CHAPTER 3

Arianna's POV

Shock was an understatement for what I felt the moment he went on his knees. 

But when he takes my lips, shocking the living hell out of me, all sense comes rushing back, filling my numb body and making me realize this isn't a dream or any sort of imagination from my path. 

I have always envisioned seeing Nick beg me someday for treating me the way he has been doing to me but the day never came and I thought it would never happen since we are all going to several colleges never to see each other again anytime soon.

When his lips move on mine, delving his tongue into my mouth for me to open up for him, it dawns on me that Nick did not only bully me for years but he is right here stealing my first kiss and genuine hug.

I summon up the courage to push him away from me. His eyes are filled with nothing but lust and rage that I am pushing him away and rejecting the most handsome guy here in our school.

He is breathing heavily like someone who just did a marathon and when he tries to move closer to me, I know I have to do something. 

I am not a fool. He can't just take me for a fool all the time. Because I allowed him to bully me all the time doesn't mean I am stupid and daft. 

He can't just come up and tell me he wants me as a girlfriend when all he has ever done is humiliate me, making me lose my self-esteem despite how intelligent I am among our classmates. I won't be tricked. I am sure this is one of his tricks.

"Arianna", he tries to take a hold of my arm but I fling his hands away and slap him across his face. 

Murmurs arise from the crowd and I stand to watch him hold his cheeks with an embarrassed look on his face. I feel satisfied. 

Even if we don't get to see each other ever again, I know today will be a memorable day for me. The day I stood up against Nick, my bully.

He isn't saying anything and I have nothing to say to him too, so I walk past him and run down the stage. Without sparing anyone a glance, I rush out of the hall back to the parking lot where Samuel is waiting for me with the car.

****

Nick's POV

I stand transfixed to the same spot as all eyes fall on me. I am humiliated by what Arianna just did but I guess I deserve it for torturing her for years. She endured my excesses and now it's payback time. 

The kiss is something I have been imagining for days now. The thought of her absence has been making my heart irk and I am badly missing her even when she is still around. I realized I had feelings for Arianna just two days ago. I have always loved her but I refuse to admit it to myself. 

Also, realizing that she is my second-chance mate, I knew I had to do something to redeem myself of all the mistakes I have done in the past. It took me a while to realize she is my soulmate and I need her.

I was too proud and arrogant to admit that I am in love with the girl I love bullying.

I didn't give her acceptance of my proposal much thought, even though I know she might be mad at me for a short while. 

This stage show is what I planned so she won't reject me. I know how shy Arianna is and I was so sure she would accept me. I thought she loved me too.

As soon as I realize she is going, as I watch her run out of the hall, I step down from the stage and run after her, ignoring the surprised look on our classmate's face. 

They can't believe I let Arianna slap me and go scot-free. I just hope no one will follow me out to see if I am going to get my revenge on her for slapping me.

I dash out and see her hurrying to the car park at the far end of the lot. Without wasting much time, I race to the car too.

She notices I am following her when she tilts her head back to catch a glimpse of my running figure and she increases her pace. 

Running after her right now feels like running after someone who is going to disappear the next minute, never to be seen again.

I feel Arianna is going forever and I would never see her again. I need to make amends. 

As much as I don't like how I feel, I can't help it. I know I need her to heal my scarred heart. This was the reason why I was shutting everyone out. 

I need her to be my woman. My Luna.

I lost my first chance and I won't lose my second chance. I will do all it takes to have her, even if it means begging.

Unknowingly, when I first came to this school and I saw her, I began to heal bit by bit, till I could barely remember the past, just because of how Arianna's pout always made me laugh.

I grab her hand before she can enter the open car. She jerks her hand away from my hold.

"Arianna, listen to me", I say with a tone of authority and she raises an eyebrow. I realize what I have done so I apologize. "I am sorry but you need to listen to me, please."

"What do you have to say?" Her crack voice demands from me and I see the tears rolling down her eyes. I become speechless as I watch her. "You think you can always make a fool of me? You have been doing it all along but I..."

"Arianna", I call and hold her two arms firmly. "I am sorry. I am not making a fool of you. I meant what I said to you back there", I point towards the hall.

"You expect me to believe that?" She moves out of my hold and wipes her tears. 

This isn't the first time I will be seeing Arianna's tears but today's tears are different. It is tugging at my heart, making me sad and hurt.

I know this is too sudden and it is very difficult to believe. I know what I feel and I am sure of it but it will take time for it to sink into her brain and mind that I am being honest. 

I sigh with resignation and take a step back with a forlorn look on my face.

She glares at me one more time, before turning her back to me and entering the back of the car. I stand waiting and watching her face which is looking straight ahead. 

The car pulls away and it drives off.