Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 71
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The paper felt extra heavy on Stacy’s palm instantly—as if it came with all the weight of the world.
Sweat rose from the glands of her palm, causing stickiness.
The cacophony of the screaming students became background noises.
She stood there, staring at the note as if it’d suddenly grow a mouth and tell her it’s a prank.
She’s currently reading it for the third time, and yet—the letters didn’t shift, the ink didn’t disappear.
Her Excellency X?
She gulped again, remembering she once saw GUILTY X tattoo on Cove.
Now Excellency?
In her 20 years life experience, she’s aware that only the President’s family is associated with that title, so…
President?
No.
She shook her head.
No president in the world has X as surname.
Who sent this?
What’s her connection with Cove?
What is….
Her thoughts galloped and staggered, then it halted with a screech when the screams around her went higher.
She turned slightly and looked ahead to see what’s occuring, and she couldn’t help but gasp.
Zendaya is on the ground with a bleeding wound on her forehead.
When she tried to hug Cove, he had raised his leg to her stomach and pushed her with his dress shoe.
She fell and hit her head.
Now she’s on the ground, looking up at him with teary, shocked eyes.
The students around are currently picnicking in her disgrace. They’re screaming, hooting, taking pictures and filming from bright angles.
“I…I got slim for you….I slimmed down for you…” Her voice trembled as she got the words out.
Cove who’s still towering above her snickered, the sight deadly as he went down in a squat in front of her.
“I find you disgusting than meat. I personally think the period you spent on the surgery table should have been spent to prepare for your torture….” He muttered.
Zendaya’s tears paused, her long nails digging into the field soil and uprooting grainy pebbles.
He leaned closer, whispering in her ear. “You posted the video of the express tango dance in reverse, didn’t you? You were there that day when my doll was kidnapped—you did the kidnap with your father. You’d have gunned her down if I hadn’t set your father’s suit on fire from the roof.”
Zendaya’s bones seemed to crack under her flesh. Her nails in the soil dug deeper, and her eyes widened to the thin corners where red streaks are starting to occupy.
“Y-ou….” She looked at his eyes. “You were the one? The silver-eyed person? It’s…..you…uu?”
Fear. Terror. Horror.
They invaded her eyes as the words left her mouth, and before she knew it, she started shifting back, using her palms, her butt, and the back of her heels. She dragged herself.
Now, the amount of cameras recording her is enough to serve the screens of a decent number of media houses in the country.
She looks like the star of the morning as her butt dragged the ground, eyes terrified and body shaking.
Worse part? As she moved, Cove moved with her.
Her palms missed a spot, and she fell flat on the ground.
“Bohoooo!!!!” Came the howl from students once again.
But Cove didn’t stop walking. He stepped on Zendaya, marching her tummy with his two legs.
He crossed over her.
Zendaya vomited her breakfast of pasta on the field, and the screams grew louder it could deafen.
Trinidad followed Cove, just that she didn’t step on Zendaya like he did.
And it was at this time Stacy moved. She followed the two.
“Let’s go!” Kehlani bellowed at the twins, and they left the field too.
Zendaya is still in the middle of the crowd, tearing up and vomiting till she couldn’t do more but retch.
And when she looked up to see flashes of cameras, her breaths caught. Questions followed.
• Y’all meet Zendaya Brown! The first girl to get on the surgery table cos of a very hot guy!
• And the same guy ended up stepping on her till she threw up her breakfast! My my!
• I’ve never felt shame on behalf of anyone before! This is my first time!
• Not me thinking she was sad about her dad’s jailing and she decided to quit schooling, but she was actually getting surgery done?
• I’d relocate to the bottom of a rock if it was me!
• Someone ask if she wants to die let’s contribute cash and buy her poison!
Another round of laughter followed, and Zendaya was finally able to stand, pushing a few students out of her way. She ran off.
A few went stiff with laughter, another few ran after her while some concentrated on posting on the campus group.
And just like that, the week started with another tough hullabaloo.
—
[Cove’s Tutorial Hall]
This morning is for Hall of Fame entry at 9 to 10, so till 10, there’ll be no lectures, and Cove isn’t planning to waste those two hours.
It’s some minutes past 8 when he entered the tutorial hall with Trinidad. His students were already waiting, but obviously, they decreased in number.
Instead of 20, they’re now 13.
The rest probably ran off cos of his killing records during the weekend.
Annoying cowards.
Well all’s good. Nice to see brave faces in class this morning, but Trinidad is saying something he’s not in agreement with…
“You’re the best goalkeeper yet in this school. You made us proud, and now you’re saying you don’t wanna enter the Hall of Fame with us?”
Her arms are slightly open as she talked, it’s habitual.
Cove opened his laptop…
“We won’t enter the Hall of Fame without you. Don’t you wanna get to meet renowned football coaches and players from across globe?” Trinidad said suddenly.
Cove shut his laptop down loudly before facing her.
“I played football to teach someone a lesson, not to enter the Hall of Fame. If you keep hammering this issue, I’ll have to reconsider this friendship.”
Trinidad smiled so wide. “Aw, that’s the first time you actually mentioned friendship! I’m honoured!”
Cove reopened his laptop, and Trinidad just chuckled, heading out without another word.
As if planned, Stacy came in afterwards, obviously in a hurry.
He was still pressing few buttons on his laptop, trying to project.
“We need to talk,” she told him.
He finished projecting and too off his glasses, then he picked his marker, pointing at a student…
“Come out here and write the code from the last assignment from your head. Y’all submitted nonsense.” He ordered authoritatively.
The student immediately stood, rushing to the front to take the marker, but Stacy snatched the marker from the student and threw it out of the window.
“I said I wanna talk!” She snapped at Cove’s face.
He picked another marker, ready to hand that to you student…
“Thiago!” She said, more tensional.
Cove’s nose bridge crunched, the mole at the corner seeming to shrink as he faced her immediately.
Thiago?
He only told her T, so how?
Even Trinidad only knows T so there’s no way Trinidad told her.
Stacy took his hand, and he followed her out this time, signalling at the student to start writing for others till he’d be back to take over.
Stacy took him to the base of the staircase where there’s a hidden cubicle, and she let go of his hand slowly, standing in front of him.
The tension feels too palpable—too raw and heated.
Their eyes locked.
“Why didn’t you call me since last night? Not even a text?”
“How did you know about my given name?” He demanded.
“I came to your tutorial hall first, and that makes it logical that you should answer my question first. Why didn’t you call me? I called too but you didn’t pick, and you didn’t text too? I even messaged you on IG! That’s how much it got to me, but you didn’t do anything! If it’s because of my dad and Kaylee, that’s never gon—”
“How did you know about the name Thiago!” He interrupted harshly, eyes holding nothing about patience.
“Why didn’t you call me last night?” She returned the question.
Next thing she felt was his hand around her throat, and her back against the wall.
He ducked his face down to hers as her gasp flew out sharply.
“How. Did. You. Know. About….The name!?”
Nothing came out of her open mouth, just empty gasps and squirms. Sounds that are meaningless.
She’s choking, but right now it’s not only about the fact that he got to know his real name.
It’s also about the fact that she had the guts to send a get well soon message to Dorian.
He squeezed again, fingers attacking her throat skin angrily as the wall on her back caged her.
He didn’t realize he was going too far till she started getting red ears.
He let go of her, and loud coughs tore out of her throat.
She was caressing that throat with an hand as she brought the note out of her jacket with the other hand.
Cove took it from her, and immediately he read it, he smirked, smiling like a creep.
He raised the note, facing her. “Are you planning to really stay away from me? Cos I’ll have to kill you and kill myself and bury us both together. We’ll continue this madness in hell when no one will interfere.”
“If I was planning to stay away, I wouldn’t come here to confront you about why you didn’t call last night you bastard!” Stacy blasted. “I expected your call all night and maybe your text too! I couldn’t sleep cos I thought you got mad about dad’s stuff, but what did you do this morning? You squeezed my neck like I’m an unwanted cat! Even unwanted cats get adopted, not choked!” She yelled emotionally, sniffling.
She pushed past him and nearly slipped out of the place, but his arms claimed her body from behind.
He hugged her so tight she couldn’t breath or move her arms.
Her arms felt like they’d crush from his crazy tightness.
“Let go!” She furiously pushed her elbow against his tummy, and he held harder, kissing her neck mole.
She melted.
The soft, claiming touch of his lips made her relax unto his arms, but his hold didn’t lessen.
It’s still so tight she still can’t breathe, and she had to take air in through her mouth to stay afloat.
“I was busy,” he whispered, kissing her neck again.
That same spot.
Students passed by that place, but thanks to the deepness of the base, they weren’t seen.
“If I didn’t pick your call cos I was busy, I guess you shouldn’t act tall and mighty too.” She muttered.
“I was busy with stuffs from home.” He said eventually.
“Are you returning soon?” She asked, pausing her mouth intake of air.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He cleared.
“Can you at least… give me a little space to breathe?” She struggled.
Slowly, he released her from the deadly back hug, and she faced him.
“Her Excellency, who’s she? A president?” She asked.
“She’d bomb the country if she was the President.” Cove smirked.
“Then who? Why is she the Excellency?”
“Cos in my family, the head of the faction is called Excellency.”
“Your family? X Family?” She asked attentively.
“You have a good memory, you should try using it very often like this,” he whispered.
She slapped his arm, and he smiled with tight lips.
“So why Excellency? If your family is that powerful, they could just choose Boss or His Lordship and Ladyship or Godfather and mother. Why Excellency?” She asked.
He held her small face, bent his figure to the level of her eyes before speaking. “Cos we believe we’re better than the President?”
“I just knew everyone in your family would be dementedly arrogant like you. I mean…look at you.” She smirked.
He smiled again, kissing her forehead before pulling her head to his chest, hugging her with the brutal claim of possessiveness.
She smelled vertiva, and her eyes closed tightly as she hugged him back
“So… who is Her Excellency?” She asked in a whisper.
“A bîtch who doesn’t wanna die. She’s just as hard to kill as I am. We’re all hard to kill in the X Family, and that’s a trait I h@të that we all share.” He replied, placing a thumb on her lip.
“Is she the reason you left home? She the one who sent the killers after you?” She asked, deep concern etched in her bright eyes.
He broke the hug and held her face again, so serious… “I won’t die. If I’m gonna die, I’ll take you with me so you won’t be lonely here.”
“You’re too full of yourself. Who wants to die with you?” She frowned.
He pulled her cheek, chuckling. “You don’t get to decide your fate. It’s in my hands to set.”
She rolled eyes, but her arms went around him possessively too.
“Thiago X?” She said.
“Don’t call me that often. It triggers the animal in me.” He said, eyes holding subtle but choky darkness.
“I’m obsessed with that animal in you.” She smiled with round cheeks.
“Hope you won’t regret saying that,” he said meaningfully, and she hugged him tighter, hiding her face on his chest like a baby.
“You don’t wanna part with me?” He rubbed the back of her neck, and she nodded, cooing and groaning.
“How about I take you here?” He said, and she immediately broke the hug.
She stepped back.
“Tonight at 7! Don’t be late to the cemetery house!” She said.
Then another step took her out of the area, but Cove waited there.
And like he predicted, she rushed back after a minute and stood on her toes to kiss him on the lips.
Then she rushed off again.
Cove grinned. “As if I’d ask for permission if I wanted to take you anywhere. As if that sweet meal between your legs isn’t all mine.”
But his grin didn’t last. It faded as he climbed the staircase.
The report from Eleven resounded loudly in his head.
“Stacy sent get well soon wishes to Dorian. She also sent apology to him on your behalf.”
Not only his real name triggers the animal in him. Things like this also triggers the caged animal.
Get well soon and apology to Dorian ON HIS BEHALF?
The beast in him won’t sleep till he satisfies it’s needs.
Stacy is getting punished tonight.
He raised the note with him and tore it to pieces, glaring.
This bîtch must he missing him so much she can’t wait for him to be back, but she needs to miss him more. She needs to yearn more for his return. She needs to wait.
But one thing’s for sure; She won’t go scot-free for sending this Sh|t to his Dollface. He doesn’t like it.
He was about to enter the Hall when a student ran up to him…
“Cove!”
He turned around to glance at the girl who’s sweating and panting and of course….keeping her distance.
“The Chancellor has refused to enter the Hall of Fame with the footballers without you. Your attention is urgently needed.”
Cove recoiled.
—
[Computer Science Lounge]
As expected, Tania was absent when Stacy arrived.
It’s just Kehlani and Tasha waiting for her—Tania is definitely with the footballers.
Stacy took her sit in the middle of Kehlani and Tasha, snatching Kehlani’s milkshake to have a sip.
She spit it away immediately.
“d@mn, I can never like milk.” She commented with a sour face.
Kehlani hit her arm.
“Oh!” Stacy rubbed the arm, pouting as she faced Kehlani.
“You can’t drink any drink that’s not chocolate flavor, so why the fûck would you waste my milk for testing sake!” Kehlani scolded.
Stacy pouted again, pretending like she wants to cry.
Tasha pulled her head to herself, rubbing her hair fondly like a protective mother.
“Leave Lani to her mean stinginess,.”
“That’s why you’re a great friend!” Stacy mumbled, and Tasha laughed out, releasing her.
“Someone is back! When we arrived in the morning, you looked like you wanted to die!” Kehlani said.
“I know, right?” Tasha shifted closer. “Start by telling us what happened in the bathroom picture. Was he fín?E?ing you?”
“Kinda,” Stacy shrugged, cheeks red as her chocolate drink arrived.
“Did it happen fterwards?” Kehlani asked curiously, dropping her drink.
“Wait… Sèx?” Stacy blinked. “No..not yet!”
“Thank fûck! I was already getting scared on your behalf. That guy doesn’t deserve your virginity!”
“Who deserves it then?” Stacy scoffed. “Dorian? Dorian is cool and calm and kind, but he’s my friend and that’s that. The engagement will not happen, I’d rather elope with Cove to Serengeti.”
“Oh your head has been messed with!” Tasha gasped. “Cove kills people! He’s a killer! And it seems everything he does is excusable like he’s a god or something cos tell me why he’s still walking freely in the campus after doing that to Dorian? Tell me why he’s not in jail.”
“Cos he’s not ordinary?” Stacy shrugged again, drinking from her straw. The chillness of the drink is hitting the right places, so she drank another mouthful.
“He’s not ordinary?” Kehlani and Tasha chorused.
“Can we stop talking about him for now?” Stacy looked up.
“But barbie—”
“Lani, Tasha, I won’t listen to anyone, not even my dad so don’t waste your energy. I’ll be fine, Cove won’t hurt me.” Stacy cut them off.
“Fine, so what do we talk about then? Zendaya’s disgrace?” Kehlani grinned.
“I’ve wanted to mention that but you just had to say it before me!” Tasha followed with her laughter.
“I don’t blame Zendaya’s deep interest in him. I mean…he’s sèxy in every way.” Stacy said proudly.
“Ou, he has tattoos?” Kehlani asked in a very low whisper.
Stacy’s cheeks went red again…
“Yeah he does. Peculiar, uncommon tattoos.” She said.
“You’re so gone, and I’m tempted to ask, did he charm you?” Kehlani said, inching closer.
“Go away!” Stacy pushed her back with her arm.
Kehlani grinned, returning to her drink.
Kane and Reid entered the lounge from the opposite door, and when Kehlani’s eyes met Reid’s, she shifted on her seat, looking away.
The guys settled not far from them. Tasha and Stacy saw them too.
“Aren’t they both Law students? Why would Law students come to Mass Comm lounge to relax?” Tasha said.
“Reid probably came to see Lani,” Stacy shrugged.
“What are you talking about!” Kehlani snapped.
“You both had quickie in Vegas, so you both have to talk about it instead of this awkwardness.” Stacy said.
“Not everyone can be bold to start a conversation with anyone like you, barbie.” Tasha said.
“Exactly! What if he wants to date? I don’t wanna date!” Kehlani said.
“Who’s also in support that Lani should date Reid to make Max madder?” Stacy said.
Tasha raised her hand, and Stacy did the same, laughing.
“If Tania were here, she’d push you straight to Reid.” Tasha snorted.
“And I’m thankful that alpha woman isn’t here,” Kehlani said.
“Wh@tëver, but wait…” Stacy suddenly said.
“Wait what?” Tasha blinked.
“Is there a family like X Family in the world?” Stacy asked.
“X? What weird family name is that?” Kehlani squeezed her face.
“You seriously dunno?” Tasha blinked at the two.
“Is it punishable by law?” Kehlani blinked back.
“Bîtch, and you have OBSCURE app on your phone? The owner’s actual name isn’t known, but it’s a known fact that he’s from a family of X in Australia.” Tasha said.
“The same owner of the app you told me committed a crime and was sent to jail and died in jail?” Stacy said.
“Yup! He’s from the X Family, that’s the only thing certain about him, and the X Family? They’re madly special. You won’t find anything about them online cos it has all been wiped, but there was a journal about them in my dad’s library in Canada.” Tasha said.
“They’re that important to fill a journal?” Kehlani asked.
“Very important, but even in the journal, their names weren’t mentioned. Only their family history was recorded in a confusing way so no matter how many times I read, I still didn’t get it, but I understood one thing though.” Tasha said.
Kehlani and Stacy inched closer.
“They’re a special toxic dysfunctional family of abnormally brilliant geniuses. Everyone in the family have super-fast computer brains, but then…no one is ever complete in their family, that’s why they’re called dysfunctional.” Tasha whispered.
“Dysfunctional?” Stacy said.
“Yup, it’s either they’re blind from birth or mute from birth or lame from birth or—”
“Or deaf from birth.” Stacy finished, dropping her drink as she secretly gulped again.
Tasha snapped her fingers.
“Yup, they all must have issues, but no matter the issue, they’re brilliant. Their ancestors started the making of computers like I heard, that’s all I know. Now be careful, don’t spill this to anyone cos according to what I heard, they don’t want their info in the open so if anyone says something, they off the person.” Tasha said.
“Then your father shouldn’t have allowed you near the journal at all.” Kehlani said fearfully.
“What do you think?” Tasha said. “Of course the journal has been burned, but I extracted few pages from the fire just to read. You know how much I love books.” She said.
Stacy nearly said something else, but Reid came to their table at this point.
“Kehlani, can I have a minute?”
The girls looked up, and Kehlani blinked twice.
“Oh…um…I…”
Her awkwardness was neverending till Stacy and Tasha stood.
They excused them, and Reid took his seat beside Kehlani.
Kehlani shifted away.
Reid shifted close.
Kehlani once again shifted away.
“Are we seriously doing this?” Reid got serious, stopping.
“I don’t wanna date anyone, Reid. We had quickie for five minutes, and that’s that.” Kehlani looked at him.
“I know, I understand your ex Max is a stupid cow, and I know how you must be feeling the unsafe around guys, so I’m not asking for a relationship, but we could be frie—”
“No. I don’t wanna be friends too.” Kehlani cut him off again, standing. “I have my girlfriends already, so it won’t be necessary, but thanks for the five minutes sèx though, I enjoyed it.”
She rushed out, leaving Reid sitting.
His palms went round, and he slammed the table gently with it.
Kane’s weight fell heavily on the chair beside him.
“Don’t even try to make fun of me,” Reid rolled eyes.
“I’m not in the mood to make fun of you at all.” Kane replied, checking his time and counting the minutes to when the Hall of Fame entry is gonna be over. He needs to see Scott again.
Though, he’s keeping his distance and he can’t talk to him till weekend, but that doesn’t mean he can’t stare.
“You’re hurting him. He’s a very fragile boy and you know that.” Reid said tactfully.
“But I have to keep it up if we really wanna trap his father and get his sister’s whereabouts.” Kane said.
Reid sighed.
“You think Dorian Wesley is connected to Lynn’s disappearance? She went to his concert in San Francisco last year and went missing. That same day, Dorian’s concert was cancelled and he went on hiatus.” Reid asked carefully.
“We’ll find that out once Dorian’s vocal surgery is done, but for now, we’ll focus on Scott’s animalistic father.” Kane sighed, taking a bottled water.
He uncapped it and wanted to drink, but Reid held his hand.
“Dude, it’s empty.”
Kane looked at it, and it’s indeed empty. He hissed.
Reid laughed out.
“Scott isn’t alone in this, dude! You’re feeling the avoidance too!”
Kane hissed again.
—
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