Good Girl And The Seven Bad Boys

Ezra’s POV.

THE SCORCHING sun was dotted with fluffy blue clouds that drifted lazily in the gentle breeze. I was awakened by the barks of the stray dogs fighting outside.

“What time is it?” I asked myself, opening my left eye while rubbing the other.

I glanced at the alarm clock above the side table next to me. As soon as I figured out the time, I immediately jumped off the bed and headed straight to the bathroom.

I hurried to take a shower and get dressed before going downstairs. It’s late in the morning. I wondered if they had eaten yet. I’m embarrassed to show up because I’m afraid they think I’m acting like a VIP in their own house.

Why didn’t I wake up early?!

When I came downstairs, I was dazzled that I didn’t find any of them at home. They weren’t in the kitchen, not in the living room either, not in the garden and in their bedrooms. I roamed around every corner, but I didn’t get a glimpse of their shadow.

Where did they go?

I turned to look at my phone in my hand, in case they texted me. But then, I remembered I don’t have their numbers saved on my contact list. I concluded that maybe they hadn’t eaten anything yet, so I decided to cook lunch. I’m going to wait for them until they are home, so we can eat together.

I’VE BEEN watching television for almost an hour now, but they aren’t still coming back. I was even more puzzled but I just kept watching to draw away the questions that started to form inside my head.

Then, I had the bright idea of looking for gas in the garage. I’ll fill up my car because it could be completely broken and I won’t be able to use it when I need it.

When the fuel gauge was full, I headed back inside the house to get the car key, but I stopped walking when I noticed there was a letter stuck in the vase on the table near the entrance door. I picked it up and read the letter.

Good morning, Ezra. We’re sorry for leaving you alone. Don’t worry, we’ll be back home later.

I raised an eyebrow after reading the letter. They didn’t include in the message where they were going. It was kind of suspicious and I couldn’t help but get curious. I want to know where they are.

Why didn’t I notice this paper earlier?

Before getting in the car, I grabbed my phone and keys. I opened Google Maps to find their exact location. As luck would have it, we are mutual friends on social media platforms.

It was only a matter of time before I finished tracking the location, but my brow furrowed in puzzlement when I realized where it was.

Why are they there?

***

I drove to the location where they were. I also had to drive for an hour to get there. I got out of my car and parked it a long way away. I covered my nose after a few steps because I inhaled a pungent smell.

What kind of place is this?

I roamed around. The area was surrounded by frail wood, galvanized rusting, an unpleasant odor, and strewn garbage. I walked slowly inside, unable to ignore the noise. Someone must be in there.

“You are indeed fearless…”

A man’s sarcastic voice could be heard. I moved closer to them in order to hear what they were talking about.

“Enough of your chatter. Let’s start, so we can end this fast,” said another.

That voice sounds familiar to me. Where did I hear it again?

I took a step forward. My intention was no longer to hear their voices more clearly, but to discover who they were. My eyes widened as I noticed Hyde and the six men behind him, as well as the other men I didn’t recognize. The seven looked different today than they did in the house.

What are they doing in this place? By the tone of their voices, are they fighting?

My chest trembled as one of their opponents raised a sharp steel. I suppose he is the leader of their group because when he sent a signal to his allies, they grabbed thick woods as their war munition.

“Even back then, you didn’t change at all, Hyde. You’re still impatient,” the fat man with a snake tattoo on his arm teased.

He motioned with his finger to his forty backups, and they started fighting. My mouth hung open in astonishment and concern. I was astounded by how fast the seven moved against their opponents. On the other hand, I was concerned because their opponents were armed, and with just one blow to the head, the seven could be in a coma.

No! Erase! What foolishness am I thinking? It won’t happen! I won’t allow it!

Their opponents seemed to be targeting Hyde rather than the six. They were coming after him to knock him down, but they knew they couldn’t do it alone, so they joined forces. Fortunately, Hyde was able to deflect their punches with his right forearm and seize their weapons. He jabbed his fingers into their eyes and threw them to the ground.

After half an hour, there was nothing left of the seven’s opponents, and the fat man with tattoos exploited the situation.

“Are you tired? When did the seven of you become weaker?” he continued to tease.

“By now, all of your men are unconscious and lying on the ground. Is that what you called weak?” Hyde boasted, a playful smirk on his face.

How can he be so brazen when he’s in the middle of danger?

The man was enraged. He was about to hit Hyde with the ridgy steel he was holding when I couldn’t help but meddle.

“Stop!” I closed my eyes and screamed.

Uh-oh.

I guess I made the wrong decision by showing up. I had their attention in an instant. The seven were perplexed as they looked at me. Perhaps it’s because they didn’t expect me to find them and come over.

“Ezra…” Clarence muttered.

“Who is this pretty lady?” The fat man asked the seven, and he was about to take a step towards me when the seven snapped back to their senses.

“Don’t you dare involve her…” Hyde warned his enemy.

“I’m not your servant, Hyde. You can’t order me around.” The man gave him a wicked grin before turning to face me.

“W-What are you going to do?” I asked nervously.

As I got further and further away from him, he got closer and closer. I was stiffened when he smiled sweetly at me and even stroked my cheeks.

Yuck!

I was annoyed. He kept touching me, so I twisted his arm and kicked him straight in the genitals. He knelt in pain and growled.

“You, brat!”

The fat, ugly man cursed me to death while dealing with the pain I’d caused by kicking his balls. He deserved it anyway. No man has the right to touch a woman without her consent.

He rounded his fists, ready to attack me in vengeance. However, before he could, a hand was swift to block him.

Hyde…

“Try to touch her once more and I will break your bones…” Hyde threatened the man.

I raised my gaze to him. He was serious, but his fiery eyes were filled with rage. His enemy refused to budge. Instead, he provoked Hyde by attacking me while I was dazed from the speed of events.

“H-How…”

My jaw dropped open, unable to speak after witnessing a mind-blowing scene. How is this possible? I feel like passing out.

“Too bad. I warned you, but you didn’t listen. It was your fault,” Hyde said lifelessly to the man who had just been knocked out.

I scanned the entire site. The seven defeated their enemies. I haven’t yet absorbed everything that happened in my mind when Hyde grabbed me and presented me to his flushed face.

“Are you out of your mind!?” he yelled at me.

I shut my eyes. I couldn’t keep up with his stare because I was afraid I’d melt in the fire he was emitting.

“Why did you come here?! How did you locate us?”

He asked me a series of questions, but I couldn’t bring myself to open my mouth and respond. I was at a loss for words as I stared at him scolding me.

“Say something!”

The volume of his yell almost made me jump. It sounded like it was echoing in my ears. I guess I’ll have to speak up or he’ll explode like a dragon spitting fire.

“I-I came here to find you, guys. I used an app, and detected Axle’s location was open, so I located where you are,” I stammered upon speaking.

Hyde was enraged even more by my response. He pulled his hair like a lunatic who had lost his mind. He then turned to face Axle.

“Bullshit!”

Axle shrugged his shoulders innocently. “I had no idea. I must have forgotten to turn it off.”

“What if something bad were to happen to you? What if Rox harmed you!?” Hyde blurted out.

“Why are you so angry!?”

When I yelled back at him, he was taken aback. I just don’t get it. I understand why he’s upset with me for following them here even though I knew it was dangerous, but he’s going too far. I’m not assuming anything, but he acted as if he was concerned. He’s behaving strangely, as if he’s always worried about me.

“I-I’m just… Damn it!” He defended himself angrily before walking away without explaining his actions.

Did he lose it? Has he gone insane?

When Hyde was gone, I turned to face the six jackasses who were watching us. They averted their gaze as soon as I arched an eyebrow.

“Why are you here?” I was perplexed by what was going on.

They swallowed hard and sagged their shoulders. I have no idea what was going on, but the violence I witnessed today was not your average fight between strangers. I’m curious as to why they did it. I’d like to hear it so I can understand it. For certain, there must be a reason.

“I’ll ask you all again, why are you here in this secluded spot? Why do you have enemies?” I repeated. “Who are you? What are you rather?”

I’m not sure why they’re fighting in this place. All I know is that those who riot in the underground or in vacant lots are gangsters or mafia organizations. Now that I think about it, I don’t fully know the seven. I don’t know them well enough based on what I know of them. I had no idea what their true identities were.

“We are bad boys, if you will call it…” Xavier confessed. “You have no idea of ​​who we are, Ezra.”

“We have many gangs, and Rox is one of the gang leaders with whom we fight, so we've come to account for a battle. Perhaps you believe we are not the person you expect us to be, but you are mistaken,” Joaquin added.

“Playing games isn’t everything we’re good at, we’re also skilled with using knives and guns. We can do such things to our opponent. We can hit them, beat them, and even kill them…” Iñigo stated solemnly.

I was unable to adapt to what I was hearing.I stepped back and shook my head, refusing to accept the truth. I couldn’t seem to put it in mind. My brain had stopped working, and my world had crashed.

“Now, answer me, Ezra…”

Hyde stuck steady in front of me. I didn’t even notice his presence appeared out of nowhere because I was spacing out. He fixed his gaze on me, as if he could see into my soul. It gave me chills all over my body.

“After everything you know and have heard about us, do you want to leave us now?”

A large, painful lump began to form inside my throat, making it difficult for me to gasp for air. Tears welled up in the corner of my eyes. I blinked it back, trying not to allow it to fall, but doing it won’t do because it still fell on its own, and there’s nothing else I could do but to just let it flow freely like a river.

I asked myself a question I never wished to have an answer, weighing the decisions I should and shouldn’t make.

Do I want to leave these bad boys?