**Chapter 73: At Least We Have Each Other** Read new chapters at m_v-l'e|-novelhall.net
I never saw him before.
Did he... no, he must have always been here.
I just never noticed him because, back then, I didn't know him.
But now I do.
***
After the lecturer wrapped up his lesson, the students exploded into what could only be described as organized chaos. Conversations erupted, chairs scraped against the floor, and groups of friends formed in clusters, creating a symphony of noise that filled the once-quiet room. Especially in the boys' section, where disruptions seemed to be their natural calling.
"Come on, Annie, be honest. Should I tint my hair red? Or maybe pink would suit me better?" Yoma, Annie's best friend, twirled a lock of her hair around her finger dramatically, her eyes sparkling with excitement at the thought of a new look.
Annie smiled warmly at her. She was grateful for the familiar comfort of her friends, relieved that after everything, her friend group of four remained intact. Returning to school felt like slipping back into an old, comfortable routine, and she appreciated every moment of it. "I'd go with pink," she decided, picturing her friend's vibrant personality matching the color perfectly.
"Pink it is, then!" Yoma squealed, tossing her hair over her shoulder triumphantly.
Just as the conversation about hair color was picking up steam, one of their friends, Tina, who had been absentmindedly scrolling through her phone, suddenly stopped. She held up her screen. "Wait, Annie, is this your brother?"
Annie glanced at the photo, recognizing it instantly. It was Axel. She had taken that picture without him knowing—he wasn't a fan of posing for the camera—but she had snapped it during their visit to the Kyota Hill carnival. It was one of her favorite memories of them together.
"Yeah, that's him," she replied casually, though she couldn't help but smile a little as she remembered that day. "He didn't know I took it, though. He's never been big on taking pictures."
Kyota Hill, a renowned hangout for the wealthy and elite, especially hunters, should have been the topic of interest. But none of her friends seemed remotely impressed by the location. Instead, they were all staring, wide-eyed, at Axel's picture.
"Oh my god, your brother is *so* handsome!" Tina gasped.
"Can I get his number?" Yoma chimed in, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
"And those muscles!" Another friend, Leah, added with a dramatic sigh. "I mean, look at those arms!"
Annie's smile turned into a nervous grin as she listened to their collective swooning. Axel had definitely bulked up after his intense training—she noticed that too—but this was getting out of hand. She cleared her throat and tried to keep things light. "He's been working out a lot, I guess. But sorry, no phone numbers. He's...
uh, taken."
She wasn't sure if Axel actually had a girlfriend, but it felt like the quickest way to shut down their enthusiasm without hurting anyone's feelings.
The effect was immediate. Her friends looked crushed, disappointment etched across their faces. Yoma crossed her arms with a pout. "Not fair," she muttered.
Before they could press further, Annie's gaze drifted across the classroom, locking onto a figure near the window. Loki. He sat there, silent as usual, head down, blending into the background. His presence was quiet, but somehow, Annie always found herself noticing him more lately, especially after he handed her Axel's phone a week ago with that awkward apology.
"I'm sorry," Annie suddenly blurted out, getting up from her seat and cutting her friends' conversation short. They gave her puzzled looks as she grabbed her bag. "But seriously, don't try to steal his number from my phone, okay?"
She left before they could protest, weaving her way through the chaotic classroom, dodging laughter and friendly shoves as she made her way toward Loki's table.
As she approached him, Annie hesitated for a moment, unsure of what she was even going to say. She had never really spoken to Loki before—not properly, at least. He always seemed so... distant, like he preferred to be left alone. But something about him intrigued her.
"Hey, Loki, right?" she tapped lightly on his desk to get his attention.
Loki stared blankly at the floor, his voice growing quieter. "Our whole plan blew up in our faces. Noel, someone I trusted, turned out to be the real spy. She's the one who killed my parents. I tried to catch her, but she escaped." His voice broke slightly, and Annie noticed the subtle trembling in his hands.
"Not only that..." Loki's tone was laced with bitterness. "Because of us, the Board arrested President Seo. And Aunt Rachael... she didn't make it. She was killed, all because of a mistake I made. Everything just... fell apart."
Annie's heart ached at the sight of Loki, a usually confident and composed person, breaking down in front of her. She could feel the pain and guilt emanating from him. The loss of his family, the betrayal of someone he once trusted—it was too much for one person to bear. She didn't know what to say, but somehow, the words came out anyway.
"Noel... I never imagined she was capable of that." Annie's voice was soft, almost a whisper. "I knew she was dangerous, but I never saw her that way. To me, she was always... broken, like me. Someone who needed saving."
The room fell silent. Loki's pain was palpable, and Annie's quiet confession only added to the tension between them. How could they reconcile these different perspectives? One wanted revenge, while the other still saw something worth protecting in the person who caused so much harm.
After what felt like an eternity, Loki finally broke the silence. "You know, I've been watching you since the day I got admitted to this academy," he admitted, his voice a little hoarse from the beer. "At first, I hated you. You were this popular, outgoing girl who I thought played people... but then, I saw you stand up for that kid who was getting bullied. You weren't like everyone else.
You were kind, and that stupid kindness of yours drew people in like a magnet."
Annie blinked, caught off guard by Loki's words. He sounded almost... sentimental.
"When you stopped coming to class, it was like the light went out. Everyone felt it, even me, and I didn't even realize how much I missed you until you were gone. And then, I found out you were Axel's sister. It was like fate brought me to your doorstep... even though I kept telling myself I didn't care."
Annie's heart skipped a beat. She had no idea Loki had been paying attention to her like that. His confession was unexpected, and it made her feel... something. But before she could figure out what, Loki's next words hit her like a ton of bricks.
"You're a disease, Annie," he said with a wry smile. "An incurable disease. And I hate to admit it, but... I like you. I really like you."
Annie's cheeks flushed, her face burning red as tears began to well up in her eyes. She didn't know why she was crying, but the emotions bubbling inside her were too much to hold in. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a broken whisper. "I'm sorry... Loki. I'm so sorry."
Loki's heart sank. Rejection was like a cold knife twisting in his chest, but he tried to brush it off with a forced laugh. "I should've known. Hera always said I didn't stand a chance. This is why guys stay single, right? Rejection's a real killer."
Annie shook her head frantically. "No, it's not that... I like you too, Loki, but... I can't. I'm pregnant."
Her words hit Loki like a freight train. His mind went blank, struggling to process what she had just said. "Pregnant?" he repeated, dumbfounded. "But how? Who?"
Annie looked down at the floor, her face red with shame. She couldn't bring herself to meet Loki's eyes. "I didn't know at first," she admitted quietly. "It was a stupid mistake... but he contacted me afterwards."
Loki's heart raced as he waited for her to say the name. He wasn't sure he wanted to hear it, but he couldn't stop himself from asking. "Who? Who's the father?"
Annie took a deep, shaky breath. "His name is... Williams."
The silence that followed was deafening. Loki sat frozen, unable to speak, his mind reeling from the revelation. Of all the possible outcomes, this was not one he had ever imagined.
Williams the S-rank hunter who had betrayed Axel when they were tested.
This was more serious than he imagined.
But then, to Annie's surprise, Loki slowly sat up and looked her in the eyes. "It doesn't matter," he said softly his voice tinged with lies, he had a knack for deceiving people, though it hurt him to do so, for Annie who knew nothing this was the best solution. "I don't care who the father is. I'll accept the baby as my own, even if Axel kills me for it."
Annie let out a choked laugh through her tears. "Axel *will* kill you."
Loki smiled weakly. "It'd be worth it."
***Author's note***
Every character has a story. Loki might actually meet his end soon. Hahaha