Ri heard the shocking gasps of the people around her. Everyone was standing frozen in time as if they had seen some ghost. She turned back to look in the same direction they were all looking for, wondering just what they saw.
Her friend also did the same.
As the two ladies looked back, their eyes widened to some extent. They both saw a tall figure standing before the portal. As for the figure, it belonged to no other than Azekiel.
Minali's eyes twitched uncontrollably. She had just said that Ri wasn't going to have a chance of meeting with Azekiel again, and the chance appeared on its own.
"I was wrong. You do get a chance, but are you sure you want to try? What if he's holding a grudge?" she asked her young friend, worried for her safety.
Ri smiled cutely. "Just look at me. Do you think anyone can hold a grudge against me? I just need a good excuse and watch him accept me back."
She adjusted her dress properly, which highlighted all the right curves before she stepped out of the crowd to advance toward Azekiel.
Instead of walking opposite them, Azekiel also walked towards the girl.
The distance between the two kept decreasing with each passing second. Ten meters turned to five, which decreased to only one meter.
Ri stopped right before Azekiel. Azekiel also stopped, gazing into the eyes of Ri.
By now, Ri had already prepared everything. She also had some fake tears in her eyes as she gazed at Azekiel like she was too weak.
"Azekiel..."
Azekiel raised his right hand, recognizing the lady. He placed his hand on the cheeks of the lady. In her heart, the lady was laughing. She couldn't believe that it was so easy. She didn't even need to say anything, and Azekiel already seemed like he wanted to get close to her.
Unfortunately, her dreams were short-lived. Azekiel did place his hands on the cheeks of Ri but not in affection. He applied a small bit of force as he moved her aside. "You're standing in my way."
Ri's face turned pale as she was turned aside. Azekiel walked past her, clearing his path, not even looking back.
She still wasn't ready to give up though. "Azekiel, it's me. Ri! We were about to go to a prom, but I got in an accident while I was on the way. I couldn't come. I wanted to apologize to you for that."
"It's alright. It doesn't matter," Azekiel lazily responded without even looking back.
Ri could feel her face turn red in embarrassment. Why was Azekiel acting like she didn't matter at all?
"I-i wanted to talk to you." She again attempted as she followed Azekiel.
Azekiel raised his hand, gesturing for the lady to stop following him. "I'm busy. Moreover, I don't think you have anything that is worth my time."
"It is! I wanted to say something really important! I love you! I've always loved you! That's why I approached you in class! That's why I invited you to Prom! Don't do this to me, Azekiel!"
Azekiel heard her words and stopped. A devilish smirk appeared on his face as he glanced back. "Is that so?"
He couldn't believe how good that woman was when it came to lying. She thought he didn't know anything? She thought he didn't see her avoid him in the tower of Sin to make sure he didn't approach her?
She thought he didn't see her cheer when the death sentence of Azekiel was declared by the King of Pride so she could get in his good books? The lady who had cheered one of the loudest on his death sentence was now saying she loved him? He couldn't help but find it amusing.
"The allure of strength... Even the people who hate you are forced to lie to get close to you..." He muttered as he stepped closer to Ri again.
Before Ri could even react, Azekiel was standing barely a few inches away from her. Let alone Ri, not a single person saw the movement of Azekiel. It was just so fast.
Within a fraction of a minute, Azekiel's hands were on the neck of Ri. "You know I can crack that slender neck of yours within a second if I wanted? You still want to lie to me?"
Hearing the words of Azekiel, Ri was horrified. She started shivering in fear. This Azekiel... Why was it so different from the one she knew in the class? The one she knew was always calm and avoided fights. He was bullied many times, but he never fought back. He was what they used to call goodie two shoes.
On the contrary, what she was seeing right now was nothing like that. If he was like the personification of eternal calmness in the past, now he was like a volcano that was ready to erupt.
Azekiel brought his face closer to Ri, bringing his lips near her ears. "I saw you entering a club with your friends on the day you claim to have an accident. It was when I was walking back home after waiting two hours for you to arrive at the Prom. Next time, come up with a better lie that's not this easy to catch."
He moved his head back again before freeing the girl, letting her live. "Now, if you lie one more time, I'll give you a shortcut ticket to real hell. So stay away from me."
He turned his back on the lady and continued on his path again.
Seeing the actions of the lady, Lia burst into laughter. This was just her kind of person. The way Azekiel handled this girl, she was really amused.
Ri immediately dropped to the ground as her knees buckled. She was so horrified that she couldn't even stand. This Azekiel... He was like a devil in the way he talked.
Ignoring the lady, Azekiel stopped before the crowd of thousands of Commoners who were also horrified.
Even though Azekiel had his shirt torn in places because of the battle, no one was laughing at his condition. No one could dare to! Before, when he wore even an ordinary dirty shirt with one tear, people used to laugh at him and mock him, but now, they all had worshipping gazes. He couldn't help but be somewhat amused at the reaction.
"As I said, if you have strength, the entire world respects you. If you don't, not even a dog will respect you. That's how this world has always been... And that's how it'll always be."
He stretched his arms. "Time to get to work."
