Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 24
—
[Morning – Zendaya’s Mansion]
Zendaya hasn’t left the front of her laptop since Cove sent the disparaging reply to her assignment last night.
He gave them assignments, and she answered the questions to the best of her knowledge, but turns out the best of her knowledge is muddy to him.
His reply sat on her laptop screen since last night, and she has refused to stop staring. Now she has deep dark circles.
She’s wearing his shirt. She has turned it to her sleepwear, and she only wears a P@?tië? under.
Anytime she wears it, she feels like he’s with her cos of that scent, and as she stared at the screen, she bunched a part of the shirt in her palm, tightly.
He won’t dance with Stacy.
He’d never do such.
A d@mn egocentric guy like him would never.
Suddenly, his harsh message didn’t hurt anymore. She smiled widely, checking her phone.
There are two messages.
Tasha: Hey lover girl, what was your score on his assignment?
Zendaya smiled again.
At this point, Tasha seems like the only one who cares about her feelings.
She swiped down, expecting Stacy’s text, but none from her.
Since the stuff about switching places, they haven’t talked.
Is she supposed to beg on her knees before they’d resume talking?
She sighed, checking the second message. It’s from computer science major group.
Trinidad is the course president, so she made the post.
~ Impromptu coding class this morning at the computer lab. 8am.
Zendaya gasped, checking the time. It’s 7:30!
“Sh|t! I’m almost late!” She spranged up, knocking her phone off without caring about the crash.
She ran into the bathroom.
—
[Montana Mansion]
“Stacy?” Anita called softly as she came out of the kitchen with her morning espresso coffee.
Stacy ate her breakfast ten minutes ago, and she was supposed to sit at the dinning till Anita would bring out her coffee, so where’s she?
“Stacy?” Anita’s voice rose.
“She’s at the second room,” a guard replied by the door.
Anita moved there immediately, and when she arrived, she met Stacy in the position she expected.
She’s sitting in bed, holding a framed picture of her mom.
This room used to be her mom’s, but since she died, it has been empty except for her stuff.
Because of this room, Stacy and Albert refused to move out of this mansion. They feel like they can still feel her here.
The only thing Albert does yearly is rebuild to his taste, but the room always stays untouched.
Anita sat beside Stacy in bed, maintaining the silence but staring at the picture frame with Stacy.
Her mom is a brunette with short height which Stacy inherited. She’s a midsize woman who looks disciplined even in the picture.
“I’d put all my money on the line to wake her up, Anita.” Stacy said.
“It’s a pity I didn’t get to meet her. She was a good mother,” Anita smiled.
“I know, right?” Stacy dropped the framed picture on the bedstand.
She took the coffee and downed it.
“And I’m glad you’re finally taking your academics serious. Who knew a time like this would come?” Anita teased, and Stacy smiled.
She returned the cup to the tray.
“But not to the point of staying in the rain for that long. You caught a terrible cold last night!” Anita scolded, and Stacy rushed out.
“I won’t take scolding this morning!” She blocked her ears with her palms as she climbed down the staircase.
She dressed heavily this morning cos of her cold. She wore puffed sweater, long purple condom pants that’s wide at the ends—almost palazzo, and her favorite dagger heels.
She jumped in her car at the park, and before Anita could arrive, the driver already zoomed out.
“Have a nice day at school!” Anita shouted after the car.
Her phone made a low sound, and she pulled it out to behold a text from her daughter.
She was typing a reply as she returned inside.
—
[Studio Apartment]
Trevor is ready for school, but he’s still waiting for Cove.
As he waited, he tied his sneaker laces.
He’s a brilliant highschool student in his sophomore year.
When he was done tying, Cove came out with his terry-cloth towel wrapped around his well-sculpted waist, water crawling his skin.
“Is it just me? Or your n1pples are kinda funny?” Trevor commented. “Guys are supposed to have dark or brown tiny N?pplës, but yours is actually faintly pink and it’s—”
Before he could finish, Cove threw a lotion bottle at him, and Trevor ran out of the apartment, giggling
“I took some lunch money from your wallet!!” He shouted from outside as he ran down the front staircase.
Five minutes later, Cove was done dressing up in a jean and another one of his ash hoodies.
His phone is already blowing up with messages about the impromptu 8am class, but he has no plans to attend.
He knows everything there is to know about coding, so attending the class would only mean wasting his time.
He was about to take his laptop backpack when he saw the small treatment pack on the bed.
Trevor brought it from the garage this morning. He found it on the chair Stacy sat on.
Cove went to the small mirror and removed the plaster on his jaw.
He unzipped the treatment pack and applied a little healing lotion from it to the wound. He used a new plaster from the pack on the wound too.
He zipped it back and dropped it.
He left the apartment at 9, and he didn’t blink when he saw Trinidad waiting in front of it.
She leaned on her bike, looking up at the apartment with a smile.
Cove looked around…
“If you’re looking for Elmira and Roxy, they’re already in campus, I only came to offer a ride if your strong head will accept,” she said.
He went down the staircase, taking a close look at her bike.
He might have intense h@të for cars, but he loves bikes.
Not like he can’t buy a bike for himself, but he chose not to buy.
“I’m gonna drive,” he said.
“Deal!” Trinidad straightened.
“And I’m gonna fuel the bike at the gas station,” he added.
She smiled, giving his shoulder a slight hit. “You really don’t like free things, I know. Fuel it.”
With a smirk, Cove got on, and she climbed behind him.
Smoothly, he rode off.
—
[RIDE University, 10AM -Skating Rink]
Remo has been on the ice with Frank for an hour, sliding aggressively.
This is the purging spot for his anger, so he went all out.
He hasn’t seen Max or Scott, just Frank with himself.
“We were planning the downfall of Dorian and Cove initially, but Kane had to force his way into the list.” Frank said suddenly.
Remo slowed down, holding a barricade beside him, but before he could fire up the conversation, Kane himself entered the rink.
Wearing his skating shoes, he got on the ice, sliding off sharply.
Seeing his bruised face, Frank and Remo exchanged glances, knowing for sure it’s the work of Scott.
Scott finally avenged them!
But their pride shattered when Scott entered with a more bruised face.
“Holy Sh|t!” Frank gasped.
“It’s not what I’m thinking, right?” Remo pulled off his shoes.
Before Scott could reply, Max entered the rink, and he gasped too, seeing Scott and Kane’s face.
Battered.
“What the…”
That was all he could say, cos his eyes met with Kane’s across the rink.
Kane gave him the ‘i’m coming for you’ look.
Afterwards, Kane left the rink, and as he exited, his eyes met with Scott’s.
He smiled poisonously at Scott.
Scott’s eyes froze, depicting venom till Kane went out of the rink.
It’s like he only came to show himself to Max and Scott.
“What the fûck happened!” Max demanded from Scott.
But even Scott hasn’t answered when Tania barged into the rink.
Too much interruptions.
Tania came for Max and Scott.
Not minding Scott’s face, she punched him, then she punched Max too.
“Tania!” Max growled.
“Where the fûck were you Fuçkers yesterday during football practice!!” Tania yelled angrily.
And that was when Kehlani stomped into the rink, angry.
“Why the fûck would you hit him?” She pushed Tania off Max.
“Talk to your boyfriend to stop being a prick! If he’s tired of being the assistant team captain, then he should drop the position!” Tania snapped, then she faced Scott.
“And you…I’m telling you if we lose any march this semester, I’ll leave your d@mn team!”
She left the rink, and Kehlani pulled an handkerchief out of her purse, wiping Max’s lips with it.
After wiping a bit, she kissed him, but he broke it fast like there’s acid on her lips.
“My lip is wounded, this ain’t the right time to kiss…” He cringed.
“I’m sorry, but I love you…” Kehlani smiled beautifully.
Max’s phone vibrated in his pocket, definitely another nude picture from Elmira which he can’t wait to open.
He faced the guys.
“Today isn’t for Dorian or Cove or Kane. Today, we focus on the campus.” He said, then he held Kehlani’s hand and left with her.
Scott dropped a message on the football team group immediately for today’s football practice. It’s gonna be from noon till 10 tonight.
He left the rink too, leaving just Frank and Remo again.
“Max and Scott can focus on campus, we’ll focus on those bastards,” Remo said as he prepared for a bath.
“I agree,” Frank shrugged.
Elmira strolled inside with Roxy, and Remo’s eyes darkened.
“I’m sure you saw your hookup mate leaving with his girlfriend,” he said.
“I need your help, Remo.” Elmira spoke up, resting on the thick barricade metal.
Remo stood.
“I expected Max to have jilted Kehlani for long, but he seems to be finding it difficult. Kehlani knows his password, so I only need you to send her a text tonight that she should check Max’s phone. I want her to see our sëx videos on it and just die. Then… Max can be completely mine…” Elmira explained.
“I trust Remo to do a good job,” Roxy smiled diabolically.
“You met the right devil, we were getting bored here.” Frank laughed.
Remo chuckled, “wait for it.”
—
[Cove’s Tutorial Hall]
There’s a two hours break from 12 to 2, and Cove decided to fix today’s tutorial for that time.
None of his students complained, they all gathered there as ordered.
Trinidad came in her jersey though, dressed for football.
“My free period is for football, I already told you. Just send me the soft copy of the notes, trust me to assimilate fast.” She said.
Cove replied with a nod, again she left the class.
Zendaya followed her out, and obstructed her way. Trinidad stopped with an unwelcoming scowl.
“Why did you ride with Covey to school this morning?” She queried, and Trinidad scoffed.
“Seriously did you join this tutorial to learn? Or to stake claims on Cove?”
Zendaya didn’t reply.
Instead, she grabbed Trinidad by the v-neck of her jersey, slamming her back on the wall roughly.
“Don’t even look at Cove, talk more of riding with him. He’s never gonna be yours!” She threatened.
Trinidad smiled. “So who’s he gonna later belong to? You?” She laughed. “Hippopotamus!”
And Zendaya slapped her, the sound of the slap so personal.
Trinidad didn’t slap. She returned the slap in form of a punch to Zendaya’s left eye, and Zendaya staggered back.
“I was planning to give that punch to Scott and Max for not coming for practice yesterday, it’s good you took it on their behalf, desperate thing!” Trinidad spat and went down the stairwell, her short hair bouncing.
For ten painful minutes, Zendaya’s eyes couldn’t open.
—
[Twenty Minutes Later]
The tutorial is majorly focused on yesterday’s assignment.
Cove took his time to explain for those who missed few points, so he’s currently surrounded by the students on their feet while he’s seated.
They’re all concentrated, and Zendaya joined them when she entered.
Everyone’s asking questions, and Cove is answering, but Zendaya found it so hard to answer.
Also, her eyes is still twitching.
It was still ongoing when Dorian entered the hall.
As if planned, Stacy entered the hall too, right behind him.
“I’m guessing you’re here to persuade him to attend the Mixer again?” Dorian smiled.
“I feel like my secret is all blown now that you actually know,” she sat on a free chair.
He sat in front of her, noticing her white puffed sweater. “You wore something covering today? That’s new.”
“Of course, Sherlock.” She made faces, and he nodded.
“Cute, but you look different. If you wore it cos he called you a Prostitute, then sad. You’re not one, so words don’t have to get to you.”
“Oi, it’s cold outside, and I was in the rain last night, so it’s normal to dress heavily. Seriously, poke-nosing should be in your portfolio,” she said, and he chuckled.
“You got the address of the selfcon already, right?” He asked, though he hasn’t sent it yet.
“Got what? I got nothing…” She replied, and he took her phone.
Just like he wanted, he typed the address and time by himself.
“Cringe but cute phone pouch with the gemstones,” he commented as he typed.
She snatched her phone back, and as she frowned, he smiled again.
By the slightly open window, Angela’s prickly eyes are staring inside the hall, watching the two.
She followed the guards guarding Dorian in school today only because she wanted to see him more.
But now seeing him with Stacy sends jolts of jealousy to her again.
Ten more minutes, Cove was done with his students.
Dorian left Stacy and went to see him first, “Hey, Fabio.”
Cove’s gaze dipped.
Dorian took one from the cup of pineapple sweet on the table, but when he tasted it, he spit it.
“Fûck, I’ve always h@tëd pineapple…”
“Why are you here, Wesley?” Cove gave him full attention.
“Here’s the thing,” Dorian leaned forward slowly. “I talked to Louis Vuitton CEO in Palm Springs, submitted your profile, and he liked your aesthetics. You’re to come for full discuss on Sunday. Don’t worry, I’ll be the one to pay for the flight.” Dorian said cheerfully.
And he instantly saw a thick line of something like anger and wariness crossing Cove’s eyes.
“Did i ask for it?” Cove started. “Am I a charity case to you too? Did I ever complain to you that I’m broke?”
Dorian frowned.
“Fabio you’re—”
“I don’t wanna model! I don’t wanna be known! I don’t want my face on anyone’s screen! I’m ok rotting at the garage so get my d@mn profile out of the modelling industry!”
Dorian relaxed, then anger crossed his features too.
“You know what’s gonna be the end of you?” He stood. “This higher-than-kilimanjaro ego of yours…d@mn… you’re a Fuçkin cûnt!”
With that, he stormed out of the hall, but Cove never moved.
He sat there, still so angry….till Stacy came to him.
Sensing his anger, she just dropped a note on his desk and left the hall without looking back.
Cove gave her back view a short glance before opening the small note.
COME TO THE MIXER. I HAVE A TUTORIAL WITH DORIAN AT 7:30. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU DROP A POSITIVE REPLY BEFORE THEN.
That’s what’s inside.
He squashed it between his palm, but he didn’t throw it away.
Zendaya is the only remaining student in the hall, and as she witnessed the scenes, she folded her fists till her knuckles nearly cracked.
—
[Mind Garden, 7PM]
Mind Garden is the name Dorian gave to his selfcon down the city.
Though, it can’t exactly be called a selfcon, but it’s apt design made Dorian conclude it’s one.
It’s a small brick building with tall windows, soft jazz humming in the background, and warm amber lighting that makes everything feel intimate but not suspicious.
When he was coming from San Francisco to this place, he made sure he got his mansion for living, and this place to hide from the city perils.
Stacy promised to arrive at 7:30, but Dorian arrived since 6.
The tutorial books have already been arranged, but he didn’t open them.
He has been vocalizing his upcoming solo release in the studio cos this place has an inbuilt studio too.
When he came out of the studio at 7:30 and dropped his guitar, he expected Stacy’s knock to hit the door but nothing came.
He picked his phone, and her text lit up the screen immediately.
Brat: Will be there in ten more minutes, wait!
He smiled and was about to drop the phone when his mind went to Cove.
He thought of calling him cos they haven’t talked since he left his tutorial hall.
“Dealing with him is suicide in disguise,” he muttered, then he received a text…
From Angela.
Angel: I swear, Rian… I’ve never had this much menstrual cramps before. Can you at least come stay with me?
Dorian switched off the phone and picked a apple drink for himself in the freezer. He was drinking and waiting for Stacy to arrive.
—
[A Road]
Cove has been waiting since five minutes ago.
Matteo ordered for a car engine, and the supplier was giving Sh|t that he can’t come to the garage to deliver it, so Cove is here to collect the engine.
He didn’t pay much attention to the few passing cars, the malfunctioning street lamp at the other side of the road, or the broken road camera.
He just wants to get the engine and fuvk out of this road, but fate had other plans cos a Mazda suddenly stopped beside him.
It nearly crushed him, but he was quick to move back.
A big man dropped out of the car, looking at Cove like a hunter that just found his next game.
“You were sent to break my legs?” Cove muttered. “Never knew there’d be people interested in my death in this rotten city.”
“You’re something else, Covey Fabio,” the man gave him a lopsided grin, his face tightening. “You beat the men at the warehouse till they all landed in EU at the general hospital.”
Cove’s eyes didn’t change. Neither shocked nor surprised, but he smirked slightly, lips curling.
“You sent the swines to me? I guess I must have taken something valuable from you then?”
“Initially,” the big man stepped close, invading Cove’s space. “I thought you were just a garage boy who luckily bagged a sèxy full-package girlfriend like Zendaya, so I sent the warehouse guys to kill you. If you’re gone, Zendaya is gonna look at me.”
He stepped closer again.
“But you beat all the guys so bad I was awed, so I started running my searches. I couldn’t find a clean picture of you, but then Louis Vuitton uploaded your picture in their upcoming models page this morning, and I luckily got the picture before it was taken down in the evening, and through the picture, I found out something crazy,” he smiled.
Then he raised an hand to Cove’s shoulder, touching.
He. Touched.
“You’re incredible, Cove. Hiding in that repair garage like the Fuçker that you are. I don’t even have to kill you anymore, I only have to open my mouth, and you’re over.” He muttered, grinning again.
Cove’s thorning eyes didn’t blink, and his expression didn’t shake as the man grinned at his face.
But his grin didn’t last, cos Cove suddenly gave him a push.
A hard, violent push.
As big as the man is, he fell back, and his body rolled to the road.
Unluckily for him, a car was speeding past, and his luck ran out completely cos before he could get up, he was hit
The car tyre crushed his two legs to mash, and it also pressed his chest, bursting the skin in two places.
And the car didn’t stop.
The driver made a U-turn and sped off immediately he saw he hit someone that badly.
The man lay still in the middle of the road, gasping desperately for breaths as blood soaked his body completely, gushing out of his mouth too.
Five careful steps was all it took for Cove to get to him, and gosh…
Seeing him blood-soaked on that silent road made him satisfied. The way his eyes stayed open, staring up at the dark sky without any hope.
Good riddance.
He raised his hand, “hel…p…me.”
Cove kicked that hand back to the ground, then his eyes twisted.
“If you knew, you should have kept it to yourself,” he muttered, watching as the man took his last breath.
Then his words hit his head…
“LOUIS VUITTON UPLOADED YOUR PICTURE IN THEIR UPCOMING MODELS PAGE THIS MORNING, AND I LUCKILY GOT THE PICTURE…”
Dorian.
Dorian’s move caused this occurrence, and Dorian deserves a little.. little punishment for it.
He was already walking away from that road when he retrieved his phone and went to mass comm major group. It wasn’t hard to copy Stacy’s phone number from there.
He dialled it straight, and she picked as straight as he dialled.
“Hello? Who’s this?” She asked in her usual alpha female tone.
“Come with your major syllabus to the garage, right now. I’m willing to give you tutorials.” He replied.
“Wait…Cove?” She gasped.
He went silent.
“But Dorian already—”
He cut the call before she could finish talking, leaving her to make her choice herself.
An ambulance drove past him, obviously to go take the dead man, and as the headlights caught his freezing-cold face, he cut through a corner, slipping into darkness.
TBC.
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