With livid eyes, Xavier Knight stood by our table. His pierced ears were emitting smoke, which I could practically see. He had a wary eye on Senior Aylwin, as though he was about to pounce.

The DJ was no longer blaring. Everyone seemed to be stuck in place. Some seemed perplexed as to what was going on, whilst others were unaffected. Damy came over and sat beside me in the interim, winking at me.

He smirked as he murmured, "Ready to watch live college drama? " Furrowing my brows, I huffed.

"Well, well, well, look who we have here! If I'm not mistaken, is it the infamous Xavier Knight, who lost once again today!? " Senior Ryder said with amusement, making all of us chuckle.

Senior Xavier glared at him before saying, "Winning this race won't make you a king, Eldred! If you really are so worthy, then prove it. " His voice echoed throughout the room.

"Hey Drake, can you smell something? Something's burning. What's on fire!? " Senior Chase, perplexed, inquired, one of his crew members. He got up, sniffling and craning his neck in several directions.

"Dude! I suppose it's not something, but someone who's on fire. " The Drake guy responded, which elicited a collective chuckle. With a smile, I shook my head at their childishness.

"Aw, is baby Xavier jealous? " A roar of laughter erupted once more in the room.

Senior Aylwin appeared unfazed by them the whole time. With a can of coke in one hand, he continued to browse through his phone. He was at ease, but that didn't mean he was oblivious.

The look on Senior Xavier's face was incomprehensible. His palms were fisted and his jaw was clenched. "I'm not here to talk to you toddlers, Gavin. Let's get down to it. I'm here to challenge you, Eldred. " With gritted teeth, he stressed Senior Aylwin's title. His tone was filled with anger, contempt, and disgust.

"The Merciless' new racing track is set to open in New York next month. They're planning a big race. Whoever wins the race will be crowned the King of Tracks. And... " Smirking, he paused. "The loser must submit to the winner. So, are you up for the challenge? " He finished with a deep smirk.

Everyone fell quiet as they awaited Senior Aylwin's reply. Senior Aylwin was just the same! No reaction, no response, nothing!

"It seems that you have already given up. Afraid, uh!?" He mocked, a sly grin on his lips. Gulping down my coke, I rolled my eyes.

It really happened that time! Senior Aylwin lifted his gaze away from his phone and fixed it on Senior Xavier. His icy, dark oceanic orbs held nothing. His gaze was provoking and intimidating, as if tempting him to speak anything to him. Senior Xavier tried hard not to be disturbed by his gaze, but he was!

"If you approach a lion's cage, make sure it's closed, particularly if the king is on the hunt for his prey." Aylwin's face was encrusted in a devilish look. I was on the verge of choking from his damn words. Throughout the club, I heard 'oohs' and 'aahs.'

I had never heard his voice before. Well, let's just say the females had every right to be smitten by him. His voice was dangerously deep, capable of easily distracting and seducing any woman.

Soph, get your act together!

"Usually he doesn't say anything, and when he does, it's like—2 min silence, 2 min stare! Duh!" I grumbled under my breath. At least, that's what I thought, but my tablemates' amusement made me realize my fault. What the heck!

I did my favorite thing to help me get over these waves of humiliation. I sipped my coke, looking anywhere but at them. Huh, what an impression!

"Enough of the cheesy lines!" Senior Xavier seethed.

"That's where you're mistaken, Knight. The lines you're calling cheesy are exactly what girls crave! " He should really stop making me choke with his goddamn breath-hitching words. Whistles and 'oohs' were heard once more. Long-lost brothers of dogs!

His freaking eyes were glued on me the second he said those words. Those eyes, oh my! Before someone could catch me, I instantly averted my eyes, but guess what? My luck wasn't always on my side; not that day precisely!

Few of them noticed it, including Senior Chase, Azura, Senior Xavier, and well, Damy, too! Ugh, could the night be any more embarrassing? Senior Chase gave me a knowing smirk, Azura a puzzled look, and the rest, well, I didn't bother to look. So, instead of staring at them, I took another sip and looked around.

His comments had an obvious impact on Senior Xavier. Senior Aylwin's retorts were wreaking havoc on his pride at every turn. "Enough with your bullshit! Challenge..." Senior Aylwin cut him off, "Challenges are supposed to be accepted, aren't they?"

"Well, it's unfortunate for you then, Eldred, because Xavier hasn't learned to lose." One of Senior Xavier's friends retorted.

"Do me a favor, Chase. Just remind me again, who won today. " Smirking, one of the S Racers spoke up.

"Jake, you've forgotten once again!? Even today's loser, Xavier, is aware of this! Isn't it Aylwin, as always, Xavier? " Senior Chase smirked contentedly.

I overheard guffaws and chuckles. I simply shook my head at them, smiling. Boys, boys, boys! They continued to ridicule each other and throw comebacks at each other before his voice boomed, "Enough now, boys! Xavier has a girl waiting for him in the room. We wouldn't want the poor girl to be kept waiting, now, would we? " I didn't peg Senior Aylwin to say this. Heck, he was far beyond my wildest dreams.

"How did he figure that out? " Damy spoke in a hushed tone. I smiled as I looked at him. "A room key is dangling from his pant pocket, as you can see. His cell is ringing and vibrating. He's dumb enough to have his phone in his hand at all times. He takes a quick glance at it now and then. He is irritated and impatient. " Damy sneered, "However, this does not imply that he has a girl waiting for him. "

"Um... Look at his neck, and well yeah... " I said, biting my lower lip. There were two new hickies, and that moron made no attempt to conceal them. Damy laughed at my shyness and understood. "Moreover, it seems that he was in a rush and forgot to put on the same pair of shoes," I remarked, referring to the mismatched pair of shoes he was wearing.

One pair were his black shoes, while the other seemed to be a pair of pink shoes worn by a girl. Damy laughed hysterically while clutching his stomach, and I had to restrain myself from laughing my butt off.

Damien drew everyone's attention, but he was too busy laughing his ass off to notice.

"Is he alright?"

"Why the fuck is he laughing like a lunatic?"

"Damy, are you all right, man?" asked Saphy, Felix, Ivy, and Austin as they approached our side.

"Are you color-blind or what?" Damy asked Senior Xavier as he regained his composure. I glared at him, mouthing him to shut up, but got openly ignored. How rude!

With a puzzled expression on his face, Senior Xavier raised his brow at him. Damy broke out laughing again when he pointed to his shoes. I couldn't help but laugh this time. They all joined us in a flash. Except for Senior Aylwin, of course! With a smirk, he shook his head and returned to his own world, flipping through his phone.

Senior Xavier seemed to be too embarrassed to speak. He tried to defend himself but couldn't get it out. He turned around to leave the club, but was halted by Senior Chase's voice, "Hey, Xavier, if you ever feel the need to be humiliated, give us a call. We'll provide you with a free service 24/7. "

Senior Xavier appeared in front of him in the blink of an eye, "Don't fucking flatter yourself, Gavin. I'll show you how anyone is humiliated. " By that time, the laughter had died. He tried to grab him by the collar, but he couldn't even get close enough to touch him.

Woah there, dude! Senior Aylwin's right foot was stuck on the left side of his waist, preventing him from reaching out further with his hand. "I'd be very cautious if I were you! If you want to leave this place the way you came in, believe me, I'd advise you leave before I lose my cool. " His voice was calm but deadly, sending shivers down the spine. He looked him in the eyes, making him recoil.

As a result, Senior Xavier stepped back and straightened his shirt. "You can't save him every time, Eldred," he said, pausing to gesture to Senior Chase, who merely rolled his eyes and continued, "Well, if I get you next time, believe me, I will knock the hell out of you."

"Finger down, Xavier, or you won't be able to finger anyone. It's not about saving Chase, because in fact, if I don't intervene, the girl waiting for you won't spare a glance until dumping you. If that's what you want, then Chase, go on!" said Senior Aylwin before returning to his own world.

Senior Chase was a tall, handsome, and tanned young man. I'd learnt he was the senior soccer team's captain and quarterback, as well as a close friend of Senior Aylwin. He looked muscular and well-built, with light amber eyes and platinum blonde locks. If he pounced on Senior Xavier, I was sure he'd end up redecorating his face.

The atmosphere became gloomy and tense, almost to the point of suffocation. I slid my coke onto the table gently, at least that's what I thought! It was, however, put more aggressively, causing a disturbance. Eyes were drawn to me again; except that time, I was irritated and annoyed. I hadn't taken my pills or had enough sleep.

So, instead of doing my favorite thing, I did something I was sure I'd regret the next day. "Tch! Listen there, instead of ogling at me, I guess you've got better things to do. Why not do that? Moreover, this freaking tension of you hormonal guys is very frustrating to the point of suffocation. So, if you excuse me, I have Mr. Air waiting for me outside. You guys keep on with your egoistic hormones! "

I paused, glaring at Senior Xavier, "You! Next time you come to start a fight, being all macho, then make sure you don't look like a fangirl of Blackpink. Stupid college dramas! Bloody hormonal men! " I spat in anger, making my way out of the club.

I halted, turning towards my friends, "Are you guys going to live here? If yes, then good night. If no, then follow me quickly or else I'll drive myself back to my dorms. And oh, don't worry how!? " I said, jingling the keys in my palm. Damy rummaged in his pockets, muttering something under his breath. I exited the club after one final look at Senior Aylwin, who was looking intently at me.

I made myself comfortable in the car after unlocking it and waited for my party animal pals. I noticed them approaching the car after a few minutes. They slid open the door quietly and took their seats. "Sorry, I had a bit of an outburst back there," I grumbled.

They exchanged looks before laughing hysterically.

"You know what, it wasn't overreacting at all, but it was hella badass! I kinda... like your this side, woman! "

"It's the first time I've seen her in full badass mode, and damn Xavier was embarrassed. 'You! Next time you come to start a fight, being all macho, then make sure you don't look like a fangirl of Blackpink.' Seriously Soph, Blackpink!? " Saphy burst out laughing, followed by us.

"Did you see her expression when she said, 'Moreover, this freaking tension of you hormonal guys is very frustrating to the point of suffocation. So, if you excuse me, I have Mr. Air waiting for me outside. You guys keep on with your egoistic hormones!' " Ivy said, mimicking my words.

"I love that line, 'Stupid college dramas! Bloody hormonal men! ' Have you seen Xavier's face? Man, and Aylwin!? Let just say he didn't remove his eyes from her. "

"What a fantastic night that had been! This night will be permanently etched in my mind. " Felix said that, but his smirk, which was pointed at Saphy, said something else. Gosh, their double meanings!

"By the way, Soph, I never pegged you as a thief type. When did you get your hands on my car keys? " Damy inquired, his forehead furrowed.

"That's for me to know, and for you to figure out! " I smirked, winking. "Gosh dang, this girl! "

"Sheesh guys, let's get out of here, it's too late! "

Just like that, the dreadfully exhausting night came to an end.

That night, I slept soundly, allowing my mind and soul to unwind in preparation for the coming days of boredom. But, boy, was I wrong. It was just the beginning of my tumultuous life. There were more new encounters, emotions, challenges, and traumas to come. Was I, nevertheless, ready for it? Well, patience was just what I needed!