CRUEL

CRUEL|TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CRUEL

[SEASON TWO]

Arezou was in the process of putting on her jacket when a strange feeling made her glance over her shoulder. She caught  Shelly and Tea admiring her, sweat rolled down her face nervously. Their eyes sparkled in an inhumane way, making her deadpan. "What's up with you guys?" she asked, perplexed. Shelly couldn't contain her enthusiasm and practically drooled over the sight of Arezou's exposed arms and stomach. "You look so good!" she gushed. 

Tea nodded in agreement, whistling at the new cropped jacket she wore. It was a modified version of what they had worn before, now stopping mid-belly and with sleeves that ended at her biceps, showcasing a glimpse of her tattoos.

"Since when do you have this Jacket?" he asked Jealous. The jacket looked amazing on her, and he couldn't help but feel envious of how well it complemented her physique. Arezou nervously rubbed her neck, feeling the weight of their gazes on her. (She felt the eyes of silvers on her-) 

It The situation was rather embarrassing. "I asked Mia to do one for me...With the other one I cant feel the air good..." She explained. Shelly squealed like a fangirl, appreciating Arezou's fit appearance."Soo handsome~!"

"Okay! Guys, Relax! Let's win this thing!" Dom interjected suddenly, his spirited shout lifting the mood. Arezou couldn't help but smile at her brother's enthusiasm, feeling a bit lighter after his outburst.

"Guys!"

The group's attention shifted as Yuna and Mia approached them. Arezou couldn't muster a smile, for her gaze immediately landed on Jay's distant expression. Pushing down the ache that welled within her, she averted her eyes, fiddling nervously with her rings. 

(Just don't look, don't look, don't faced the pain, don't look at them don't look at the lovesick expression on his face-)

 "Woah...what are you guys doing here?" Dom asked, his eyes twinkling with stars as he looked at Yuna, his admiration and affection clear like the sky. It was heartening to see her brother falling for someone as genuinely good as Yuna.

"So our dear Yuna came all the way to see my heroics, huh?"Dom chimed, his tone oozing with confidence. Yuna cast a shy glance toward Dom, her cheeks tinted with a blush that didn't go unnoticed by Arezou. 

"Please, you moron. Just don't get yourself hurt out there doing one of your shenanigans." Yuna retorted, a hint of concern beneath her words. 

Mia stood beside her, flashing a smile and raising a fist. "Good Luck! We'll be cheering at the back!"

Mia's gaze sought out Arezou's, who was lost in her thoughts and toying with her rings. "Zou!" She called excited. 

Mia felt a connection to Arezou, admiring her for more than just her physical appearance. Arezou's deep brown eyes, her dark brown hair that always looked effortlessly cool, her piercings that added to her edgy charm, and her bold display of her body, especially her stomach, each aspect exuded a confident bad-girl vibe. But what Mia truly admired most about Arezou was her unyielding willpower. She wouldn't bow to anyone and never shied away from speaking her mind. To Mia, Arezou was a role model.

(She was sure Arezou couldn't remember it but the night after Jay's brithday party, when the girl spend the night at Mia's house, it was her words that made her realize that she needs a bit more willpower-)

"You really are a good girl Mia."

Mia blinked, taken aback by the unexpected praise from her role model. "Huh?" she stammered, looking into Arezou's eyes. Arezou returned her smile, though a hint of melancholy lingered in her gaze. Despite her smile, Mia could sense the underlying sadness.(It was so unusual to see Arezou looking so sad-)