**Eagles University**
~Cafeteria~
The cafeteria smelled like coffee, money and pretense.
Luxury sat at the end of the cafeteria — her hoodie shadowing and covering most of her face.
Suddenly, the tension in the room shifted when Mikhail entered.
Silence dominated.
Not even a breathing sound was heard. He walked toward Luxury's table. Each steps he took spoke danger as they echoed in the cafeteria.
He pulled the chair opposite her and sat on it.
Luxury held no expression on her face but she could hear her heart pounding and could feel her gut twisting. She unconsciously tapped her feet gently on the floor.
Mikhail's gaze was cold and and calculating. He scanned her expression thoroughly and noticed she seemed like she didn't care but it was the opposite — he gave an invisible smirk.
"Such great composure!" he thought — his gaze still on her.
Well, his only goal was just to first notice her body movement and expression even if it was tiny gesture.
Luxury digged into her food not to be too obvious. She didn't want to care about the inaudible whispers that were already flying across the cafeteria.
Most student pitied Luxury because Mikhail had never stepped his foot into the cafeteria — and for him to do that only for her?
Everyone feared on her behalf.
They knew— being marked by Mikhail was already a death sentence.
Nobody would actually wish for that!
During the heat of the inaudible whispers, a loud laughter cut across the whole cafeteria.
It was Jade!
Silence dominated again.
He walked into the place like he owned it.
His hands fixed into his pocket, his two undone buttons showed out part of his skin and a grin worn on his face as no one could tell if it was a genuine or mischievous one.
He made a straight walk to where Luxury and Mikhail were.
Immediately he reached their table, his grin disappeared like a flash when his eyes met with Mikhail's own. After a few seconds, it came back the way it was and pulled out a chair to sit.
The cafeteria was still silent. Everyone knew Jade and Mikhail got bad blood between them. Anytime they meet closely, something must happen and everyone present was ready to watch.
The students just mouthed to themselves as they used the corner of their eyes to watch what was happening.
Luxury was confused but didn't let it show on her face. This was the first time she drew attention and was stared at — not as Zhenya but as another identity which made her nervous.
It was as if she was not at a table but at a battlefield.
Mikhail didn't even care about the presence of Jade around.
And he didn't need to!
He just kept his cold gaze on Luxury like she was a puzzle he couldn't solve and was desperate for answers.
Jade mirrored him too but with a dangerous gaze that looked playful.
Ding!!
Her phone chimed in her pockets and she hurriedly took it out.
Relieve flickered in her chest.
She prayed inwardly for the message that entered to be her saviour and it was.
She read the content and hurriedly packed her things. She stood and walked past Mikhail but she tripped and fell hard on the ground.
Laughter erupted across the cafeteria as the students took their phones to record the 'funny' incident.
Mikhail smirked darkly satisfied with his little trap. His leg was the culprit!
Luxury gaze darkened as she looked at him sharply and accusingly— but it quickly smothered away. She doesn't want to make enemies for herself yet and couldn't afford it.
Still Mikhail had a satisfactory look on his face when he caught her first glare of defiance she gave him before she changed it. And it thrilled him.
Jade watched what had happened in silence.
Luxury rode from the floor without saying anything and hurriedly walked out while she checked message that was sent to her phone!
Jade's grin dropped. His gaze darkened— turning it to Mikhail.
"I see what you are doing, Jade! Stay out my business!" Mikhail warned— standing, not minding the glare Jade was giving him.
His voice had the weight of past betrayals in it.
Jade leaned back in his chair with a smirk.
"What if I am interested just the way you are? You know you can't stop me!" Jade said— the mischievous smirk still playing on his face as he stood up.
Mikhail turned to face him— now they were staring at each other with dark, cold and venomous looks that could kill.
Hatred simmered under the surface of those looks.
He took a step closer to Jade, their faces so close to each other. He darkened his gaze and his aura became threatening.
"This time, I will stop you! Don't let history repeat itself. When it does, I will make sure it haunts you till there is nothing left to haunt!"
The words dripped with venom, hatred and resentment.
Mikhail turned to leave when he paused. His back facing Jade.
"Don't say I didn't you! The fact you are still alive now doesn't guarantee you would see tomorrow!" his voiced echoed across the cafeteria — which was silent and deadly.
He stormed off with so much fury.
As he walked, students scrambled out of his path like chickens.
Jade stayed behind, his smirk flashed just for a moment. Then he let out a low laugh—cold, sharp and unsettling.
"History doesn't repeat itself, Mikhail," he muttered under his breath. "It hunts."
The cafeteria buzzed back to life.
Meanwhile, at the parking space, Luxury's phone chimed again in her hands— the new message flashing like a warning:
"We need to talk. Tonight. Alone."
Luxury panicked internally and climbed her bike— fixing her helmet and getting her bike keys from her pockets.
And with that, she zoomed out of the school!
Mikhail pair of cold eyes followed her till she disappeared out of his sight.
"So weird but I am loving this!" he thought.
Notification popped on his phone screen and he read it!
"Come to the mansion now!"
His smirk deepened. "Perfect timing!"