CHAPTER 28: CHAPTER 28: GIRL’S GOT GUTS

"Damn," Theodore muttered, shaking his head. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Veylor."

Azrael raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, watching Rhydric with that calculating calm of his.

The teasing picked back up a moment later, Eryx shoving Theodore’s shoulder, Theodore shoving back, Azrael laughing under his breath. The weight lifted—until all four pairs of eyes shifted.

It started with Theodore. His gaze flicked past the crowd and stilled, his lips twitching into something almost sly.

Then Azrael followed the line of his sight, his calm expression sharpening with intrigue.

Eryx was next, catching their stares and turning his head, his grin slowing into something heavier, hotter.

Finally, Rhydric looked and his eyes locked instantly.

Athena.

She stood not too far away, Felicia buzzing beside her like always, but Athena stayed relaxed until all four of them were staring. She hadn’t even realized, they were all staring at her until her eyes caught theirs.

Her breath caught in her throat. The weight of their gazes was suffocating, like a wall pressing down, but she didn’t look away. She refused to be intimidated. Something inside her refused.

Their reactions were immediate, layered, different.

Azrael’s lips curved first, subtle, like he’d just uncovered a secret no one else knew. Calm, amused, but his eyes studied her too closely.

Theodore tilted his head slightly, a mocking smile tugging at his mouth, like he was already amused by the fact she didn’t flinch.

Eryx’s grin returned, slow and dangerous, his eyes burning with that reckless heat as if the idea of her standing her ground entertained him.

And Rhydric—his stare was the coldest of all. Storm-grey eyes sharp, unwavering, like he was trying to intimidate her with a single glance.

Athena’s lungs burned, her heart hammering beneath her calm exterior, but her chin never dipped. She kept her eyes on them, steady, unblinking.

Felicia, of course, broke the tension with a dramatic whisper. "Uh... Athena? Why are they all staring at you like that? Because... wow, I’d be hiding under a bench right now."

Athena didn’t answer. Because even if she wanted to laugh it off, her body would betrayed her, the heat creeping up her neck, the way her chest rose just a little too fast.

But she didn’t look away. She refused to be intimidated.

Athena was the first to break. After what felt like hours, it seemed like they had all the time in the world because just like her, they refused to back off but Athena has a lot to do rather than playing eyecontact battle with some random guys. The air between her and the Phantom Fours felt too heavy, too suffocating, and though she kept her head high, she turned on her heel, ready to walk away.

She barely took three steps when something hit her.

Thwack!

A stray ball came flying out of nowhere and smacked her hard against the side of her head. The impact made her stumbled back, her balance giving way as she staggered. She felt a sharp pain across her temple.

"Athena!" Felicia’s scream cut through the air. She darted forward, practically throwing herself beside her. "Oh my God, are you okay?!"

Athena blinked rapidly, trying to steady herself. She pushed up to sit, rubbing the side of her head with a scowl. "Yeah, I’m fine—"

"No, you’re not! You’re bleeding!" Felicia’s voice shook with panic.

Athena froze, her hand moving to her nose. Warm liquid slicked against her fingers. Her stomach sank. A nosebleed.

She tilted her head back instinctively, pressing harder, trying to stop the flow. But the blood kept running.

Whispers rippled around them. The crowd had noticed.

But then a shadow fell across her.

A hand extended into her line of vision. Big, warm, strong.

Eryx.

He crouched down, his flame-bright eyes fixed on her. "Come on," he said smoothly, almost too casual, as if she wasn’t sitting there with blood running down her face. "Take my hand."

Athena looked up at him, her expression guarded, refusing to give him that satisfaction. "I said I’m fine."

From a distance, Theodore’s scoff was loud enough to cut through. "She looks fine, all right." His tone dripped with sarcasm, arms crossed as he leaned back like he was watching a show.

Azrael said nothing, just observed quietly, unreadable, his sharp eyes flicking from Eryx’s outstretched hand to Athena’s defiance.

Rhydric stood still, jaw tight, his storm-grey gaze colder than the others. He didn’t move to help nor did he mock her. Just watched.

Athena pressed her palm harder against her nose, trying to hide the mess of blood, her chest rising and falling unevenly. She wanted to look collected, strong even, but then, as she stood up she felt dizy, her vision blurred, which made her miss a step.

And suddenly she was falling.

But before she hit the floor, Eryx’s arm slid around her back, steadying her, while his other hand clamped firmly at her waist. The heat of his touch burned through her sport uniform, the strength in his grip making it impossible to ignore.

Athena froze.

His touch was different, strong, solid, too warm, too close. The smell of him, wild, sharp, masculine, rushed at her senses before she could stop it. She could feel the muscles of his chest shift against her shoulder, the press of his fingers digging slightly into her waist as if daring her to fall again just so he’d have a reason to hold her longer.

Such a pervert.

"Careful, sweetheart," his voice was low, taunting, yet there was an edge of something else, something heavier that lingered under his playful tone. His eyes dropped briefly, lingering on her pale face streaked with blood. "You’re not as tough as you pretend to be."

Athena’s breath hitched. She hated that it did, hated how much her body was reacting to him of all people.

"Let go," she whispered, forcing the words out, but they came weaker than she intended.

Eryx’s lips curved into that cocky, half-smirk of his. "I am letting go... eventually." His thumb brushed against the side of her waist without meaning to, a small gesture but enough to make heat crawl up her neck.

For a fleeting second, neither of them moved. The world around them faded—the chatter of the students, Felicia’s worried voice calling her name, all of it blurred. It was just his steady grip on her, her unsteady heartbeat, and the way his beautiful golden eyes locked onto hers with a mix of mischief and something unspoken.

Athena felt her balance returning, her body screaming at her to push away. She shoved lightly against his chest, breaking the contact, stepping back fast. "I said I’m fine." Her tone was sharper this time, though her breathing betrayed her.

Eryx let her go, hands falling lazily back to his sides, but the smirk stayed on his lips. He leaned back a little, studying her like she was far more interesting than anything else on the field.

"Sure you are," he drawled, as if he didn’t believe a single word.

Athena quickly turned away, her hand still over her nose, desperate to shake off the way his touch lingered like fire on her skin.

But then, Rhydric walked past right on time. He didn’t spare her a second glance at first, hands tucked into his pockets, the aura of cool disinterest clinging to him like a shadow. He was done with the sport and all the drama going on, he needed to rest his bobbing head a lit or bury himself in one of his novel.

"Wait."

The word slipped out of Athena before she could stop herself.

Rhydric slowed, head tilting just enough to look at her from the corner of his eye. His brows furrowed faintly, unreadable, but he didn’t speak.

Athena reached toward him, quick and unhesitant, her fingers brushing the edge of his sport trousers pocket. She pulled out a dark kerchief, folded neatly.

"Thanks," she murmured, pressing it against her nose.

It took her a lot of effort to stop him because the guy always look scary. Right now, she needed to stop the blood running out of her nose or she might end up collapsing from loss of blood, so she threw her pride out of the window.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Rhydric’s cool gray eyes locked on her — sharp, assessing, as though he was trying to decide if she was mocking him or simply daring enough to use something of his. But he didn’t take it back. He didn’t even protest.

He only raised a single brow at her, his expression calm but cutting, and then he turned on his heel. Without a word, he walked away, his presence trailing cold air behind him like the shadow of a storm.

Athena’s grip tightened on the kerchief. Strange. It felt heavier than cloth and it smelled undeniably good.

Reactions followed immediately.

Eryx’s jaw flexed. He had been the first to step toward her, the first to catch her when she stumbled. And yet, without even trying, Rhydric had stolen a piece of her attention. His lips curled into a sly grin, but the fire in his eyes betrayed him. "Well, well... didn’t know ice-boy had such generous pockets." His tone was mocking, but the undercurrent of possessiveness was hard to miss.

Azrael spoke as he let out a low whistle. "Didn’t think she’d dare stop Rhydric of all people." His smirk widened, amused at the audacity. "Girl’s got guts."

Theodore scoffed loud enough for the group to hear, shaking his head. "Pathetic. Bleeding in front of everyone and still has time to flirt? That’s rich." His words were sharp, but his narrowed eyes followed Athena longer than his tone suggested.

Felicia walked up to Athena’s side, blinked wide-eyed at the exchange. Her jaw dropped when Athena pulled Rhydric’s kerchief like it was nothing. She nearly squealed, slapping a hand over her own mouth to keep from shouting. Her gaze shot between Athena and the Phantom Four like she’d just witnessed the opening scene of a scandal that would light the academy on fire.

Athena, still seated, finally dragged in a breath. Her cheeks flushed, not just from the blood loss but from the weight of their stares — especially Rhydric’s, even though he was already walking away. She pressed the kerchief tighter to her nose, eyes darting briefly to Eryx. His gaze burned like fire, but she didn’t care.