Chapter 90 - Ch. 90 The Sleeping Lion

"I thought you were different from the others, but you're just a jerk like the others." Letti rose to her feet to change seats, and now she sat a little isolated from the two guys.

Fritz did not hear their conversation because of the loud music, but he caught the figure of Letti, who got up and walked away from them while Nick's face looked very gloomy.

"Something's wrong?" asked Fritz after removing the headset and turning off the music on his iPod.

Frits scratched his head in confusion. This was the worst music band he had ever known. Not only was there a silent cold war between the lead guitarist and drummer, now even their singer had bad blood with Nick.

"Nick, what's wrong with you? You don't look like yourself these past two days. Why do I feel like I'm in the middle of a woman fight?"

The last question confused him the most. He didn't know why but his friend was over-sensitive these two days like a girl fought with her friends like cats and dogs.

Kaylee facepalmed her entire face while digesting Fritz's random comment. What the young man said was true. She couldn't be her usual self these past two days.

The music battle will take place on Saturday, but Jacob was still training and willing to appear even though the young man was angry at her. Letti also stayed behind even after she had prejudiced her and Declan.

She didn't know why Declan would treat Letti that well, but she couldn't make assumptions like that.

The two young ones were much younger than her, but they seemed more professional than her, who had been recognized as professional pianists.

She was acting childish for her actual age, and it's all because of her first time falling in love and heartbreak at the same time.

She shouldn't have put her personal issues with this campus life. Right now, she is Nick, not Kaylee nor Roe. She should be able to pretend she didn't see that cheating scene and act like usual.

Kaylee rose to her feet with renewed courage to walk over to Letti, leaving Fritz amazed and could only watch what happened.

"You are right. I was a jerk, and I'm sorry for that. I don't have the right to judge the man, but just for you know… He's engaged."

Letti looked at her with a gaze as if asking, 'how did you know?'

"He's engaged to my sister's friend. Pardon me if I'm a jerk, but I don't like seeing other girls clingy to my sister's friend's fiancé."

Did she say that? Yes, she did!

Kaylee never knew that it turned out that she has a possessive nature towards what is hers.

Yes. Declan is hers and hers alone. She wouldn't share him with other girls and wouldn't do it in the future.

"Oh..." Letti's lips formed an O with a wide gaze when she heard Nicholas's explanation of himself being a jerk.

How did she know that Nick was the younger brother of her future sister-in-law's friend? Declan never showed her his fiancée's face, and Letti only knew the name of her future sister-in-law.

She didn't expect Kaylee Zouch to be friends with Nick's sister… well, how could she know? She never knew Nick before, even though she knew the young man was the campus idol nicknamed 'The Prodigy Boy,' neither did she know his sister.

"Okay. I understand why you did that. But you still have no right to insult Mister Black. I can assure you that we did nothing like what you think. So we're good now?"

Kaylee stared straight into Letti's brown eyes as if considering whether this girl was speaking the truth or just saying sweet words to trick him. She wasn't very good at reading people's characters, but her instincts were always right whenever she needed it the most.

And this time, her instincts told her this girl wasn't lying.

"We're good now."

Not long after, the door to the room opened once again, and this time, Jacob and Adam entered the music room. Their male singer, who was supposed to sing the Adam's song, couldn't make it again.

"Didn't he promise to come today?" the male singer didn't show up for rehearsals yesterday afternoon, so they have to practice without a singer.

"Jake, isn't he your friend?"

Kaylee is grateful that Fritz asked Jacob because she wasn't sure if Jacob would answer if she asked.

"He's not a friend. He's an acquaintance." corrected Jacob while rolling his eyes lazily. "Anyway, I don't think we should rely on him. Should we look for a new singer?"

"We don't have time for that. Plus, which male singer would want to compete with the Rocker band?"

Four pairs of eyes glanced over at the clueless Letti and became puzzled upon receiving their gazes.

"What?"

"Campbell, do you know a male singer in your class to be our singer?" inquired Adam politely so as not to scare off the only girl in this room.

Letti shook her head in response to his question, "Most of my class are female singers. There are three male singers, but… they're theater singers, and their voices won't be suitable for the Adam's music."

"What should we do now?"

"I think we're going to be just fine." ensured Kaylee. "If we still haven't found a singer, I'll sing myself." she declared with great confidence to make her friends gasped in disbelieve.

"You? Yes, you're the prodigy boy, but we know you're not a singer."

Kaylee scrunched her nose at Fritz's pranks. She knew she wasn't a singer, but she knew Nicholas... the real deal could sing pretty well.

After all, the one who appears in the music battle would be Nicholas instead of her.

"It is why everyone called me 'the prodigy boy.' You will find out on the D day. Just look forward to it." teased Kaylee while playing her fake thick eyebrows.

Fritz and Adam looked at each other while shaking their heads in resignation.

They had to perform three songs in this music battle—one from the Adam's while the rest was a song sung by Letti. As long as they could give their best for the two songs sung by Letti, they could still win this music battle.

So they didn't have to worry about Nicholas singing, even though in the end, their best friend's voice would break in the middle of the song.

Their training goes on, and the day starts to change where they are still diligent to practice. And just as they thought, Jacob's acquaintance still didn't show up and made them feel sure the young man wouldn't show up on the day.

Kaylee glanced at Jacob, who looked relaxed and still ignored her as if she was like a wandering ghost. Was Jacob deliberately telling his acquaintances not to come to punish her?

Was this the young man's way of stating that they couldn't be friends anymore?

Kaylee wanted to ask about this directly and also amended their relationship. It felt like she had lost something if the young man didn't greet her when she passed him in the corridor or joked with her about a trivial thing or put his arm around her neck like a best friend.

She followed Jacob from behind until they came to a corridor that was quieter than the rest.

When she felt sure that Jacob was alone and no one was there, Kaylee decided to call the man. But her voice swallowed up again when Jacob cursed at something… or someone.

"Damn it! Why didn't you pick up my phone?"

Kaylee instantly hid behind the wall and peeked to see Jacob was talking to someone on his phone.

"You promised that you would come."

Kaylee wondered if the person speaking on the other side is his acquaintance, who is supposed to be their male singer.

What made her even more amazed was that the young man's vibe was somewhat different than usual. When Jacob was with his friends, the young man was like a warm summer sun that could melt all frozen hearts.

Jacob could be a cheerful little kid and full of a prince-like vibe when he is with her. And sometimes, he was like a kitten that loved to play and pull her leg.

However… that young man instantly turned into someone she didn't know.

When Jacob found out that Roe is Kaylee, Jacob showed another side of him. It was the first time Kaylee learn his rare scary side.

He was like... a sleeping giant cat... No, he was like a sleeping lion.

"Then why didn't you say so? ... Never mind. You know what. I regretted friending with you."

Pang!

Why did she feel that those words were meant for her?

Jacob stored his phone inside his pocket while glancing in the corner where Kaylee stood. Kaylee gasped in surprise and quickly hid as if Jacob had never seen her.

The young man frowned as he didn't expect his best friend… ex-best friend, to follow him all the way here.

Jacob walked over to his friend with a leisurely stride as if he didn't care about Kaylee's presence. His steps stopped after he was five paces past his ex-best friend's hiding position.

"Is there anything you want to talk about to the point you stalked me?"

Kaylee sighed restlessly while answered, "Yes."

Jacob turned around and met Kaylee in the eyes.. "Then talk."