06| I Just Bumped Into Him!

JULIE

"Dad," I say quietly, averting my gaze as soon as he lifts his gaze to me. 

"Yes?" He asks. As I peer up at him, I notice his brow is cocked and his face has turned towards me. The volume of the TV had turned down already as soon as I called him. 

"Um… actually Mr. Taylor wants to meet you tomorrow morning." I dare to look up at him and see his face frowning a bit. There is a slight layer of disappointment on his face. I can't bear it already. 

"Jules, what did you do today?" 

I squeeze my eyes shut just as his voice drops down, sudden amazement bothers him. It is a matter of great shame that at the age of eighteen, the teacher has to complain about me — call my dad. 

"I… I spaced out." 

He sighs. It was as if he expected this from me. Because getting carried away in my thoughts is not something new. Dad got many such complaints that instead of studying in class, I was lost in my thoughts. 

"Guess what? I expected it, Jules. Well, I'll definitely go see Mr. Taylor. He has come new. He must know about this weakness of yours." He shrugs lightly and turns his attention back to the television which the news has played on. It is not wrong to expect this from a lawyer. 

"Dad, does everyone on campus need to know about this?" I could not keep this question inside of me. In this way, everyone will look at me with pity and I do not like to see pity for myself in the eyes of others. 

"No, Jules, but your teachers should know. I don't want people to consider this habit of yours as bad or… mean and look at you like you're a spoiled child of a rich dad. They should know that you have difficulty focusing on one thing." He sighs and then gives me a soft smile, "And I will be thankful to your teacher if he can help you." 

If my father thinks Mr. Taylor is going to help me, he is probably wrong. That devil's brother-in-law probably hates me for some unknown reason. Because if he did not hate me, he could have given me a punishment like Jeremy, but he called my father to meet him so that he could embarrass me in front of my dad. 

He is really a very cunning man. If I am given a chance to teach him a lesson, I will not let that chance slip from my hand even by mistake. 

"He is my teacher, not my friend or relative who will take care of me, think about me," I murmur under my breath. I look at the screen of the television and focus on the news. 

My dad chuckles softly. "I know, Jules. But it's not necessary that we expect goodness only from people we know. Kindness can also be found in someone else. Maybe even in the one we don't know," he says and I find myself listening to him carefully. 

Kindness from a devil? He yelled at me in class today. I was terrified, I won't lie! 

I sigh, nodding my head. I got what dad means. But we cannot expect this goodness from Mr. Taylor. 

——〃♡♡〃——

I look at myself in the mirror after I am ready to leave for college. My straight raven hair cascade down my waist as I keep them open. There is a white clip on the side of my hair to keep my strands in place. I hold the strings of my short white V-neckline dress which dangle at the end of my neckline and I tie a small knot before I move to leave. 

I walk down the stairs and catch my dad at the dining table. 

"Good morning, princess," he says, a beautiful smile forming on his lips. 

I shoot back a smile, "Good morning, dad!" And make my way to him and catch my seat. He compliments me and I feel too good this morning. I thank him and then we start eating. After getting done, we get into his car before I take my bag and other necessary stuff, and then he drives me to the campus. 

"You have to reach at ten o'clock, dad," I remind him, my fingers unconsciously clutching the bag in my lap. 

"Yes, princess, I know. Don't worry about it," he assures with a smile. I smile back and lean in to kiss his cheek. He kisses on my temple and then I make my way out of his car. 

"Jules!" He calls suddenly. 

I turn to acknowledge him. He rolls down the window of his car and I hear some whispers around me. When I gaze around myself, I see that a couple of girls passing by are gawking at my dad. I have no other way than to sigh and move closer to his car so they cannot get a better view of my dad's handsome face. 

He chuckles, shaking his head. He understands my little tactics but I do not want any immature girl to take my dad and become my stepmother. No way, if my dad wants to get into a relationship, I would want him to go with a mature woman. 

"Yes, dad?" I speak softly as I clutch the strap of my bag and pull it slightly. I won't lie but I am a bit nervous because this is the first time I am wearing a short dress. It reaches my mid-thighs. 

"Take it. Chocolate lessens anxiety," he says as he gives me a huge packet of chocolate bars. My lips pull into a huge grin as I jump to take the pack. He chuckles. 

"Thank you, dad!" I utter and lean in to kiss his cheek once again. He makes me more than happy. And it was never a lie when I said my dad is the best dad in the world. 

"It's nothing! Now, have a great day!" He waves his hand and I nod my head. 

"Take care. I love you!" I utter, stepping back. 

"I love you, too, princess," he says and I sigh when I watch his car moving away. He leaves and I also turn on my heels. As I enter the building, I grab my bag and open the zipper to put the chocolate inside. I do not plan to eat it right now. 

I take small and careful steps but my whole focus is grabbed by the chocolate until I bump into something or I say someone because I could smell the fresh scent that could make me tense, crazy, and lost — all at the same time. 

The fresh scent of greenery that evokes from him is indeed mesmerizing. I wonder if he does not live in forests. But that is none of my business. But I still cannot catch if the person that appears first in my mind after inhaling that mind-blowing fascinating scent of his is the one that I bump into. 

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention to my front," I said as quickly as possible. My head raises and my eyes widen when I notice Mr. Taylor gazing down at me with those dark mesmerizing orbs. 

So, I was not overthinking. I have to make it clear in my head that such an amazing fragrance belongs to Mr. Taylor only. But he looks kind of pissed off. Who committed that sin, I do not even want to wonder about it. 

"Ms. Dawson, can you please for once focus on something important?" He sounds irritated already. His mood is clearly as spoiled as a two-month-old banana. I do not know what got him so crazy right now. 

I look down due to nervousness and shame. I am hundred percent sure now that this man cannot bear my sight even for once. "I'm sorry, sir," I mutter, holding tight on my backpack's band and chocolate, the nervousness becoming intense all of a sudden. His gaze makes everything intense. 

"I hate sorries, Ms. Dawson." Why is he so irritated, by the way? Are his pants tighter than usual? Or his underwear is not clean enough to keep him away from itching and all. 

"And instead of apologizing, take a vow that from now on you will walk looking in front of you, not looking for something to eat in your bag!" Now I am not interested in knowing the reason behind his sour mood. Whatever it is, he should not vent out his frustration upon me by yelling at me in a corridor, in front of a few students who probably found my insult worth watching. I can literally hear those childish gigglings. 

"Yes, sir," I answer him with that low voice, swallowing due to the murderous look in his eyes. I just bumped into him, I did not walk on him by turning him into a bridge for me. 

Without even answering me, he leaves and I exhale tiredly. If this is how my day begins, I will pray that Mr. Taylor will never be seen again.