PERCY.
I was back home after dropping Gemini off at his dorm, I was working on some designs my mother requested for when Cole texted me about a rumor going around campus. Apparently, I had found 'a new freshman' to mess with, and some jerks felt it was their duty to assist me in tormenting him. I suddenly understood why they did that to him over the weekend. Just for clearance, I have never messed with kids. Not the ones who didn't deserve it at least.
After leaving his dorm, I stormed across campus, my eyes blazing with fury. Those guys had crossed a serious line when they destroyed Gemini's modular housing unit project. I thought their silly prank over the weekend was the last straw, but clearly, that was just the beginning.
It wasn't just about the damage to his project—it was the sight of him in tears, those bruises forming on his skin from when they probably shoved him around, it awaken something inside me. Something I couldn't suppress no matter how hard I tried. I asked his best friend to look after when I left his dorm, insisting he stay put, that way I knew he was safe from those idiots.
With Cole's help, I tracked those losers to a secluded parking lot at the edge of campus. They were laughing and joking when I got there, completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me. I stepped out of my car, my footsteps echoing oddly amidst their laughter, an ominous start to what was about to unfold.
"Hello, gentlemen!" I greeted them, my voice low and steady, yet laced with danger. Their laughter faltered; they must have sensed the tension in the air. I saw fear crept into their eyes—this time, they knew they had messed up for real.
"Look who it is, Percy, my dude!" one attempted to joke, a forced grin stretching across his face. But that flicker of uncertainty in his eyes spoke louder than his hollow laugh when I glared at him.
"What brings you to our humble hangout, Percy?" another piped up, his voice drenched in false bravado. "Is this about the scholarship kid? We thought we'd teach him some lessons for you!" The expectation of praise hung in the air, and I could almost taste the arrogance in his words.
"He wasn't yours to teach a lesson, and he definitely didn't need it." I snapped through clenched teeth.
"Whoa, man, chill! We were just messing around, no harm done, right, guys?" He glanced nervously at his buddies, who nodded like puppets, their expressions painted with foolish loyalty.
I cracked my knuckles, a cold smile spreading across my face. "I'm glad you understand the concept of messing around," I said, my eyes boring into theirs, unyielding. "That'll make this so much easier." My voice dripped with malice as I thought of ways to make them pay.
"Come on, dude! You can't seriously think you can take all of us on at once, right?" he laughed uncertainly, now sensing the seriousness of my tone.
"Don't worry about me. Worry about yourselves. And by the way, this is going to hurt me more than it'll hurt you," I said, my voice low, a warning. "since I'll be holding back my strength—I don't want to accidentally kill anyone." The air vibrated with tension, every ounce of my fury waiting to be unleashed.
And unleash it I did. My fists flew, landing with precision and power. They tried to defend themselves, but I was relentless, faster! The years of practicing martial arts were evident in my movements. I pinned one of them against the wall, my eyes ignited with fury.
"Stay away from Gemini. Don't even think about him," I growled, each word dripping with venom. "If you ever touch him again, I'll make sure you regret ever being born." My threat hovered in the air, a dark promise with no trace of humor.
One of them screamed, begging me to stop, but I let out a cold laugh—a humorless sound that sent chills down even my own spine.
"Please! Stop! We didn't mean…" another stammered, terror flooding his eyes as he doubled over from a blow, his words dissolving into sobs.
My anger surged again, my fist tightening around the collar of the second guy, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. His feet dangled, his eyes bulging with fear.
"If you knew you didn't have the guts to take this much beating from me," I growled, my voice rumbling with danger, "why did you touch what's mine?" I pushed him again, savoring the moment when his bravado shattered like glass, leaving behind just a trembling shell, stripped of confidence.
When it was over, I stepped back, chest heaving, watching as they cowered on the ground, whimpering in pain. I turned to leave but not before casting a warning glance over my shoulder.
"Remember, I'm always watching. And if you ever cross me again, you'll feel the consequences." With that, I walked away, hoping they got my message.
I drove around for a while instead of heading back to campus or home. After a while of driving around, I checked into a hotel, the adrenaline was still coursing through my veins.
And just like that, two days have passed since that confrontation, but the feeling still lingered, a bitter taste in my mouth. I was partially at peace because I'd reached out to Professor Luna Nightingale, begging for an extension so Gemini could fix his project.
The rush of adrenaline I had felt from fighting those assholes was intoxicating but also terrifying—like a double-edged sword that had cut both ways. Despite actively practicing martial arts and using the gym on daily basis, I'd never fought anyone like I did with those guys. I wanted to hurt them like they'd hurt him.
Now, as I paced this hotel room, my footsteps echoing off the walls, I'm wrestling with the thought of seeing Gemini again. I have been avoiding his calls and ignorance his texts, unsure of how to deal with what I'd done. The mere idea of approaching him, of seeing even a flicker of sadness in those beautiful blue eyes, twisted something deep within me. I feared that I would become that same raging maniac I was two days ago again, driven to annihilate anyone who dared make him cry.
Why exactly am I behaving this way? He might think I'm crazy if he sees me like this.
Shadows danced eerily in the hotel room, curling around me as I pondered what I would say when I finally saw him again. I still haven't forgiven those bastards for what they did to him. My fists clenched involuntarily, recalling the sensation of their flesh under my blows. I can't let Gemini see that side of me; he didn't deserve to witness the wreckage of my turmoil.
I know I can't avoid classes forever; my perfect attendance was already in jeopardy. It was only a matter of time before I faced him. To make matters worse, Penelope was already fuming at me for recruiting her as Gemini's official babysitter. Her task was simple: make sure he ate. I had noticed he tended to forget meals unless he was truly hungry or about to pass out from hunger. No wonder he looks so small for his age.
I don't know what it is but I've had this urge to make sure nothing bad ever happens to him since the day we met, which is very strange because I have never been fond of people, but having him around these past few days made my life feel more interesting—a spark I couldn't rationalize or explain. And strange enough, I don't want to lose this feeling by cutting him off just yet.