Chapter 32
The streets still wore the aftermath of the gang war like an open wound.
Burnt-out cars sat abandoned along the sidewalks, shattered glass crunched underfoot, and graffiti stretched across every surface—so marking territory, others serving as warnings.
The air was thick with the scent of smoke and that faint, tallic tang of dried blood.
Elijah walked through it all, his red eyes sharp, scanning every shadow.
His steps were steady, calculated.
The weight of his surroundings sat heavy on his shoulders.
Lisa, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed.
Hands tucked in her jacket pockets, dark hair swaying slightly with each step, she moved like none of this concerned her.
After a mont, she glanced at him, smirking.
"You know, you didn't have to walk ," she said casually. "I can handle myself."
Elijah scoffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "It's not about you, Lisa. It's about the fact that so idiot might still be lurking around. And I don't want Amy walking through this ss alone either."
Lisa raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. So if I wasn't here, you'd still be walking Amy?"
"Obviously."
She humd, studying him. "You're always like this, huh? So serious, so overprotective."
Elijah glanced at her. "That a problem?"
Lisa shook her head, her smirk widening. "No. It's kinda sweet, actually."
For a brief second, the tension in his shoulders eased.
The usual after-school chaos played out around them—kids laughing, so running off with friends, others walking ho alone, heads down, avoiding trouble.
The sll of street food mixed with the ever-present gri of the city.
Lisa nudged him lightly. "You know, you really are mysterious."
Elijah raised a brow. "Mysterious?"
She grinned. "Yeah. You never talk much about yourself, but you always seem to know what's going on. You show up at the right tis, disappear when no one's looking... It's like you're living a double life or sothing."
Elijah scoffed. "That's dramatic."
Lisa shrugged. "Maybe. But I've thought so for a while now. You're always so calm, like nothing ever surprises you."
"You're imagining things."
"Am I?" She leaned in slightly, eyes playful. "So tell , Mr. Mysterious, where do you always vanish off to?"
Elijah hesitated.
He didn't like talking about himself—especially not to soone like Lisa.
If she found out what he was really involved in, she might start looking at him differently.
And for so reason, that thought... it didn't sit right with him.
"I just keep to myself," he finally said. "Not much to tell."
Lisa gave him a knowing look. "That's exactly what a mysterious person would say."
Elijah sighed. "If you're that curious, what do you want to know?"
Lisa's eyes lit up. "Oh? You're actually answering questions now? Alright, let's see..." She tapped her chin, pretending to think. "Where do you go when you're not at school?"
"Here and there."
Lisa groaned. "That's not an answer."
He smirked faintly. "It is if you're paying attention."
She squinted at him. "So cryptic... Fine, next question. What do you do for fun?"
Elijah thought for a mont. "Reading. Training. Walking sotis."
Lisa blinked. "That's it?"
"What else is there?"
She gasped in mock horror. "Do you even know what fun is? Movies, music, hanging out with friends—ever heard of any of those?"
"I've heard of them."
Lisa groaned dramatically. "Wow. Okay, this is worse than I thought. You're not just mysterious—you're secretly an old man, aren't you?"
Elijah exhaled sharply through his nose, almost a laugh. "I'll survive."
Lisa huffed but smiled. "I'm gonna figure you out one day, you know."
Elijah t her gaze briefly before glancing away. "Good luck with that."
Lisa smirked. "Oh, it's happening. And until then, I'm still calling you 'Mr. Mysterious.'"
Elijah sighed as she walked ahead with a light bounce in her step.
This girl...
Lisa spun around, now walking backward, facing him. "Alright, since you're so hard to crack, let's flip it. Ask sothing."
Elijah raised a brow. "Sothing?"
"Yeah. Anything. Let's see if I'm more open than you are."
He thought for a mont, then spoke. "Why are you different?"
Lisa blinked. "Huh?"
Elijah's gaze was steady. "Most girls here... they chase guys with money, influence, power. But you don't. You're not like them."
Lisa's playful expression faltered for just a second.
Her smile remained, but sothing shifted in her eyes.
"Maybe I just have standards," she said lightly.
"Maybe," Elijah said, watching her closely. "Or maybe there's more to it."
Lisa chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "What, you think I have so tragic backstory? So deep, dark reason why I'm not like 'the rest'?"
Elijah shrugged. "People don't just end up different without a reason."
Lisa's gaze flickered downward for half a second before she smiled again. "Maybe I just know what I want. And what I don't want."
Elijah nodded. "Fair enough."
Lisa exhaled like she was relieved he didn't press further. "Since we're on the topic, what about you?"
"What about ?"
"Your type," she said, tilting her head. "I an, if you even think about stuff like that."
Elijah hesitated, then answered. "If I marry soone, she has to be a virgin."
Lisa's smile froze for a fraction of a second.
Her fingers curled slightly.
Sothing flickered in her expression resentnt, regret but Elijah didn't catch it.
Then, just as quickly, she laughed. "Old-school. What, so kind of family tradition?"
Elijah shook his head. "No. Just my standard."
Lisa's eyes flickered again, but her tone stayed teasing. "And here I thought you weren't picky."
He didn't respond, and Lisa's smirk softened. She looked away briefly, then shrugged. "Well, I guess that ans I pass, huh?"
Elijah glanced at her. "You're a virgin?"
Lisa nodded without hesitation. "Of course." Her voice was steady, convincing.
Elijah gave a small nod. "Good. Did you want to remove it that day?"
Lisa chuckled. "That was direct, but yeah."
Elijah smiled faintly. "Good then. But let's wait."
Lisa's smile remained, but as she turned slightly away, her expression darkened—this ti fully masked before he could see.
"Yeah... good," she muttered.
He also didn't have any choice on this, but after thinking about it.
Why would he want soone who have slept with soone else.
Why would he want, to go around sleeping with countless won he doesn't know, or does know.
What makes it special then if anyone can do it with him or with her.
It should be only the two of them.
Then Elijah spotted Amy.
She waved goodbye to a friend, bright and full of energy against the dull backdrop of the city.
When she saw him, her face lit up—until she noticed Lisa beside him.
That's when her expression turned mischievous.
Amy ran over, grinning. "Big bro! Oh! You brought your girlfriend along? That's so sweet!"
Elijah sighed. "Amy..."
Lisa, of course, jumped on the opportunity. "Yeah, Elijah, why didn't you tell your sister about us?"
Amy gasped. "I knew it!"
Elijah groaned.
Lisa smirked. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
And just like that, his peace was gone.
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