"Oops, sorry. I thought you were a trashbin,"

Genesis cooed smugly as she calmly strolled towards the scene with her arms crossed over her chest and her eyes staring dead towards Drake. Once she reached beside Pascal, she leaned down and helped him up to his feet. She winced regrettably when she noticed the blood and bruises on his innocent face. 

"I'm sorry," She said quietly as she reached for her handkerchief and gently wiped the blood on his nose and lips. "C'mon, let's get out of here," She said and took his hand.

Drake was filled with jealousy at how Genesis was caring over Pascal and glared at their hands. He reached for her arm and roughly pulled her towards him, making their hands apart in the process.

"What the hell, Drake? Let me go," Genesis got angry and pushed him away from her.

"You seemed to care for this nerd here. Don't tell me your standard over men stoop down so low and fell in love with him," Drake sneered at him and glared a glance towards Pascal.

"That's none of your business, asshole," Genesis retorted bitterly at him.

"No, you are mine, Genesis. You are not allowed to date any other man. If you do, I'll torture them," Drake threatened her as he tightly grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to her.

Genesis looked at him in disbelief and struggled to escape from his hold. Pascal noticed that she was hurting and attempted to remove his hand from her arm but he was then pushed hard to the ground by Drake.

"Let her go," Pascal came to his feet and tried to remove his hand again. Drake got pissed and grabbed Pascal by his collar and pushed Genesis towards his friends. Mike grabbed Genesis when she attempted to go and help Pascal.

"Let go of him, you psycho," Genesis growled and struggled to free herself from Mike's hold.

Drake glanced at her with a smirk before raising his fist to throw a hard punch over his face. But before he could do so, he was kicked hard on his side and lost his stand, and fell to the ground, releasing Pascal in the process.

"Shameless jerk! Picking up on the weak," Evelyn commented and lazily gaze down at him. Drake pressed his hand to his side and groaned silently as he glared up at her. 

"Don't get involved, Evelyn. This is none of your business," Drake told her coldly.

"Alright," Evelyn replied cheekily for a moment before giving him a deadpanned expression. "But you know what, I'm allergic to bullies. So, whenever I see one, I always shoo them away with my fist," She added as she glared at the boys holding Genesis and trudged toward them.

"What's going on here?" 

They all turned their heads toward the source and immediately went stiff in their positions upon seeing Trevor making his way toward them along with Ian. 

"Drake and the others, come meet me in my office now," He said sternly after glancing around and understanding the situation and walked away from the place.

Drake and his friends glared silently at Ian as they walked past him and followed their coach. Genesis went to Pascal while Evelyn and Eleanor went toward Ian.

"Will you be okay?" Evelyn asked.

"It's alright, they cannot touch me," Ian answered and grinned widely like a baby.

"He is the only son of the Chief commander," Eleanor leaned closer to Evelyn and whispered to her. Evelyn nodded her head in regard and looked at Ian who simply looked back at her with a bright smile.

Genesis and Pascal came beside them. "Thank you, I guess," She said, looking at Evelyn.

"Those words really sound creepy coming from your mouth," Evelyn mocked amusedly while Eleanor snorted out loud and Ian laughed away. 

"Whatever!" Genesis rolled her eyes over before taking Pascal's hand and dragging him along with her to tend his wound while Eleanor intently watched them.

"Are those two dating?" She asked.

"Who knows," Evelyn answered with a shrug. "C'mon, let's go, we still have some works to do," She reminded Eleanor about their half-done unpacking.

"See you later, Ian," Evelyn said as she walked away. Eleanor simply gave him a smile and followed behind Evelyn while Ian waved at them with a wide smile.

*

"When are they planning to make it official?" William asked. 

Nathan let out a sigh and thought for a moment. "I don't know. But I know it's going to be soon and I have to do something before that," He answered before sipping on his beer. Both of them were seated by the lake, drinking beer under the dark night.

"My dad isn't happy at all with Robert. My mom told me that they had a little argument back at home regarding this engagement," William told him under his grimaced look. "Did you try talking with your father?" He asked quietly.

"I did. But he never listens," Nathan answered bitterly.

"Would you mind if I join you both?"

They both snapped their heads to their side and saw Carla making her way toward them with a warm smile.

"No, you can join us," Nathan answered with a dulcet smile. Carla smiled widely and sat beside Nathan while William offered her a can of beer.

"Thank you, Will," Carla said while William gave her a smile in regard. She unsealed her beer can and took a sip of it. 

"Reminds me of the good old days," She said under his sigh, looking up at the dark sky and reminiscing about the time when the four of them would hang out and drink beer together just like this. "Except that, one is missing," She added in a sad tone as she slowly turned her gaze down and stared blankly at the lake water.

"You know, Adrian still hasn't spoken a word to me. It's been two years now," She said, feeling melancholic at the moment.

"Did you try talking to him first?" William asked and sipped on his beer while Nathan creased his brows at him.

"I couldn't, he avoids me every time I try to do so," Carla answered quietly and let out a dry chuckle. "I guess you changed too, Will," She said and gave him a sad smile.

"People change, Carla. No one stays the same always," He stated and stood up from his place. He was upset at her on behalf of his best friend. He couldn't just bring himself to be all buddy like the old days after what she did to Nathan and Adrian. "I'll head back first, goodnight both of you," He said and walked away from the place.

"He became cold," Carla became very sad. Nathan rested his hand on her shoulder and comforted her.

"He'll come around, and Adrian too," He said softly. 

"I just want us to be all buddies like we were before but I guess, it's too much to ask for now," She said under her soft sniffles and rested her head over his shoulder.

William stopped at his track and looked back. He stared at them for a moment and sighed deeply. "You're too kind, Nathan," He muttered under his breath and looked away from them.

As he was making his way toward his dorm, he saw Evelyn coming toward his way with her gaze down on the floor. 

"Hey, Evelyn," He greeted her with a warm smile.

Evelyn tilted her head up and smiled at him as she came in front of him. 

"Where are you heading?" William asked.

"I couldn't sleep so thought of taking a stroll by the lake," Evelyn answered with a shrug. 

William went wide-eyed for a moment before quickly thinking of a way to avoid her from going to the lake. If she goes there now and saw them together. He doesn't want to see her getting hurt over and over again.

"Instead of going to the lake, why don't you accompany me in strolling around? I just came from there and it's boring," William told her.

"Boring!" Evelynn chuckled and shook her head. "Fine, let's stroll around then," She agreed with her amused smile and simply did a gaze toward the lake but her view was blocked immediately when William moved aside and came to her front.

"Let's go," He said while Evelyn narrowed her eyes at him.

"Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me?" She encountered under her suspicious amused look. "Don't tell me you're secretly seeing someone!" She added in a teasing tone.

"No, it's not..."

"Hey, Evelyn," 

William was interrupted when Carla greeted Evelyn from behind. Evelyn tilted her head and saw Carla and Nathan together while William let out a dejected sigh. She then looked at William and gave him a knowing look. 

"Grumpy!" 

"Good evening, Carla," Evelyn greeted with a smile and ignored Nathan. "I see you're out here for fresh air as well," She added.

"We were just spending some time by the lake," Carla said, pointing her thumb back and forth at her and Nathan.

"Oh, I see," Evelyn raised both her brows and nodded at her. She didn't even spare a glance at Nathan. "William and I have a plan, we'll be going ahead. Goodnight," She prompted and took William's hand into hers. She then gave her a fake smile before dragging William and walking away from the place.

William glanced a look at Nathan as Evelyn dragged him along with her.

"They look good together," Carla commented softly as she stared at their backs. "I've never seen him being so flexible to any girl before," She added under her chuckle.

Nathan glanced down at her and regarded her words for a moment before letting out a sigh. "You go ahead, Carla, goodnight," He said quietly and didn't wait for her reply. He turned back and walked towards the lake to spend some time alone.

He came by the lake again and this time, he sat on the sand. His knee folded, his elbows rested over them and sadly stared at the still water of the lake. Moments passed as he sat alone and calmed his turbulent mind.

"You're still here,"

He snapped to his side and saw Evelyn standing some feet away from him. She stood straight, with her hands crossed on her lower back, and stared up at the dark night.

Nathan stood up from his place immediately and went to her. "Grumpy," He said softly. Evelyn drifted her gaze down on the sand and hummed in reply. She didn't spare a glance at him yet. "I thought you and William had a plan?" He said.

"Not really, we were just planning to stroll around together until you and Carla came," She replied, her eyes still gazing at the sand. "But he began to lecture me and so here I am," She said under her chuckle and turned her gaze toward the lake.

Nathan also turned towards the lake and stared at it. There was a comfortable silence between them for a moment before he spoke up. "Why were you avoiding me?" He asked.

"It was because I don't wanna face you or talk to you," She simply said and did a light shrug. It was obviously a lie. She was avoiding him because she was having an inner battle within herself. And she finally decided what to do. She has always followed what her heart wants and she'll continue doing so.

"You don't like me anymore?" He said quietly.

Evelyn simply continued to stare at the lake and didn't reply to him. Nathan could feel the stinging pain surfacing in his heart and let out a silent sigh of sadness. It was all him to blame for what was going on between them. He was the one who rejected her in the first place and somehow he unconsciously took her for granted when she said that she'll keep on liking him and will wait for him.

"I'm sorry..."

"I still like you, Nathan," She interrupted him and turned to face him. She was still madly in love with him.

"I just stop showing it,"

ALWAYS SMILE

HAPPY VIRUS