Chapter 21: Vipers(1)

“I guess you’re right. Apology accepted,” Aurora muttered, shifting her gaze away from him.

Mikey could hardly process what had just happened. Somehow, he had convinced Aurora to understand why he had left her at the pond—and, even more shocking, she hadn’t rejected his flirtation.

“Huh… really?” he murmured, almost disbelieving.

Aurora met his gaze and tilted her head slightly, mildly confused.

“Yes, really. Why would I be kidding?”

Mikey paused for a moment, before a slow exhale left his lips.

“Phew…”

It didn’t make sense. Somehow, he had not only managed to convince Aurora, but he had done something even more improbable—he had led her to believe he wasn’t entirely wrong. And just like that, their reconciliation had happened. But the real question was… how?

‘How? How the hell did I do that?’

His mind raced, searching for an answer—any answer. But the only possibility that made sense was—

‘Is this… Deceptive Reasoning? I mean, it has to be. I’ve never spoken like this before, not until I purchased it. So… is this the power of Deception?’

But before he could process the thought any further, a voice—deep, fierce, and dripping with malice—rang out behind him.

“Well, shit. Look who it is… Isn’t it my little bitch.”

Mikey’s thoughts came to a screeching halt. A heavy presence loomed behind him, the weight of a shadow pressing down on his back like a silent predator, making his legs feel unsteady. Slowly, he turned his head, and the moment his eyes locked onto the source of the voice, his breath hitched.

The first thing he saw was—boobs. And in a single glance, he knew exactly whose they were—Mabel. He’d seen them so much during peeping hours, and now, no matter what she wore, he could identify them with ease.

Her shirt was unbuttoned at the top, exposing just enough cleavage to make him pause. His gaze flickered upward, and the moment their eyes met, his suspicions were confirmed. Mabel stood before him, her lips curled into a smug, knowing smirk. Her golden blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders in effortless waves, framing a face that was undeniably beautiful—sharp, yet feminine, with striking blue eyes that gleamed with mischief.

As much as he wanted to keep admiring her, his eyes drifted past Mabel, landing on the shadowed figure standing in front of him—tall, broad-shouldered, and utterly imposing.

The figure was a student, just like him, but he didn’t wear the full uniform. Instead, he had opted for a short-sleeved version, the fabric clinging to his well-built frame. His arms, lined with lean muscle, bore faint ink—tattoos peeking from beneath the sleeves. But what stood out the most was the symbol on the side of his neck—a cross, stark against his skin. In his other hand, he gripped a jacket, lazily draping it over his shoulder, his posture relaxed yet carrying an undeniable edge of dominance.

But the most striking detail about him was his arm.

Wrapped possessively around Mabel’s neck, his fingers settled against her side—one of them resting just a little too comfortably on the curve of her breast.

And behind them stood several other delinquents, each looking fiercer than the last, their gazes sharp and predatory.

Mikey’s eyes lifted further, meeting the newcomer’s gaze. He had sharp features, dark eyes that held a lazy but undeniable authority, and a toothpick rolling between his lips.

And then it clicked.

‘Son Parker.’

Mikey’s mind screamed at the realization.

A gangster. And not just any gangster.

His gaze flickered back to the tattoo on the boy’s neck—no, not just a cross. Right below it, coiled in faint but unmistakable ink—

A viper.

Mikey’s stomach twisted.

Son Parker wasn’t just some thug. He was an Iron Viper- the worst of all the thugs.

Mikey’s breath hitched. This wasn’t new to him. It wasn’t his first encounter with bullies, but normally, he relied on his smaller frame to slip through crowds unnoticed, avoiding attention whenever possible.

But there was no getting away this time, not after an impromptu encounter. There was no getting away from Son Parker, not this time.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Son moved forward, his presence growing larger, his shadow swallowing the space between them.

Mikey’s heart pounded, his throat tightening as the dreaded gangster stepped closer, and closer. And then—

He walked right past him.

Mikey blinked.

“H-Huh?”

He had expected a hit. Or atleast a better insult or anything. Instead, all he got was the cold shoulder.

The students following Son walked pass Mikey as well, their presence suffocating. But then, their footsteps continued, and for a moment, it seemed like nothing was going to happen—

Until Son’s voice rang out again.

“How you doing, little miss bitchy?”

The words were slow, dragging, laced with something cruel, and quite frankly, sounded quite stupid in Mikey’s ears.

He followed the voice, his eyes trailing downward. And then, he caught sight of Son’s real target-Aurora.

‘Why… why is he talking to Aurora like that?’

Aurora squinted her eyes, looking away.

Mabel, arms still crossed, smirked.

“Are you deaf? He asked you a question, you fucking swindler.”

Son let out a chuckle.

“No need to get mad, sweetheart.”

His fingers slipped off Mabel’s waist as he took a lazy step forward, closing the gap between him and Aurora.

“There’s no need to get hostile about this…no, no need atall.” he muttered, pulling a hand from his pocket. With an effortless flick, he removed the toothpick from his lips and looked down at Aurora with a prideful smirk.

“We all know this wouldn’t end well for little miss bitchy, right?”

Mikey’s hands curled into fists.

‘Wait… Aurora? Why the hell would she be getting bullied by an Iron Viper?’

He turned to her, expecting defiance. But her expression—

Her face was still, her jaw set, but in her eyes— fear.

Son chuckled. He sniffled slightly, wiping his nose with his thumb before tilting his head at Aurora.

“Alright.” he exhaled.

“Guess you want me to get straight to the point.”

His gaze sharpened.

“So, where the hell is my money?”

A hush fell over the hallway.

Mikey felt it immediately—the way the air shifted. The way all eyes locked onto this moment. It felt more like a deja vu, only this time, he wasn’t the one getting bullied.

And then, the whispers started.

“That’s Son Parker…”

“The former amateur boxing champion…”

“I heard he got banned from in-ring action because he almost crippled his opponent.”

“What? Just for knocking out one of his teeth?”

“He’s dangerous… What the hell did she do to piss off someone like him?”

Mikey’s stomach churned, his mind spiraling into panic as he desperately searched for a way out.

‘What the hell is happening here? Calm down Mikey. No matter what happens I have to stay in the shadows ik this one.’

Aurora’s voice broke through the noise.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…I told you…”

She met Son’s gaze, unflinching.

“…You got the wrong girl.”

Son’s lips parted, his smirk widening just slightly. A slow chuckle rumbled from his throat as he gently shock his head.

But then, at that moment, Mikey saw it—

The slight shift in Son’s stance.

The way he took a step back, lowering his toothpick.

The way his smirk faded, just barely.

Perhaps it was deceptive reasoning, or just his natural instincts, but he could that at that moment Son was positioning for an attack!

Before Son could even react—

Tap.

A soft tap landed on Son’s shoulder. His eyes instinctively followed the sensation, tracing the hand that dared to touch him. And then, he saw —Mikey.

Mikey stood there, his expression fierce, unreadable. But inside? Inside, he was a storm of sheer panic.

“Ahhh!!! What the fuck? I just fucking made contact with a fucking gangster! What the fuck is wrong with me?!!”

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