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She ignored all of it.
Her fingers paused over a chat.
Her online friend.
Still blocked her.
Ava frowned slightly.
"…So petty."
She clicked out of it.
Then opened another chat.
Matthew.
A slow smile crept onto her lips.
She started typing.
Ava: miss you
Sent.
No reply.
She didn't wait.
Ava: I miss you sooo much
Ava: want to kiss you
Ava: my baby
Ava: my babyyyy
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Matthew: Should I block you?
Ava grinned instantly.
Ava: nope
Ava: I'm just bored
Ava: sing for me
There was a pause.
Longer this time.
Then—
Matthew: Ava, stop making me regret not blocking you.
She laughed softly under her breath.
Rolled onto her side.
Kicking her legs lazily in the air.
Ava: fine
Ava: how was your day
Message sent.
Seen.
No reply.
Ava stared at the screen for a few seconds.
The smile on her face faded—just a little.
"…Rude."
She locked her phone and tossed it beside her.
Then turned over, burying her face into the pillow.
Quiet again.
But for some reason—
It didn't feel as fun as before.
After putting his phone down, Matthew leaned back in his chair.
Silence filled the room.
Then—
He opened a file on his laptop.
Lines of data reflected in his eyes as he scrolled, his index finger tapping lightly against the desk in a slow, steady rhythm.
Thinking.
Calculating.
He picked up his phone again and sent a short message to someone.
He was about to put it down
When his gaze flicked to another contact.
Ava.
He paused.
For a second.
Then slowly typed—
Headache Bringer One (Do Not Answer)
He stared at the name.
Then…
Smiled.
A faint, almost amused smile.
He dropped the phone and lay back on his bed.
And within minutes
He was asleep.
The Next Day — Friday
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Heavy knocks echoed through the apartment.
Matthew groaned, half-asleep, dragging himself out of bed.
"Who the hell…"
He opened the door—
And froze.
Rick.
Jay.
Kai.
Derek.
All standing there like they had just stepped out of a photoshoot.
Jay stood in the center, effortlessly composed. He wore a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, layered with a light grey tailored coat.
Slim black trousers hugged his long legs, and his posture was straight, elegant—like some untouchable prince who didn't belong anywhere ordinary.
Rick, on the other hand, was pure chaos.
A soft pink oversized shirt hung loosely on him, half-tucked into ripped jeans. A silver chain rested against his collarbone, and his messy hair gave him a playful, almost sweet charm that completely clashed with his dramatic personality.
Derek leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, looking like trouble itself. Black leather jacket. Dark shirt. Faded jeans. His sharp gaze and lazy smirk screamed bad decisions.
Kai stood quietly beside them, wearing a loose cream sweater and light blue jeans. His presence was warm, calm—like water flowing gently, softening the tension around him.
Matthew looked at all of them.
Expression blank.
Then—
He started closing the door.
"Hey—!"
Too late.
Rick had already launched himself forward.
"Hubby, I missed you!" he yelled, wrapping himself around Matthew, legs hooked around his waist like a koala.
Matthew's face went flat as Rick kissed his cheek repeatedly.
"Get—off—"
Jay and Derek walked in like they owned the place.
Kai calmly shut the door behind them, even taking off his shoes before following the others inside.
Leaving Matthew stuck—
With Rick.
"How the hell are you guys even here?" Matthew muttered, finally prying Rick off him.
Rick dropped onto the couch dramatically.
"We missed you, obviously."
Jay smiled lightly, stepping forward.
"We told the student affairs teacher you were sick. Said you called us, fainted, and disappeared."
Matthew stared at him.
"…And he believed you?"
Jay's smile deepened slightly.
"He gave us your address."
Derek snorted.
"Don't act like you're not happy to see us."
"I'm not," Matthew replied flatly, walking past them. "I'll be back at the hotel in three days anyway."
Rick clutched his chest.
"So cold…"
Then instantly brightened.
"Well, too bad! We're here to bring joy into your miserable life!"
Matthew ignored him and sat down.
"I'm starving," Rick continued, turning to Jay. "Go cook."
Jay raised an eyebrow.
"Do you even have groceries?" he asked Matthew.
"No. Just finished. Haven't restocked."
Kai nodded toward the door.
"I saw a supermarket outside. Let's go."
Derek stretched and stood up.
"Fine. Before I die of hunger."
The two of them headed out.
Jay followed after grabbing a list from his phone.
Rick stayed behind, sprawled across the couch like he paid rent.
Matthew stood up.
"I'm taking a shower."
"Don't drown!" Rick called after him.
Matthew didn't respond.
But as he walked away—
When Matthew came out, fully dressed, his hair still slightly damp, the house already felt… alive.
Jay was in the kitchen, sleeves rolled, moving like he belonged there.
Kai stood near the counter, carefully working on something.
"What are you doing?" Derek asked, glancing over.
Kai didn't look up.
"My family's recipe."
Rick squinted. "That looks like grapes."
"It is."
"…You're making wine?"
"In a day."
Silence.
"…You're insane," Rick concluded.
Meanwhile, Matthew walked over and sat down beside them.
Derek tossed him a set of cards.
"Play."
Matthew picked them up without a word.
They started.
A few rounds in, Rick suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Oh right—Matthew, have you seen the news?"
Matthew didn't look up.
"What news?"
"The one where you and Sophia are apparently the perfect couple," Rick said, grinning. "People are shipping you, some say you're already dating… others say you have a one-sided crush on her."
Matthew paused mid-move.
"…I don't know her."
Derek raised an eyebrow.
Then casually pulled out his phone and tossed it to him.
"Look."
Matthew glanced down.
A picture.
Him.
Sophia.
Close.
His jacket around her shoulders.
Derek leaned back.
"This was Monday. After the competition. Her friends said the jacket was your 'token of love.'"
A beat.
Then—
Matthew chuckled.
Low.
Amused.
"She was on her period," he said casually. "Her skirt was stained. I gave her my jacket."
He tossed the phone back.
"I don't like using things other people have used. So I told her to keep it."
Silence.
Rick grabbed a glass of water—
—and immediately started choking from holding in laughter.
Derek turned away, shoulders shaking.
From the kitchen, Jay let out a quiet chuckle.
Kai sighed softly.
"Poor school beauty," he said. "If only she knew the person they paired her with doesn't care at all."
Rick wiped his eyes.
Then suddenly—
"What about Ava?"
The room shifted.
Just slightly.
Matthew's hand paused on the card.
Only for a second.
Then he placed it down calmly.
"What about her?"
Rick narrowed his eyes.
"…Don't tell me you live under a rock."
Matthew said nothing.
"There's a bet going around," Rick continued. "People are saying she likes you. Not confirmed, but—"
He leaned forward.
"If she gets into your study division, she has the right to pursue you."
Derek added casually, "And if she fails, she has to give up. Completely."
Matthew's gaze lowered slightly.
"…Did she say that herself?" he asked quietly.
Rick blinked.
Then glanced at Derek.
Derek shrugged.
"Not exactly. Sophia's friend pushed the bet. Said if Ava fails, she has to embarrass herself in front of you and drop her feelings."
A pause.
"She just smiled and said 'sure.'"
Silence settled for a moment.
"I see," Matthew said.
Calm.
Unreadable..
He picked up his cards again.
"Your turn," he added.
Like it didn't matter.
Like none of it mattered.
"Food's ready."
Jay's voice broke the tension.
They moved to the table.
Kai poured the wine he made, the faint sweet scent filling the air.
Rick took a sip—
Then froze.
"…Wait. This is actually good."
Derek blinked. "No way."
Jay smirked slightly. "Of course it is."
Soon, laughter filled the room again.
They ate.
Argued over food.
Played games to decide who got what.
Mocked each other endlessly.
For a while—
It felt normal.
By evening, they were already at the door.
Rick turned back dramatically.
"We're coming again tomorrow!"
Matthew leaned against the wall.
"Don't."
Rick grinned. "Too late."
And just like that—
They left.
The house went quiet again.
The dishes were already cleaned.
Matthew tidied up the remaining mess, moving through the space like he was used to silence.
Then he sat down.
Books open.
Pen in hand.
Studying.
Focused.
But—
Every now and then—
His eyes flicked to his phone.
Just for a second.
Then back to his work.
Again.
And again.
After a while, Matthew tossed his phone onto the bed.
Pointless.
He had been staring at the same thing for minutes without actually reading it. His attention kept slipping, thoughts cutting in and out like bad signal.
He exhaled and picked the phone up again.
Opened a chat.
You free?
The reply came almost immediately.
Busy. Studying.
Matthew stared at it for a second.
Then exited.
He scrolled through his socials, thumb moving without focus, posts blending into each other until none of it stuck. After a while, he switched tabs again—contacts this time.
Names.
Numbers.
Nothing interesting.
Then—
Headache Bringer 01 — Don't Call.
His thumb paused over it.
Just for a second.
Then he locked his phone, tossed it aside, and got up.
If his mind wasn't going to cooperate, he might as well stop trying.
A quick evening shower. Cold water. Clear head.
Didn't help much.
He slept anyway.
—
The next morning—
Matthew woke up earlier than usual.
No noise.
No interruptions.
Just quiet.
He didn't waste time.
Shower. Change. Out.
This time his outfit was clean but sharp—black tapered trousers, a fitted grey tee that sat just right across his shoulders, layered with a lightweight black jacket left unzipped.
A thin chain rested against his collarbone, sleeves pushed slightly, watch strapped neatly at his wrist.
Simple.
But it worked
The knock came not long after..
He opened the door—
And Felix flew at him.
"I MISS YOU!"
They both went down.
Hard.
"I miss you so much!" Felix complained dramatically, clinging onto him. "You betrayed me! You went out with them and left me behind—what about me?!"
"Get off!"
Matthew shoved at him, irritation slipping through his voice.
Jay and Derek didn't even try to help.
They were laughing.
Kai and Rick stepped in instead, pulling Felix off like this wasn't new.
"I booked us a spot ," Derek said, already walking in like he owned the place.
"Underground race club. Let's have some fun."
Matthew pushed himself up, brushing his shirt like nothing happened.
Rick grinned, tossing his car keys lightly.
"Let me show you my racing skills—"
Jay snatched the keys mid-air.
"Nope."
Rick froze.
"You're banned from driving," Jay added calmly, already heading out.
Rick's face twisted instantly.
He followed—
And started kicking Jay from behind.
Again.
And again.
Jay didn't react.
Not even once.
They got into the car.
Jay took the driver's seat.
Rick slid into the passenger side, still muttering under his breath.
Kai took the left, Derek beside him, Matthew in the middle, Felix on the right.
Spacious.
The moment the engine started—
Rick turned the radio up.
Max.
Music blasted through the car.
Loud.
Rick started singing.
Felix joined in and made it worse.
he was basically screaming at this point.
Kai started moving to the beat, shoulders bouncing slightly, completely in his own world.
Matthew closed his eyes.
Tried to block it out.
Didn't work.
Derek leaned back, watching Kai with interest like he found the whole thing entertaining.
Jay rolled his eyes, one hand on the wheel, completely used to it.
By the time they arrived—
Matthew was done.
Mentally.
Physically.
Spiritually.
He opened the door the second the car stopped, stepping out like he needed fresh air immediately.
His ears were still ringing.
He paused for a second.
Questioning his life choices.
Then followed the others.
—
The underground race club didn't look like much from the outside.
But inside—
Different story.
Workers led them in smoothly,
Down a level.
Then another.
Until the space opened up—
Wide.
Loud.
Alive.
Engines revving. Lights flashing. People moving like this was their normal night.
They were taken up to the second floor, where the view stretched across the entire track.
Cars lined up below, sleek and aggressive, engines humming like they were impatient.
"So," Felix leaned on the railing slightly, "you want to race?"
Matthew didn't answer.
His gaze had already locked onto something else.
Someone.
They followed it.
Ava.
Sitting on top of a race car like it was hers.
One leg crossed over the other, completely at ease.
A guy stood close to her.
Too close.
They were talking.
Laughing.
Then—
Ava grabbed his ear.
Hard.
The guy yelped instantly, grabbing hers in return.
"OW—!"
Luna stepped in between them, pushing them apart before it escalated into something dumber.
Matthew looked away.
"Let's go in," he said.
Like it didn't matter.
They moved into a private lounge overlooking the track.
The glass panels gave a full view without the noise hitting as hard.
Felix leaned forward again. "They're already racing?"
Below, cars were shifting into position.
Engines revving louder.
"Team race," Rick said, watching closely. "If you come first but your teammate finishes last—you're out."
Matthew's eyes stayed on the track.
The countdown started.
Lights shifted.
Voices dropped.
Then—
Engines roared to life.
And the race began.
The race was insane.
Engines screamed like they were tearing the air apart.
Ava's white car shot forward like a bullet—
Right beside it, the black car.
The guy.
Her teammate.
The two cars stayed neck and neck, neither willing to fall behind.
It wasn't even teamwork anymore—
It was a challenge.
A silent war.
Risky drifts at impossible angles.
Sharp turns that made the crowd gasp.
Other racers tried to cheat—cut lanes, push speed beyond control—
But Ava and her team?
They drove like they didn't care about dying.
Only winning.
The crowd held their breath—
Then exploded.
Both cars crossed the finish line at the exact same time.
"Damn…" Jay muttered. "They've got skills."
"I know, right?" Derek added. "Those two could put professionals to shame."
"They make a good team," Felix said.
Matthew said nothing.
He sat there, tapping his index finger lightly against the table.
Eyes fixed on the track.
On her.
Ava hopped off the car, laughing with the guy beside her.
They stood close.
Too close.
As if sensing something—
Ava suddenly turned.
Her eyes locked onto Matthew's.
For a brief second—
Neither looked away.
Then—
She leaned toward the guy and whispered something in his ear.
The guy glanced toward Matthew before both of them walked off.
Matthew's tapping slowed.
Then stopped.
"It looks like that was the last race," Rick said. "No more competition.
Derek stretched.
"We can still rent cars and have some fun."
Everyone agreed.
Derek went to make arrangements—
But instead of the usual area, the staff led them somewhere else.
Private.
Luxurious.
Exotic cars lined up like artwork.
Derek frowned.
"…I definitely didn't book this."
He looked around.
"This is VVIP. You need membership to even step here."
Kai glanced at the staff.
"Should we tell them they brought us to the wrong place—"
The door opened.
Ava walked in.
"Nope," she said casually. "I told them to bring you here.
Silence.
Everyone looked at her.
Then at Matthew.
Then back at her.
Ava ignored all of it and walked straight to Matthew's side.
"Let's eat first."
She turned and headed toward a private room like she owned the place.
Everyone exchanged looks—
Then followed.
Inside, her friends were already there.
Food arrived quickly.
The atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Felix leaned forward.
"What about your boyfriend?"
Ava paused.
"Boyfriend?"
"I mean the guy you were racing with," Felix corrected.
Luna and Jake burst out laughing.
Ava gagged.
"You think he's my boyfriend?" she asked, turning to Matthew.
Matthew didn't look at her.
"How am I supposed to know?" he said calmly. "It's your life."
Ava stared at him—
Then chuckled.
"Dude… that's my brother."
Silence.
Matthew's hand paused slightly.
"I'm serious," she continued. "He's younger than me by a year. His name is Luis.
Felix blinked.
"…I heard you had a brother. Thought he was some crazy study maniac weirdo—"
Rick slapped a hand over his mouth.
Too late.
Ava just shrugged.
"Does he look like that?"
Everyone slowly shook their heads.
Matthew stood up.
"I'll be back."
In the hallway—
He stepped out of the restroom.
And stopped.
Ava was leaning against the wall, waiting.
"Why are you ignoring me?" she asked.
"I'm not," Matthew replied, walking past her.
She stepped in front of him, blocking his path.p
"I'm not dumb, Matthew. I can tell you're upset. Say it."
He looked at her.
Cold.
"If this is about Luis—he's my brother."
"I don't care."
He moved to leave again—
Ava's voice followed him.
"Aren't you being too much?"
He stopped.
Turned.
"I'm doing everything to get close to you," she said. "Even studying. I already have admission into a university. I said I'd never touch a book again—but here I am."