CHAPTER TWO

Jessica's voice jolted Elaira back to the present. "Are you okay?"

But Elaira shook her head, trying to dispel the painful memories that she just remembered. "Yeah, just… remembering last semester."

Hearing that, Jessica and Mona sighed heavily as they both regretted not being by her side on that day. They had skipped school that day, and Elaira was also supposed to the same as well. However, a day before, she had been informed by Mrs Waltz during the closing hour that she needed to come in the next day, so she had no other option but to attend.

"I know it's tough, but you can't just let them get to you and ruined this semester for you. Maybe you should try to avoid them as much as possible." Mona advised and Elaira nodded, agreeing with what she said.

Finding solace in her friends words, Elaira and her friends headed inside the school building. The first thing they did was to grab the new semester timetable and other information. After finishing that, Elaira and Jessica bade Mona goodbye as their first class was chemistry, while Mona had literature.

As Elaira headed towards their class, she clung to her bag, unsure of how she would face Mr Walter because of the incident last time. Me Walter was actually their chemistry teacher, and the day after the incident, he suddenly took an abrupt leave and never returned until the semester ended for unknown reasons, so she wasn't able to explain what happened to him.

Elaira first thought that she was the reason he left, but she later heard that one of his close relatives had died. Now he had resumed, and she was having his subject as the first course. She didn't know what to do.

"I'm thinking of apologizing to Mr Walter once the class ends," Elaira informed Jessica, who only arched her brow at her.

"Why?"

"I just need to clear the air about what happened last semester," she replied, and Jessica rolled her eyes as she didn't see any reason for that.

Entering the class, the two friend froze at the sight of what they saw, and Elaira’s heart sank; Axel and Asher were seated right behind their designated seat.

Those two hadn’t been attending chemistry class before, but all of a sudden, they claimed they wanted to improve their grades and now here they were.

"I'm right here with you," Jessica said, but truth to be told, she was also scared of those two.

Well who wouldn't be scared of them as they were a lil aware of their reputable as there was nothing they could do to you as they come from the powerful Mayfair family, that was even one of those who sponsor the school.

But Jessica was just trying to act brave for Elaira. With a nod of determination, Elaira took a deep breath and walked to her seat while the twins' mocking gazes were still on her. As she sat down, she could hear their snickers, but she forced herself to ignore them.

Mr Walter entered the class and everywhere wnet silence immediately. He began to teach, but Elaira found it impossible to focus on his words and instead, she admired his face, the way his eyes crinkled slightly when he smiled, and the deep, soothing tone of his voice. His words faded into the background as she was now lost in her daydream where she imagine the two of them being alone in the room.

As the class drew to a close, Elaira decided that she needed to speak to Mr Walter about the incident from last semester.

"Give me a sec," she informed Jessica, who nodded.

The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, and Elaira quickly stood up, or at least she tried to, but she felt an odd resistance, like a force was holding her her butt down.

"What's wrong?" Jessica asked as noticed her friend was struggling to get up.

"I... I can't get up," Elaira whispered, her eyes widen in shock. "I think I'm stuck down there."

Jessica quickly bend down, looking behind her and she gasped. "Oh my God! Someone put glue on your seat!"

"What?"

A ripple of laughter spread through the room as Axel and Asher stood up from their seats and walked past Elaira. Once they reached the door, Axel turned back to her, waving a tube of glue in his hand and smirked at her.

"Have a nice day," Axel mouthed as he waved at her, while Elaira read his lips to understand the words he said.

The two left the class while Elaira's hands tightened into fists, her acrylic fingers dipping deep into her palm. Her face burned with rage and embarrassment as she had no idea why she had suddenly become the target of bullying by these two.

"Don't worry, I will get you out of this," Jessica assured her, but Elaira had no way of getting out without removing her skirt in front of everyone.

Not having any other options, Jessica grabbed her bag, and Elaira wrapped her arms around the chair and stood up on her feet. As her butt was glued, she carried the chair out while the class's laughter filled the room as they watched her struggle to walk past the door.

Elaira walked the entire hallway, holding the chair to her butt while students made fun of her, with some even taking pictures. She cursed beneath her breath but still tried to calm herself down and increased her pace as the last thing she wanted was for Mr Walter to see her like this.

Upon reaching the restroom, she closed the door behind her and sat on the chair, slipping herself off her skirt and now in her underwear. Elaira tried to remove her skirt, but it was stuck to the chair. Pulling it harder, she heard a ripping sound and her heart broke at the sight of her brand-new skirt, which she brought at an expensive price, being shredded.

"This is all because of those bastards," she cursed beneath her breathe.

The thought of reporting the them crossed Elaira's mind, but she quickly dismissed it as it would only bring her nothing but trouble. She was just an orphan without any roots, while the Mayfair family was one of the most prominent in Willowbrook. The last thing she wanted was to attract any trouble, having witnessed enough in the past.

Jessica returned with another skirt, and Elaira changed into it. She left the school building and went to her car which parked at the school parking lot and placed the skirt in it. As she shut the door, she saw Mr Walter entering the school building, and for a moment, her heart skipped a beat.

“Mr Walter," she called, but he didn't hear her and continued inside.

Mr Walter entered the announcement room, where information were being passed across the entire school building and Elaira followed.

"Good morning, Mr Walter," Elaira greeted, trying to keep her voice steady.

Mr Bryan Walter stopped at his track as he heard Elaira's voice, he wanted to enter the control room but paused as he felt someone's presence in the control room and then turn back to Elaira.

"Morning." Bryan replied with a bright smile on his face. "What can I do for you?"

With her palm rubbing against each other, Elaira took a deep breath. "Sir, I just wanna to talk to you about last semester's stuff." She paused, trying to gauge his reaction, but he gave her none and acted as if he didn't remember what she was talking about. "I mean the incident with my diary… I didn't get to explain myself."

Bryan's expression softened. "Oh, you mean that? Well, it's alright. You don't need to explain yourself."

"But I think do." Elaira insisted, her voice shaking.

"No, you definitely do not need to explain anything," Bryan tried to stop her from prolonging the conversation as he already knows where the conversation was heading to, but Elaira was so adamant and quickly cut him off.

"It was all a misunderstanding. Asher and Axel took my diary and read it out loud without my permission. They made everyone laugh at me. I... I felt so humiliated that day, and…"

Bryan Walter sighed heavily as he felt bad for what she experienced , but he still wanted to avoid the topic as he knew they were not alone. "I'm really sorry such thing happened to you. High school can be tough, but let's just forget it happened and think of it as a childish act."

Hearing that, Elaira didn't want him to think of what happen as a childish act as what Asher read was true. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to take the plunge. “Mr Walter, I've got to be honest. Those words Asher read out are true. I... I have feelings for you, and I know it might sound crazy, but I admire you so much."

A moment of silence stretched between them and Bryan Walter's smile faded, and he took a step back as the conversation he had been trying to avoid unfolded. The only thing he managed to say was, "Thanks."

Elaira's eyes widened as it seemed he didn't understand what she had just said. It took a lot of courage for her to say all those words out but she only got ‘thanks’ from him.

No way, she definitely not planning on stopping right there.

"I think you don't understand what I'm saying. I mean, I LOVE YOU, Mr Walter," Elaira screamed out her confession, and Bryan's eyes widened in shock.

He sighed deeply as he felt a lump in his throat, not even know how to begin his words. "Elaira, you're young. You have your whole life ahead of you to find someone of your age who will love you back. Well, this kind of admiration is normal at your age, but it definitely can't go beyond that."

"But…"

"And moreover, you are not my type," Bryan blurted out, and Elaira's shoulders slumped.

She tried to say something, but her mouth failed her as "you are not my type" echoed through her head. She knew she might get rejected, but she had no idea it would be for that reason. Embarrassment flashed through her face as bit but her lower lip in regret.

At that moment, Elaira felt sad that her love wasn't reciprocated, but she was at least happy she could express her feelings to him and lifted off the heavy weight off her chest. She was bold to tell him because she knew Bryan would not tell anyone about what happened today.

Bryan felt bad for what he did, but he had his reasons for rejecting her. He felt bad seeing the disappointed look on Elaira's face, and before he could say something, the door creaked open.

Jessica rushed in with her face pale with panic. "Elaira, Mr Walter," she gasped, "Actually.....everything you guys were saying is being broadcast through the entire school."

Elaira's eyes widened in horror as she couldn't believe what she had just heard. "What! How?"

"I have no idea, but the entire school just heard your ass getting dumped, you dimwit!"

Elaira felt the room spined around her. Her legs felt weak, and she quickly gripped the edge of a nearby table to steady herself from falling down. Bryan tried to move closer to her and help her, but the stare Elaira gave him, made him stay in his spot.

“ I thought you said you were going to explain yourself, bow did it turn up to confession!?” Jessica yelled at her.

Elaira couldn't believe the laughter and humiliation were happening again, but this time it was even worse. Her deepest and most private feelings had just been laid bare for everyone to mock.

"I'm very so sorry," he apologize in a softly, his voice filled with regret as he had no idea their conversation was being broadcasted.

At that moment, Elaira felt as if the ground beneath her had opened up, ready to swallow her whole. Tears stung her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Not here, not now, not in right in front of the man that had just rejected her and made her a subject of ridicule.

Without another word, Elaira turned toward the door and fled the room while Jessica quickly followed her.

"Elaira, wait!" Jessica called out, but Elaira didn't wait for her as she was so embarrassed.

Elaira ran through the halls, feeling the weight of a thousand eyes on her as she oass by and the sound of their laughter of her classmates echoed in her ears.

As Bryan remained in the room, his expression turned cold immediately. He turned toward the dark glass that demacated the control room and the place where he stood and his eyes glowed red as he growled.

With his Alpha eyes, he could see the person behind the screen inside the control room; It was Axel.