Chapter:4 Rico's POV

The rain hadn’t stopped since detention.

Rico sat under the old bus stop near campus, a cigarette between his fingers — unlit. He didn’t even smoke; he just liked the idea of it, like pretending he was someone tougher than he felt.

His knuckles still ached from the fight earlier. The bruise under his lip throbbed every time he moved his jaw.

“Damn him,” he muttered, staring at the dark clouds. “That bastard Leon… always acting like he owns the world.”

Every time Rico closed his eyes, he saw that smug grin — the way Leon stood there, confident, fearless, like nothing could touch him.

It made his blood boil.

But what pissed him off more… was that everyone else seemed to admire that same thing.

People whispered about Leon all the time — the red-haired delinquent who could fight, rap, and still walk around like he didn’t care about anyone’s opinion.

He was chaos wrapped in confidence, and Rico hated how small that made him feel.

Why does everyone look at him like that? Why not me?

He slammed his fist lightly on the bench, biting back frustration.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He’d worked his ass off to be respected — studied harder, trained longer, followed every rule — but somehow, Leon still got all the attention.

Rico scoffed, kicking a pebble into the puddle nearby.

That was Leon’s curse — pulling people in, even when they didn’t want to be near him.

Two Years ago:

Rico had just joined the college. Back then, he wasn’t strong, just another kid who got picked on by older students.

One day, a group of seniors cornered him behind the gym, demanding his money. He remembered how helpless he’d felt — until someone had grabbed one of the seniors by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

“Pick on someone your own size,” Leon had said, smirking like he wasn’t outnumbered three to one.

They’d fought.

Leon won.

And then… just walked away, leaving Rico staring after him like an idiot.

From that day, Rico swore he’d repay him. But as time went on, that gratitude twisted — turned into something sharper.

Leon never changed. Still reckless, still bold.

And Rico? He felt stuck in his shadow.

Every time Leon got praised — for his strength, his rap performances, his fearlessness — something inside Rico cracked a little more.

Rico sighed, running a hand through his damp hair.

He’s not even trying, and he still shines…

He’d seen Leon perform once — purely by accident. Leon had been rapping at a small underground club, wearing that same cocky grin, his voice raw but powerful. The crowd had cheered like he was a star already.

And Rico?

He’d stood in the back, clenching his fists, trying to convince himself it wasn’t jealousy.

It was hate.

It had to be.

The sound of approaching footsteps pulled him out of his thoughts. Two of his friends — or more like followers — came running under the shelter, panting.

“Yo, Rico! You heard? There’s this guy asking around about Leon.”

Rico frowned. “Who?”

“Some big-shot looking dude. Expensive suit, black car, scary vibe. We don’t know his name, but… he’s been watching Leon lately.”

Rico’s brows furrowed. “Watching him?”

“Yeah, like he’s being investigated or something.”

Rico leaned back, crossing his arms.

First Leon steals all the attention at school, now he’s got strangers chasing after him?

He scoffed. “That idiot probably got himself into trouble again. Figures.”

But as his friends left, Rico stayed under the rain, eyes fixed on the street where the black car had been parked earlier that day.

Something about this didn’t feel right.

He didn’t know why — but a strange unease tugged at his chest.

He told himself it was curiosity, maybe satisfaction at seeing Leon finally get in trouble…

But deep down, there was something else. Something he couldn’t name.

He clenched his jaw and muttered to himself,

“Whatever it is, I’ll find out first. Before he does.”

Meanwhile – A Few Streets Away:

Anos sat in the back of his car again, the same calm smirk playing on his lips as his underling updated him.

“The kid’s rival — Rico — seems curious about us now.”

“Let him be,” Anos said softly, tapping his fingers against his knee. “The more eyes on Leon, the easier it is to study how he reacts.”

The underling hesitated. “Boss, are you… interested in the boy?”

Anos looked out the window, the rain gliding down the glass like silver threads.

“Interested?” He chuckled. “No. I’m intrigued.”

He leaned forward, his voice a low whisper — calm yet dangerous.

“Men like Leon always fascinate me. They fight like they have nothing to lose… until you show them what they’ve been protecting all along.”

The car drove off, vanishing into the rain, leaving only the faint reflection of Anos’s smirk on the window — cold and calculated.

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