RÊD FLÂGS
Red Flags - Episode 41 & 42
(Badasses•Bad•Jerks)
★★★★★★★★★
Emory stayed in his arms for what looks like forever, and like magic, her body temperature started going down.
Levi hugged her tighter, diving his fingers into her dark sleek hair and allowing her to find calmness in his embrace__and his scent.
He broke the hug after five long minutes, and when her face came back to him, he he dabbed the streaks of tears with his warm thumb.
Emory wouldn't stop staring at his eyes.
They're not dark or blank or cold as usual. There's a slight drop on his lids, and that seems to be covering his eyes like he doesn't want to look at her or something.
He squatted in front of her suddenly, and she hiccupped as he took off his sneakers, leaving him barefoot.
He raised her right leg from the ground, and she quickly held his hair for balance as he inserted her leg into the sneaker.
It looks funny cos it's way bigger.
"My leg is slim" she voiced out gently.
"I know" he replied, tying the lace before wearing the second one for her.
He stood and got another pair of sneakers from his bike safe, putting that on, then he climbed the bike.
"Home? I don't wanna go home yet" she shook her head.
"I'm not taking you home yet. Come here" he replied, and she made to walk, but the big sneakers made her start dragging her feet on the ground.
She couldn't help but laugh at herself, stopping after three drags.
Levi smirked knowingly.
"Levi are you enjoying this?" She chuckled, and he stretched his hand forward.
"C'mon, fox" he tilted his head.
She smiled and took two more drags before getting to him.
He took her hand and pulled her closer, covering the remaining distance.
He got the second helmet and wore it on her head, then he began strapping.
"I can do it myself" she said.
"I know, shh" he replied, and she smiled again.
He finished strapping, and she climbed behind him, wrapping her arms on his tummy.
"Wait...my car" she suddenly remembered.
"One of the workers here will take it back" he replied, kicking the bike to life.
He didn't tell her to hold tight before moving, the jerk made her hold him tighter, her nails almost digging into his tummy.
He drove down the road, and two minutes into the drive, she was already feeling better.
The cold night breeze, the street lamps, the dark atmospheric aesthetic, the people and the cars.
Everything contributed so much in taking her mind on a peaceful trip, but the biggest contributor is the guy driving her right now.
How can a guy smell this good? She could just sleep off on his back, and her body on his own feels so soothing that she kept tightening her hold on him.
He's as closed off as a chest, and no one has any idea what's happening in his head, but the peace he brought her tonight will be remembered for long.
He calmed her, but his silence stabs.
Are they supposed to be talking when he's driving?
No idea, but she wants to.
"Why don't you have a car?" She asked suddenly.
Not for talking sake, but out of curiosity.
Levi is easily the richest guy in campus. He could buy as many cars he wants in a minute, but his low profile life is just cold.
"Cars are boring" he finally replied, and she pinched him on the tummy.
He didn't even feel it or cringe.
"Dogs and cats are boring, and now cars too? What else is boring?" She said.
"Your questions" he replied.
"That hurts" she muttered, deciding the keep quiet as he finally pulled up in front of a store.
This time, he didn't let her walk in.
Immediately he removed their helmets, he swept her up in his arms, and a gasp escaped her lips as the oversized sneakers fell from her foot.
She quickly fisted his shirt in the front for balance as he carried her into the store.
"Welcome to L&G sir, I'll take you on a tour to our various sessions" an attendant bowed by the door.
"Needless, get me comfortable flip-flops, size 30" he said, and Emory's eyes widened.
"Yes sir" the lady left to get the flops.
"How did you know my size? Wait... That other day when you bought me jean and shirt in school too... how did you know my waist measurement?" She said.
"Simple, I make good use of my medulla" he shrugged.
"Levi you're lying" she replied.
"You're f+çking obsessed with calling me that name at the beginning of every sentence" his eyes turned intriguing.
"It's your name" she muttered, letting go of his shirt.
The lady finally arrived, and he dropped her.
The flip-flops is cream color with some golden rings and small beads as the adornments,, and it has some furry designs too by the sides.
She slid her legs in, and they fitted perfectly.
"That'll be 100, sir" the lady smiled.
"100 what? For flip-flops?" Emory's eyes widened.
"This is a brand store, miss. We only sell designers, and you're wearing Prada flops" the lady replied.
Emory blinked thrice, and Levi gave the lady his card.
She swiped it on the machine and returned it.
"Thanks for coming!" The cheerful lady said, and Levi walked out nonchalantly.
Emory quickly went after him.
"We could have gone to a normal store" she said.
"Normal is boring" he replied.
"Are you always like this?"
"Yeah" he replied, and she stopped.
He stopped too, turning back to face her.
"Thought you wouldn't stop" she smiled, walking to meet up with him.
There's an ice cream place across the road, so he took her hand and crossed with her.
Her hand is so small inside his own, and she smiled inwardly when she felt the smallness.
"I hate ice cream" she told him.
"I know" he replied, going to the stand beside the ice cream shop
It's a chocolate store, and her mouth watered immediately.
There's a long line in front of the place, and they'll have to wait for at least an hour if they really want to buy.
Levi easily went to the front and told the man in charge that he's gonna pay for everybody, and he was allowed to get five cups.
After paying, the people in line started thanking him continually as he left with Emory.
"Wow, you're rich huh?" Emory smiled when they got to a overpass not far from that road.
"Hmm-mm" he replied, handing her the bag.
She took it and got one cup of the Frozen Chic chocolate and the spoon.
Immediately she opened the cover and ate a scoop, her eyes widened.
"It's so good! No wonder they have a long line there" she gushed, eating another spoon tastily.
She scooped the third spoon and brought it to Levi, wanting to feed him.
"Here, you should taste too" she said.
"I hate sweet things" he replied, and she blinked twice, unable to hide her disappointment before directing the spoon to her own mouth.
She ate alone, staring at the view of road below them while tapping her right foot repeatedly on the ground.
While she stared down, Levi's eyes are totally on her... Unwavering.
"Levi" she suddenly called.
"Noah" he replied, and she faced him.
"Come to think of it, why would my parents give me a boy name as my second name" she made faces, her lips slightly stained with the chocolate.
"You never heard of unis+x names? It's for males and females" he replied, directing his gaze away from her face.
"Whatever... Why are you 25?" She asked suddenly, and she saw his eyes flicker.
"I spent four years home after an accident" he replied grimly.
"Accident?" She said curiously.
"Curiousity killed the cat, let's go" he replied curtly, taking the remaining bag of chocolate.
Emory continued standing there dumbfounded.
Did she ask too much?
He stopped when he couldn't feel her beside himself, and he turned back.
She quickly disposed the empty cup of chocolate with her and rushed to meet up.
They walked back to his bike, and the ride to her house was silent.
She got down when they arrived at her place, and he helped her take off the helmet.
The chocolate stain is still on her lips, and he stared at it for some seconds, his Adam's apple moving hungrily.
"Go in" he told her, giving her the bag.
"Yeah... goodnight" she replied, taking it and going for the door.
Immediately she opened and stepped in, Levi drove off.
Luckily, no one is awake.
She went upstairs and checked Sybil's room first.
She's still fast asleep in bed, so she left for her own room.
When she left, Sybil's eyes opened, and she sat up in bed.
She actually saw everything.
How Levi dropped her, the Prada flip-flops she's wearing and a bag of chocolate from the most expensive chocolate company in this city.
She sighed, hanging her sleep mask on her head.
"She said she wasn't interested in him" she muttered.
*
GUEVARA HOSPITALS*
Isaac was running as he came out of the cab that dropped him.
He literally dashed into the hospital, and he was breathless when he got to the reception.
"Isaac? Thank gawd you're here" a doctor blocked him.
"How's my mom doing?" He asked impatiently.
"Another hidden tumor surfaced in her front lobe, and we have to carry out the surgery unfailingly tomorrow" the doctor replied, holding his shoulder.
"You're gonna open up her head this time?" Isaac said fearfully.
"Calm, she'll make it. The problem is the expenses, you can get the bill from the nurses. I have to go now" the doctor said and left with another set of doctors.
"Here" a nurse handed him the bill card, and he almost fainted.
"It's not month-end yet. I can't get this amount tomorrow I swear. I...
"I'm sorry Isaac, but you know we never ask you to pay before surgery, and you're already owing the hospital a lot. She needs this surgery" the nurse said as a matter of fact.
"F+ck... I'm really... I'm helpless and...
"I'll pay" a familiar voice said behind him, and he turned to see Hyce standing there like a godsent.
"Hyce?" Isaac said, wiping the small tear in his eyes.
"Give me the bills" Hyce took it, and Isaac stepped back, sniffling as Hyce cleared the bills easily, even the ones he's owing the hospital.
He came back to meet Isaac who's standing gently beside the wall.
"All done, let's go see your mum" he said.
"Thank you, I'll pay you back I promise. I'll work hard and pay you back" Isaac said, holding his hand.
Hyce looked at the contact before looking back at his face.
"No need" he said plainly.
"But...
"Your mum" Hyce cut him off, and Isaac sniffled before nodding.
They went to her ward together, and they met the woman conscious.
"Mum" Isaac rushed to her bedside to stroke her hair.
Hyce stood at a safe distance.
"Isaac" the woman smiled faintly, her wrinkled face full of worries.
"You'll be fine, he helped me with the bills" Issac replied, gesturing at Hyce.
"Who's...he?" The woman asked.
"A friend from school" Issac replied, and Hyce smiled with his lips.
A friend?
Isaac considers him a friend?
That's a good start.
*
TERRAVERDE PALACE, 12AM*
Rebekah hasn't stepped her room since nightfall.
She stayed in the first royal living room, and no matter what the maids said, she didn't move.
She's with her laptop, watching animes to kill time while eating popcorn lazily.
The maids surrounded her with their heads bowed respectfully.
There's surely no sleep for them if she doesn't.
Since Conrad left angrily in the morning, he didn't come back, and she's still hoping for his comeback unless he wants to stop sleeping here.
She picked another popcorn, but she was interrupted by the entry of someone into the main living room.
She stood and rushed there, and she felt relieved to see Conrad just coming in.
"Hey, thought you wouldn't be coming" she said awkwardly.
He ignored her completely, settling on the couch.
He turned on the TV but they're all about news and f+çking news, so he turned it off
"Bored out of my damn mind" he muttered, resting back and shutting his eyes.
"I'm sorry about what happened in the morning. I wasn't expecting the kiss i...
Before she could land, he already stood and started climbing the stairs that led to the first balcony.
"Conrad! Connie!" She shouted after him, but he didn't turn till he entered and shut the door.
"That mad guy, I've never apologized before c+nt! I hate you!!!" She yelled, feeling so pained as she stormed out.
She grabbed her laptop, pushed the popcorn away frustratingly and left for her room.
*
TITANS MANSION*
Omar is lying on his bed, eyes closed with a bandaged hand.
The bandage is soaked with his blood already, and needs changing
Pains is soaring in his system and seeping straight into his brain, but all he's thinking about is North's body.
He couldn't kill Emory like the bastard required, what if he reports him to the cops tomorrow?
Will he finally go to jail?
He opened his eyes and left the bed, opened the drawer and brought out the inhaler which is already wrapped in a white cover.
"Who uses inhaler in the campus? Who's asthmatic?"
His damn brain couldn't even provide an answer.
He bit his fingers hard, and his phone buzzed.
He quickly got it, and as expected, it's a text from the bastard.
~Since you seem to be having difficulty like the idiot that you are, I'll help you. Tomorrow, something will happen in school... I'll hire thugs disguised as students~
Omar quickly typed a reply...
Omar: But I have my club members.
The person: Your useless members? I don't need them. You'll receive orders from me tomorrow. Await it and make sure you follow.
Omar: Ok.
He dropped the phone and sighed out.
So far the thugs will do the job and he's only on the background, then he doesn't have to worry about Levi.
He grinned satisfactorily, falling back on the bed.
Finally he's gonna have his peace back.
*
NEXT MORNING, CARSON'S MANSON*
Tate was fixing breakfast in the kitchen when the sound of the doorbell brought her out.
She opened the door and found a delivery man waiting with a box
"How may I help you?" She asked.
"This is for Miss Emory Carson" the man replied, and Emory came downstairs, already dressed for campus.
"Me?' she took the box, and immediately she saw the name of who it came from, she quickly signed the clearance, and the man left.
"What's that? Is that from a guy?" Tate asked.
"Secret!" Emory replied, rushing upstairs.
She opened the box impatiently, and she gasped when she saw a stunningly pretty lovebird inside, looking so meek.
"Damn" she voiced out, carrying it in her palms.
The bird cooed.
There's a small note attached under it's wing, and it read...
• You said your first lovebird died when you were ten, here's a replacement...fox.
She smiled prettily, hugged the bird to her chest before reading it again.
Even his handwriting is so f+çking attractive.
This guy is... Gosh.
"From Banks?" Sybil's voice made her look up to see her standing in front of her, dressed up too.
"Hey, Sybil"" Emory stood.
"Yunno what? Don't say it cos it's obvious... I'm off to Rain's place. We'll come to school together" Sybil said, and before Emory could reply, she already went downstairs.
"Is that a bird? It's pretty!" Tate came upstairs.
"Ma, can you take care of it till I'll be back?" Emory gave it to her.
"Sure, I'll get it a cute cage" Tate gave Emory a kiss on the hair before she went downstairs.
Sybil was already gone when she got outside, but surprisingly, she met Conrad and Hyce waiting.
"What are you guys doing here?" She asked surprisingly.
"Banks won't be in school today, so we're your assigned bodyguards" Hyce saluted her, and she blinked.
"Why? Where did he go?" She asked.
"Madrid, he's coming back today though. Hop in your car, we'll drive behind you" Conrad said.
Grudgingly, Emory got in.
She drove out, and they drove after her
Why didn't he tell her last night?
It's hard to understand this unruly guy.
*
RAIN'S PLACE*
"You really came!" Rain gushed in excitement when Sybil showed up.
"I didn't want to drive with Emmy. She told me she wasn't interested in Banks but she went out with him last night and you need to see the Prada flops he bought her. Yunno the chic chocolate that's hard to get? He bought her a bag of it. That guy is madly rich" Sybil said, looking pained.
Rain bit her tongue so hard that she retched cos of the news, then she rushed back in and vomited all her breakfast into the toilet.
"Rain!" Sybil rushed in too.
Her eyes widened.
"Are you sick?"
Rain rinsed her mouth and wiped with a towel before smiling.
"No...I had a turning stomach but I'm fine. Will refill when we get to school"
"Oh...ok" Sybil replied, noticing Rain's bed.
It's surrounded with new teddy foxes, all colour black.
Before she could ask questions, Rain pulled her out.
"Yunno one new thing about Emory?" Rain said when they got to the car.
"What?"
"She's different from the Emory you knew before you travelled. This current Emory is selfish" Rain replied.
Sybil didn't say anything as Rain drove them out .
*
MADRID,8AM*
Levi booked a 7am flight, and luckily, the flight didn't even take up to one hour from Terraverde in Valencia to this place.
He was holding just his phone and a black bag as he came out of the airport, his packs bulging under his black shirt.
The bites and nail marks he got from Emory last night are still on his skin though faded. He didn't bother to cover up with a jacket.
"Levi Banks?" A tattooed girl suddenly blocked him.
"One and only" he replied simply, and the girl led the way.
He followed, passing through stalls and shops, bricks and several underpasses till they got to an old house.
He was led in, and in the secluded room, he met the one he came for.
It's another tattooed girl, and this one has a short bob hair, several piercings and black gothic lips.
He looks deadly dangerous, but smiles filled her features when Levi settled in front of her, dropping the black bag on the table.
She's Natasha, an illegal investigator who digs out even the deeply buried.
"Bourbon? Tequila?" She asked.
"None" he replied coldly.
"Sheesh! You're hot and cold at the same time, just like your father" she grinned.
"He came here?" Levi raised his brows.
"He payed me to search for the location of a particular Fred, and if you're here for that same bastard, then it's futile. No one knows where Fred is" she said, and he pushed the bag to her.
She opened it and smiled.
It's stacked with cash to the brim, smelling like mint.
"Hmm!!" She flipped a bundle, slapping herself with it.
"I love the smell of cashero!" She grinned.
"Find him...you have one week" he told her, his eyes so dead.
"Two weeks, Banks" she replied seriously.
"Take it" he said, standing and getting out of the place.
She tapped the bud in her ear immediately.
"Boys! A new catch!"
*
TERRAVERDE, LEGACY COLLEGE*
Rain and Sybil entered the hall at a time, and the compliments Sybil started receiving made her slid a lock of her hair behind her ear.
• She's beautiful!
• Heard she's Emory's cousin.
• The resemblance!
"You're becoming popular" Rain said.
"You think?" Sybil smiled, and Isaac suddenly caught up with them, breathing hard.
"Rain! You didn't wait for me this morning I went to your place!" He said breathlessly.
"Maybe you should start riding with Hyce from now on" she replied.
"What!"
"Weren't you with him at the hospital last night? Excuse me" she pushed him out of the way and left with Sybil.
Isaac swallowed.
Emory, Lizzy, Nina and Rebekah entered the hallway at the same time.
Conrad and Hyce are behind them, watching Emory closely.
"Your bodyguards are handsome" Nina said.
"Don't even start" Emory replied, and Rebekah laughed, but it was short.
Conrad is still ghosting her, and it's not making sense anymore.
Is he supposed to keep malice this long as a guy?
Lizzy has been quiet, so Nina peeked at her and saw her pressing her phone.
There's a picture of a vibrator on the screen.
"Are you going to order that? It's big! Will it fit inside you?" Nina chirped.
"Who knows? I like big things" Lizzy replied.
"Damn!!!" Nina shouted, and Lizzy rushed away.
"Come back here who's influencing you!" Nina ran after her.
Emory and Rebekah exchanged glances, shaking their heads.
They got to class and met their mates packing their books.
"What's going on?" Emory asked.
"ENG 404 will be holding at the library this morning" Rain replied.
They all started packing too, leaving for the library.
Three minutes later, no single person in the class again.
Chadwick came in and went straight to Omar's seat.
He searched his messenger bag and luckily found the wrapped inhaler.
He smiled as he took it.
He just has to figure out the fingerprints on it, then he'll be able to find out the culprit.
Maybe if he does that, Levi will forgive him.
*
LIBRARY*
"Wasn't the library made for reading? Not for classes" Rebekah complained as she came in with the girls.
They're all holding cups of cold coffee they got on their way here.
"Prof. Hayden is full of surprises, but I love his course the most" Nina replied.
"Same here, he's good" Emory replied, taking another drag from her coffee straw.
They settled down together, and Emory noticed Sybil's absence.
"Where's she?" She asked Rain.
"She's at the second library" Rain replied, and Emory made to drink from the coffee again, but it's finished.
"Already?" She dropped the cup, but strangely, she feels weak.
Is coffee supposed to make her feel sleepy?
And...she needs to pee.
She stood suddenly.
Conrad and Hyce stood at the same time.
"I'm going to the restroom, you're not planning to follow, right?" She said, and they both sat back.
She left the library, and the drowsiness got worse even before she found a restroom.
She almost fell asleep on her way.
When she got there, she couldn't even open the toilet seat to pee, so she sat on the covered seat, slumping back.
She slept off automatically, and someone closed the door from outside.
Five guys appeared with Omar, and Omar handed them a keg before leaving fast.
The keg contains gasoline which was poured into the restroom through the space below the door.
They wet the door with it too, and the last one took the cigar he's smoking out of his lips.
He threw it under the room, and fire ignited.
They left that environment immediately.
*
LIBRARY*
"Why is Emz not back yet?" Rebekah said when Mr. Hayden finally came in for the class.
"She's been gone for less than two minutes, chill" Nina replied.
"But the restroom is beside this library" Lizzy said.
"Good morning, class 2024" Mr. Hayden said from the front.
"Fire!!!!!!!!!!" A student suddenly screamed from outside, and Rebekah gasped as the fire alarm sounded.
"Fire!!!!!!!! New restroom C is on fire!!!!! Fire!!!!!!!!!!!" The screams came again.
"No" Nina's coffee cup fell from her.
"Shit!" Rain and Lizzy stood at a time
"Emz!!!" Rebekah shouted, pushing everyone out of her way.
Conrad and Hyce jumped over the table, running madly out of the library.
TBC
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