My Cruel Bullies Are Now My Loyal Puppies novel Chapter 6

Declan contacted me a week later.

He didn't reach out directly.

Instead, he had one of his friends call me.

"Hey, Tara, Declan's drunk and keeps calling your name. Can you come get him?"

TSK TSK. How cliché.

"Send me the address."

After hanging up, I checked the time.

I watched another hour of my show before leisurely heading to the location.

By the time I reached the private room, Declan's face was black as coal.

The room that should have been full of partying people was as quiet as an elementary school classroom.

Seeing me arrive, they all made hasty excuses and fled.

Even lining up orderly as they left.

In the blink of an eye, only Declan and I remained in the vast room.

He narrowed his eyes, his gaze darkening, clearly waiting for my explanation.

Ugh, both of them demanding explanations?

I immediately took the initiative, pinching myself hard behind my back.

My eyes reddened instantly, tears streaming down like summer rain, a pitiful whimper escaping my lips.

I cried with heart-wrenching beauty.

The magnitude of my performance completely extinguished whatever anger Declan had prepared.

His accusatory posture froze, helplessly trying to threaten me with a low growl:

"Stop crying. Why are you crying?!"

"Waaah—" I cried even louder.

"I said stop crying! Can't you understand?"

His shout rose slightly.

A server knocked on the door, asking if we needed help.

I continued crying, oblivious.

"Okay, okay! Princess, please stop crying. I'm not yelling anymore. I was wrong, okay? I was wrong!"

Hearing this, I looked at him through tear-filled eyes, sniffled, pouted, and silently wiped my tears like a wronged child.

The entire performance left Declan completely bewildered.

"You never care about your future, but I can't be like that! I know my family background is ordinary, not good enough for you. But that's something I can't change, so I can only change myself. I want to become better for you. You have no idea how hard I've tried! Blake has helped me a lot academically, and I'm grateful. Ethan gave me a tutoring job for extra income. But I did all this for you! So that when people mention you, I can stand proudly by your name! And you? You only care about trivial things, fighting with Blake, being rude to Ethan. You always ask why I won't accept you, but how can I when you're like this? You never consider me in your future, and now you're angry over something so small. I'm the girl here—I should be the one being comforted!"

I recited my little essay convincingly, fixing him with a look of utter disappointment, launching my second wave of silent accusation.

Successfully overheating the CPU of this academically challenged rich boy.

He hurriedly wiped my tears with tissues, carefully comforting me:

"I'm sorry, Tara. It's my fault. Don't cry."

"I didn't know about all this. In the future, just tell me directly. Anyone who looks down on you, I'll destroy them!"

I laughed through my tears, as if his words had cheered me up.

Seeing me smile, Declan finally relaxed.

Afterward, he comforted me for a while longer before taking my hand to escort me back.

Sitting behind him on his motorcycle, arms around his lean waist, facing the evening breeze, the experience was so pleasant I closed my eyes in contentment.

The wind rushed past my ears.

Looking at his back, I silently pronounced my verdict:

Declan.

CHECKMATE.