Priana's POV
I woke up with only one thought in my mind—what would happen in today's fight? I honestly don't understand why they need to do this. Can't they just live in peace? It makes me so angry; it's like they want to prove they are the toughest and baddest around.
I rushed out of my room and headed toward the school. But the moment I arrived, I was met with an eerie silence. The campus was deserted. I saw a girl walking by and stopped her. "Where is everyone? Why is the school so empty?"
"They're all at the basketball court," she replied bluntly. "The Elites and The Rebels are having a showdown."
I didn't wait another second. I sprinted toward the court, my heart pounding with fear. Anrio... He's already hurt. Will he be able to handle this? When I reached the court, a massive crowd of students had gathered. I struggled to push through the wall of people.
Finally, I saw them. On one side stood The Elites, and on the other, The Rebels. They were both ready for war. My eyes immediately went to Anrio's hand—the bandage was still there. Suddenly, I felt a gaze on me. It was Skyler, the leader of the Rebels. He gave me a sinister, mocking smirk that sent chills down my spine. His eyes were filled with pure resentment for the Elites.
I hurried toward Lian. "Is this really necessary, Lian?"
Lian laughed. "You're late! I told you to teach me some moves so I could knock them out with one punch."
"Enough with the jokes! Just be careful. Those guys don't look right to me. Keep your eyes and ears open," I warned him.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Lian saluted playfully.
"Don't joke around, Lian. I'm afraid this joke might turn into a nightmare."
Lian gave me a high-five, grinning. "Don't worry, I'm going to end their game today."
I stepped back to watch with the others, but then Elisa and her gang suddenly stood beside me. "How are you, Priana? Today, the Elites will finally get their punishment."
"Punishment? What are you talking about?" I asked, confused.
Elisa gave a wicked laugh. "You should be happy. Don't you know the rules of this game?"
"What game?"
"Look around," Elisa whispered venomously. "Everyone here has placed bets. This isn't just a fight—it's a gamble. And today, money will be made on their blood."
"What do you mean by bets?" I asked Elisa, my voice trembling.
Elisa gave a cold, shark-like grin. "The rule here is simple: kill or be killed. Whoever loses, loses their power forever. No one stops the violence here, even if it turns fatal. There's only one unwritten law—fight with honor. You don't target an existing injury."
"That's insane! Someone could actually die!" I gasped.
"So what?" Her indifference sent chills down my spine. I knew right then that The Rebels were planning something sinister.
Then, the carnage began. At first, The Elites were dominating the court. Lian, Oscar, and Diego were like forces of nature. Lian's movements were poetic—he launched himself into the air, delivering a kick so powerful it sent a Rebel flying. Oscar was calm and calculated, neutralizing opponents with precise strikes. Despite the intensity, they fought with honor, never once targeting a weak spot.
Marco was the mastermind, guiding them from the flank, while Rafael and Warren stood like unbreakable shields around Anrio. Anrio wasn't attacking much, but he was orchestrating their defense. It looked like an easy victory for the Elites.
But the crowd wasn't cheering. They were waiting for blood. Suddenly, Skyler signaled his men. The Rebels swarmed the Elites, pinning them down, leaving Anrio exposed. Skyler lunged at Anrio like a predator. He showed no mercy, repeatedly striking Anrio's bandaged hand and his face. Anrio, weakened and pained, stood no chance. Blood began to pour from his mouth, staining the court crimson.
Seeing him like that felt like a knife to my heart. I couldn't breathe. As Skyler raised his fist for a final, potentially fatal blow, I didn't think. I ran.
I threw myself in front of Anrio, shielding him with my own body. "Stop it!" I screamed. "Are you trying to kill him?"
"Get out of the way!" Skyler roared. "The crowd wants blood! Let me finish this, or I'll break you too!"
"Go ahead and try!" I turned to the cheering crowd, my voice echoing with pure rage. "You all should be ashamed! If you have any courage, fight with rules! This isn't a victory; it's a cowardly betrayal!"
I knelt down, pulling Anrio's head onto my lap. His blood stained my clothes, but I didn't care. "Anrio, look at me... you're going to be okay. I'm here. I'm always going to be by your side."
Anrio looked up at me, his eyes hazy with pain but filled with a strange, deep wonder. The other Elites finally broke free and rushed over. "Is he okay?" Oscar asked, his voice shaking.
"I don't know, he's bleeding so much!" I sobbed.
"I'm... I'm fine, Priana," Anrio whispered, his voice barely audible.
Marco's eyes burned with fury. "The Rebels crossed a line today. Thank you, Priana. If it weren't for you, their true cowardice wouldn't have been exposed."
I wiped my tears, my voice turning firm. "The talk can wait. We need to get him to a doctor. Now!"
Anrio was rushed to the ER, and I felt my world crumbling. I couldn't stop crying. Oscar placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "He'll be okay, Priana. Please, don't break down like this." He pulled me into a gentle hug, letting me cry it out.
Rafael stepped forward, looking regretful. "I'm sorry, Priana. I didn't fully trust you before, but if it weren't for you today, I don't know what would have happened."
Diego added with a smile, "I told you guys, Priana has a heart of gold."
Even in that tense atmosphere, the Elites began their usual banter. Warren suggested, "Once Anrio recovers, we should all go on a trip." Marco agreed instantly. Seeing them joke around finally brought a small smile to my face.
Lian suddenly nudged Oscar away. "Okay, enough! My turn to hug my best friend!" They all started teasing each other, trying to get closer to me. Oscar smirked, "Look at that, our Madam is finally smiling."
The doctor eventually came out with good news. "He's stable. There wasn't too much blood loss. I've bandaged him up and written a prescription. With some rest, he'll be back on his feet."
Oscar went to handle the meds, and I asked eagerly, "Doctor, can we see him?"
Inside the room, Anrio was resting against the pillows. Lian walked in, grinning. "How're you feeling, Champ?" Anrio gave a small nod. Marco added solemnly, "A lion doesn't go down that easily."
"Enough talk," I said, trying to sound firm. "No more fighting for you. You need absolute rest."
Anrio actually listened. Lian winked at the others. "Priana, you stay. We're going to step out for a bit." They all left the room, leaving us in a heavy, intimate silence.
"Is the pain bad?" I asked softly. He nodded. "Get some rest, everything will be fine," I said, turning to leave, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me toward him.
"You said you'd always stay by my side. So, where are you going?" His gaze was intense, searching mine.
"I'm right here," I whispered. Being this close to him made my heart race so fast I thought it would burst. Anrio gave a faint, knowing smile. "Why are you so scared? I can hear your heartbeat from here."
"It's nothing," I muttered, trying to hide my blush.
"Thank you... for saving me today," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"Wow, so the President actually knows how to say thank you?" I teased. He chuckled and suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. For a moment, it felt like the world had stopped turning. I froze at first, but then I felt a wave of peace wash over me, and I hugged him back just as tightly.
When he finally let go, he gently stroked my hair. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face—a smile of pure, unadulterated happiness.