Chapter 17 || The Extent of My Love

Chapter 17: 17 || The Extent of My Love

Code walked calmly through the quiet streets, drinking from his can of soda.

A shadow followed several steps behind him.

It came closer.

And closer.

Code kept walking.

Then, without warning, he stopped and turned.

Splash!

The soda hit the figure directly in the face.

It was Ivy.

She immediately lowered her head, one hand covering her eyes.

"Ahh. It got in my eye."

Code’s expression didn’t change. "Sorry. I thought you were trying to rob me."

Ivy lowered her hand slightly. "Why would I do that?"

Code reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded handkerchief.

"Here. Clean yourself."

Still holding one hand over her eyes, Ivy accepted it.

"Thanks."

She lowered her head and wiped her face.

Then she paused.

Something caught her attention.

A faint red and black color showed through the fabric.

Ivy unfolded the handkerchief.

Written across it were two words.

Crimson Petal.

A small red rose had been drawn near the bottom corner.

Ivy stared at it for a moment.

She didn’t react.

She folded the handkerchief back up and slipped it into the pocket of her coat.

"You know, Code. For some reason I think you splashed the soda on purpose."

There was no change in her voice.

Code looked at her calmly. "It was kind of a reflex action."

Ivy raised her head and studied his expression.

After a moment, she gave him a warm smile.

"Alright then. I believe you."

Code nodded. "Okay ."

Silence settled between them.

A gentle breeze passed through the street.

Neither of them moved for a while.

Eventually, Ivy walked past him.

"I’ll get going now. Good night, Code."

Code looked ahead. "A sweet girl like you shouldn’t be stalking others, you know."

Ivy stopped.

Code turned around. "It makes you a creepy weirdo."

Ivy glanced at him from the corner of her eye. "I see... So that’s what this is all about."

She turned around and faced him, placing both hands behind her back.

Her expression remained calm.

"And here I thought Riven wrote that letter telling me to meet with him. I actually thought he wanted to discuss what happened in class today."

A small smile appeared on her lips.

"I suppose you’re the one who left that letter then, Code."

Code didn’t reply.

Ivy continued. "The letter was even written with Riven’s handwriting as well. I didn’t know you could forge handwritings, Code."

Silence.

Code raised the can toward his mouth.

Ivy’s eyes sharpened.

A gust of wind swept through the street.

In one quick movement, she stepped forward and pressed a cold blade against the side of his neck.

Code didn’t react.

Ivy smiled. "Cute... I can’t sense any fear."

Code lowered his can.

Ivy immediately sprang backward, expecting him to retaliate.

But Code didn’t move toward her.

Instead, he looked around.

Ivy tilted her head. "Looking for something?"

Code looked at her. "Yes. The soda is finished now. I’m looking for a trash can somewhere."

Ivy stared at him. "You can just toss the can aside."

"No. I’m simply doing the right thing. It would be a problem if I was charged with littering."

His eyes caught a trash can beside a nearby shrub.

Code walked over to it.

He stepped on the pedal, lifted the lid, and dropped the empty can inside.

Then he walked back toward Ivy.

She watched him with an amused expression.

"So, Code," she asked with a smirk, tilting her head, "how did you know it was me?"

Code slipped a hand into his pocket.

He pulled out a tiny device, barely longer than one of his fingers, and tossed it toward her.

"Here, I found it in my uniform. You can have it back."

Ivy caught it.

Code continued. "It seemed like it’s worth a lot. You wouldn’t want to lose it, just like you lost your hair clip."

Ivy looked down at the device.

Then she smiled. "So you figured out that part as well, huh."

She slipped the device into her jacket pocket.

Code looked at her. "You shouldn’t have pushed Meira to fall on me that day. She could have gotten hurt."

Ivy smiled innocently. "I didn’t really push her, she was just clumsy."

Code stared at her.

Silence hung between them.

Then Ivy’s lips slowly curved upward. "You really are the only one I can’t deceive, Code."

Code said nothing.

Her smirk softened.

A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she placed both hands against them.

There was something almost excited in her eyes.

"Since you know everything... then you must also know this."

She leaned closer.

Her smile became strangely sweet.

"I love you."

Her smile widened. "Will you accept my love, Code?"

Code simply watched her. "No. Not interested."

Ivy froze.

Code continued. "I think you must have mistaken me for some famous celebrity or something. I’m not really interested in having fan girls."

Ivy laughed. "You’re funny, Code."

Code sighed. "It’s getting late."

He walked toward her.

Ivy’s fingers slowly tightened around the knife.

Code passed her without stopping. "I’m going to bed. Good night, Ivy."

He continued walking.

Then—

A flash of silver cut through the darkness.

The knife flew toward the back of his head.

Ssshh!

Code tilted his head just enough for the blade to pass by.

It missed his head by inches, slicing through a few strands of his hair.

Ivy had already anticipated the movement.

Before the knife could pass completely, she redirected the blade into a horizontal slash.

Code’s right hand shot up.

Clang!

He caught her wrist just before the blade could reach him.

The force of the collision stopped them both.

Code’s bag slipped from his shoulder and hit the ground with a dull thud.

Ivy’s lips curled into a delighted smile. "You’re strong, Code..."

Code’s eyes remained fixed on her. "What are you trying to do, Ivy?"

Her smile widened. "I’m showing you the extent of my love."

Code tightened his grip around her wrist. "It seems you’re bad at showing your love."

Ivy giggled.

Her eyes seemed to brighten with excitement.

"Come on now... I’m just getting started."

She suddenly stepped in closer.

Her free hand caught Code’s wrist.

Before he could pull away, she twisted her body and used his grip against him, stepping around his side.

She slipped behind him and wrapped her legs around his waist.

One arm locked around his neck.

Her face was close to his ear.

Her breath brushed against his skin.

"This... is the extent of my love, Code."

Her knife hand rose above his shoulder.

Then she drove the blade downward toward his chest.

Sshk!

Blood splattered across the ground.

But the blade hadn’t reached his chest.

Code had caught it with his bare hand.

The steel had pierced straight through his palm.

Blood dripped steadily from between his fingers.

Ivy leaned forward, forcing the blade deeper.

Her eyes stayed fixed on his face.

A sweet smile appeared.

"Even now, I still don’t sense fear from you. Code... you really are the one I’ve been searching for."

The blade dug deeper.

Code’s hand trembled slightly from the force, but his expression didn’t change.

His voice remained low and steady. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

His fingers closed tighter around Ivy’s wrist.

Then Code suddenly pulled his arm downward.

Ivy’s body was yanked forward.

Before she could react, Code lifted her.

Her eyes widened.

He swung his arm downward, preparing to slam her into the pavement.

Woosh!

At the last moment, Ivy released the knife.

She twisted in midair and pushed herself away from Code’s arm.

Her body flipped backward.

She landed several feet away in a crouch.

Code looked down at his bleeding palm.

Blood dripped onto the ground.

He pulled the knife from his hand.

Then he threw it toward Ivy.

The blade struck the ground directly in front of her.

Ivy slowly rose.

She walked toward Code.

When she reached the knife, she stepped on it, pinning it beneath her shoe.

She didn’t even look down.

Her eyes remained on Code.

Then she stopped in front of him and glanced at his bleeding hand.

Without saying anything, she took it and gently placed his palm against her cheek.

Then she raised her own hand and rested it against his face.

"You and I are connected, Code."

Code remained silent.

Ivy stared into his eyes. "That expression... that calm, lifeless look."

She giggled softly. "That’s what I like about you, Code."

She reached into her coat and pulled out the handkerchief Code had given her earlier.

The white fabric was already stained from the soda.

She wrapped it carefully around his bleeding hand.

Code watched her.

When she finished, Ivy stepped back.

She tilted her head slightly.

Her eyes softened.

A sweet smile appeared on her face. "See you in class tomorrow, Code."

She turned around.

After picking up the knife from the ground, she walked past him.

"Sweet dreams, Code."

She hummed quietly as she walked away.

"Hey, Ivy."

Code’s voice came from behind her.

Ivy stopped and turned around with her blood stained face.

Code looked at her. "You should give Meira back her hair clip. It seemed important to her."

Ivy reached up and removed the silver hair pin from her hair.

She looked at it for a moment.

Then she smiled and nodded.

"Mmmm. I will do that tomorrow."

She turned and continued walking.

Code watched her disappear into the darkness, before lowering his gaze to his hand.

The handkerchief was slowly turning red.

’So... this is how I meet my first stalker in high school. What a load of crap.’

He walked over to where his bag had fallen.

He picked it up and continued walking.