the death of a bachelor

fourteen | weapon

Doctor Lena Corpuz was officially Reiju's favorite person in Carmine.

After the events of last night where she had been embarrassingly defeated by the devil professor, Reiju had wandered into the infirmary. She had slept on one of the beds before waking up to the sound of the door being unlocked.

The doctor caught her but with the hangover, she didn't give a fuck.

And then, a miracle happened because instead of reprimanding her, the doctor gave her a tray of Japanese breakfast. Rice balls, miso soup, umeboshi, and a pack of nori.

Reiju had eaten happily as she began to consider Lena a saint in this god-forsaken place.

"But wait, how about you?"

"I've already eaten," she replied with a smile. "And that's really for you. Hurry up though. Isn't your first term results out today?"

Reiju had frowned at her eccentric words but she couldn't miss school. After all, high exam scores are essential to make sure a student is ready for graduation. And that the subjects get harder as they got closer to the end of the term.

She entered the school's courtyard and from there, Reiju caught sight of the crowd that formed by the entrance. A long banner was spread out, hanging in the middle of the pointed archway.

Maggie emerged from the crowd. Her bouncy hair jumped up and down as she met Reiju halfway. "Hey! Where did you go last night?"

She shrugged in response. She didn't want to get into the detail about how she had fucked Dion into an alliance before being toyed around by Professor Shah.

It sounded ridiculous in her head.

"So?"

Maggie's eyes gleamed from the information she had learned. "Dion's number one."

Ah, so he's a smart fucker?

"As expected from someone whose name means god."

"And you're number two."

"What? Why?" she growled. "I'd rather place third than number two."

"I don't know, Reiju," Maggie answered with a small smirk. "But I'm pretty sure you were missing classes from time to time."

Reiju rolled her eyes at the sadistic grin that followed her words. "Whatever. How about you? And oh, check for Giovanni too. He's my bitch now."

"Giovanni Rossi?" The blonde girl halted on her tracks. Her face turned ashen. "You accepted him? But he's..."

"What?"

"He always places last. He's been here for four years, Reiju."

"Nani?"

Reiju slapped a hand against her forehead. Anger simmered on her skin. She was a fool for ever thinking that Dion gave her a gift. No. He had given her a double-edged sword. She should've known better that power wasn't given for free.

Maggie clicked her tongue. Annoyance crossed her usually placid features as she twisted the diamond ring in her finger. "I wish you talked to me before doing this, Reiju. What is all this info in my brain for if you won't use it?"

She gritted her teeth. "Dion caught me off guard. And there was alcohol... and he was hot... wealsohadsex."

"What was that?" she exclaimed.

Reiju didn't have the energy to hide it anymore. "I said we had sex!"

Several heads snapped in their direction as a squeal escaped from Maggie's red lips. She grilled her arm, nails digging into Reiju's flesh. "So, how was it?"

"How was what?" She faked ignorance as they entered the castle, treading the path to the assassination psych classroom.

"The sex! Is he good?"

"Eh, I suppose it was tolerable."

"You like it! You would've said 'no' if it really disgusted you!" she exclaimed, almost bursting Reiju's eardrums.

"I would've given you a graphic description of how he looked like under those expensive clothes. But too bad. I'm still pissed about the fact that he had given me Gio in the guise of a present." Reiju pushed the wooden doors open. The students chattered, exchanging gossips and taking advantage of the professor's absence.

She eyed Dion on the other side of the room. The man was surrounded by his men. A typical view. They talked around him, eyes glittering with delight from the conversation. But Dion Di Lauro remained detached. He leaned languidly on his chair, his black leather boots rested on the desk as he observed his men with indolence.

Reiju marched towards their group. "Hey."

Dion tilted his head to meet her gaze. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he stared at her neck. "Senti già la mia mancanza?"

She arched an eyebrow. "Aho, kimi no hanashi te iru koto ga rikai deki nai n da."

His brows were wrinkled. "What are you saying?"

Reiju let out a wicked smile. "Not fun, isn't it?"

Dion laughed that even his men gawked at him like he had grown two heads. He kicked the student next to him, forcing the poor boy to vacate the chair at once. He yanked the chair next to him and tapped the seat. "Come sit."

"No, thanks." Reiju folded her arms as Maggie strode next to her.

Dion's blue-grey eyes narrowed at the newcomer. "Why are you with this trash, cara?"

"Now, now. Aren't we allies? You can't go around insulting my friend especially after what you did."

"What I did?"

Reiju stepped forward. His men moved but Dion waved it away that she got closer. Palms flat on his desk, she looked down on him with a fiery gaze. "You gave me Gio despite his academic standing."

Dion grabbed her tie, playing with the end. "An assassin never blames his weapon."

Weapon?

It was an odd choice of word. But Reiju began to understand how Dion's mind worked. He liked giving her half-truths, wanting to see what she would do with it. That must mean that Gio's ability was still something that he had respected.

Reiju pulled back when a dark figure flashed before her eyes.

The next second, Dion was standing. His chair was flipped backward. Di Lauro's men flanked his sides as Reiju gaped at the short brown-haired boy that stood on Dion's desk.

What the fuck?

She raised her gaze to see Dion, wiping his leather-covered knuckles against his bruised cheek. Did Gio do that? Reiju turned to see Giovanni stood with pride, hands hidden on his trousers. He sneered at his former boss. His long scar twisting into a hideous form.

"I've always wanted to do that," he muttered.

Reiju gasped as she realized that he was protecting her. She tapped his brown boots to get his attention. "Gio, stop. He wasn't doing anything."

Gio appeared to think for a second before he shrugged in nonchalance. "But I like hitting him."

"Fool. You dare strike me?" Dion growled. He stomped towards Giovanni, a menacing mask overtook his calm features. His jaw ticked as rage encircled him.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Everyone swiveled towards the doorway where Professor Shah stood in his black clothes and an ominous gaze that could freeze hell.

His critical glare went from Dion to Gio before it settled on Reiju. "Once again, it's you Miss Tenjin."

Damn it.

____________

Translations:

Did you miss me already?

Stupid. I don't understand what you're talking about.