Louisa's p.o.v;
I woke up from my sleep because of the bright light from the outside through the window. When did I go to sleep last night? I got up from the bed and saw the two Bodyguards sleeping, one on the couch and the other on the floor. I took the blankets and covered them and walked out of the room. I walked to Ace's room to ask him about Antonio but he wasn't there in his room.
"Are you looking for Ace?"
When I turned, I saw Diego. I nodded at him.
He said, "He's in the hospital."
"How's Antonio?"
"He's okay. The doctors said that he didn't shoot his important organs so he's alright."
"Didn't Ace come back from the hospital?"
"No, he didn't."
I can't believe he stayed overnight for one of his bodyguards. I could understand why Edgar came forward and confessed to him.
"I want to see Antonio. Take me to the hospital."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Ace asked me to drop you at your college. Get ready, I'll wait for you at the entrance." And he walked away.
I forgot that it's Monday today. But I really want to meet Antonio.
I came to my room again to get refreshed and saw those bodyguards still sleeping. Did they pull all nighter? I took my clothes and walked to the bathroom. After I got changed, I came out of the bathroom and saw those Bodyguards apologising to me for not being responsible.
"What's your name?"
"I'm Noah and he's Henrique."
"And I'm…"
"Miss Alves."
"Call me Louisa."
They nodded in unison and went out of the room seeing me getting ready for college.
When I came out of the house to get into the car, I saw those two Bodyguards following me.
"What are you two doing?"
"Following you. It's Ace order."
I let out a sigh and got into the car with them. Diego asked, "What are you doing? Come with me."
"These two are going to follow me anyhow. It's better to go with them. Doesn't it look suspicious to ride with a car tagging along behind? I think this is better than that." I asked Henrique, "Is it for you two, if I tagged along?"
He nodded and said to Diego, "We'll take care of her."
"Be careful and pay attention to the surroundings every time." Diego said to them.
After fifteen minutes of driving, we came to the college. When I got out of the car, they two got out and tried to follow me inside the college.
"Wait, where are you coming?"
Noah, "We're following you."
"No, this is where you should stop with the following stuff. I can't take you inside the college. What if someone asks about you? What do you think I should answer?"
"But it's Ace order."
"Then I'll order you to stop it right here. Don't follow me inside the college."
I walked into the college taking every glimpse of them now and then.
"Louisa!"
I saw Diego standing along with a boy near the main building entrance.
I walked to him and asked, "I thought I was the one who's late. Looks like I got company."
Diego, "Nah, We planned to bunk classes."
"Why?"
"It's the physical education class so we're going out. Wanna hangout with us?"
"Can't. I already missed many classes. I'll join you guys later."
I pulled his shirt to make him come closer to me and whispered, "Who's the guy? Boyfriend?"
He smiled and said, "A friend."
"Oh, really? Then what about holding hands together?"
"What's wrong with holding hands? Friends hold hands."
"I don't hold my friend's hand that way, being intervened and all."
"I made a mistake by calling you. Aren't you in a hurry to your classes? Just leave already."
While they were walking away, I said, "I'm waiting to hear good news from you. Have a nice day." And headed to my class.
After my first hour was over, I came to the cafeteria to have my breakfast since I didn't eat anything in Ace house. I got in line and got myself a cheeseburger with fries and took a seat at the empty table.
Ryder took a seat in front of me along with his friends. Ryder asked, "Did you go somewhere these past few days?"
"Were you looking for me?"
Colton and Arlo teased him about something when I questioned him.
Ryder said, "Maybe I did. Where did you go then?"
"Is the bully falling for his victim?"
"Why are you dodging my questions?"
"I wasn't feeling well so I got some days off." And continued eating my food.
"What happened? Are you alright now?"
"Yup. All okay."
He nodded and ate his food.
"Why do you look nervous?"
He shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm not." And gave a quick smile before eating his food.
I stood up saying, "I got a class so I'll leave first."
He stood up and said, "I'll come with you too. I have something to talk about with you."
While we're on the way to the class, Ryder remains silent. He's the one who told me that he has something to talk with them about why he's being quiet. I let out a sigh and asked, "What is it?"
"I think I like you, Louisa."
"May I know the reason?"
"Does that thing need a reason?"
"Yes, it should. Otherwise how would I know the one who used to bully and harrass me started to like me all of a sudden? Doesn't it sound interesting to you? Because for me, it is. I want to know why you like me."
"Why are you being so rude?"
"Oh, I'm being rude? Okay, I'll be rude then. I don't have any feelings to reciprocate to you after what you did to me."
"I thought we became friends after that. I thought you forgot about it."
"Yeah, we became friends but I really have a good memory that I can't forget even if I wish to."
"I get why you're talking like this. You're trying to get back at me for what I did, right?"
"I didn't say anything. Your mouth. Your words."
When he tried to leave, I said, "I can still be your friend, Ryder."
"I wonder how Bernie is beside you with that mouth of yours." And walked away from me.
I'm sorry for hurting you. I can't let anyone get hurt because of me. I can't care for everyone at the same time. It's better to be left alone than having friends around me.
In my class,
While I was listening to Nicolas ' lecture, I thought, 'Nicolas came to an illegal casino to have fun that night when I was after the guy to find the stone. Nicolas seems to know about some guys in that casino. What about the underground guys? Does Nicolas know about them too? I should ask him after the class ends.
After a while, the class ended. Making sure everything walked out of the class, I went to Nicolas and asked, "I have something to talk about with you."
"Do you have some doubts?"
"Not that. It's about the Casio you go to."
He looked here and there and asked, "Why are you asking about that right now? Don't tell me you're planning to go there! It's not an appropriate place for a kid like you. I'm against this decision of yours."
"Are you done? I'm not planning to go there. I want some information about that place."
"Why do you want to know about some illegal casinos?"
"I don't want it. It's my friend."
"Why does she want to know about that kind of place?"
"Some research."
"Do people research this stuff?"
"Who knows. How often do you go to that casino?"
"I'm not a regular. I'll go only when I'm feeling down. Twice a month."
"Are you familiar with those people?"
"Kinda, why? What does your friend want to know about this?"
"Do you know any people working in shady works? Have you seen anyone like that in a casino?"
"Most of the people are shady in the casino. Some even carry guns with them."
"Oh, okay."
When I tried to leave, he asked, "You didn't tell me the reason for what your friend asked for?"
"I have my physical education class now. I don't want to be late so I'll leave. Thanks Sir." And walked out of the class.
Only the bad people carry guns with them. Thinking about the gun, that day, the rich guy shot the seller with a shotgun too. Is there a chance for him to go to the casino? If he comes to the casino, I can easily spot him. I bumped into someone while thinking about that guy.
"Noah?"
I held Noah's hand and took him to a place where there wasn't anyone and asked, "What are you doing inside the college? Didn't I ask you to stay outside the college entrance? Why did you come in?"
"We got a call from Ace. Since you don't have a phone, I came in person to inform you."
"What is it? What did he say?"
"Antonio wasn't feeling well so Ace was going to stay in the hospital for another night."
"Oh, okay. My classes get over at 3 pm. Wait for me outside the college entrance."
He nodded and left.
I came to the college back entrance and jumped out of the college. I want to see Antonio too.
After a while, I went to the hospital where Antonio was admitted. I asked the reception and got the room number. While I was in the elevator to the fifth floor, where Antonio was admitted, I saw the bodyguard who was standing beside the rich guy. He was walking past the elevator, when the elevator door was about to close. I stopped the elevator door from closing and got out of the elevator car.
After I came out, I looked for him. He wasn't there. Where did he go? How could a tall guy like him get lost in a minute? Was it my illusion? No! I did see him for sure. He must be around here.
I ran through the corridor and found him walking somewhere. Where's he going? I followed him for a while and stopped when he went into a room and closed the door behind him. Who's in this room? Was it that rich guy?
How can I get inside? Wait, they don't know who I am, right? Yes!
I opened the door and walked into the room like I was already there. When I entered the room, I saw a girl lying on the bed, beside her was the bodyguard.
"I'm sorry, I walked into the wrong room." I apologised to them and walked out of the room. The rich weren't there. Who's that little girl?
When I saw a nurse walking past me, I stopped and asked her, "What are the medical conditions of that little girl in room 378?"
She thought for a while and said, "Oh, Danielle, she's here for her eye surgery."
After i gave a nod, she walked away.
"What are you doing here?" I heard Ace's voice from behind me.
I turned and let out a nervous smile and said, "I… I came to see how Antonio is. But I forgot the room number."
"Come with me. I'll take you there."
I nodded and walked with him. Danielle. I should find out who she is.
After some time, I entered the room where Antonio was admitted. I walked to him and sat beside him.
"Louisa, don't you have college now? What are you doing here?" Antonio asked me.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what I said. You got shot because of me…"
Before I finished, Ace asked me, "What did you just say?"
When I was about to say it, Antonio stopped me and asked Ace to be outside the room.
After he left the room, I asked, "Didn't you tell him?"
"No, I didn't."
"Why are you making me feel more guilty? I'm already feeling bad that I'm the reason for you to get a shot and to be laying here."
"You have nothing to do with this. I wasn't careful so I got shot. To be honest, I deserve to be here for what I did to you."
"No, don't say it like that."
"But it's true. I'm taking this as my punishment for what I did to you."
"Are you doing well?"
"Yeah, the bullet missed my organs." He gave me a smile on his face and continued, "After I get discharged, I'll take care of your friend properly."
"What! No! Don't do that. I already asked a friend to look at him. He's a cop. So we don't have to worry anymore."
"A cop?"
"He's my friend."
"Louisa, we can't be friends with the police. If your friend who's a cop knows about you or Ace, do you know what will happen to every one of us? Ace and i aren't business partners to care about a scandal, we're mafias. He's the next in line leader for all of us. The wanted ones by the police. They didn't know the identity of Phantom members so we're walking freely. But only until they don't know."
"Rafael is not like others."
"Do you really think so? Wait, did you just say Rafael?"
"Yes."
"The one who you saved from us?"
I nodded at him.
"I can't believe you become friends with him. Do you know why Ace kidnapped him?"
"He said he was after some drug to investigate."
"No. He wasn't after drugs. He was after Ace's father. He came to shoot the phantom gang leader. He failed in his attempt, Ace caught him and held him as a captive. Since you're the one who saved him out of here, Ace didn't go after the cop who tried to shoot his Father. Louisa, cut all ties with that cop or forget everything about us and get back to your reality. You can't do both at the same time…"
While he was talking, Ace entered the room and asked, "It was taking so long. Did you finish?"
I stood up and said, "I'll then leave."
"Louisa…" When Ace called me, I ignored him and walked out of the room.