STANLEY's POV

It was 9 PM when I decided to step out for some fresh air. The surroundings were dark, with occasional passersby, mostly couples. I headed to a quiet place I knew well-an abandoned playground where I often went to be alone.

"Hmmmmm! Hmmmm!"

Someone was sitting on the swing, humming softly.

I watched her for a while, unnoticed, until she suddenly leaned back, startling me.

"Is that you, Stanley?"

"Hyra?"

She nodded, a bitter smile on her lips. "I just wanted to experience playing in a playground. I never got to as a child."

"Isn't Nathan with you?"

"We were separated when we were young. I don't remember much about those days," she sighed.

"Growl, growl!"

I couldn't help but chuckle as her stomach rumbled.

"Looks like someone's hungry," I teased.

She rolled her eyes. "I haven't eaten since that boring basketball game," she complained.

"Boring? You seemed pretty interested in the other team's captain," I remarked, raising an eyebrow.

I approached her and gently tugged at her sleeve. "I haven't eaten either. Come with me, I know a nearby restaurant."

"Are you treating me?" she asked, eyes sparkling mischievously. She had a way of looking like a puppy, making it hard to refuse.

"I'm not footing a hefty bill for your appetite," I joked, though a sudden unease crept over me.

"Let's go!" she said, walking ahead. I followed, still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she was Nathan's twin sister-and how different they were.

---

"We're here," I announced, bringing her to a Japanese restaurant, knowing she had grown up in Tokyo. I hoped she'd appreciate the cuisine.

"Wow!"

"You go in first. I just need to check something," I said, and she eagerly headed inside, visibly happy.

Once sure she was settled, I approached a man smoking on a nearby bench-someone I suspected I knew.

"Are you following me?" I asked bluntly.

He glanced up, exhaling smoke. "Why would I follow you? I'm not interested in you, but the woman with you?"

Hyra?

I looked back at Hyra and then back to him, but he had vanished from his spot. What did he want with Hyra?

---

"I'm good here, so leave now," Hyra said dismissively as we left the restaurant. After treating her and ensuring her safe transport, she repaid me with ingratitude. What a brat. I take back what I said about Hyra and Nathan being different-they're exactly the same.

Maybe I should have let her go hungry; the food she consumed was expensive. My wallet trembled. Who eats twenty plates of food?

I sighed and began driving, but I couldn't escape; I abruptly stopped the car when I saw him chasing us.

"What's your problem?" I demanded.

"Why are you driving so fast?" he panted, sliding into the back seat uninvited.

"Do you have water?" I grumbled, tossing him a bottle. Why was he out of breath? Did he chase us from the Japanese restaurant?

"What do you want, Takashi?" I asked, getting straight to the point. I didn't want to prolong our time together.

"Do you remember when we first met?" he mused, reclining with his hands behind his head. "That was a day neither of us expected."

---

FLASHBACK

"Fight or die. We'll kill you."

A masked man, a number on his left eye, barked the order. He kicked me in the stomach, and I doubled over in pain.

They had kidnapped me, thinking my parents-powerful, but not willing to pay ransom for me-would yield to their demands. Money meant more to them than their own son.

"You'll get nothing from me," I spat defiantly.

He was likely a district leader, holding sway over the fourth district. If I held power, I'd use it better than to abuse the weak.

They outnumbered me. I was fourteen-helpless.

"If I can't get answers from you, you'd better die," he said, swinging a baseball bat. But...

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Blood poured, his right arm severed, and I gagged.

"Did you know this is my turf?"

Perched on the roof, a man with messy hair and a boomerang spoke from a half-sleep.

The man lunged, and the attacker fell.

"You're a power-hungry leader, unworthy," said a youth my age. He slashed the masked man's throat with a boomerang, and my repressed nausea spewed.

"Bluuurrr!"

"Pity," he said, patting me. His hair messy, he looked my age.

"I'm here to reclaim the masks, but her plan changed unexpectedly. Women are unpredictable."

What did he mean? Why tell me?

"Thanks for saving me," I weakly said.

"Thanks? Not enough."

"I'm broke," I apologized.

Disappointed, he knew it. So, he wants money?

"Accept my offer, and I'll repay you," He left the car, revealing a floor of white cards.

HYRA's POV

I arrived at the university early, determined to find that man. I couldn't understand why he ignored me last night and now didn't take me to school.

Without my ID, the guard at the gate blocked my entry, acting like he owned the place. Tch. I headed around to the other side of the university, scanning for a way in. Seeing no one around, I started climbing the wall. I had no choice; going back to the condo for my ID would make me late and lock me out.

I couldn't wait. I had to find out what was bothering him.

The garden was his hiding spot; I was sure he'd be there.

"Looking for me?" he spoke up.

I was about to turn when his arms encircled me from behind, his head resting against my neck, his sigh heavy against my skin.

"Maybe if--"

"I've always wanted to kiss you, did you know that?" His words cut off my question.

I turned to face him, cupping his cheek, planting a soft kiss on the tip of his nose before locking my gaze with his.

"You don't need to ask permission to kiss me. You can kiss me as much as you want," I whispered, feeling an excitement I couldn't hide. I longed to taste his lips, and this time, he didn't pull away. Our kiss was gentle, yet it spoke volumes about how much we meant to each other.

But this wasn't enough. I wanted more.

Drawing him closer, closing the space between us until I could feel his abs against me.

"DO YOU TWO KNOW EACH OTHER?"

Conan slowly pulled away from the kiss, turning to face the onlookers.

Damn it! I wanted more of Conan's kiss.

"NO!" Conan and I answered simultaneously, perplexing the onlookers further. What was his name again? Stacy? Stavy? Oh! Stanley! He's Stanley Sy.

"Then why are you kissing?"

Conan and I exchanged a glance; he motioned for me to clear a path to Stanley.

Tch! This day would be remembered; this was the day Stanley ruined my happiness.

"Is it forbidden? I'll kiss whoever I want," I declared, approaching Stanley. "Even you," I added, giving him a quick kiss on the lips before walking away, noting the blush on his face and Conan's intense stare.

STANLEY's POV

What was that? She kissed me? That was my first kiss.

"Do you want your life to end sooner?" Conan's tone carried a weight as he spoke, reminding me he was still there.

He stepped closer, his gaze penetrating mine with unblinking intensity.

He retrieved something from his pocket, alerting me. It was a handkerchief?

Approaching me, he firmly wiped my lips with it.

"You can't feel her lips," Conan stated, glaring at me. His stare cut deep. "You'll regret it," he whispered before leaving.

-

I sighed deeply.

"What's with the heavy sigh?" Krystal asked from across the room, the only one present in the special room. It seemed she skipped class today.

I turned to her.

"Don't you wonder why there's no information about Hyra? No matter where I dig, I can't find anything."

"Why are you digging into Hyra's background?"

"I noticed how close she is to Takashi."

"And?" Her expression turned serious. "Look, Hyra doesn't exist in this world. Information about her is tightly controlled by Nathan because she's the sister of a district leader and a lord's daughter. Only this university knows about Hyra's existence."

She was right. What had I been thinking, judging Hyra? Just because she knew Takashi?

Conan Takashi was part of the White Monarchy. Master should know this. What would happen next? Would Conan die? Could I live with that on my conscience? He was the reason I was still alive; could I be the reason for his death?

For now, I needed to keep what I knew hidden, to observe Takashi's actions. I had to choose sides carefully.

I had to keep Hyra away from him.

Stanley Sy (Thunder)