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6:08 A.M
–Courtroom–
In the courtroom, pressure hung heavy in the air as the retrial commenced.
Kazuo sat with a mix of nerves and determination etched across his face, knowing that this trial could very well determine Naomi's fate.
All his friends were there for moral support, but his mind wouldn't stop going into overdrive. Today was different than the last time, he didn't feel as nervous, but maybe because everything was becoming mundane with how much it was repeated: the prosecution began presenting their evidence once more in an attempt to prove Naomi's guilt.
He didn't miss the smug look on her lawyer's face, though, like he had something up his sleeve. And it was true. He did.
Newly discovered CCTV footage.
The grainy images flickered on the screen. The footage showed a shadowy figure lurking near the scene of the crime, a figure that could potentially provide Naomi with the alibi she so desperately needed.
The image that was projected onto a large screen for all to see, looked like a man. Definitely not a sixteen year old girl.
Murmurs of speculation filled the room. The figure in the footage was obscured, a shadowy silhouette lurking in the darkness of the night. Despite the poor quality of the recording, there was an undeniable sense of menace emanating from the mysterious figure
The judge slammed the gavel on his desk to silence the court, "Order!"
Just when Kazuo thought this couldn't get any worse.
The sounds around him were becoming muffled. His disdain for Naomi had just become worse. His head hurt, his teeth hurt, but he watched her closely, his jaw clenched with barely concealed animosity, his eyes boring into her with a cold intensity. Memories of their past relationship lingered like a bitter aftertaste, overshadowed by the betrayal he felt at the loss of his mother.
.
.
.
.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"
"Yes, Your Honor. We have."
"Please read the verdict."
Foreperson: "On the charge of murder in the first degree of Yuna Lee, we find the defendant, Naomi Reb,
not guilty."
Kazuo's world shattered.
His hands clenched into fists at his sides. He couldn't believe it. How could they let her walk free?
Naomi's demeanor was anything but remorseful. Despite the gravity of the situation, she wore a smug expression, her confidence bordering on arrogance. Her eyes sparkled with a sinister glint, betraying a deep-seated obsession that bordered on delusion.
The look she cast Kazuo's way dripped with a toxic mixture of adoration and possessiveness. To her, he was not just a former flame but an object of obsession, a prize to be won at any cost. Her love for him bordered on the delusional, fueled by a twisted perception of reality that only served to feed her arrogance.
Even as his hatred burned with a fiery intensity, Naomi reveled in the chaos she had wrought. The more he glared at her, the more she relished in his attention, twisting his disdain into a perverse form of affection.
In her mind, his anger only served to validate her feelings, reinforcing the twisted narrative of their relationship that she had constructed in her mind.
And in the end, as the verdict was read and Naomi was declared not guilty, her smirk widened into a triumphant grin. She turned to Kazuo, her eyes ablaze with a manic fervor, convinced that she had won once and for all.
-----------------------------
In the quiet solitude outside the courthouse, Kazuo sat on a bench, his mind swirling with a tempest of frustration. He reached into his pocket, fingers fumbling for a lighter to ignite the cigarette dangling between his lips. But to his dismay, his pockets yielded no such relief.
As if on cue, the distinct sound of a lighter clicking echoed in the air, drawing Kazuo's attention.
He looked up to see Naomi standing before him, a small flame dancing at the tip of her lighter.
Naomi's eyes sparkled with a hint of underlying intentions as she held out the flame, her lips curling into a smile. "Need a lighter, Kazuo?" she teased, her voice laced with an undercurrent of confidence.
Kazuo's jaw tightened, his gaze hardening as he met her gaze. The mere sight of her was enough to reignite the simmering rage within him, a reminder of the pain and betrayal he had endured at her hands. He wanted nothing more than to push her away, to banish her from his life once and for all.
But Naomi seemed oblivious to his inner turmoil, her confidence unshaken as she took a step closer and lit Kazuo's cigarette, "Don't be so discouraged," she insisted, her tone soft yet insistent.
"Don't talk to me," Kazuo retorted. He wanted to lash out, to tell her to leave him alone and never darken his life again. But a part of him hesitated, the memory of their past love still lingering like a ghost between them.
"You know there's a thin line between love and hate, right?" Naomi tilted her head, looking up at Kazuo, before she reached out to fix his bangs, then fix his collar.
"Are you saying I love you?" he asked her incredulously.
"I think," Naomi touched his chest with a finger, "that you're still holding on to something you can't let go of."
Kazuo's heart hammered in his chest, a tumultuous mix of anger and longing swirling inside him. "I'm not holding on to anything," he insisted, his voice strained with emotion.
Naomi's gaze softened, her eyes searching his face for any sign of vulnerability. "You don't have to pretend with me, Kazuo," she murmured, her finger tracing a gentle path along his collarbone. "I know you better than anyone else."
Kazuo recoiled at her touch, his breath catching in his throat as he struggled to keep his composure. "You don't know anything about me," he snapped, his words laced with bitterness.
Naomi's expression remained impassive, her mask slipping for just a moment to reveal a glimpse of the woman he once knew. "Maybe not," she conceded, "but I know you're hurting yourself and no one else."
The raven head turned away from her and took a drag from his cigarette.
"You're angry with yourself," Naomi continue. "You're angry because you still feel something for me, even though you try to deny it."
Kazuo bristled at her words, reaching a final level of frustration. "You don't know anything about how I feel," he shot back, his tone sharp with indignation.
But Naomi remained unfazed, a knowing smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Oh, but I do," she insisted, her voice carrying a hint of smugness. " And deep down, you know I'm right."
Her words struck a chord deep within him, stirring up a whirlwind of emotions that threatened to overwhelm him. He watched in silence as Naomi stood up and walked away, leaving him to wrestle with the thoughts stirring inside his head.
As the echoes of her footsteps faded into the air, Kazuo was left alone with his thoughts, grappling with the truth of her words and the tumultuous storm of emotions swirling within him.
"Kaz!"
He turned to see Rehan rushing over with everyone else following closely behind.
The ash blond sat next to him and Michael put an arm around his shoulder, ruffling his hair, "Don't let this get to you, man. You're Kazuo Kade." he tried to uplift him.
"Yeah, Kazuo freakin' Kade," Rehan made a small dance move, to which Kazuo gave him a confused look.
"Nah, stop that," Michael said then pretended to choke on the smoke because of Kazuo.
Cicero approached them, "Let's go clubbing."
"What the hell is he saying?" Rehan laughed.
"It sounds a good idea," Fay shrugged.
"Kazuo needs to loosen up," Cicero popped a bubble with his gum, "Let's get him drunk."
"That sound sus," Rehan commented and Cicero laughed.
"Do we really have time for that?" Omi frowned.
"Um, yeah," Fay replied like it was the most obvious thing ever. "My friend will also come with us," she said, to which no one disagreed on.
"Tell Zen to come, okay?" Michael told Cicero and the green head nodded. "Ya'll are good, right?"
Cicero rolled his eyes playfully, "Peachy."
Michael raised an eyebrow skeptically, hiding a knowing smirk. "Really? How did you two make up?"
"We kissed."
".........."
"...What?"
-----------------------------
As the evening descended, Aria, Fay, and Lettita stood outside the club, their laughter mingling with the distant thump of music from within. They huddled together, touching up their makeup and adjusting their outfits in anticipation of the night ahead. Fay had a backless, black short dress on and deep red lipstick. Lettita had an off-shoulder, yellow jumpsuit, and Aria had a floral print, short cami dress.
"Oh, look, it's Kazuo," Lettita said and they turned to see Kazuo walking up to them in a rather basic outfit. Fay couldn't help but roll her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
"Kazuo, seriously? You're wearing that?" Fay criticized him.
Kazuo glanced down at his attire, a simple jeans-and-t-shirt combo that seemed out of place amidst the vibrant energy of the club scene. He shrugged nonchalantly, unfazed by Fay's critique.
"It's comfortable," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of defiance.
Fay shook her head in mock disapproval, her gaze lingering on herself in the mirror for a moment longer before she relented with a playful grin.
"Well, suit yourself," she said. "Just don't blame us if you don't get past the bouncer looking like that."
Aria and Lettita chuckled at the banter between their friends, the playful exchange adding to the excitement of the night ahead.
Kazuo looked at Aria in surprise, "What are you doing here?"
Fay chimed in before Aria could respond. "Oh, Aria here is the friend I was talking about," she explained casually.
Kazuo's brows furrowed in confusion, his mind struggling to process the revelation. "Wait, what?" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Meanwhile, Aria simply waved at Kazuo, her expression innocent as she feigned ignorance to the confusion she had caused. "Hey, Kazuo," she greeted, her tone light and cheerful.
Before Kazuo could muster a response to the unexpected turn of events, Michael and Rehan came over to them.
Michael stepped out first, dressed to the nines in a cashmere long-sleeve polo shirt paired with a tie and sleek black pants. Rehan followed suit, sporting a crisp white linen shirt and stylish grey pants and he let down his blond hair.
"Yo, what's up?" Michael greeted, his tone casual as he approached the group. He enveloped Fay in a warm hug, his affectionate gesture drawing a cringe from Rehan, who couldn't help but have this brother instinct.
"Where is Zen and Cicero?" Lettita asked.
"Apparently Cicero said he couldn't find something to wear so he's running late." Rehan explained. "Zen had an evening class, but they'll make it."
"Oh, okay," Lettita said.
"What are you doing here?" Michael asked Aria
"What's up with ya'll? Kazuo just asked the same thing moments ago," Fay huffed, "This is my friend, Aria."
Michael looked at Kazuo in a knowing look, but decided to let the matter drop for tonight.
"What about Omi?"
"He said he won't come because he hates clubs," Rehan shrugged. "I roasted him in the groupchat until he went offline."
"That's brutal," Michael told him.
"Don't bully people," Fay hit Rehan on his head.
"Ow! What about all the times you bullied me?!" he countered.
"I can bully you because that is my right as an older sister. How else would you get a personality?" Fay said.
"Evil witch," Rehan muttered and hid behind Michael before Fay could do anything.
"Just wait until we get home," Fay pointed a finger at him before she turned away.
Just then, the sound of a car engine caught their attention. They turned to see an expensive black car glide to a stop, its headlights casting an ethereal glow on the surrounding pavement.
In one fluid motion, Cicero emerged from the driver's seat, the soft glow of the streetlights reflecting off the elegant fabric of his beige v-neck satin shirt tucked into black pants with a belt.
As Cicero walked, the girls outside couldn't contain their excitement, their eyes widening in awe as they caught sight of him. Some dared to approach, their voices trembling with excitement as they asked for autographs and selfies.
The green head exuded an air of confidence and grace, his every movement oozing with charisma and charm. With a confident stride, he approached his friends, a playful smirk gracing his lips as he greeted them with a nod.
"Evening, ladies and gentlemen," he announced, his voice carrying above the muffled din of the music.
Michael couldn't resist teasing Cicero about the attention he was receiving. "Looks like you've got your own fan club out here, Chouko," he chuckled, nudging his friend playfully.
Cicero responded with a confident smirk, his gaze sweeping over the adoring crowd. "What can I say? They just can't resist me," he quipped, his voice dripping with playful arrogance.
His words elicited laughter from Michael. Meanwhile Aria was momentarily frozen, her breath catching in her throat as she took in Cicero's striking presence. Her heart raced, and she couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement tinged with a hint of nervousness.
He was like something out of a dream, his confident stride and magnetic aura drawing her in with an irresistible allure. Aria felt her cheeks flush with heat as she watched him, her mind filled with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
In that moment, Cicero seemed to embody everything she had ever imagined in a partner — charming, kind, and impossibly handsome. She couldn't help but be awestruck by him, her admiration growing with each step he took.
She couldn't tear her gaze away, her heart fluttering in her chest as she indulged in the fantasy of what it would be like to be by his side. In that brief encounter, Cicero had left an indelible impression on her, igniting a spark of longing that she couldn't quite shake.
"Let's go in, Zen will come after a while," Cicero said and the group made their way towards the entrance of the club. As they stepped through the club doors, the pulsing beat of the music reverberated through the place, setting the stage for a night they wouldn't soon forget.
The place wasn't crowded, and it was quite luxurious. They sat around, had some drinks, and eventually Kazuo was blind drunk.
"Ayo, somebody watch out for my boy, Kaz," Michael said, as if giving a warning before walking away with Fay. Rehan ignored him and went back to dancing like a weirdo.
The raven head tried to get up from his stool, but he stumbled, Cicero catching him just in time.
Cicero steadied Kazuo with a chuckle, "Easy there. Looks like you've had one too many."
Kazuo mumbled something that was almost incoherent, his words slurred as he leaned heavily on Cicero for support, "I need to.....I need to go the bathroom..."
The green head guided Kazuo to the bathroom and told Rehan to help him when he walks out. Rehan protested for a little bit, before he gave in.
Lost in her thoughts, Aria barely noticed as Cicero returned to the table, her smile warm and inviting as he took a seat beside her. She found herself drawn to him like a moth to a flame, unable to tear her gaze away from his magnetic presence.
"Having fun?" She asked, her voice low and smooth as she leaned in closer to him. Cicero nodded before he slowly moved back and drank from his cup.
She eyed his face with admiration, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger, a subtle gesture of flirtation that didn't go unnoticed by Cicero.
"Wow, Cicero, you're even more handsome up close," she remarked, her voice laced with honeyed sweetness.
Cicero chuckled softly, a polite yet guarded smile playing at his lips as he subtly shifted away from her invading his personal space. "Thanks, Aria. You're too kind," he replied, his tone carefully neutral.
Undeterred by his reserved response, Aria leaned in even closer, her hand brushing against his arm as she feigned innocence. "So, Cicero, tell me more about yourself. I'm dying to know everything," she coaxed, her gaze lingering on his face with unwavering intensity.
Cicero shifted uncomfortably and just as he was about to politely excuse himself from the conversation, a familiar scent wafted through the air, instantly capturing his attention. The rich aroma of caramel coffee enveloped him, sending a shiver of recognition down his spine. Without even turning around, Cicero knew who it was.
Slowly, he turned to see Zen approaching, his presence commanding attention as always. Dressed in a sleek black turtleneck that hugged his slim waist, paired with form-fitting black pants and a brown suede jacket, drawing Cicero's gaze appreciatively.
"Sager," Zen greeted him with a casual nod, his expression unreadable as he glanced briefly at Aria before returning his attention to Cicero.
Cicero felt a surge of relief wash over him at Zen's timely arrival, grateful for the interruption. "Zeno," he got up and grabbed the redhead's arm, "Let's go."
"Go where?" Zen raised a brow at him, "I want to order a drink."
Cicero settled back into his seat, he felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere as Zen moved to stand between him and Aria. She was instantly silenced. Cicero couldn't help but admire the way Zen effortlessly commanded the space, his presence a silent declaration that he was there.
Cicero's tension eased, his shoulders relaxing as he welcomed the familiar presence of the redhead. He watched as Zen ordered a pina colada.
The green head couldn't help but smile as Zen took a sip of his drink, the straw pressed to his lips in a gesture that was both casual and alluring. Then Zen plucked the pineapple from the side of the cup and fed it to Cicero a little too forcefully, a rush of warmth spreading through him at the simple act of kindness.
"What's all this?" Zen asked, tugging lightly on the low v-neck of Cicero's shirt, "dressed like a poser."
Cicero frowned and fixed his shirt, "Just because 'm showing a little bit of skin?"
Zen had his back to Aria, making her feel like she was nothing. He removed the straw from his cup and drank from it, eyeing Cicero's outfit. "It's not half bad, I guess."
Aria put her cup down and got up, leaving them to be, giving up on making moves on Cicero.
Zen finally looked back and dusted off the stool she was sitting on before he sat on it. "I thought there was a bug there." he said, half-jokingly and Cicero laughed.
"I didn't know you could be so petty," the green head drawled.
Zen caught on to that, "How much did you drink?"
"Jus' three cups," Cicero said, "'M not drunk. I swear,"
Zen scrutinized him with a dirty look which made Cicero laugh.
"Whaaat?" Cicero asked between laughs.
"I dunno, you sure you're not drunk?"
"I swear," the green head managed to stop laughing, "But you should've seen Kazuo, he's wasted."
"Really?" Zen was intrigued, "Did he say or do anythin'' stupid?"
"Nah," Cicero waved a hand, "but he can't even walk. I left Rehan with him."
"What makes you think blondie could handle him?" Zen asked.
"'M sure he can----"
"CICERO HELP!"
The green head snapped his head back to see Rehan with a distressed look on his face.
"What happened?!" Cicero got up quickly.
"Kazuo is...he---" Rehan paused to groan loudly, "he's---"
"He's what?!"
"He's passed out!"
"Where is he then?" Cicero asked.
"Outside, I had to drag him all alone!" Rehan moved some hairs from his face, "Let's go before he gets kidnapped or something."
"Who would want to kidnap that?" Zen rolled his eyes as they made their way out of the club, immediately finding Kazuo sitting with his back to the wall and his head hanging low. "Holy shit, he's fuckin' trashed."
"I will take a wild guess and say Omi," Rehan said to Zen and the redhead grimaced.
Without missing a beat, Cicero whipped out his phone and furiously tapped on the screen.
"What are you doing?" Zen asked, puzzled.
"Calling an Uber for Kazuo," Cicero replied matter-of-factly.
"What's Uber?" the redhead frowned.
Cicero's jaw dropped. "You don't know Uber?"
Zen shook his head and Cicero spoke quickly, "I'll explain it later."
Then Rehan took out his phone and lifted Kazuo's head, snapping four pictures of him and finally taking a selfie with his passed out form.
"Send that to the group chat," Cicero told him and Rehan nodded.
As they waited for the Uber to arrive, Cicero glanced back at Kazuo, who was still blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding around him. They awaited their chariot of rescue, the trio concocted a makeshift plan to transport Kazuo safely home. But first, they had to contend with the challenge of getting him upright and mobile again.
"Come on, wake up," Rehan muttered, gently patting his Kazuo's cheek.
But Kazuo remained unresponsive, lost in another world.
Minutes later, the Uber arrived, and with much effort and a fair share of laughter (and maybe a few groans), they managed to load Kazuo into the car.
"Does anyone have Kazuo's address?" Cicero asked as he leaned on his arm on the top on the car. The driver didn't look pissed or impatient as he rolled down the window.
"Wait, let me grab his phone," Rehan said and reached into Kazuo's pocket to retrieve his phone before unlocking it with his finger. He scrolled through the contacts and dialed Kazuo's dad's number.
He picked up in no time, "Yes, son?" he said in Korean.
"Um, I'm Rehan, Kazuo's friend and uh--can you tell the Uber driver your address? Kazuo is really drunk," the ash blond chuckled nervously.
"Huh?! Is he okay?!"
"Yeah, he's fine. Nothing is wrong..hehe."
"Okay, sure."
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