"I didn't get your name, I'm Adrian." Adrian said as she clumsily climbed onto the bike behind him.
"Oh... it's Amaya."
"So Amaya, Is this your first time on a motorcycle?"
She blinked. "Actually... yeah."
"I figured. I'm still getting used to this bike's acceleration, so hold on tight."
Her eyes widened. "Wait... are you saying we could crash?!"
"...What do you think the helmets are for?"
"On second thought, I think I'll just run fa—"
"Too late."
He twisted the throttle.
The engine roared, the front wheel lifted slightly off the ground, and the motorcycle shot forward. Amaya let out a startled squeal, instinctively throwing her arms around his waist as they surged down the street. After a brief moment, Adrian eased the front wheel back onto the road, settling into a controlled sprint.
"You know," Adrian said with a smirk, "when I told you to hold on tight, I didn't mean squeeze the life out of me."
Amaya froze.
She looked down and realized she was still clinging to him like a koala. Her face immediately turned crimson as she loosened her grip and scooted back, putting a little space between them.
"You... you probably did that on purpose just so I'd hold onto you," she shot back, trying to sound confident.
"And what if I did?"
He glanced over his shoulder with a playful grin.
Her cheeks somehow grew even redder.
Looks like Kai's tips are working, Adrian thought, suppressing a smile.
"We're coming up to the main road," he said, turning his attention back to the traffic. "I'll need to focus now. I'd rather not find out how good these helmets really are."
"Mmm... okay."
She gave a small nod, tightening her grip on the sides of the seat instead. At least now he'll be more careful with his driving.
Little did she know how wrong she was.
The second they pulled onto the street, he twisted the throttle wide open. The sudden burst of acceleration made her panic, and she instinctively grabbed onto him again.
"You said you needed to focus!"
"Yeah, I did. That doesn't mean I'll slow down, though." He chuckled, weaving past a car on their right with barely any room to spare.
She yelped.
"Didn't you say you were going to be late for class? I'm just making sure you don't miss it."
"I can't make it if I end up hospitalized on the way!"
He laughed even louder this time. He was enjoying her panic far more than he should have.
Deciding not to indulge him anymore, she simply clutched the back of his shirt, squeezed her eyes shut, and silently prayed that this ride to school wouldn't become one to heaven.
They sped through multiple turns, accelerating and braking as they cut through the morning traffic. Eventually, the motorcycle rolled to a smooth stop.
Her eyes slowly opened.
They were parked right in front of the school gates. Students streamed past them, and a few couldn't help but glance at the way her fists were still tightly clutching Adrian's shirt. Realizing it herself, she quickly let go, her cheeks flushing red.
"Alright, here we are," Adrian said, glancing back over his shoulder.
She climbed off the motorcycle and faced him.
"Thank you so much for the help. I really appreciate it. I owe you for this."
"Don't worry about it." He shrugged. "Though, a piece of advice—if a stranger offers to give you a ride somewhere, at least pay attention to where they're taking you."
She blinked twice, slightly confused.
"You don't seem like that kind of person, so I didn't really think about it."
"Well, be more careful. You never know what kind of guys might want to take advantage of a nice girl like you."
The unexpected compliment caught her completely off guard, and warmth spread across her cheeks once again.
"Thank you, I—"
"Hey! You! The bastard on the motorcycle! What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
The warm moment between them shattered beneath the furious yell.
Adrian turned to see a group of five guys marching toward them. Their leader strode ahead of the others, glaring daggers at him.
"And who the fuck are you?" he barked, stopping right in Adrian's face in an obvious attempt to intimidate him.
"Tyler, calm down. He just gave me a ride here, that's all," Amaya hurriedly explained, stepping between them.
Speak of the devil.
Adrian met Tyler's glare without the slightest hint of fear, which only seemed to fuel the other boy's anger.
"I asked who the fuck you are!"
His voice rang even louder this time, drawing the attention of nearby students.
Adrian calmly swung a leg off his motorcycle and stepped forward.
He stood just a little taller than Tyler, forcing him to unconsciously take half a step back beneath his cold gaze.
"I'm someone you shouldn't be picking a fight with."
Tyler scoffed.
"Oh yeah? And why's that?"
With his four lackeys standing behind him, his confidence quickly returned.
Amaya's pleas faded into background noise as neither of them showed any intention of backing down.
More students gathered with every passing second.
Their whispers drifted through the growing crowd.
"Looks like Tyler's causing trouble again."
"Think that guy can actually take him?"
"He's dead if he messed with Tyler's newest obsession."
"You don't think they're both after Amaya, do you?"
Amaya heard every word. Her face burned with embarrassment as she desperately tried to push past Tyler's friends, but they formed an unyielding wall between her and Adrian.
Adrian clicked his tongue inwardly.
He didn't want to make things harder for Amaya, but walking away now would only encourage Tyler's arrogance.
Fortunately, fate seemed to smile on him.
It handed him the perfect excuse to end the confrontation before either of them could throw the first punch.
And that excuse wore a knee-length pencil skirt, a black blazer over a crisp white button-up blouse, and a pair of sleek glasses resting above furious amber eyes.
At that very moment, those eyes were fixed squarely on their little confrontation.
"The next person I see still standing here in the next two minutes is getting a month's detention. Am I clear?!"
Her voice echoed across the school entrance.
The crowd scattered almost instantly.
"And for the love of God, Tyler..." She pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. "Do you want to be suspended again?"
Her gaze settled on him.
Tyler immediately stiffened.
"N-No, ma'am."
"Then what are you still standing here for?"
Gritting his teeth, he shot Adrian one final glare before storming off with his friends in tow.
Amaya released the breath she'd been holding, relieved that everything was finally over.
That relief lasted all of two seconds.
Seeing the principal begin walking toward Adrian, panic surged through her once again.
"P-Principal Evelyn! It was Tyler's fault! He didn't do anything wrong!"
"Amaya."
The principal didn't even raise her voice.
"Inside."
That single word was enough.
Amaya swallowed the rest of her protest and quietly followed the other students through the school gates.
"And as for you..."
Principal Evelyn turned her piercing gaze toward Adrian.
But the moment her eyes settled on his face...
The anger vanished.
Surprise spread across her features, and her amber eyes softened.
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Good morning, Principal Evelyn."
There was a heartbeat of silence.
Then—
"Adrian!!"