Chapter 3

      Tasha's P. O. V

    After dressing up for school, I brought out my phone and made to call Alex, my boyfriend. It ranged a few times before he finally picked up.

   " Hello honey, good morning." I greeted cheerfully.

   " Good morning," he muttered sleepily.

   " You're still in bed? Gosh Alex, you'll be late for school!" 

   " I'm up now. Your call woke me up."

   " Oh... That's good. Alex, why didn't you come to school yesterday? I missed you," I complained, pouting even though he couldn't see me.

   " I had to go somewhere with my step... I mean dad. But I'll come today."

   " Really? Great, then I'll be expecting you."

   " And I'll be seeing you soon, goodbye."

   " Bye too, see you soon."

       And with that, I hung up, smiling sheepishly to myself. Placing my books in my bag, I walked out of my room to have my breakfast. One of the maids came to meet me.

   " Mina, where are my parents?" I asked when I saw the dining was empty.

   " They went out early miss, they left a note" she said and passed my a folded letter. I frowned as I collected it from her. Always going out on business trips, sometimes I wonder if they even remember that they have a daughter.

   " Miss Tasha, someone is out there to see you." She said.

    " Who is it?"

    " Linda."

    " Linda? Okay, send her in." I said and went over to seat on the dining table to have my breakfast. I heard the sounds of approaching and sure enough, it was Linda.

    " Good morning, baby girl." She greeted as she came to sit beside me.

   " Good morning." I greeted, giving her a tight-lipped smile.

   " Uh? What's up with the attitude? " She asked, noticing my demeanor.

   " It's nothing serious." I replied. " Why the early visit? "

    " I wanted to check up on my best friend."

    " Well, as you can see.. " I began taking a bite from my waffles. " I am well and as for my boyfriend, he's also good. He'll be coming to school today. " I said, a smile creeping up to my face.

    " That's good to know. You know the amount of work you had to do just to make him notice you. "

    " I know, right? Which is why I won't be letting any other girl around breathing space with me. If they try, they are going to hear it from me. "

   " That's true.... Which reminds me, what about that girl, Sylvia? I heard you wanted to scold her"

   " Oh, yes! " I said, snapping my fingers. " Can you believe it? She was writing a love letter in class. Like, who does that at this time and age? "

   " Really? " Linda asked, leaning forward, excitement in her eyes. " Who was it for?"

   " That I don't know.... She didn't write who it's for. But I'm guessing it's for Alex. It's not the first time she's gotten lost just ogling at him. I've been observing her very closely. "

   " Ew, aren't you going to do anything about it? "

   " I will. I just need to make sure my suspicions are correct. If they are, I will not hesitate to unleash on her. Nobody touches my man. " I said sternly. Linda smirked.

   " That's my girl." 

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            Sylvia's P. O. V

      I arrived at school, feeling very tired. I didn't get enough sleep last night, and it was beginning to take its toll on me. Brushing my bangs away from my face, I made my way to my locker. As usual, everyone's stares were on me, causing me to bend my end to avoid eye contact. In the process, I bumped into someone. 

   " I'm so sorry..." I apologized, but the person wasn't having any of it.

    " Out of my way, you punk!" He threw at me, causing me to flinch.

   " I'm really sorry. " I apologized again and hurried to my locker. While packing my books, I noticed that the murmurs in the school corridor got louder. There was only one person who could cause this kind of effect. Alex Jones. Just thinking about him made me smile. I quickly closed my locker so I could catch a glimpse of him.

   There he was, in all his glory. Beautiful sculpted body that the school uniform did nothing to hide, super sharp jawline and the most beautiful blue-green eyes I've ever seen, not to mention his million-dollar smile. You could tell all the girls in the hallway we're swooning cause you could hear their 'awws', me included. 

    Suddenly he looked in my direction and I caught his gaze for a split second before he got distracted by Tasha, who immediately rushed to him, kissing him. I was elated that he finally noticed me, even though it was only for a split second, mad at Tasha for interrupting and jealous that she could do those things without a problem because she was his girlfriend. 

    Tasha caught me staring and glared at me, forcing m to get myself together. Once I was through with what I wanted to do in my locker, I hurried away from there to my class. I arrived at my seat and was met with another surprise.

    The love letter I had given Patrick was back on my table, unopened, but there was no sign of Patrick. When could he have dropped this and without anyone noticing? Well, I better keep this before Tasha and her crew walk in and snatch it from me again. Once bitten, twice shy, they say.

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   After the first period, I was on my way to my next class when a hand pulled me to an empty hallway. I almost lost balance and fell on the floor, but I quickly steadied myself. Sounds of suppressed giggles arose around me as I regained my balance. I looked up and gulped, all the blood draining from my face.

   It was Tasha and her gang this time around. Oh God, why me?

   " hello there... " Tasha greeted, twirling my hair. I wanted to slap her hands off, but I knew better than that.

   "W-what do you want?" I stuttered, my voice coming squeaky. Tasha snickered.

   " Oh nothing... We just wanted to say hello." 

    " Then... Hi. " I replied and made to dash out of the room but they pulled me back, slamming me to the wall. It knocked the breath right out of me.

   " Where do you think you're going!?" Tasha asked, her voice going a million degrees colder. I swallowed. She walked closer to me till there was no space between us, her eyes blazing. I cowered like a rat.

   " The letter that you wrote. Who is it for?" 

   " Um... P-patrick of course. " I muttered.

   " Liar! I know you're lying! " She stated as she pulled my hair, making me wince in pain.

   " I-I'm saying the truth!" 

   " Shut up!" She ordered, and I zipped my mouth shut. " Now listen to me, if the letter is truly for Patrick, I want to see signs that you really wrote it for him, by being closer to him and making sure he makes you his girlfriend. Otherwise if I find out that it's for someone else... I'll have you humiliated in front of everyone in the school. Do you understand? "

   I nodded. She pushed me to the wall again.

   " I said, do you understand? "

   " Yes, yes. I do."

    " Good girl..." she muttered and left, her girlfriends laughing and hailing her. I let out the breath I didn't know it was holding. 

    As an afterthought, Tasha stopped and turned back and, since I wasn't expecting it, pushed me. I fell flat on the floor.

    " Serves you right." She taunted and then walked away with her friends. I fisted my hands and groaned, tears stinging my eyes. Why does this always have to happen to me?

    Very slowly, I picked myself up and dusted my clothes. Remembering her threats, I groaned loudly. Things just went from bad to worse.

    I was about to start crying when someone cleared his throat beside me, startling me.

   " Hey, you okay?" The person asked, and I looked up. I couldn't believe my eyes.

     What!?

     Alex Jones!?