5| Maybe I Did Win

♱Recommended song: Poison by Brent Faiyaz♱

I let out an irritated groan as I rinsed the soapy suds off my body—feeling completely irritated by the fact that Noa had crossed my mind for the hundredth time since last night.

And it was only the next morning.

Every single thought is entirely consumed by her and it's actually pissing me off.

I seriously need to just go to some random bar and find someone to hook up with.

And I mean ASAP.

I refuse to let these thoughts continue—so why the fuck are they continuing?

I angrily slid the shower curtain open, grabbing the nearest black fluffy towel to wrap around my body.

As I dried off—and got dressed into black shorts with a black tank top that dipped at my cleavage, and a baby pink bolero—I could only think of one thing.

Or one person.

And every single time I thought of her, I instantly countered with, she has to be thinking of me too.

She has to be.

There's no way she's not.

I pulled my shiny dark hair into a high ponytail before sliding on my black furry slippers.

Soon I was headed down toward the dining hall that I knew would be crowded with people dressed strictly in black, well, except for one person in particular.

"Noa!"

I looked up almost instantaneously, hearing my brother's scolded tone that seemed to be due to Noa stealing Vincent's coffee before he got a chance to drink it.

"Thought it was for me," Noa calmly said, sipping the warm coffee as she kept her stare placed on her phone.

Vincent remained silent, narrowing his eyes at Noa as he sharply grabbed his croissant. The slight scene of an irritated Vincent easily made me laugh internally to myself. I love annoying him, and it's clear Noa does too.

"Lundy! So glad you could make it. Fetch me a coffee will you?" Vincent called as I walked past the people seated at the long table. Almost instantly, Noa's dark eyes shot up from her phone at the mention of my name, meeting my stare that was already directed at her.

Out of everything I felt at that very moment, the one thing I wanted to do was strangle her for crowding up space in my head.

I shook my head as I sat down into the only vacant seat, which was across from Vincent—but annoyingly right beside Noa who was at the head of the table.

"Too late, I've already sat down now," I said to Vincent, using the first excuse I could think of.

Vincent narrowed his eyes at me, chewing his food before he said, "But I asked you when you were standing up."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, I just don't want to get it. Is that what you want to hear?"

Vincent only reciprocated my eye roll, "At least you're honest," he retorted.

"Oh, she's far from honest."

My eyes darted to Noa, who held the matte black mug in her hand—the same hand that—

"Yeah, I'm sure Lundy has enough secrets to last at least three lifetimes," Vincent joked, shaking his head to himself.

Noa lazily raised her brows, "Probably more than just three," she added in a clear insinuation, forcing my face to harden.

I knew what she was doing.

Or should I say what she was getting at?

I tensed slightly when I felt a warm leg brush mine, easily making my eyes meet Noa's that were seemingly on my brother.

The mere contact was enough to make my body grow with an annoying heat.

So this is the game we're playing?

I slid my leg away from hers.

Bring it on.

"You know, I added another hook-up to the roster," I said to Vincent, and I could instantly feel Noa's stare now burning holes into the side of my face.

Vincent smiled at the news, "Tell me, player Lundy, was she any good?" he playfully asked.

What was nice about Vincent and I'd dynamic was that we could practically talk about anything.

Especially hookups.

So whenever he hooked up with someone, or I did, we'd always spill the details.

Well, except for this time—I wouldn't exactly be able to spare too much.

I shrugged, "Kind of mid? I don't know, I don't really remember it."

I smirked slightly when I saw Noa's jaw tighten out of my peripheral.

See. Two can play this game.

But only one can win it—and that's me.

Vincent shook his head as he chuckled, "No way, she must not have been good if you can't remember," he said, clearly amused by the topic.

"Hm, I've never forgotten a hookup."

My eyes snapped to Noa who held a nonchalant look on her face as she looked at Vincent.

Vincent nodded, "True, I at least remember their face," he said.

Noa chuckled, "The girl I was with last night had the biggest attitude clear all over her face," she said, easily making me inhale a sharp breath, hating that she was winning at this stupid fucking game.

Vincent raised a surprised brow, "With you? I'm actually surprised," he said, clearly acknowledging her status.

Noa shrugged, "It was gone by the time I was inside of her," she said, easily making me choke on my own saliva.

Vincent's eyes darted over to me.

"Sorry, I-uh just remembered I had to call Lana," I said, sharply standing from the long table.

It was clear I had lost whatever unsaid battle that Noa and I were having when she smirked to herself, clearly content with her victory.

And while her victory stung like alcohol on a fresh burn, seeing a particular blonde somehow made it worse.

Aliza flashed me her usual fake smile, "Lunden," she said, forcing her voice to grow higher in pitch, but it wasn't nearly high enough to hide the bitterness in her tone.

I gave her a tight smile, already feeling far past irritated. I mean from my excessive thoughts–to Noa, or just anyone in general, winning against me—I practically wanted to rip my hair out.

"Here, have my seat," I said sarcastically, motioning to the chair that I was giving up regardless.

Aliza forced her fake smile to grow, "Thanks Lunden," she said, and it was painfully clear to everyone around us that our words were laced with a poisonous venom.

And while it all could've been left at that, Aliza managed to whisper, "Whore," under her breath, easily making my ears perk up.

Maybe it was everything that had occurred just within this morning, or maybe it was the lack of sleep due to Noa crowding up every single fucking thought.

Or maybe... just maybe, I simply hated Aliza's fucking guts.

Whatever the cause was, it was enough for me to jerk Aliza's back to my front as I held a sharp pocket knife to the front of her neck.

The action only took me less than ten seconds to execute due to my training—Aliza barely even had a moment to let out a gasp.

It felt nice—tightly holding my arm against her shoulders while my shiny black knife pressed into her source of airflow.

Somehow it managed to make me forget everything that had happened prior. Maybe I did win.

And I knew killing her wouldn't instill remorse within me—not after the mindset that I was forced to adapt, so Aliza better tread carefully.

"Lunden."

My eyes suddenly snapped to Noa, who seemed to have the most serious look coating her face while my brother had a look of hesitance along with everyone else seated at the long table.

"Put it down," Noa demanded, raising a sharp brow before she said, "Now."

I narrowed my eyes at her, deciding that she might have won the fight but I'm about to win the war.

I softened my face slightly, "Oh of course boss," I said sarcastically, slightly moving the knife away from Aliza's neck—well that was before I jerked her back to me, digging the knife further into her neck, "Oops," I said innocently, easily earning surprised expressions from everyone at the table—who were clearly taking in the fact that I just thoroughly disobeyed Noa's demands.

Noa sharply stood from her chair, "For fucks sake, Lunden," she said, clearly past irritated with me.

Good.

I guess we know who really won then.

"Wouldn't want me to accidentally slit her neck hm?" I asked in amusement, which only earned a narrowed look from Noa.

"Oh please, you wouldn't do it," Aliza said, practically poking the bear.

One thing you don't want to do is challenge me.

I sliced the thin layer of skin on her neck, earning a yelp from her and leaving a small red cut on her skin.

Eh, she's dramatic—it'll be healed in a couple of weeks.

"Want to try me—"

But I was easily cut short when I felt a force jab the arm I held the knife in—before I was quickly flipped around and thrown over a shoulder.

Or should I say Noa's shoulder?

I hit her lower back as I kicked my feet like a child, "Let me down," I demanded.

Noa only kept walking with long strides, tightening her grip on the back of my thighs, "After what you just pulled? You'll be lucky if I don't put a two-week watch over you."