SAVAGE SOLACE

FOUR.۝

"No inappropriate touching," I said, my gaze fixed on his lips. "You have Lovia, and I also have someone."

He smiled, and a dimple formed on his cheeks.

Ah, Lovia's boy is quite a catch! No wonder he's a sought-after, fast-rising teenage musician.

"As you wish, Ruan."

A nickname for me already? When we had just met this morning?

He's fallen so fast for me! Watch out tonight, Lovia.

"Deal, Mac J?" I said, extending my hand.

He slipped his strong, warm hands into mine. Looked like he had been hitting the gym.

"Deal, Miss Ruby-Anne."

He reluctantly let go of my hand, and I observed him briefly.

Tonight, it was not just about putting on a romantic performance for the whole school at the Entertainment Night.

My sole plan was to break Lovia's heart. She was in for the biggest disappointment of a lifetime before the whole school. This heartbreak would make her exams suffer the consequences.

"Gotta get going. Thanks for responding to my call, sweetheart."

Now, this is some flirting!

I didn't wait for his reply. I sauntered away with my princess walk, knowing his eyes were trailing my curvy back, which didn't hide itself in these shapeless uniforms we always had to wear.

Too bad you can't have me, Mac J. My Adonis has me already.

Mac J was quite handsome; no wonder Lovia was head over heels for him. I didn't understand why he failed to reciprocate the crazy love, because from all indications, he fell too quickly for me.

"Can't wait for tonight. Your name's already written with Sister Queenster," Zakiya stood at the entrance of the assembly hall where the compulsory morning prayers were taking place.

I looked at her with a grin.

"Me too, darling. Thank you for introducing me to Mac J. Didn't really know he had something going with Lovia."

The Chaplain Prefect motioned to us from where she was standing.

According to them, evil spirits always fled the church through the entrance, so we had no business standing there.

Zakiya rolled her eyes.

"I'm a Muslim, Miss," she muttered.

I had to laugh. I looked behind at the alley where I had been standing with Mac J. Lovia would never find out about us till tonight.

I pulled my wise friend along to join the multitude of students who were diligently participating in the compulsory morning prayers.

Today was our first time coming, all because I needed to talk to Mac J when Zakiya told me about him and Lovia...

We could have stayed back in the dorm to begin our weekend work, just like all the other vagabonds... but revenge is my comfort, more than sleep. And I had Zakiya in tow.

For the next few minutes before they wrapped up, we were just behind, not caring about the prayers, only injecting excitement into our plans for tonight.

We were in the procession, leaving the assembly hall after the closing prayers when Zakiya held me back.

"I'm going to meet someone."

It was my turn to roll my eyes.

"Which of your boyfriends?"

She smacked my head.