"Mr. Clinton, it isn't what you think," I pointed to my left ear. "Ear pod, ear pod."God, what am I saying?Then an idea came."It's my phone, it rang just now and it is connected to my ear pod. So I was angry, it was distracting, so I shouted without thinking. I'm... I'm so sorry."The contort on his face dilated and I silently heaved a sigh.Phew, that was close..."So you were using an ear pod while learning." He gave me a questioning look."I forgot to take it off, Mr. Clinton, I'm deeply sorry." I clasped my hands pleading.Now he might think I am unstudious. I made that excuse without thinking..."Sarah, you aren't taking your education seriously. I might report this to your father." His words broke through my trail of thoughts.I hung my head low in defeat. I knew it was useless to plead this time around; he will definitely report me to my father. While I was sulking, I felt a warm hand on my head. My scalp shivered from its mildness, sending torrid sensations all over me. I l
"Ah! Is that a fire alarm!" I screamed, covering my ears. The sound was so piercing, and I felt like banging my ears on the wall to get it off my senses.My eyes were still closed since I was jolted awake by the boisterous sound. I didn't even know what was making that noise. My eyelids slowly peeled open, revealing my brightly lit room.Krrrrrr..."Urg!" I sprang out of my bed to try to locate where the sound was coming from. I looked around the room, then I found a fish-looking thing sitting on my bedside table.Then I remembered...I facepalmed myself for forgetting I set an alarm yesterday. I didn't want what happened on Tuesday to repeat itself again.Krrrrrrrrrrrrr..."Yeah, I'm awake." I angrily struck the alarm to silence it.'Finally, my ears will rest'. I didn't know it would be so loud.I sighed tiredly and collapsed on my bed. "I feel so sleepy," I muttered. My eyelids were heavy, and I felt like relieving the weight with a nice shut-eye."Hmmm." I straightened myself on t
"Ouch." My muscles constricted and I fell to the ground wincing in pain.Why did I have to run even when I'm very aware I can't keep up for more than five minutes. I berated myself inwardly and attempted to stand, but my legs refused the order.Then I looked ahead, Mr. Clinton was a good distance away.I had to be honest with myself, it definitely didn't feel like a competition, it was more like a tortoise daring to challenge the hare.And that tortoise was me, I lost in less than ten minutes...Even when I was still seated on the ground, I was still huffing and panting for a few meters, a race I barely pulled off.I stayed on the ground to catch my rough breath."Mr. Clinton!" I yelled for his attention; I needed help to stand. My legs refused to cooperate.I saw him turn around and approaching me.Damn, he looked quite hot while running, his stubble strewed all over his oval face by the gentle breeze, and my heart started drumming the music of infatuation.When will he be mine? I
I arrived at my favorite spot in a cab, and Helen was already waiting for me. As I descended from the vehicle, my eyes caught a particular figure I despised. My face slightly distorted for a split second before returning to normal. I only told her to meet me here, not with him... Vincent was resting on his car, trying to look cool, but falling short, while Helen had her hand on his shoulder. "Hi," he greeted as soon as I approached them. Just like the other day, his eyes scanned my body, licking his lips. I smiled back, concealing the disgust on my face. "Did you wait long?" I asked Helen, ignoring his greeting since I didn't tell her to bring a company along. "Sarah..." She glared at me, ambiguously scolding me for being impolite. I poked my nose at her in defiance and averted my eyes from them. She should learn to accept my disdain towards him. I simply can't change how I feel about him. But for now, let me just pretend. My face suddenly brightened, showing my pearly
I stared at her, trying to process the conversation she just had on the phone. Then I realized she must have thought that the 'him' I was referring to was Daniel. I was actually referring to Vincent... "Helen... what the heck did you just..." I asked, her face lit up with a bright, smug smile. "Chill, baby, you got yourself a date." She slapped my shoulders with a wide grin, batting her eyebrows. 'When did I ever tell her I need a date?' I turned speechless, staring at her black eyes shimmering with amusement. She had been trying to get me on a date for so long, I couldn't remember how long it had been. Now, she felt she had succeeded. "Sorry to burst your bubbles, I ain't going." I declared firmly. She shrugged, "It's too late, I already told him. It will be too awkward for you to reject him after I had told him you like him." "Helen." I felt like spanking her to get some sense into her head. "Why did you tell him something like that?" "I don't want you to be sing
I hummed as I cooked dinner, swaying my hips with excitement like a restless monkey. My mouthwatering steak was almost ready, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it. I lowered the heat and set my plate, trying to patiently await Mr. Clinton's return. Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. "Your food smells delicious," Erin said, her bright smile and wide eyes gleaming with youthfulness. I turned to face her, feeling a warmth in my chest. "Thanks, want some?" I asked, but she declined, saying she was done for the day and headed out. After dinner, I settled onto the couch with my textbook, waiting for Mr. Clinton to return. But as the hours ticked by, I grew restless, my eyes drifting to my phone. Should I call him? I decided against it, feeling a bit annoyed, and headed to bed instead. As I drifted off to sleep, I felt a sudden chill run down my spine. I shrank under the duvet, clinging to it tightly. But when I opened my eyes, the room was plunged into darkness. I shot up
The next four hours before dawn were unusually long. I tossed and turned in my bed, trying to get those disturbing thoughts off my head. But it felt like a gravitational pull that kept drawing me in. My obsession with him was growing more by the day, but I knew one thing for sure, there will be a time I won't be able to mortify myself and I might go all out without a bind holding me in place. And I hope it wouldn't end badly that particular day. Finally! My alarm struck 6 am, I quickly got up, got ready, and went downstairs for the morning exercise. I gently knocked on Mr. Clinton's bedroom door, but there was no answer. "Mr. Clinton..." 'Has he perhaps left for work?' So early? Whilst my thought, I heard sneezes coming from inside the room. I pressed my ears on the door, silently listening intently. I just wanted to confirm my intuition. Another sneeze came from inside, followed by two more 'Ah-choo!' Yeah, he has caught a cold... I knocked again. "Mr. Clinton, can I com
He glared at me before he finally replied after staying silent for quite some time. "I do have one, but what are you gonna do with it?"Seriously, was that a question?I chuckled. "To check your body temperature, of course."He sighed, seemingly defeated. "Check that box over there."A smile curved up my lips. I stood and walked over to the box he pointed at. I took out the thermometer and checked his temperature.Holy shit! 39 degrees Celsius...And he didn't bother taking any acetaminophen. What kind of a doctor is he?"Mr. Clinton, I don't like you disregarding your health..." A frown etched my face as I showed him the result on the thermometer."39, Mr. Clinton, and you want me to leave you... alone?"He stared blankly at me, unable to respond. He then shut his eyes and clutched his temples with his fingers.I dropped the thermometer and shot out of the bed, walking to his bathroom."Where are you going?" He asked as he sat up on his bed. I glanced at him before replying."Just re
A month had passed since we left Paris. Our little family had settled into a cozy villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Well, we moved in for the wedding, actually. Now, standing in front of the mirror, I smoothed out my lace wedding gown. My heart fluttered as I thought of Xavier waiting for me at the altar. "Sarah, you look stunning," my maid of honor said, adjusting my veil. Who else would it be? It's my best friend, Helen. I smiled, feeling like a princess. The ceremony was intimate, with only close friends and family attending. "Hey, kiddo." A voice interrupted my thoughts, bringing a smile to my face. "The guests are waiting. Are you just gonna sit there and admire yourself?" Juniper appeared at the door, crossing her arms and wearing a feigned frown on her face. Juniper had helped out with the wedding planning; she even brought her kids along. Although I was grateful for her expertise, her planning ways exceeded Xavier's budget, but he didn't complain. "Juniper, you'
SARAH'S POV "About what!" I snapped, my eyes blazing. Xavier held my shoulders to placate me, but I was beyond reasoning. My baby was at risk because of him, and he was lucky nothing happened to him or her. If something had happened, I would have... I stopped and forced myself to stay calm when I noticed my father's soft gaze.He leaned against the wall without speaking, letting me pour out my anger. Only when I was done did he finally speak. "I meant to say..." He hesitated, glancing at Xavier. "I'm... sorry."It was as if he forced those words right out of his mouth.I looked away, breaking eye contact, and Xavier gently stroked my shoulder again."Sarah, calm down. Don't stress yourself out, okay?"Yeah, I'm pregnant. I shouldn't stress myself out.I flashed him a soft smile and leaned on his shoulders, making sure to avoid eye contact with my father."Sarah, I'm happy for you," my father continued, despite my bad attitude. "Now that there's nothing else I can do, you're free to l
My eyes widened in shock as I found Sarah lying on the bed, pale and motionless. In an instant, my heart sank, and my world crumbled around me."Sarah?" I whispered, approaching her cautiously.My legs felt heavy, as if rooted to the spot, but I forced myself to move closer. William's presence faded into the background, irrelevant to the only thing that mattered – Sarah.I gently sat beside her, my hand reaching out to brush away the strands of hair clinging to her forehead. Her skin felt cold and clammy."Sarah," I whispered, my voice trembling.Her eyelids fluttered open, and our gazes met. For a moment, I saw a glimmer of recognition, a spark of life.But it was fleeting.Her eyes, once bright and full of laughter, now seemed dull and lifeless."Sarah, please," I begged, my voice cracking. "Talk to me.""Sarah!" William, who had finally broken out of his stupor, rushed over to her side, shaking her gently, completely disregarding my presence.Then he froze, staring at Sarah, as the
XAVIER'S POV"Daddy, when is Sarah coming back?" Elizabeth had asked after I had watched as William's car disappeared, taking Sarah away from me. My heart felt like it had been ripped out. I couldn't believe I had to let her go.But I knew it was necessary. William's anger and determination to keep us apart were palpable.I crouched down to meet Elizabeth's height, her big brown eyes filled with concern. "Soon, sweetie. Sarah needs to go for now." I offered a reassuring smile."Where's William, her dad?" Harper chimed in, her brow furrowing. "Did the two of them leave?"I glanced up at Harper, who stood beside Hayden, his expression serious as if they were interrogating me.I let out a sigh and tried to simplify the truth. "Like I said, they're gone, but—" I was interrupted by Elizabeth whining. Her face scrunched up. "Why did Sarah leave without telling us? This is so unlike her."I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "Sometimes, grown-ups need to figure things out. She
With my curiosity piqued, I got off the bed and made my way to the door. Walking down the hallway, the sound of heels clinking on the floor grew louder, making me even more curious about who had come to visit. Ever since I moved in, we’ve never had visitors, and that thought only fueled my curiosity.I entered the living room only to find a woman and my father walking from the door. My father’s gentle smile was a stark contrast to the tension that had filled the air moments before.Seriously? So I am the only downer here who won't get what she wants. I scoffed and quietly strode towards them.My eyes remained fixed on the lady, and I couldn’t help but keep my mouth wide open as I saw her intimate with my father. Her lips were pressed against my father's, and he responded with equal fervor, completely oblivious to my presence.So he has a girlfriend in Paris, huh?Way to go, Father; only you deserve happiness.I felt a mix of disgust and betrayal surging through me. I’ve learned to use
"Welcome to my humble abode. Don't you like the view?" My father's cheerful voice cut through my thoughts. Again. He kept interrupting my moping with his unnecessary small talk and fake enthusiasm. Can't he see I'm still reeling from the pain he's caused?I forced a glance around the luxurious penthouse apartment, trying to appear unimpressed. To be honest, it was quite breathtaking, but I wouldn't say it."It's nice, Father," I said flatly, my voice devoid of enthusiasm.My father's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered."I'm glad you like it. You'll be comfortable—""Cut the small talk,I wasn't done talking." I spat, cutting him off. I chuckled, still glancing around. "It's just that it's missing something."My father, sensing my fake enthusiasm, leaned close with a smile. "What do you think is missing?"A mischievous grin spread across my face as I replied, "My happiness."My father's smile froze, his eyes widening, caught off guard by my true intention."Sarah, co
I turned and walked away, leaving Xavier behind. My father's suffocating grip on my arm guided me toward the car. I felt numb, my heart heavy. As we drove away, I glanced back at the duplex, the building fading away. There wasn't any sight of Xavier, and it hurt to sense he was giving up. Or isn't he? I really don’t know. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to the girls; they would be devastated when they wake up without me beside them. This can't be happening. "We're going to Paris, Sarah. You'll be safe there. We're better off without him." My father's voice cut through my thoughts. His words felt like acid in my throat. I turned to him, my face twisted in a mix of anger and desperation. "Safe from what, Father?" I demanded. My father's expression remained unyielding. "From Xavier. From his influence on you." I felt a surge of indignation. "You don't even know him," I spat. "And you claim he is your best friend." My father's grip on the steering wheel tighte
SARAH'S POV"Father, what are you doing!" I rushed over to Xavier's side and cupped his cheek, blood trickling out of his nose. My eyes locked onto my father's scrunched-up face, his eyes blazing with fury."Get away from him, Sarah!" he growled.But I stood firm, my heart racing. "You're hurting him!" I pleaded, my eyes welling up. "How could you do this, Father?"Xavier's eyes fluttered open, and he winced."Sarah, I'm fine," he whispered.My father's face twisted in disgust."Don't talk to her, Xavier. You've done enough damage."I felt a surge of anger. I never expected this kind of reaction from him."That's not true! I did the damage!" I said, my voice firm as I walked towards him. "It was me who fell for him first, so if you're angry, then pour it on me."My father's gaze snapped back to me, and I could see the disappointment and hurt in his eyes."Sarah, I didn't expect this from... both of you," he said, his voice soft with a layer of pain and betrayal. "I trusted him."I sto
WILLIAM'S POVI didn't know what was taking Xavier so long to open the door after telling me he would open it in a minute. A minute had turned into an eternity."Xavier!" I called again, attempting to knock on the door again, but it opened, revealing Xavier's wry smile."Hey," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Why are you here?"My brow furrowed. "Didn't you hear what I said? I said I need help. That's why I came. Now will you let me come in?" I said and gently pushed him out of the way, letting myself in.I tossed the towel I was holding onto his bed and turned to meet his surprised, perhaps shocked, expression."Why are you here with the towel?" he asked, chuckling."Sorry for disturbing you. I wanted to take a late-night bath, but my water system isn't working," I explained, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible, despite the curiosity brewing inside me."Water system's out? Figured I'd use yours. Hope that's okay."Xavier's raised eyebrow and amused smile hinted that h