33- Transparent Identities
~ 4 Year Earlier ~
It's been six months since Red was enrolled in her university due to scholarship, persuading her dream to become a Fashion Designer. She was doing great and her jovial nature made her esteemed in every department, she just joined but didn't fail to spread her radiance around.
Red was in the garden with her friend Peter and Parker, talking as her eyes fell upon a certain winner of the beauty pageant,
"Lovely awakenings! April! Come here!" Red shouted.
"What?" April asked, coming closer.
"Hey, I heard you have a boyfriend. What's his name?"
At that time April was dating Erich and knew it clearly their relationship won't last but she wants it to drag on for as long as she can.
"It doesn't matter, Red. It's all fun and games." April sighed.
"Why are you even in a relationship with him then? Dude, tell me once and he will be yours forever." Red said, getting up.
"Oh calm down, Hercules." Parker joked, pulling her hand making her sit back down.
"Hey! Let me go, before I beat you up." Red hissed and April chuckled.
"Not all things are done with force, Red. Calm down." April said in her usual sweet tempting voice.
"You tell me, have you found a guy?"
"Not yet. I receive many proposals-"
"The guys must be blind." Peter laughed as Red hit him with her elbow.
"Shut up, Shit."
"Yeah, I was saying, I haven't thought about it, I will think of going into a relationship next year, right now I want to focus on my studies." Red explained and April hummed.
"You tell me, Therapist." Red teased.
"If in the future, I pray to God that day would never come but if it happens, I will come to you for a therapy session." Red grinned.
"Sure, but I won't work for free."
"Stingy." Red pouted.
"It's work. I will buy your clothes with money."
"Oh, then it's fine."
"But believe me, April. I love your voice. If you ask to sell it for free. I will do it." Red laughed with April.
"Oh, I am all blushing now." April acted.
"You are like a Dark Seductress." Red gave her a title and turned to her as she poked her shoulder.
"April."
"I don't have money." April said.
"Come on, One chocolate ice cream after classes." Red smiled, looking at her innocently.
"Where is your money?"
"I spend it, come on, sweet sister. I am asking for one ice cream." Red smiled, poking her continuously, April frowned when she noticed Erich standing behind and stood up.
"Okay, okay. And I am not your sister, fortunately just a neighbor."
"Whatever, but I love you. I will see you after the class." Red said and April left chuckling.
After April left Peter and Parker said at the same time, "Beggar."
April went to Erich who held a pissed expression on his face.
"Do you have a problem introducing me as your boyfriend?" He asked.
"It doesn't matter. Red doesn't care."
"The girl you were talking to?" Erich asked.
"What other friends do I have?" April shrugged.
"Who's she anyways?"
"Someone you can't persuade." April retorted.
"Have some dignity April, You are my girlfriend."
"And you are the bloody boyfriend who is having almost five affairs behind my back."
"You don't even consider this a relationship... Leave it, Do you want to go somewhere after the classes?" Erich asked.
"No, I am going somewhere with Red."
"I am your boyfriend."
"Stop reminding, I don't care. I am going," April said bitterly, pushing him to the side and going to her class.
Erich narrowed his eyes at her in annoyance and went to his class as well.
After a few days, Red was chilling with her other friend then Peter came.
"Red! The engineering seniors are beating Zach in the west wing's entrance."
Red got down from the table she was sitting and walked closer, "Zach.. the Business management Zach?" Red asked and he nodded.
"How dare he hurt my friend! Peter, get some boys, I will go." Red said angrily, rolling her sleeves and going there, ready to fight.
At the same time Kenny, Erich's friend, came.
"Erich! Dude, The Eneernering boys are beating our Zach."
"What? How dare they, You go and gather others, I will see who dared to hurt him."
Erich opened the first two buttons of his shirt and also rolled his sleeves as both Red and Erich reached the point and saw Zach all beaten up.
Erich saw Red as they both glared at each other, "Zach, you loser, you got beaten by this Half Ticket?"
"Oh, Mister! Who are you calling a Half Ticket? And you are the one who did this to him." Red spat.
"Why would I do it? It's you!"
"Are you trying to be innocent huh? Dead Cells."
"Shut up, Woman! I am his friend." Erich hissed.
"So am I." Red hissed back as both of them were about to hold each other by collar but Zach spoke up first, coughing up blood,
"If you guys are done, Ian and his group did this." Zach said.
"That motherfucker Ian did this? How dare he send me a proposal after hurting you." Red snarled.
"Half of the Uni boys like you." Zach said.
"Oh, Shut up, Idiot! Let me treat this wound of yours." Red shouted and helped him to stand and send daggers in Erich's direction,
"At least do much and teach this Ian a lesson."
"You don't have to tell me." Red opened her mouth to mock Erich but then April came.
"Red, I was looking for you. Oh, What happened to Zach? Someone should report about this violence in the University to the Dean." April said.
"We will do it later, Mother. First, help me to treat him." Red said, irritated.
"God, this is Red?" Erich snapped.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Red scowled.
"She is such an ill mannered woman."
"Who are you anyways huh?" Red growled.
"I am your-" April cut Erich off.
"Ah, don't fight here Red. Let's take him first." April cut them and took Red with her.
Erich was watching Red go with a scowl, cursing her in his mind but all of it faded when a smile came to Red lips. Erich's mouth gaped to watch her smile.
He raised an eyebrow at her, watching how she was trying to console Zach and he watched her leave and when Red laughed a little it made him smile involuntarily as he shook his head and went to take care of Ian.
"What a thing." He said to himself, leaving.
"So this is your Red." Erich said to April.
"Hmm.."
"The one you didn't even bother to introduce me with." He taunted.
"You don't know Red. If she came to know about it, she would break your bones but won't stop until you agree to be with me forever." April sighed.
"Our relationship isn't gonna last anyways." Erich muttered.
"How about your Red next?" Erich smirked devilishly.
April laughed jeeringly and raised an eyebrow, "Red is the woman you can never possess. And I won't let it happen. Go and fuck every woman but not my friend." April warned.
"Why?"
"Because if I lose you because of her, I will lose you both." 'And I love you, Erich.' April said.
"Do I even mean anything to you?" Erich taunted.
She sighed, "No."
"Whatever it is, April the outcome won't be good." Erich said, looking in the direction of Red watching her talking and smiling.
"Why?" 'Because she captivated my heart.'
"Because she can't resist me." Erich said, being overconfident.
"She, or you?"
"Are you out of your mind? A girl will reject me?"
"We will see what's gonna happen." April said.
"Our relationship ends here, April Lopez." Erich said, casually.
April hummed looking at him as she left, not before pecking his lips for the last time,
"If we meet again, don't hold a grudge in your heart." April said.
'I wonder how come in two years of relationship Erich you never noticed my love, coldness, desperation, anything'
April thought sadly but left with a smile.
'But I swear I will make you face the same situation as mine. Where you will love one person but she wouldn't even know you exist.'
With this they parted ways and Erich went to Red.
"Hello." Erich called her politely. Red stopped and turned to him.
"Yes?"
When Erich saw her from this near, his heart abruptly began to beat fast as adrenaline rushed in his veins, surging the sensation beyond his comprehension in his body.
"Who are you?" Red's question broke his sweet moment as he blinked.
'She didn't even remember me.' "Um.. I am... Last week, Zach's friend-"
"Oh you. Sorry I forgot people I don't care about." Red ridiculed.
"I want to apologize. I am the one who starts saying things first. I am sorry." Erich said quickly, holding his cold hands together as unknown emotions surge in his body.
"It's okay." Red shrugged.
"Oh, Red! Come!"
Parker called Red from behind and Red left without acknowledging Erich's presence or condition which was overflowing with inexplicable yet heart throbbing sensations.