chapter 9: First kiss

(somewhere in the school compound)

A figure could be seen walking in the shadows as the person tried to be invisible. After getting to a safe and silent place, the figure placed a call across to his boss.

The call was answered and a deep voice rang out from the other end.

"What do you have for me?" The voice asked.

"In three weeks time, the school would be hosting their annual gala. should we strike then?" The figure informed and asked the voice.

There was a pause on the other end before the voice spoke.

"We are not going to make the first move, knowing him, he would appear soon and claim to have the upper hand, then we would strike back."

"Ok boss." The figure said.

"What about the two of them, what's the latest?" The voice asked.

"Apart from the information he stole, Lopez hasn't made any more moves except he is working in the shadows. And as for the girl, it seems she might find out the truth soon. What should I do?" The figure inquired.

"You are not going to do anything, it's about time she knew the truth and I trust that Lopez would protect her. He made a promise and he doesn't break his promises." The voice asserted.

"Noted boss." The figure said.

"Keep me posted on whatever happens and don't engage, remember you are just to observe. Am I clear?" The voice queried.

"Yes boss, very clear." The figure said.

The call was ended and the figure moved away from that place and headed back to the class. Unknown to him someone had heard the conversation he had.

Jade came out of the shadows after a while and looked in the direction the figure went with an unreadable look oh her face. Though she had only heard the figure's part of the conversation, she knew what they were talking about.

Jade had a frown on her face as she fully registered what they meant. The shadowhand clan was back and this time, they would complete their plan they had put in motion years ago. She had to tell him immediately but she already suspects he knows but she still had to meet him for a plan.

They needed to end this once and for all and for that they needed alliances, they needed to fully resurrect the omertà alliance.

( The library )

Adria just finished reading a chapter of a random novel she had picked when she looked up and saw jade coming back.

"What took you so long I thought you just wanted to get the book you forgot in class?" Adria asked.

Waving the book in the air like a trophy, she replied

"Well I did get it. I just ran into something on my way back but it's nothing you should worry about."

"Okay, we should finish up so we can go home" Adria said focusing on the book in front of her.

Jade was looking at Adria as she was lost in thoughts. Adria turned to face jade when she saw that she was already looking at her but her mind wasn't there.

"Uhmm, jade is everything okay?" Adria questioned as she waved her hand in front of her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"Uh what....oh, sorry. I was just thinking about.... don't worry it's nothing. So where were we?" Jade said waving it off.

Adria only nodded and continued with what they were doing but she noticed that jade's mind wasn't fully there. She couldn't help feeling worried that something was wrong but she respected that jade didn't want to involve her.

A while later, they were both done with the study session as they were preparing to head home, but in Adria's case, head over to Andre's apartment.

She has already informed Esther that she would be home late. She waved jade goodbye as she got into her car and drove off with one destination in mind.

She could perfectly remember the way there even though yesterday was her first time of being there.

She parked her car in the parking lot and went to Andre's door.

She rang the doorbell and waited when she heard footsteps approaching the door. As the door opened, Adria's eyes widened in surprise. Standing before her was a shirtless Andre who was on a call. He ended the call by telling the person he would call back as his eyes never left hers.

Adria took a big gulp of nothing as she stared at the godlike body in front of her. With difficulty she lifted her eyes from his chiseled abs to his face and saw him smirking.

"Enjoying the view?" He asked raising a well shaped. Eyebrow at her.

"Wha...oh, uhmm....I wasn't staring...I was just uhmm..... admiring the....ugh." Adria was feeling flustered as she felt heat rise up to her cheeks.

"C'mon in." He said moving a bit from the doorway.

She bent her head a bit trying to use her hair to cover her face as she walked pass him and into the house.

She heard him chuckle and mutter a 'cute'. Turning to face him, Andre was a bit startled seeing the fierceness in her eyes.

Pointing her index finger at him she started her rant.

"First, you open the door shirtless, then you tease me about it and now you call me cute. I am not cute, do you hear me?"

Andre only looked at her with a smirk on his face. Adria seeing his reaction, huffed and walked towards the couch where she sat down, folding her arms and pouting.

From her peripheral view she saw him walking towards her but she didn't turn to look at him. She honestly didn't know why she was feeling this way but one thing she did know was that this was all his fault.

Andre sat beside her and imitated her action of folding her hand as he also folded his. Adria saw this and her heart smiled but she kept her face like that, still not looking at him. She didn't know what they were doing but she wasn't going to give in first.

After a while she heard him sigh and turned to face her. She celebrated her small victory of not giving in first. Andre raised his hand and turned her face to look at him gently, as his palm cradled her face

"You have your lips in a pout and you folded your arms, behaving like a child and you expect me not to call you cute huh?" He said as he teased her.

Adria was stunned as she parted her lips slightly. She didn't know what to say to that. Andre chuckled, shaking his head slightly at her reaction as he withdrew his hand from her face. Adria immediately missed his palm on her skin.

After she got her bearings back, she quietly cleared her throat as she looked everywhere except the man beside her making her feel things.

"Uhmm, I think you should go put a shirt on" She told him as she avoided his eyes knowing her face probably looked like a tomato.

"Why, does it bother you?" He asked but she could hear the teasing in his voice. She only nodded, still not looking at him because her eyes would probably stray down and admire his perfect body.

She heard him laugh softly as he stood up and went out of the room probably to put a shirt on. Adria froze in her seat realizing that this is the first time she would be hearing him laugh. His voice sounded melodious when he laughed and she could probably listen to it all day.

When he came back down, she noticed that he had worn a black polo shirt. Still she couldn't get the image of him shirtless out of her mind and her face was still beet red.

"What would you like? I'm about to order, pizza or Chinese?" He asked her as he settled in next to her.

"Pizza." Was the short reply she gave as she tried controlling the color on her face.

"Hmmhm, how do you like your pizza?" He inquired still focused on his phone as he was ordering it.

"No pickles, low cheese and extra chili." She listed out.

He "hmm" a reply as he typed in her order.

"Done, pizza would be here soon." He told her.

Adria nodded at what he said. She turned to look at him and saw he was already looking at her with his intense grey eyes. She could feel the sparkling tension between them, like the air was alive with the promise of a thousand unspoken secrets.

"Are you going to attend the annual gala that's coming up." She asked, trying to reduce the tension between them by starting a conversation.

"Maybe." He said with his eyes still fixated on hers.

"If you decided to go, who are you going with?" Adria inquired.

Andre scrutinized her for a while.

"I'm not sure yet." He said.

Adria released a breath she didn't know she was holding. She wasn't sure why but the thought of him going to the gala with someone who wasn't her and them dancing didn't sit right with her. Maybe jade was right, the feelings she had for him was more than just attraction and she had a feeling it wouldn't be fading anytime soon.

Adria's eyes locked onto his, and she felt herself getting lost in the depths of his gaze. "I...I think you should go," she stammered, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil brewing inside her. "I mean, it would be fun, right?"

Andre's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression unreadable. "Fun?" he repeated, his voice low and husky.

Adria's heart skipped a beat as she realized she was rambling. "I-I mean, yeah. You should go. With...with someone." She trailed off, her eyes dropping to her lap as she fiddled with her hands.

Andre's gaze never wavered, his eyes piercing through her very soul. "Renee," he said softly, his voice sending shivers down her spine.

She looked up, her eyes locking onto his once more. "Y-yes?"

"Would it bother you if I went with someone?" He asked.

Adria knew the answer was yes, it would bother her a lot but she wouldn't tell him that.

Andre knew it would from her expression.

"Why? Why would it bother you?" He questioned.

"Because it's your fault?" She said.

"My fault?" he asked with a raised brow.

"Yes, it's your fault my heart skips several beats whenever I see you. It's your fault that I feel butterflies whenever you are near, it's your fault I...."

Andre's lips crashed down on hers, interrupting her confession. The world around her melted away, leaving only the two of them, lost in the intensity of their kiss.

Adria's mind went blank, her thoughts scattering like leaves in the wind. She felt herself getting swept away by the tidal wave of emotions she'd been trying to suppress. The kiss deepened, and she found herself surrendering to the sensation, her heart beating in rhythm with his.

As they pulled back, gasping for air, Adria's eyes met Andre's, and she saw the spark of understanding there. He knew.

And with that Adria knew she was in trouble. She was falling for Andre hard and fast and she wasn't sure if she could ever escape.