Poison Rose of Avalon

Donovan POV:

After meeting the Chairman, my mom headed home, and I waited anxiously for her return. My ears perked at every sound near the door while I glanced at my watch every few minutes, trying to seem nonchalant.

Across the room, my two cousins, Kai and Logan, were engrossed in battling their way through 'God of Waron, ' the PlayStation 4, oblivious to my restless pacing.

But I couldn't focus on anything else. Was I waiting for my mom so we could reconnect as mother and son after months apart? Or was I just desperate to know how Liora was doing? Honestly, it felt like a scene straight out of some cheesy sitcom.

The door creaked open, and my heart thudded in anticipation. "Mom?" I called out, only for my hopes to crash like a house of cards.

Instead of my mom, Mr. Sohn walked in, clutching a stack of papers. He barely spared me a glance as he strode past, delivering the documents and leaving without a word. The guy might as well have been a ghost.

So much for my dramatic moment of truth. It was like expecting fireworks and getting a dud.

"What is wrong with me?" I muttered under my breath, rubbing the back of my neck. Why was I so hung up on some random girl? Was it guilt? Curiosity? Or something else?

"Being human means caring, right? This is just compassion," I rationalized, nodding to myself like an idiot. Yet, as much as I tried to convince myself, her presence lingered in my senses.

Her floral scent seemed to drift into the room, teasing me. I inhaled deeply before realizing how pathetic I was acting.

"Donovan, get it together," I muttered, shaking my head. But my treacherous mind had other plans, and I found myself replaying every moment I had spent with her.

Looking at my fingers, I could almost feel her soft skin against my fingertips. "Donovan, you asshole, what are you thinking or feeling or sensing?!" I muttered to myself, berating my foolishness.

I softly slapped my cheek, not hard but enough to jolt myself awake, and I felt the silken brush of her hair against my skin—my body betraying me by memorizing every tiny detail.

The gentle pressure of her body against mine as she settled in my lap sent a rush of warmth through me, amplifying the sensations I couldn't ignore.

'I wish I could feel her again... Oh god, NOO!!!' I was startled by my treacherous thoughts. How could my mind allow such thoughts in the first place?

I needed help—a reality check, a literal slap, maybe. My cousins, still focused on their game, seemed like the perfect candidates for the job. I almost asked them before stopping myself. There was no way I'd let them see how unhinged I was over this.

I must stay away from her—no questions, no nothing. It was for the best. I again tried to convince myself but failed miserably.

The doorbell rang, jerking me out of my spiralling thoughts. Kai jumped up to answer, his eagerness betraying his desire to avoid another dreaded shopping trip with Aunt Evelyn.

As the door swung open, he greeted her with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Aunt Evelyn! I've been waiting for you! Your crème brûlée is legendary, you know that?"

Evelyn gave him a knowing smile, patting his shoulder. "Nice try, dear. But you're still coming shopping with me."

Kai's shoulders sagged in defeat as he slumped back to the couch. "Worth a shot," he mumbled.

"How is Liora?" The question slipped out before I could stop it. I froze, cursing my lack of restraint. Great job, Nova. Real subtle.

My mom, who had just swapped her heels for house slippers, sank into the couch and motioned for a maid to bring water. She didn't answer immediately, which only made my pulse quicken.

"She'll be fine, Nova. Don't overthink it," my mom finally said, patting the seat next to her. Logan and Kai sat opposite us, pretending not to listen but clearly catching every word.

Her expression grew stern as she continued. "Do not get close to this girl. The Chairman of Synergy Enterprises personally picked her up from the hospital."

She paused, taking a sip of water before placing the glass down deliberately. "That man doesn't even visit his own family in the hospital. Yet, he went for her himself. Do you understand what that means?"

I didn't. Or maybe I didn't want to. What did the Chairman have to do with Liora? Why was my mom being so cryptic? All I wanted to know was whether she was okay, but instead, her words only raised more questions.

"Son," she said, softening her tone, "the Chairman warned us to stay out of their affairs. That girl... she's not someone you should be involved with."

Her words were meant to be final, but they only fueled the fire inside me. "Is that a challenge?" I asked, my voice low, my fists clenching at my sides. How dare the Chairman threaten my mom!

Mom sighed, sensing the storm brewing in me. "Nova, trust me. When the time is right, we'll deal with Synergy Enterprises. But for now, stay away. That girl is their responsibility. They'll handle it."

Her tone was firm, persuasive, and dripping with authority, making it clear that this wasn't just a friendly suggestion but a royal decree for our "safety" and "strategy."

How could she expect me to ignore what had happened to Liora?

I looked the other way, not wanting any of them to know how I was feeling, as my mind raced with conflicting thoughts. How exactly was the Chairman helping her? And most importantly, why?

She had run barefoot through the rain, and at the camping site, she looked so vulnerable between those four scumbags. Just thinking about last night, when she was lying defenceless, wounded, ignited a fire within me.

I clenched my fists in anger, my teeth grinding as I replayed the scenes in my mind. I am refraining myself from dealing with those scumbags only because of my mother's orders. But I wanted to teach them lessons by killing them. Yes, that's what they deserved for forcing themselves on a woman.

"Nova," Mom said softly, leaning in to ensure I heard her clearly, "We must release them. Those boys are the target of the Glacier family. Their fate is in their hands now. You must not touch them."

What? Maybe I should pretend I did not hear that. They would be perfect punching bags for today's session. There was no way I was letting them go. My eyes flashed with resistance, but my mother's gaze remained steady and unyielding.

"That girl means something to the Glacier family. It's best not to interfere unless you have feelings for her?"

My mother arched her brow as a soft smile danced on her lips while she gently brushed my shoulder. I knew that look. That was a trap. And I wouldn't fall into it.

"Of course not," I was firm as steel.

"Is that so? But there's definitely something here that stems from genuine human concern, right?" she shot back.

I almost managed to slip away from getting caught... No...wait, of course, there's nothing from my side. As for her, who knows?....she might... Maybe it's best if I just silence my thoughts for a while.

*******

After Mom left for France, my cousins and I reinstated a new tradition, Anti-bullying. Break the rules? You faced us, one-on-one beat, whether it was a girl or boy. No exceptions.

When Liora finally returned to school, I noticed her stealing glances at me, trying to catch my attention. It was clear she wanted to thank me, but finding the right moment to do so was difficult.

I didn't make it any easier for her, either. I relished the attention she gave me from a distance, watching as she searched for a chance to approach me amid the crowd of admirers—many women and a few men—each eager to capture our focus. Each time she saw me mingling with others, she would quietly avert her gaze and slip away.

One day, Liora and my classes coincidentally shared the field during a sports activity on the school grounds. We were all dressed in our sports attire: navy blue shorts and white sleeveless sports t-shirts for both males and females. The uniformity in colour and style really brought us together.

I noticed the hopeful look in Liora's eyes as if she believed that today might finally be her chance to talk to me. Her anticipation was clear, and a small smile crept onto my face before I quickly looked away.

Suddenly, Kai nudged me from behind and whispered, "Check it out; Liora is here, and she's looking right at you." Oh crap! I spaced on how much they were going to roast me today.

"I think she wants to talk to you. She keeps staring at you," Kai persisted, keeping his eyes on Liora.

"Mind your business, Kai. Girls always stare. It's nothing new," I replied coolly, trying to hide the flicker of annoyance and something else I felt. For now, he backed off, giving me a smug look.

Our teams took to the court, and my joy turned into agony, and I poured my frustration into the game.

Daran, her only friend in school, played with great intensity for their class, putting all his energy into every move on the field. Liora stayed on the sidelines, cheering loudly for Daran.

"Come on, baby! You can do it!" she shouted, her voice screaming in the hall.

My head snapped toward her. 'Baby? Are they in a relationship?'

Everyone turned to look at her and Daran. My cousins exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying my reaction.

Logan leaned in. "Looks like your love story just got an unexpected plot twist."

I knew my cousins were only teasing me. They would never want to get entangled with any girl, at least not now, not after what had happened in France. But now, they were starting to get on my nerves.

And on top of that, Daran kept smiling in her direction whenever Liora called him "baby" during the game. He blushed a lot from embarrassment but also looked a little thrilled inside.

I smashed the ball with enough force to tear the net, end the game, and STOP HER FROM CALLING DARAN, BABY!

I turned to Logan and Kai, locking eyes with them. They fell silent, realizing they had crossed the line. After all, they didn't want to meet the same fate as the ball.

I walked off the volleyball court with my cousin. Liora followed and determinedly approached me to express her gratitude.

"Hi Nova, I …"

Afterward, Liora approached me, her determination evident. "Hi, Nova, I—"

I didn't let her finish. Without a word, I walked past her, cold and unbothered. I did not want to talk to her. In a matter of seconds, she became no one in my eyes.

Her gaze burned into my back, filled with confusion and hurt. But I didn't care—or at least, that's what I told myself.

Frustrated and disappointed, Liora ultimately abandoned her plan to thank me. She hadn't chased after me again, hadn't begged for answers or attention. That kind of silence could scream louder than any words. My inconsistency left her questioning my intentions, wondering whether our interactions had meant anything.

It was better that way—our paths should never cross again.

I couldn't wait to finish my final year; I was eager to return to my family. The days at school were no longer interesting to me.

Finally, after completing my final exam, we returned to France.

My family lived in the country's southwestern part of France, not far from the Black Forest, my favourite place to practice shooting.

Before zooming out of Italy on our bikes, my thoughts drifted to that girl who never looked back at me after my intentional disregard. That made me recognize her as one remarkably strong-willed individual. Was she deemed stubborn or perhaps characterized differently?

Maybe Liora and I would never cross paths again, and perhaps that was for the best. Maybe... just maybe...

With the acceleration, we raced each other, the wind roaring louder with every turn of the throttle. Mr Sohn and others trailed us in the SUV while we travelled light, with no extra luggage. Kai and Logan planned to hang out at my place before heading back to their home country.