This is the beginning of the story right....right? What am I saying? Well, I'm not the one you should be paying attention to. It's the girl beside me, yes, the gorgeous one, and still somehow blends in. I'm not bad-looking myself just objectively not pretty with a face that grows on you like a mole that you suddenly realize is quite pretty. See, people desire to be that outstanding one who leads a secret life that no one knows about, and when they can't get that, they go for drawing attention with sympathy or develop a skill. It's more rampant in high school the woe to which I live in. I crave the ordinary life that people despise because well anything else sounds like too much work and anyway I don't even have a chance with Ash; the girl beside me who has my senses screaming protagonist and this sense I developed from reading so many books and according to the code of main protagonist (COMP) today looks like a good day to almost die from an unexpected battle, I mean look at that sun oh and the breeze just perfect for masking the scent of blood sigh it's a hard life being a side character honestly I'd kill to eat a bag of popcorn and just watch the show.

"Hey, snap out of it," Ash said, snapping her fingers in my face and looking annoyed.

"Why" I defended but she just rolled her eyes at me while I stuck my tongue out.

It was lunchtime. I thought, wow, I've been out of it a lot; how did I even get here, and why am I holding a slice of pizza. I spot a soda beside her, and I snatch the empty can back while she smirks. Wooh, my poor soda is always getting kidnapped, but I'll avenge thee, surely.

"Alright, I'm listening. What do you want to tell me," I say, mourning for my drink?

"I think the new guy has been stalking me," she said, eyeing a handsome guy sitting at the table behind us.

"Who" because I genuinely hadn't seen him before, and the look she gave me must mean he came from those recent times of me blanking out.

"I've been getting a weird feeling all day," she says, and my instinct is speaking again that this is going to blow up today, and that guy is a part of it; he is obviously giving male lead vibes with his dangerous sexy aura. I can see it now. I'm going to have to....gasp, work hard.

"We've got to do something," I say desperately because I know that I'm in trouble with this girl.

"Hey, can you meet me after school," a deep voice said beside us and I turned my eyes up to meet vibrant blue eyes looking at Ash's green ones with a striking emotion that....pfft like I care about that no what I care about is that he ignored me with his stupid black hair styled roughly as he roughed it up on purpose and the fact that she hasn't replied to him staring at his eyes and why is it that no one is turning to us I mean he was pretty loud in opinion and like rude much.

"No, she can't," I snapped at him then he turned to me with a confused expression like Bro, yes, I interrupted you, and yes, I exist.

"And why not," he said, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Yeah, Ash, why not? "I say, looking at her.

"Sure, after school, no problem," she said, ignoring my hint.

"Great see you then," he said, leaving, still not acknowledging me.

I made to follow him, but Ash dragged me back down, giving him enough time to leave. Tch Lucky.

The bell finally rang, and we went to class until school ended, but I reminded her that she had practice after school, so she decided to skip and meet that guy after practice. I went on my merry way, wondering if he was waiting for her now and where they would meet because neither of them specified.

I was feeling foreboding, so I decided against my better judgment to check the situation out because, you know, the guy was stalking her before, and why she agreed, I'll never know.

I was heading to her locker room when I saw that guy hurrying inside holding a dagger with something shiny engraved on it and I was like nope not happening so I stood from afar to watch the show but alas being a side character really sucks because I was dragged into the mess when the obvious bad guy staggered out like can't they just finish him off already tsk. Luckily, I brought some toxic chemicals from the lab and dumped them on him, causing him to melt into good and evaporate before he could blink.

I didn't even step inside and just told her through the door that we should meet at the school gate in 10 minutes.I walked the halls, which suddenly became noisy again, by the way, like you guys just disappeared, so I had to deal with dodging bodies as I went to the library. I make it through and stand at the library doors.

It's quiet because who would stay back in here after school but he would. I walk past the shelves to the corner where the light is like a soft hum and is blocked from the outside. He was there like always, reading a thick book, his black hair resting on his large glasses that blocked his eyes and half of his face, leaving only the sharp jawline and thin arched lips. His loose sleeve brushes against the pages of the book because he wears a slightly larger uniform.

He snapped the book shut, then stood up from the desk, walked to the shelf behind me, and dropped'Advanced Textbook of Psychology'by S.K Mandal, standing beside me.

"So," he said, sitting back down.

I sat opposite him and explained what happened today starting from lunchtime. He never goes for lunch and goes early to class, so we don't interact much in school, but we are best friends, I think. He tapped his artist finger on the table graceful as always.

"My lunch," he said. I'm sure you've noticed that he's a man of few words. Honestly, he didn't speak to me at first, but now, if I really try, I can squeeze out a short sentence.

"That's all you have to say," I say, pouting, but I still go back to my locker where the sandwich lay forgotten, then walk back, tossing it at him and crossing my arms.

"Thank you." he ate the sandwich, slowly taking his time until it was no more.

"Satisfactory," he said, wiping his hand with a tissue, and I smiled at him cheekily. He has this thing about making his own food so I forced him to teach me how because I was curious and it took a month for him to at least eat a bite, he would look at it and dump it in the trash saying garbage and since I didn't want him to be hungry I had to force feed him an energy bar because he forgets breakfast too.

"What do you think," I said tapping my foot on the floor.

He stood up, wrapped his arm around my back, and hugged me, patting my head soothingly. I was stunned because he doesn't like people touching him. This reminded me of how we met; I was browsing through the library books when I coincidentally knocked into him, of course, he gave me a frosty glare, and I glared back while sincerely apologizing. Long story short, I came back regularly because teasing him was fun, especially when I would poke his cheek. He ignored me at first, but then he started responding with cutting remarks, then I tried harder, and he just gave up and accepted it. Now I'm his only friend.

"So you do like me," I say feeling giddy

"If you are just randomly going to speak, then keep silent," he said, pinching my cheeks. Translation: if you know it, then why make noise? Wow, even his translation is cutting. I grinned at him like an idiot hugging back tightly.

"Let go," he said, flicking my head, and I removed my arms so that I could rub my head, pouting.

"Ash is waiting for me, " I said, watching as his lips turned flat; he doesn't like people that much.

"Noisy people" Translation: I don't want to stay with them more than I have to.

" Thank you," I said, smiling sweetly.

He picked up his bag from the floor and looked at me, and then I walked in front, leading the way. We met her with the new guy and Kenneth surprisingly.

"What are you doing here, Kenneth," I said, stopping, and the person beside me stopped, too, I'm sure, with a stoic expression.

"We are friends, aren't we," he said, his hands in his jeans, grinning like an idiot. Well, he isn't wrong. He has been friends with Ash since we moved here. I mean, for a quirky comedian, he sure is cute with a lean build, strawberry-blonde hair, blue eyes, and an innocent-looking face.

"You don't have to. It's probably going to be dangerous," Ash said, looking concerned. She's right about that. He certainly isn't a fighter but he is knowledgeable about random stuff.

"I may not help in fighting, but at least it's better than leaving you alone with a complete stranger," he said, nudging his chin at the other guy. I was like ooh, this smells like love rivalry. Where's the popcorn when you need it.

"I am going with Zee, so I'm not alone," she said, bringing me into this. I just shrugged

"Yeah, she has me, so don't worry," I mumbled, knowing it wasn't going to work.

"No offense, but I don't think she can last a day without spacing out," he said, snorting.

Well, he just lost five points from me. Maybe I should just root for the other guy.

"I beat you up just last week. Don't test me," I said, smiling and not smiling at the same time. The audacity to challenge me, who had practiced every type of martial art since I was a kid, just because I watched too much Dragon Ball Z and how to use a dagger on YouTube because of Akagame ga Kill, an anime.

"He can come if he wants to but don't expect me to protect you," Tobias said, ending the conversation. This guy gives a boss vibe but not as much as the iceberg beside me who started looking at me just as I thought about him... scary.

"Is Derrick joining us?" she said, turning to him, but he just gave her a curt nod looking away, looking uninterested in it all. So I pinched his wrist and whispered look, it's a very interesting drama, but he ignored me hmph....jerk.

"Great, where to now," Ken said, trying to lighten the awkward mood; I gave him a thumb, up, thinking that the plot should progress unless it would be boring to me, the number one viewer.

"I need to pick something up from home," Ash said and I instantly knew she must be talking about the only things her parents left to her.....and if you haven't noticed we're both orphans, how else would she not be worried that they came after her parents and I was adopted as her playmate by her parents when I was 10 because she is like super rich. Derrick is an orphan, too, but I don't know anything else because he's a mystery.

"They are probably waiting for you there," Tobias said

"It's very important that I get it," she said, looking determined. Ooh, it's the first time these two have a conflict, and yup, they have been staring into each other's eyes for about two minutes now while I smacked on my imaginary popcorn, and Ken looked like an abandoned puppy.

"Fine, but you have to obey everything I say," he said, gritting his teeth. Wooh she won this round.

"Fine" she said then stomped away followed by Tobias looking frustrated and Ken looking determined. I looked excited while that guy was ignored throughout this discussion looking at us like idiots.

"Don't cause trouble" he said beside me but I just winked .

I know that I will

I looked back at Zee winking at that guy again, and shook my head. The sort of relationship she has with that guy is something I can never understand; I can still remember the first time I heard about him from her; it was the first time I realized we had a half terrestrial, half Asian student in our school and all I could think of how perverted Zee is. I mean no one in their right mind likes getting insulted but she just said it's fun to tame people like him and seeing her so happy I could hardly refuse because I felt guilty in a way that she was practically bought to be my toy so I indulge her a bit but now she grew up weird and vacant with her head always in the cloud. Sigh it's hard not to beat her up sometimes.

"Something the matter" Ken spoke beside me.

I smiled wryly and he got it immediately and sneaked a glance at the back.

"Wouldn't your parents be worried"I said bringing his attention back to me. I admit I don't want him to follow us because I don't even know where this is gonna lead us to. I don't trust the new guy but he did save me that time in the locker room, so I decided to give him the benefit of doubt.

"They don't really care that much. Besides, I've been living alone for a while," he said, scratching the back of his neck. I raise an eyebrow because, well, that's completely unexpected for someone so young, but I don't want to pry because it's clear I have problems of my own.

"What about you," he said curiously to the new guy.

"It's Tobias, not you," he said grudgingly. I rolled my eyes at his attitude. Even when he burst into the locker room to save me, he just glanced at me before dealing with the bad guy, leaving me scratched up, and then ordered me to get up. I wasn't expecting nice words since we're practically strangers, but he could at least speak like a normal person, not a girl permanently stuck on the first day of their menstrual period.

"Well, not you. Why didn't you say anything if you knew this was going to happen," Ken said, mocking his tone.

"When did you find out? "Zee said from the back, looking weird again, seriously this girl.

"I explained when we met at the door, he was wondering why I was with 4," I explained, and she said oh then continued watching.

"4" Ken and Tobias both said while I nodded my head.

"It's from Divergent," Zee said, looking at them like they're stupid. He just snorted while Ken looked confused.

I smiled crookedly enjoying teasing him. Actually, I don't care what he likes or dislikes, but I have a feeling I will be seeing a lot of him in the next few days. Speaking of which, I need to plan what to do; honestly, I don't want to be involved in this. That's why I change states after each school, but I guess I ran out of luck, and now my life is in danger. See, like Zee, I read a lot so I understood the signs and when it did happen that I could that there's no point arguing or pretending because this type of stuff never goes away, so the only choice is utter destruction of my enemies in the most efficient way possible using everyone and everything I have at my disposal. The only problem in this is Derrick; he is the only one I can't see through and gives me a sense of danger like If I even dare to approach and I'll die.

I shake my head and stay alert because we're approaching our house, which is probably full of traps, but there is something I need there that my parents told me would keep me safe.

"Can we pause for a sec" Zee said

***************************************

It was really fun watching those guys become more familiar. It was shocking to find out about Ken. Maybe he's a secret illegitimate son who got close to her for a purpose, or he's a regressor who saw this day happening, or he's a retired experiment that's lying about his background or part of the enemy sent to get Intel but fell in love. So many options to choose from. I was confused about when did Ken find out what happened. When Ash replied, I was surprised. I didn't think I took that long bringing this guy, but I did go bring his lunch and wait for him to finish eating, so it might have been longer than I thought. Ooh, she called him 4 like that guy in Divergent and this peasant doesn't even know, what next I make a Lord of the Rings reference and they tilt their head. Tsk useless. I turn to the guy beside me and tug on his sleeve.

"You get it right," I say proudly, but he ignores me. Well, I'm not one to be undone, so I poke his side until he furrows his brow and nods.

"Good, good," I reply, satisfied with his response. He has to anyway because after I'm done with a book or movie I chatter for weeks about it to him. Who said the silent types are bad, you just need the right person like me besides I'm reading most of the time so the silence is nice and I have someone to offload all my excitement on.

I realize that he stops so I halt and turn to him but he walks away and I remember it's the direction of his house which isn't far from here.

"Can we stop" I say before following behind him. I jog to catch up then enter his house which resembles a two floor apartment with his workshop, gym and studio because this guy is into everything and I mean every skill you can learn. He has a high IQ which I'm sure you've realized by now.

"What are you doing" I said watching him browse through his workshop which still has an uncompleted project of a fancy sci-fi fi stuff. We are in the age of high tech machinery like alien type technology in the perspective of those in the 3000s like their time's version of sci-fi. He finally picked out an injection full of nanites and injected it in his forearm then wore a fancy looking watch. I remember that invention, I thought it was cool because the nanites and watch correspond to make any type of weapon with a strong durability and solar powered battery source. All this machinery made me remember that our house is quite old fashioned with only an AI and no other fancy gadget because well Ash doesn't trust the government neither do I after reading well....any novel actually especially light novels.

"Leave I'll catch up" he said dragging me out the door. That's when I remembered that we have company waiting and he doesn't like people in his workspace, even I can't stay while he's working I check for when it's time for dinner then barge in and drag him to eat before leaving his house. Honestly it's like taking care of a child with this guy sometimes.

"Pinkie promise" I say turning back to face him at the door stretching out my pinkie to which he wrapped his surprised that he agreed to my childish request.

"You have 30 minutes" I say turning back to see Ash and the others about to reach the front door but I slammed it shut and shooed them away.

"Isn't he coming" Ken said looking back curiously.

"Unlike you two he actually needs clothes to function"I say gesturing at the guys.

"How do you know I can't come back" Ken said pouting

"Do you really think they aren't watching us right now please besides I'm sure they had adequate time to research us including who we relate to so no you can't" I say but he just looks dumbfounded.

"Yes I have smart thoughts too genius no need to look so used to it" I say sarcastically. He blushes and rubs his neck.

"We're wasting precious time"4 said stopping away. Ash shook her head at me and followed while Ken chase after them while I skipped thinking that it's about to be a fight scene next.

************************************************

We made it back to my house and stopped a block away observing for intruders but these guys were pretty meticulous because there was no trace but I proposed we split into 2 groups one of us takes the front while the other takes the back. I'm pretty sure we would be outnumbered slightly but I'm not one to lose without a fight and these two guys in the other group can make for a perfect distraction. I obviously went with 4 because he seems to have the most experience and if he is a traitor then I can use him as a hostage to negotiate before running away. Derrick....well people like him don't care for much so I'm sure he wouldn't seek revenge against me or try to foolishly save Zee. All I need is to get in contact with my parents heirloom and I can save everybody. Besides we need one person in each group who knows the passcode to the house.

I gripped the knife that I borrowed from 4 and typed in the passcode unlocking the door letting it lightly open before grabbing a vase outside. I kicked the door open slamming into someone then chucked the pot at the person jumping at me before rolling sideways slashing at his knee. Once he was down, I grabbed the stool that was beside me and slammed it on his head and another chair on his knee making him fall before plunging the dagger straight into his eyes.

"Stop or your friend gets it" I heard a voice saying and I paused and smirked a bit with my hair covering my face then stood up with my hands in the air glaring at the guy holding Ken hostage while another one grabbed Zee who had a cut on her arm that was bleeding but she looked aggrieved cursing at the guy holding her. I have them right where I want them.

****************************************

It hurts a lot. Jeez, can you not press my obviously bleeding hands so roughly. I'm beyond pissed at this point. I mean there I was typing the passcode in then I told Ken to slam the door so that it would come off but then there was nothing beside me because somehow it rolled to Ken from the force of the door so I had to use the rug to whack at the bad guy's face and because I came empty handed I had to throw my bag at him but he dodged, which is unfair because somehow that always works in movie so I used martial arts but the weight difference is not something a 18 yr old body can beat especially when they're trying to kill you so I played dirty and twisted his balls and practically almost dug his eyes out with my finger then I ran to the kitchen dodging bodies and finally grabbed a weapon just to be attacked by another two losing the knife by the way so I ran upstairs because well everyone gets one while I get two, heck no. I ran around dodging throwing objects until I managed to lead them upstairs and hit one on the knee pushing him down the stairs which gave the second one the opportunity to slash at my arm and capture me when I grabbed the arm on reflex so I was dragged downstairs feeling unfair.

This is injustice, just because I wasn't the protagonist I had to take most of the heat while I dealt with two. I glared at 4 thinking you couldn't just hurry it up but when it came to save Ash you were done in a flash.

"Give us the Reader or you will be scraping blood of the walls.... Silly me you won't be around to care then forget what I just said" a man in a wuxia costume said with that typical bad guy face.

"Never and if you hurt my friends you'll regret it" she said glaring at him. I looked sideways at ken who had a brave expression on his face. Okay so I'm the only one who finds that response offensive like she's egging him to do it.

"Are you sure " he said raising an eyebrow while the guy holding Ken grabbed his neck making his face crunch but he just groaned .

"Wait" I said immediately surprising everyone

"You want to tell me where it is" he said turning to me.

"No I want you to only hurt me" because if you twist my arm any longer I might bleed out and die before I can even see some real action.

"Very well if you want to play the hero" he said while they released Ken and my throat was grabbed in a tight manner just enough for me to breathe difficulty. I meant that you should grab my neck not release the other guy, don't you know two hostages is better than one and why aren't you asking about Derrick who is missing, is your Intel wrong. The worst part is that my body is close to the goon choking me and it's not romantic at all, he stinks of sweat from all that running and he has rough hands so it's even more disgusting. Ash save me, I'm going to die of being uncomfortable.

"Stop I'll do it" Ash said looking torn up before walking upstairs as we were dragged to follow her and now my arm hurts again. Woo just end this chapter already it hurts. I want this chapter to end already, can we Skip this scene.

I watched as they dragged ZEE upstairs and each one of them stood behind us which is good. Seeing an enemy in a group formation is harder to fight than those that are spread apart because they have the advantage over us. Now that they have let their guard down, it should be relatively easier to fight them, and it's all thanks to ZEE's sacrifice, which honestly surprised me.

I didn't expect her to the hero type because she always insulted main characters like that calling them hypocritical annoying people who made the situation worse but when she saw a person in danger; I guess it just sprung out that is the instinct to protect everyone has.This is good, it can be used I thought smiling encouragingly at her who was tearing up and muttering something with that stupid dazed expression on her face. Ah, this girl really can't change. I decided to focus on the purpose of coming here which was to get my family heirloom, I can still remember the day I was told about it when I was about 12.

Mother was busy trying to call Zee inside persuading her that there is no monster for her to slay or some secret spy hiding in the backyard but she just gave her a disdainful look and escaped outside disappearing into the bushes with a slingshot. Mom looked at her with a confused expression because she was going the wrong way so confidently but eventually gave up and came to my dad and I frowning deeply muttering that there really is something wrong in the head with that girl, infact it's a lot of things and it's impossible to fix at this point.

My dad and I laughed then we spent some time joking about her past adventures and how she would always come back with a disappointed expression going straight to bed before coming back with full force the next day. My dad later cleared his throat to signal us that we were staying off-topic. He exchanged a glance with Mom then smiled and said

" You're a smart kid so I'll say it plainly. There will be a day you are in. We won't be here, so remember where to find what must be hidden," he said, staring me dead in the eyes and said lastly that I have to watch Zee. He was right about everything that day especially me being a smart kid and now 6 years later I stand before the seemingly normal bed of my parent's room which was designed simply, the place where it was supposedly kept.

"Where is it" the leader said snapping his finger making the hold on Zee's neck tighter until her veins lightly began to show while she just blinked looking aggrieved. I played the part and glared fiercely at him before reluctantly walking forward to the drawer beside the bed and pressing the top down until a click was heard and a rectangular box the size of my palm was dislodged

"Can I get a knife. It's kind of old" I said stretching my hand clenching the other one looking like it was taking a lot out of me to do this. A short dagger was placed in my hand which had a weird pattern on it but I didn't even spare it's design a glance as I used it to dislodge the space removing the lid to see a dark hole and a small compass on a cushion.

"Take it out nice and slow," the man said smiling widely at me and beckoning me with his hand

"What if I don't " I said not forgetting that I was in a state of reluctance

"Then your friend here gets it" he said smiling even more. I gritted my teeth then took out the stopwatch clenching it tightly in my hand.

"I doubt you would let us live so what is stopping me from destroying it right now" I say my hand above in a throwing motion

"Well, you never know until you try. Tell you what, why don't we exchange at the count of 3"

"Or what," I say frowning

"Or her head bursts right now " he said standing beside Zee.

"Alright on 3. 1..2...3" I agree, then toss the watch at him on 3 while Ken moves to grab Zee, but she is dragged back, closing her eyes.

"Well that was a bust" the man said chuckling thinking he won but he didn't know two things. First, that was a flash bomb I took from Zee some time ago, and Second, well, I had already pressed the button. A bright light soon shone, blinding almost everyone except Zee and me because I kept my eyes shut. When it wasn't blinding anymore, I lunged at the man with the dagger, but he blocked my dagger with his hand, not even leaving a scratch.

"Well played, brat, but you didn't take into account that I'm at the foundation realm, so I don't need eyes to see," he said, smiling. Then I felt myself being pushed back, and I slammed into the wall, making my back radiate in pain. I took huge breaths as the air was knocked out of my lungs gripping the dagger tightly so I wouldn't pass out. I glanced at the other 3 in a fierce battle with the other goons.

"It seems I lost this time. Well I hope to see you soon, Mrs Ashley" he said walking to the window about to jump out. I staggered up, thinking that I couldn't let him get away with information about me or I'd be inviting more trouble. besides, who knows what he put in from that attack earlier because I felt it hurt inside, and the most obvious reason was information he held, but it seems like I will be too late.

The sound of a whistle was heard, and suddenly, his head exploded after being thrown back violently, followed by the other three guys. I stared frozen in disbelief thinking that can the script really go this way.

"Ah it's finally 30 minutes. I thought I was a goner" Zee said slumping down lying on the floor. I wanted to ask what she meant but my vision ended turning black and I fainted on the floor.

*************************************

I laid down on the floor taking a break while those two guys went to Ash hurriedly to examine her. Geez guys, I'm fine thanks for asking I muttered sitting up realizing I was beside that guy that was choking me. I glared at him hatefully, even after trying to bargain with him that we can work together but he didn't even acknowledge me plus then his boss came over too and threatened me and I was like seriously I just gave myself up one time and now I'm the weak one but Ash did do a good job with the flash bomb that she stole from me because i never wanted to give it to her as it was gotten as a result of pleading with Derrick. Ah right that guy should be here soon so I better meet him because he won't come upstairs. I turned my gaze to the guys who cooperated to put Ash on the bed then sat on the edge at either side resting in silence... So nothing going on here or that I'm missing.

I stood up feeling a little dizzy then I remembered that I had been bleeding for well, a while so I slowly walked downstairs and then to the kitchen before taking the first aid box and opened the door for Derrick who swept his eyes over me and then he took the first aid from me guiding me to a seat that wasn't upturned before tending to my wound and those little scratches too.

"You know medicine too" I asked focusing on his pretty fingers.

"What do you think" he said bandaging the wound.

" How did you do that and where did you shoot from" I asked curiously

"1,You should know and 2 it was from the tree across the street" he replied matter of fact.

"I'm thankful " I said smiling at him but he snorted and moved back. I decided to take him to my room after rummaging the kitchen for some snacks which was a simple normal room with some books scattered on the bed, hey I like variety; sue me. I pushed them on the floor thinking that I don't need them anymore then I looked around thinking that I won't miss this house anyway since it wasn't mine to begin with. I lay down on the bed munching a Cheerios while he sat at the edge beside me leaning his back on the headboard reading a book he took from his bag.

"Well you travel light" I said thinking about what I should bring glancing between him and my wardrobe.

"Clothes can be gotten from anywhere" he replied looking at me with an expression of I know what you actually wanted to ask. I shut my open mouth which was in the process of asking if he could help me pack some clothes chuckling sheepishly.

"You couldn't even let me try" I grumbled poking his side in revenge. He used his finger to push my head back

"Don't bother me, just nap" he said tapping my forehead.

"If Ash wakes up then don't bother me. I don't care much about the backstory and stuff" I said drifting off to sleep quietly.