[ Seriously, i thought everyone will hate ashes :')
but i'm glad someone still sees the light in him. ]

==== Chapter 11   [ Part 3 ] ====

After that shocking incident with Ashes, you made your own decision to stay inside your room for the entire day. Your father actually wants to stay with you, to coax you; but work needs him. Father was only able to spend time with you last Saturday because he asked for his day–off days before. You sigh, pressing the side of your face to your pillow, while your thoughts travel back to the odd scene once again.

Somehow, your heart slightly aches.

You actually do feel pity for Ashes because he... seems really genuine in expressing his love for you. Also, the young man looks really broken earlier. With those tears, you can tell that he has been crying... But what is it that made Ashes cry?

So deep in your thoughts, you realize what you're doing. Instantly you shake your head, wiping all the conclusion away. You shouldn't be even thinking of Ashes. You are only supposed to mind your business.

Stupid, overthinking me.

With that in mind, you push away the pillow from you. Sitting up, you reach for your laptop that is just a little distance away. Swiftly typing down the password, you reach for your phone this time and checks it for awhile. Well, actually you couldn't still stop thinking of Ashes. That slightly broken bed lamp doesn't help.  You think while you throw a glance at it. Although it turns into a blank long stare, you only snap out of it when a shot's heard in the air.

"Oh, fucking hell," you curse when you run downstairs. Your eyes instantly land on the gun which is within his grip. Seeing that you're alive and safe, Peach smiles so wide and inmediately runs to your figure, hugging you affectionately.

"Good morning!" she squeals.

You oomph while you awkwardly say your greeting to Peach. Your gaze later travels upwards to his silver-ish colored irises;your face's almost flushing pink because those stares he give you is quite very intense. You only hope that he isn't thinking of shooting you with his gun. Then your eyes focus on Kielle who just has those gold colored eyes lingering around your place.

"W—what are you guys doing here?" You hesitantly ask while you pull away from her. Your eyes then eventually settle on the broken door knob, instantly widening. "and did you guys just break into my house?!" you scream— absolutely starting to freak out now. Peach immediately tries to calm you down, placing her hands on both your arms as she does so.

"Um, yes.." Her cheeks turns pink. "But we thought that you're in danger, (Y/N)..  You were not responding when we rang the doorbell earlier," she explains. Making sure that you won't freak out anymore, she lets you go as she scratches the back of her neck.

"I thought Ashes has done something to you already."

He did, but you guys are a little bit too late.

"He did, but Dad already handled him," you assure her, sending them an awkward smile. Peach's blue-ish eyes widen at your statement. The fingers tightens their hold towards the gun. Alessio's silver eyes slightly narrows. Kielle turns to you with his blank gaze. Dante, who has only entered the house, hears the last two sentences you and Peach have.

"What did you just say?!"

"Oh, um!!!"  You are startled by his sudden appearance. Though you respond soon when you notice his glare on you. But he isn't mad at you; the man is furious at what he's just heard. "I mean I'm okay—" Dante walks right before you as he stares down at your figure with a gaze saying I don't believe you.

You look away.

"Tell me where he lives," he orders you, "I am gonna fucking shoot his brain out of his head." You let out a nervous laugh, knowing that Dante might just do that because he has almost done that to Ashes before. But despite with all the mistakes Ashes has made, you are certain that you don't want him to die because of you.

You open your mouth but suddenly get interrupted when Alessio pushes him away from you. "Don't get too close. You are making her uncomfortable," he calmly says, but his silver eyes say otherwise. It contains silent rage. The man pushes Dante again.

Dante slightly narrows his oceanic eyes; but eventually, that fact dawns on him that it is his Boss he is facing, he retreats to his low position. His face's facing the floor as the young man submits to his authority.

"Of course, Alessio.."

You observe their interaction with curious eyes, only to pull your gaze away when Alessio himself makes those silver eyes turn to you again. He scans you from top to bottom then to top before he speaks again, "...Is Ashes troubling you?"

"I— " Your thoughts travel back to the times when this same person asked this question before to you too. Last time he did, you answered no. And this time, you would still answer no.

You shake your head. "No."

Alessio blankly stares at you for a very long while as if hoping for you to change your answer. But you did not change your mind as you shake your head again. "I am fine, okay. He's not troubling me—" anymore, you tell Alessio in your thoughts.

Alessio's lips in a straight line.

He slightly tilts his head towards the door when it finally dawns on him that you're not going to say yes. Your gaze curiously follows his too until it lands on the broken door knob.

Oh of course.

Dad would freaking get mad at this.

But Alessio is not here to get you into trouble. Nor he is here to trouble you. "Forgive me," he tells you, "But I'll get that fixed later."

Your cheeks turn slightly pink, starting to get awkward, while you talk with him. "Oh, um— okay." Thankfully Peach is there to catch you from that embarrassing state.

She grabs you by the hand and walks somewhere inside your house, only stopping inside the living room. Dante, Kielle, and Alessio has followed you guys inside too — But you don't pay attention to them. You eyes rest on the very unfamiliar sight.

All three of the picture frames are facing down the table, but why are those picture frames are positioned like that? Your gazes flickers with curiosity as you walk towards it with the intention to fix it. But while you are doing so, a gasp almost escapes your lips. You immediately let go of those empty picture frames.

Empty; it's all empty.

And the only culprit who would be able to do it is him... Ashes. You take a step back, only hitting something. Or rather someone in the process.

Your body instantly turn around.

You instantly see Alessio looking down at you with the emotion of concern in his eyes? Your heart beats fast to faster, and you are afraid that he might see the worry on your face.

And yes, Alessio does see it. That is why both his silver eyes have narrowed. The only time you realize Alessio's holding your arm when you flinch from the tightening of it.. "Is something the matter?" he asks again. His voice's gone so low and dark, and you're afraid by him. But you are also afraid of Ashes and his obsessions with you. He. How could he steal those pictures?! Why would he steal your pictures?

"Is something the matter?" he repeats again.

You bite your lips as you turn to your other friends. They all look at you with concern in their eyes in exception to Kielle who has only a blank look. "I— I—" Dante. That man wants to intrude you guys, wanting to tell Alessio to drop his firm hold on you.

Alessio. He is fucking clearly the one who's making you uncomfortable.

Dante grits his teeth.

Alessio is his boss. He shouldn't hold anger at his Boss.

"Is something the—" You interrupt him with a breathless yes. "Yes, something is." Your eyes are almost nearing to tears. You have finally let go of all your problems to him. Hearing all of it, Peach and Dante are so angry.. Alessio, meanwhile, has his gaze darkened. Everything about him just becomes dark and dangerous.

"What do you want me to do with him?"

Alessio finally lets go of you, and you immediately tend your poor arm by gently rubbing it. You hear Alessio ask that question... and you do not understand what he meant by that. Is he—? He certainly won't unless I said it. Your head immediately shakes itself; you don't want anyone to hurt or shoot anyone.

"No, nothing."

"Nothing?" Dante exclaims at your idiocy. "He fucking deserves death. He has fuckung harrassed you and stole your things, but you don't want to let him be killed."  A gasp escapes your lips at his statement. What the fuck is Dante saying? He wants Ashes to be killed. But no.. No one deserves death.

"I— he didn't hurt me."

"Yet. And you're waiting for that to happen." His ocean- blue eyes glares at you. You are taken aback by his word. But you understand; he's just worried for his friend. You have your gaze turned to Peach who gives you with that look of concern.

"I agree wifh Dante."

Peach does not normally like death and blood shed; but Ashes certainly deserves to die after what he did to you. Oh, poor (Y/N). The white- haired girl walks right up at you and pulls you into a hug. "We'll get him punished.. We'll make sure he won't trouble you again."

"Don't worry."

Your eyes widen, and you instantly push Peach off. "No! We're not going to hurt him or anything. We are not also going to murder him. You guys—" You sigh. "— I know that you're part of a gang or something but please do not use violence on Ashes. I— I don't like violence.  Maybe, we can just talk to him or something."

"Like threats," Alessio darkly says.

Threats? You nod. "Yes, threats will do?"

Before you can even process it to your mind, Alessio has walked away. Dante trails behind him too— leaving you alone with Peach and Kielle. Certainly, they are on their way to give Ashes his threats. Having such friends, you don't know whether you're lucky or not.

They truly care for you, but they would literally shoot anyone who mess with you.

But still, you are grateful... Thankful that they are real friends to you.