Black Blood: The Runaway Mate

Chapter One

Closing my coat tightly, my eyes wandered around the field, searching for my best friend―well, my only friend. She sent me a text message, asking me to meet her outside even when it is freezing cold. Fortunately, it didn’t take me long to find her.

However, everything suddenly happened, like a scene from a movie. Just as my eyes laid on Lindsay, someone who badly wanted to create drama intentionally tripped her while she was on her way up to the bleachers. My heart almost dropped out of my chest when the can of Coke slipped from her grasp.

“Oh my God!” Vivian dramatically reacted when the can fell on her lap, making her wet. Even though I was across the field, I could hear her voice loud and clear. That was how much she wanted attention from other people.

Sensing danger, I didn’t waste time and briskly walked to save Lindsay from being accused and humiliated by these awful creatures. They thought they could do anything just because they were at the top of the hierarchy in school. Little did they know that they were the worst kind of a human.

“What did you just do?!” Vivian was still overreacting like an innocent b*tch, even though it was all her plan.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Lindsay kept apologizing for something she shouldn’t be sorry about. “I didn’t mean to! I’m sorry!”

The commotion gathered attention from other people who were also at the field. Instead of minding their own business, they went closer to entertain themselves. They were looking forward to watching a good show.

“What’s happening here?” Vivian’s boyfriend had just arrived on time.

Zed was the team captain of the hockey team. No one would dare mess with him because of his influence. However, I wouldn’t let that hold me back from standing up for my best friend.

I don’t give a damn to his reputation, I thought to myself.

“Babe!” Vivian ran into Zed’s arms like she was poorly mistreated by Lindsay. She was excellent at acting and pretending like a victim that she could win an award for it. “That girl poured her drink on me!”

“I’m so―”

“Don’t apologize again, Lindsay!” I stopped Lindsay from apologizing to someone who didn’t deserve it.

There was a brief sign of relief on Lindsay’s face when she saw me. I bravely stepped in front, trying to shield her from Vivian. I didn’t know where I found the guts to face them without my knees turning jelly, but I couldn’t care less that time. I just knew that I wouldn’t allow their bullying to pass. Not my best friend.

I held my head high to Vivian. “You are the one who should apologize to her.”

Vivian’s face turned to grimace. “Excuse me?” She sounded so offended. Her face was slightly turning red. “Can’t you see who’s in a mess here?”

“Yes, I can see that you’re a huge mess,” I told her without batting an eye. “I think you need help for having a messed up mind. You did this to yourself. Why are you crying like you’re the victim?”

There was no way for me to stop myself from speaking up my mind. I didn’t bother filtering my words. I was so angry to care about that. I really hated how she tried to get away with it by pulling out a victim card.

“I saw it. You’re the one who tripped her,” I said, pointing out what really happened.

Her lips parted a bit, but she immediately recovered and turned to her boyfriend. “Zed, she’s sabotaging me!” She acted innocent like a damsel in distress. “I didn’t do anything!”

Zed turned to her, giving her a reassuring look, trying to be her knight in shining armor. “Don’t worry. I’ll handle this.”

Vivian smiled. Her eyes glimmered while looking at Zed like he was some kind of hero.

When Zed finally pierced his eyes on us, especially me, I almost got chills. I didn’t let that frighten me, though. I remained standing tall in front of him even when he was towering over me.

“I want you to apologize to Vivian,” Zed ordered me like I was his underling.

My forehead creased. I could hear Lindsay whispering behind me that we should just apologize. However, I refused to bow down to these arrogant and conceited people. I refused to feed their egos.

Back then, I would just try to avoid getting in their way most of the time. I didn’t want to deal with them in any way. I liked myself out of their messed-up world, not wanting to be a part of it. But since they already tangled my best friend with their shenanigans, I wouldn’t let that pass. I wanted them to stop thinking like they own the campus. I wanted them to acknowledge their own faults for once instead of hiding behind their malevolent influence.

“And why would I do that? We don’t have to apologize for anything.” My voice was stone cold as they finally pushed my patience to the brim. “If there’s anyone who should be apologizing, it should be Vivian.”

It was apparent that they didn’t expect I would fight back. These proud people thought I would scramble to get down on my knees and beg for their forgiveness. I could see in Zed’s expression that I stepped on his ego. He craned his neck as he was starting to lose his temper.

He tried to conceal his anger with a vengeful smirk. “You really won’t apologize, huh?”

“Chandra, let’s just apologize and leave…” Lindsay kept whispering to me.

I clenched my fist. “Never.”

Zed was obviously aggravated because I kept talking back. And so, I decided to step on his ego more by making him feel like a fool for believing the lies of his crazy girlfriend.

“If I were you, I’d rather know what really happened before deciding to eat my girlfriend’s ass and look like a fool by siding with the one who’s wrong.”

Zed’s jaw clenched repeatedly. “Really, huh?” He nodded, then stretched out his hand to his friend. “Hand me your water bottle, Jameson.”

With a grin on his face, Jameson handed over his water bottle to Zed. It was like he already knew what Zed planned to do with it. He was more than willing to lend his bottle.

Like I expected, Zed quickly unsealed the water bottle and started pouring it on top of my head without further ado. Lindsay gasped and held my arm tighter.

An arrogant smile was plastered on Zed’s face. He was clearly enjoying trying to make me feel miserable.

“Now, between us, I wonder who’s looking more like a fool…” He mocked me to feed his ego, which I just stepped on. “That’s what you get for trying to put the blame on my girl and talking back to me.”

I didn’t really mind getting humiliated by his petty actions. I got him to lose his temper, so I was pretty satisfied. He lost to me by resorting to dirty actions. I was already content. But the water was freezing cold, given that it was already the death of winter. My lips started quivering. Despite wearing two layers and a padded coat, I could feel the chill seeping through my skin like tiny needles.

Even though I wanted to run away and shelter myself somewhere warm, I braved the cold. I continued standing straight in front of them, giving an intense glare at everyone who did me wrong.

They were all laughing at me. The sound of their laughter rang in my ears. Vivian was wearing a victorious smile on her lips. God knew how much I wanted to tear that smile off her face. However, I couldn’t move because it was freezing cold.

I wanted to curse them, but I kept my mouth shut. I gritted my teeth as I reminded myself that I would never stoop down to their level. I didn’t want to be like them.

“Really, huh, Zed?”

Just then, I heard a voice colder than how I was feeling. At the same time, I felt someone standing behind me. I stopped freezing at once. It was like standing in front of a fireplace. His warmth immediately spread over my body faster than venom could travel in our veins.

Everyone immediately went still and quiet. They all looked like they had just seen a ghost. Their horrified faces couldn’t be painted with colors as they went pale.

I had a hunch who arrived to zip their mouths and frighten them without uttering a single word. There was only one person who could intimidate them. But just to be sure, I slowly tried to turn my head and look up to see who was keeping me warm from behind.

Though it appeared to be far-fetched, just like what I assumed, the man who got all the power was the one who got my back. And it made me feel like everything would be alright from then on.