Burst Finish My Heart: Free de la Hoya x OC | A Beyblade Fanfiction

Chapter 17: Chance

Ferox had never met a sweet talker as good as Free de la Hoya.

His sincerity and their heartfelt conversation left her feeling as if she had known him forever, and she wanted to throw her principles out the window.

Indeed, Ferox was exhausted and overwhelmed from a near-death experience; now, a love confession profoundly touched her heart. This was one insane day--that was for sure.

"We haven't known each other for that long," Ferox could not help but point out, her rational side kicking in. "How do you know that it's love and not infatuation? Our emotions are running high because we're in a crazy situation."

"You're the only person who has ever caught my interest," Free said unwaveringly. His eyes flashed yellow, and his lips slightly upturned as he realized that he had won. Ferox would not be asking him questions if she was not interested. He continued more confidently, "If it's infatuation, then I'll never be infatuated with another girl."

His straightforward attitude swept Ferox off her feet. The brown-haired girl eventually blushed, having never heard something so hopelessly romantic. A whirlpool of mixed emotions caught Ferox, yet she looked deep within it to find the answer, the truth--to explore the feelings budding in her heart, in the eye of the storm.

Ferox had loathed Free with a passion, yet hearing his admittance, feeling his hug, remembering the connection between them when they battled, recalling how intriguing she found him when they first met, ruminating on the obsession she had with defeating him, training for hours after her battle with him, crying after he found her and saved her, and watching him break down emotionally before her own eyes--something had changed.

But what? Was it the way he examined her with those big dark brown eyes? Did how he looked deep into her soul snatch her breath away? Was it the unparalleled intensity of every word he said? What was making her feel so different?

Nobody in her entire life had ever looked at her the way he did. His eyes transcended the universe and stripped her heart bare; he was peering inside her the way nobody ever had, and he wholeheartedly appreciated what he discovered.

Ferox thought back to when Lui Shirosagi confessed to her. He had acted entitled to her love as if he deserved to have her, but she did not want him. Lui had left her feeling trapped and violated, and he had condemned her for rejecting him.

However, Free was the opposite.

Ferox had gently rejected him, yet Free had expressed his romantic feelings bravely and kindly. More than anything, Ferox had a weakness for people who respected and cared about her, and she uncovered true love inside Free, which made her desire him in turn.

Free also knew that she sincerely wanted someone to confide in her sorrows. Nobody else had noticed from simple observation, and she would have to tell them directly. Yet, Ferox had never willingly divulged to anyone her actual pain--the trauma in the dark corners of her mind, the emptiness threatening to consume her.

Not even Lui frankly knew her. He had never been able to make Ferox feel anything close to her feelings when she saw Free. But was this warm sensation love?

Love was a powerful word.

In the past, Ferox had sometimes wondered if she was more than friends with Lui, but nothing romantic had come of their relationship. Lui had been nothing more than a brother, a friend--not a lover. Lui did not make her feel warm and full inside.

Ferox had known Free for a short time, so loving him had to be ridiculous, right?

Ferox still felt good when she thought about him. Free saved her life, and Ferox felt like she owed everything to him. Ferox was ashamed to admit it, but she had fantasies about a guy swooping in and giving her a better life--and here was the guy. Ferox had grappled with a life where her past seemed to rule her future no matter what--and here was her escape.

Free could not have a more perfect name. Because Free made her feel free to do whatever she wanted, be whatever she desired, and live however she chose. His love felt liberating. Truly, Free was a beautiful yet broken human all the same with those animated yet lifeless eyes. Ferox undoubtedly loved everything he represented; perhaps, she related to his loneliness.

No longer did Ferox see a callous boy. Now, she saw someone who had been deprived of love and left alone. His emptiness mirrored hers, but they could fill each other's hearts. Free and Ferox were one and the same: a cure to each other's sorrow and a fulfillment ought to be met.

And, she knew it, right then and there, that she wanted to try love with Free de la Hoya.

She almost wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. 

Free had driven her wild with rage yet somehow had wooed her. Lui Shirosagi had not succeeded in charming her for over a decade. What a bitter tragedy for the teal-haired boy that Free had caught the fish Ferox in about a week! How strange Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was to play this cruel and beautiful trick upon Lui!

Yet, it did not change a thing. Free fascinated Ferox from his perfect mess of golden hair, rounded ears, innocent face, and sleepy eyes--oh, Free was handsome.

Ferox reached out her hand to touch Free's cheek, and Free smiled softly, waiting for her to speak. "What are you hoping," Ferox said, searching for the right words, "to get out of this?"

Free's eyes lit up. The boy contemplated his reply before saying suavely, "I just think we could work well as more than friends. It's a simple observation."

Ferox chuckled, intertwined her fingers with Free, and felt the rough and soft parts of his hand. She sighed and said, "You're infuriating, Free."

Free smirked. "That means I'm the guy who is always on your mind."

Ferox spluttered, her cheeks turning pink. She said, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Free said coyly. He wrapped an arm around her lower back and moved his face closer to hers. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You thinking about me now?"

Ferox's blush deepened. "I..." the girl stumbled before admitting, "Yes."

Ferox sighed, all the emotions culminating to a boiling point. Everything became clear and plain to her--what she needed to do, what she needed to say. Free was so much more than some smug, tough blader, but Ferox was unsure how to tell him her revelation.

So she spoke from the heart: "Sometimes, it feels like you can see right through me. I don't know how you do it, but you say things that stick in my head like glue. I'm confused right now, but I definitely have feelings for you. I want to give you a chance, Free. Be my boyfriend."

Free smiled broadly.

He loved winning Beyblade matches, but saving and then winning over the top female blader in the world made him feel like the real King of Beyblade. He had shown Ferox what she would be missing out on and turned her soft rejection into genuine romantic interest like a champion.

If you are excited about Free x Ferox, please consider giving this chapter a vote and a comment! 

Last Edited: 7/24/2022