Chapter 2: Chapter 2

(THIRD PERSON POV)

*GUNSHOT

Ace opened his eyes and took his gun on the side table in an instant. All sweaty faced and palms, he stood up and shook his head from what he did. It became habitual, an orthodox to have his hands fondling with the gun. He threw it to his bed and picked up his phone instead to see what time is it.

No abnormalities does he cope with, but he just can't get rid of the loud noise, the deviant sound, the gunshots. Though it was existing in his head for the past three years, hearing those noises in reality was exquisite and alluring for him. Now that bullets had became his companion, a colleague that helps him get the satisfaction of forgetting his nightmare temporarily.

Only the light from the lamp creates a bright reflection for him to see in his dark room. The room was painted white all over, but the black curtain which he doesn't mind to open at all makes it not quite visible.

He opened the door, and a wheeled tray containing the breakfast for today was already prepared for the Master. Ace don't allow anyone to enter his room, not even the maids, just anyone...

Not even AVIEN KIM. Daughter of the former right hand of his Father, the Daughter of Mr. Kim who protected him till his last breath. A patriot of the Creeds.

Avien was his self proclaimed right hand, a woman of his level. Intimidating as he is, creating an alluring but a dark aura. Ace didn't force her to come, but Avien chose to take after his father's vision and mission. To serve and be a Creed's Patriot. But not only does she live with patriotism and commitment, she also build up her chimera, and it is to avenge Mr. Kim's unacceptable demise.

Ace and Avien have their similarities, from their skills to their grail, and to the maxim of not having their names written on a tombstone unless they witness the cuplrit behind their cruel past have its very name being carved on one.

The Master prepared and went downstairs of his Casa. All intimidation is what the few selected staff perceive everytime he walks down the elegant vast staircase. Dressed in black suit, carrying the living illustration of The Creed's soul, power, and perfection.

"Ace, don't tell me you're going looking like that?" Avien said as they met under the staircase.

The Creed's Manor are everywhere, but Ace chose to live at the Casa located a bit far away from the cityscape. Avien suggested the idea, and the basis is to easily track, strategize, and spy on El Primo Hades every move while being unnoticeable. It is rare for Ace to go at the Creed's Corporation, and he lets Avien handle some works as well for his other inherited firms.

The culprit, the leader and the mastermind of the brutal escapade three years ago, they actually know who it is...

EL PRIMO HADES. Master leader of Hades Corporation, former business partner of Darius Creed. The very man who turned the young man's wonderful fantasy into a nightmare. The underworld evil soul who killed his smiles and the smiles of his one and only solace.

The person who he badly wanted to witness its fatal downfall, and who he wished to bury himself after he manage to pull a trigger in his head.

It became his only desire, the very aim, and the HOLY GRAIL of his life.

"I am" Ace briefly replied and Avien could not do anything but to let him be.

After all, it doesn't seem that they were close enough but Avien always had in mind that they were, and they could be labeled as Friends more than just comrades.

"Suit yourself, but... Leave your gùn in the car. You won't need it, not at that place" Avien said.

Ace took out his gùn from his coat and nodded.

"I know" He said.

***

(LUNA'S POV)

I am currently having the time of my life in the shower, singing my lungs out but a knock had appeared, interrupting my moment. I closed the shower to hear the voice outside.

"Luna, It's literally the first day. Don't tell me we'll actually be late every year??" Ivy was nagging.

"I'm almost done, give me five minutes" I shouted and opened the shower once again.

I can't blame her though, it was the first day of us being Third Year in College. And she's right, we're always late for it since First Year.

We live together at an Apartment one Kilometer away from School, The Colix University, and we study Business and Finance. Colix University was prestigious and almost all of the students there were freaking Daughters and Sons of Politicians, Executives, and Business men. And of course, we weren't like them. We were able to attend Colix because of our Scholarship. Fortunately, we were smart and strategic.

Attending such a University was complicated, we had to leave our home and family, but we just bear in mind that after graduating, it will be all worth it. You won't need to hunt for jobs after finishing school at Colix cause jobs and opportunities are the ones who'll chase you.

I finished preparing myself and got out of the bathroom, only to meet a girl's lifted eyebrow like it could fly at anytime. Ivy threw my bag at me and pulled me all the way outside our apartment.

"If only being late could decrease our grades, our Scholarships would've been gone a long time ago" Ivy said.

We were outside, waiting for a cab to ride. I chuckled at her face, and she just slapped my crossed arms. Well she totally has a point, but even though, I don't really know why I'm very slow at things.

A cab stopped in front of us and we went inside.

"Sev said the ceremony just finished, he'll wait for us at the library" Ivy said, facing her cellphone.

"At the library? At this hour?" I asked, but I somehow know his reason for wanting to stay there.

"You already know why, let's just let him be" Ivy said.

Yes, I already know why, and why wouldn't I? He'll probably just look for cute girls in there.

The three of us had been sticking to each other for years. Seven Eli Wades was our precious guy friend who's also attending Colix because of a Scholarship. We don't know why the three of us clicked at our first meeting, but it's just that his personality was right for us. He's pretty handsome, funny, smart, and totally brilliant when it comes to Computers and innovation. Well that's his field, he's studying Information Technology.

Fifteen and a half minutes had past and we arrived at Colix. There's a lot of new faces, they're probably freshmen. Ivy and I started walking to find our new Classroom, hopefully the department would not be far away from Cafeterias. It's such a struggle to walk around and I often get easily tired. We wanted to check our classroom first and we told Sev about it. For sure, he was enjoying himself at the library.

Ivy and I got infront of a building, a bulletin was standing beside and at last, we read it. This is where our department would be. We were about to enter, but we heard screams and people whispering around.

"It's Max, he's here"

"I heard that he'll be changing University, was it just fake news?"

"It's Knight, Oh my goodness"

A lot of whisper around but we can totally hear it. They're talking about MAXIMO KNIGHT KLEIN. He's a freaking Son of a Ceo, he's the Heir of Klein Apparel which is quite known in the country.

Maximo Knight was the face of Colix. He's handsome, smart, obviously rich, but a whole lot of a cold fish. He wasn't interested about them at all, I mean those girls who's screaming their lungs out just to be noticed by him.

But one thing do I have with those girls in similar and that's...

Well, I do like him.

And of course, he doesn't even know that I exist so I don't really push myself like those girls. I'm just admiring him from afar, and that's just how it is, it's totally fine.

I was gazing at Max from afar when Ivy started clapping while smirking at my face.

"Bravo! Thee Luna Rose Holics, not spitting Knight's handsome name. That's an improvement, I guess" Ivy said, then I stopped her hand from clapping and covered her mouth.

"Shhh, stop it. Someone might get the wrong idea" I said, but she just held my hand and removed it from her mouth.

"What wrong idea? That you like Ma-" I covered her mouth once again.

For God's sake, If only I could leave her here. I gave Ivy a frowning look in the face and she chuckled.

"Okay okay, I'll stop. Let's go Mrs. Klein" She said, and I couldn't avoid it. I just sighed and pinched her arms.

We entered the building and get to the elevator since this building have atleast twenty floors. Our floor would be on the eleventh and I'm the one who pushed the button. The elevator closed, but not even a second and it opened again, presenting a familiar stand of a man that I once saw before.

SH*T! What the actual hell is he doing here???

*THUMP THUMP THUMP

My heart, it's doing that thing again. It's beating like there's no tomorrow, it was screaming inside like its asking for a help.

I walked backwards after the man entered the elevator and pushed myself on Ivy. He got close to me when he's about to pick a floor but he stopped and just get back on the other corner of the elevator.

Why the hell did he stop??? Does it mean that he's also going on our floor???

Ivy suddenly pinched my side that's why I looked at her, but then she just get close to my ear and whispered.

"He's freaking handsome" She whispered.

"What? Aren't you scared?" I whispered back.

Ivy looked at me confusedly while I continuosly push myself to her.

"Why would I? He looks like a prince. It's not like he's dangerous or something" Ivy said.

Now that I think of it, I don't know why I'm scared of him. It's true that he looked like a prince, but I can't just get rid of this heavy feeling. His presence, it was truly menacing, and I couldn't explain it.

I can't look at him so I'm just looking down the whole time. Though I could still see him on my peripheral vision. His hands were on his pocket and he's just facing forward with that emotionless look. He's just... Well, mysterious.

Moments later and we arrived at the eleventh floor. The elevator door opened and the man walked out first. I let out a deep breath and looked at Ivy who's probably confused why I'm acting this way.

"Luna, don't tell me you mean it? That you're scared of him?" She said, and I nodded.

"Well, it's your feelings. But you know what, he's my type" Ivy said.

I'm not surprised though, Sev and her were tandem when it comes to hunting guys and girls. I just let them though, I was pretty used to it. And besides, I was once crazy about Max too, and I was like them. I used to talk about him all the time and they weren't complaining at all.

We started walking and stopped by a door. This is our classroom for sure because student's name will be posted on the door every first day each year and I found ours.

I opened the door and found few people sitting already, chatting and others were laughing. I don't know some of them, but some were our past classmates.

Ivy and I sat by the back row beside each other. Of course, I wouldn't survive if I won't sit beside her. She's literally my lifeline, and a day without her feels really empty, though she's undeniably annoying and loud, I'm grateful that she's my best friend.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated and I checked it. It was a message from our groupchat, so I told Ivy to also check, and she did.

Sev: Girls, how dare you not meet me here at the library? But it's okay, my eyes were full, there's a lot of cute girls in here. I'm gonna go now in my class, let's just meet later. Enjoy, love you two!

I smiled when I read his message, and I saw Ivy did too.

"Those cute girls saved us, good thing he's not mad" Ivy said, and I chuckled, she's right.

Minutes later, and the classroom was full. Only a few seats were left unoccupied but I guess this is just the right number for our class. The professor came in with a brief case and greeted us. But right after he introduced himself, the door opened.

"Right, the numbers had changed. Everyone, This is Acez Vero Creed, and he will be on our class. I'm sure all of you already heard of him" Mr. Lim said.

Wait What!? My jaw dropped upon hearing his name Crystal clear.

JUST WHAT IN THE WORLD??? Do you mean he's???

The ACEZ VERO CREED??? The owner of that one event where I worked part time?

And he was that man I was so scared and kept feeling heavy, I couldn't believe it. Now, you're telling me that he'll be in the same class as me for a year?

Like, do they want me dead?

My eyes were sticking out while my heart is doing its thing again. I can't take it, but I don't have a choice. Now I'm just hoping that he won't remember me, that I was in that event, that I was the one who put the effort on offering him a drink... when he's looking so lonely on that place. I don't know if he remembers it, but I hope he won't.

"Luna, what do I do??? He's in the same class, I might go crazy" Ivy kept whispering, but her voice was like fading on my ear as I kept my eyes following that guy.

So he was that Creed, he was one with the most popular and powerful name in the country. Their big, superior, and their ventures were countless. I heard that he inherited all of his parents firms, but why? Why does he need to study? He basically have it all already.

Even here, he was spreading that heavy aura, like no one could touch and talk to him. Girls were whispering and he's basically the topic of everyone. For sure, he's getting annoyed. But how could he not be the topic? He's literally a Creed, and even here, his attire was screaming elegance, like who the hell would wear a suit on school.

It's not weird though, rather, he looked so fine and you could actually see what kind of home does he live in. Like you could easily tell that he jumped out from a mansion. It's just that everything on him was in perfection. And that his kind was impossible for me to interact with, and I don't even plan to. I know I won't.

***To be continued***