her gaze with his usual neutral expression. "Not exactly a date. Just an outing."
Leiza let out a soft laugh and stood up as if her mood had already recovered a lot. "Alright then. I'll be ready."
The same evening;
The city stretched out beneath them, a dazzling sea of lights that pulsed with life. Azzy and Leiza sat at the edge of Radiant Tower, the tallest building in the city, their legs dangling over the side as the wind ruffled their hair. Around them, an assortment of snacks lay scattered—chips, chocolate bars, a bottle of soda—remnants of an unplanned but strangely comforting night out.
Leiza lay back against the cool steel surface, her arms stretched out beside her, staring up at the vast night sky. A soft, contented smile played on her lips. "It's peaceful up here," she murmured.
Azzy, still sitting upright, glanced at her before shifting to lie beside her. "It is."
