I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Adam Being Scared

“Remind me again why we’re bringing them along?” Stephen asked irritated.

“Because she’s our only way to access the restricted Theta area,” Julius replied with a tired sigh.

“Yeah, but why the hell are her two friends tagging along?!” Stephen’s glare shifted pointedly toward Luke and Agatha.

“W–We can’t just leave Irisdina by herself!” Agatha stuttered, rushing to defend herself. “Besides, we were already hanging out together…” Her words trailed off as she latched onto the excuse, hoping it sounded convincing.

In truth, the real reason was far less noble. Agatha and Luke were eager to spend time with the World Order operatives, an elite group whose company was a rare privilege. Curiosity about their mission didn’t hurt either.

Stephen clicked his tongue at her answer.

“Over here!” Irisdina’s clear voice rang she raised her hand to flag down a sleek car gliding toward them. Everyone’s attention turned to the road.

The vehicle was a showstopper—the latest model, all sharp lines and understated luxury. Adam immediately recognized it; it was the same car he had dodged the day he first met Irisdina.

The car screeched to a halt, and the driver stepped out. Sure enough, it was Bastian, the same man from that memorable encounter.

“Milady,” Bastian greeted Irisdina with a polite bow before acknowledging the rest of the group. His gaze lingered momentarily on Luna-Evelyn. While her breathtaking beauty was undeniably catching, there was something about her face that stirred a vague familiarity in him.

“We need to head to Long Street—the apartment complex construction site,” Irisdina said. “These are my friends, and I want to show them how it’s coming along.”

“Of course, Milady,” Bastian replied. “But the car only seats six passengers…”

The vehicle, as luxurious as it was, featured three rows: the driver’s seat and front passenger, a middle row for three, and a smaller rear row for two.

Before anyone could respond, Agatha and Luke quickly slipped into the second row without hesitation. Obviously Irisdina was going to be among the passengers.

Her gaze swept over the remaining group—the four members of the World Order and Adam.

“I brought my bike,” Stephen offered reluctantly. “I can take someone with me.”

Before his words fully registered, Julius and Ophelia had already climbed into the back row, claiming the final two seats.

“Hey!” Stephen growled, glaring at his teammates.

They avoided his eyes, their expressions sheepish. Both Julius and Ophelia shared an unspoken agreement: entrusting Stephen with another passenger, given his temper, wasn’t a risk they were willing to take.

Stephen’s gaze shifted to the two remaining individuals who were silent: Luna-Evelyn and Adam.

Out of all the reactions, Adam’s expression stung the most. His impassive face held a quiet a harsh silent message that screamed, ‘I would rather walk than ride with you.’

Adam had good reasons for his reluctance. As the weakest among the Antagonists, his careful nature dictated his every move. The last thing he wanted was to get into an accident—especially not with someone as short-tempered as Stephen. Their tenuous relationship made the possibility of an argument during the ride dangerously plausible, no matter how slim the odds. Adam would have preferred the car, assuming Luna-Evelyn would choose the same for propriety’s sake.

To his dismay, Luna-Evelyn had no such concerns. Crowded spaces made her uneasy, and the car, no matter how luxurious, felt stifling. She would rather take the bike.

Unaware of her preference, Adam reluctantly stepped forward. He was willing to take the bike—but only under one condition.

“I don’t trust you,” Adam said flatly, extending his hand. “I’ll drive.”

Stephen blinked, caught between annoyance and disbelief. “What do I look like to you? Some gang biker?!”

Adam’s neutral expression remained unchanged, but his silence spoke volumes.

Luna-Evelyn frowned as she observed the exchange. Her desire to take the bike had not waned, but Stephen seemed determined to make things difficult.

“And what? You expect me to believe you can drive a bike?” Stephen crossed his arms. “This isn’t some rusty old clunker—it’s the latest X-Model from Richmont Corp.”

Adam didn’t respond, but not because he agreed. His hesitation stemmed from ignorance. He’d assumed his knowledge of bikes, inherited from another Antagonist, would suffice. But now Stephen’s mention of this world’s advanced technology made him doubt.

Luna-Evelyn finally spoke. “I’ll drive. Stephen, you can take the car.”

“What?!” Stephen was outraged. “Why should I be the one to get in the car? It’s my bike!”

“Stephen, stop being difficult and let them have their moment,” Julius called from the car, his tone teasing as he waved lazily out the window. A mischievous smirk tugged at his lips as he added, “Don’t ruin their alone time!”

Stephen blinked, bewildered. “What?!”

“Stephen, we’re wasting time,” Ophelia snapped from the backseat with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Tch…” Stephen clicked his tongue in frustration before reluctantly tossing the keys to Luna-Evelyn.

Still grumbling under his breath, Stephen stomped over to the car and took the seat beside the driver, his mood soured by the turn of events.

Julius grinned, clearly enjoying Stephen’s discomfort.

“Let’s go already,” Ophelia said, rolling her eyes as Bastian started the car.

Luna-Evelyn climbed onto the bike and turned to Adam, motioning for him to get on.

Adam hesitated, his gaze fixed on the sleek machine. Stephen’s words about the bike’s advanced features had somewhat confused him, and the prospect of a mishap felt uncomfortably real. The thought of dying in a mundane road accident, after surviving monstrous battles and enemies, was almost laughably tragic.

From Luna-Evelyn’s perspective, Adam’s uneasiness was oddly endearing. He looked almost… cute, though she kept that observation to herself.

“You know how to drive this thing?” Adam asked cautiously.

“I do,” she replied with a calm nod.

Adam scrutinized her expression for any hint of deceit. Finding none, he reluctantly climbed onto the seat behind her. He adjusted his helmet, ensuring all straps were securely fastened under his chin before lowering the visor.

Once he was ready, Luna-Evelyn inserted the key into the ignition. The bike roared to life as she gripped the handles, channeling her mana into the machine.

The vehicle vibrated softly before lifting just above the road, hovering.

Adam’s unease spiked. The sensation of floating was not Adam’s thing; it amplified his lack of control. He had faced nightmarish foes before, but at least in those situations, he had control. Here, he was entirely at the mercy of the bike—and Luna-Evelyn.

“Road accidents aren’t uncommon so, I strongly suggest you—”

-VROOOOOM!

Before he could finish, Luna-Evelyn accelerated sharply, the bike surging forward to catch up with the car already moving ahead.

“—don’t exceed the speed limit…” Adam’s voice trailed off as he instinctively grabbed the side handles, his heart pounding in his chest.

The bike’s seat emitted faint mechanical sounds as the machine adjusted its balance and speed. Adam felt his breathing quicken, panic bubbling beneath the surface.

“This is not my thing,” he muttered under his breath, fighting the urge to switch to the skillset of an Antagonist known for bike stunts. It would be reckless and unnecessary.

He closed his eyes and tried to steady himself. “Calm down. This is just… another experiment. Heart rate… elevated… breathing… rapid… typical fight-or-flight response. Deep breaths… in… and… out… slow and steady. Just like in the lab… controlled variables… predictable outcomes…”

“…”

Luna-Evelyn caught snippets of his murmuring and raised a brow. She hadn’t expected him to be so uneasy by a simple bike ride.

“Wait… dizziness… vestibular system… adapting to the motion…” Adam continued, his voice almost robotic as he clung to his self-reassurance.

Fearing he might genuinely pass out if the ride continued at this pace, Luna-Evelyn decided to slow the bike down.

Unfortunately, the bike’s high-performance design caught her off guard. Instead of decelerating smoothly, the front wheel lifted slightly off the ground in an unintended ‘stoppie’.

Adam, who had just managed to regulate his breathing, froze in shock. His eyes widened, and instinct took over. Without thinking, he wrapped his arms tightly around Luna-Evelyn’s waist, holding on for dear life.

“…!” Luna-Evelyn’s breath hitched at the sudden contact.

The bike stabilized moments later, but the unexpected closeness between them lingered.

“…”

“…”

“I… I apologize,” Adam finally spoke up. “Sudden deceleration can sometimes cause… unpredictable shifts in the center of gravity. I acted instinctively to maintain stability.”

“It’s my fault,” Lunevy said. “I may have miscalculated the braking distance.”

“Of course. I understand. These high-performance machines require a certain level of… finesse,” Adam replied to reassure her.

Though he said he wasn’t willing to let go of Luna-Evelyn’s waist.

“Do you need to rest?” Luna-Evelyn asked with a faint awkwardness.

The sensation of Adam’s arms securely wrapped around her waist was starting to feel… odd. She wasn’t accustomed to such closeness, especially with a man. However, there was something disarming about his touch—free of malice or ulterior motives. His demeanor radiated nothing but innocence, leaving her with no valid reason to push him away.

“No, I’m fine. Please, continue,” Adam replied earnestly, completely oblivious to Luna-Evelyn’s unspoken plea for him to at least loosen his grip.

His denseness only added to her discomfort, but she said nothing. Instead, she focused on the road ahead, doing her best to ignore the growing heat in her cheeks as they sped toward their destination.