“Good morning,” Hayden greeted me as he sipped his coffee while skimming at a stack of papers in the dining table. “Hi,” I replied, settling into the seat on his right as the maids began serving breakfast. “How’s school with Aiden so far?” He asked casually, his eyes still on the paper. “It’s been fine,” I answered curtly, not wanting to have a lengthy conversation with him. I could feel his gaze shifting toward me, but I pretended not to notice, not wanting to feed this unhealthy feelings I have towards him. It’s not like this is anything serious. How long have I even known him? You can’t possibly get attached to someone you’ve barely scratched the surface with, right? “I heard he had an altercation with someone yesterday,” Hayden said, lowering the papers, “Do you know something about it?” "I’m not sure I should be the one to—" My words faltered when Aiden entered the room, his eyes locking onto mine almost
“Excuse me?” I said, narrowing my eyes. “The girl you just called a witch,” he replied with an infuriating smirk. “I get that,” I shot back, crossing my arms, “What I don’t get is why are you in the girl’s restroom?”. He shrugged nonchalantly. “I just happened to see you on my way to my room,” his gaze shifted to the stain on my shirt, and he chuckled softly, then he moved his eyes back to me, “I figured you might need some help,” he said and reached into his bag and held out a black hoodie. I blinked at the hoodie in his hands, torn whether to accept it or not. It’s weird for someone to be this kind, and that instantly raised my suspicions. Perhaps this guy has ulterior motives? “I’m not planning to do anything sketchy, I just want to help,” he suddenly spoke, as if reading my mind. His voice was calm, but it startled me nonetheless. I cleared my throat. I hesitated before finally taking the hoodie from him.
After a long three hour lecture the bell finally rang. The exhaustion hit me like a wave. Imagine, this was just the first day! The professor hadn’t even bothered with introductions, he immediately dived straight into teaching. I guess he is the kind of person who doesn’t like to waste time. “Before you leave,” The professor’s voice cut through the chatter. “I will give you all your first task in my subject.” The prof. said, and groans instantly erupted across the room.“Quiet!” He snapped, his weathered face etched with disappointment. “No need to make a fuss, this is an easy one, but I will require you to have a partner for this which I already made last night. I’ll send to you all the details in your school email account.” He said without waiting for further protests, shaking his head he gathers his materials and strode out.I packed out quickly, eager to escape, when an obnoxious sound came from beside me.“Psst…” I ignored him, pretending I didn’
“We weren’t doing anything. We were just playing around and suddenly that guy showed up and punched me!” The huge guy who had been harassing Asher earlier started spouting blatant lies when the headmistress Bega asking her questions, trying to investigate what happened.I glanced at Hayden to see his reaction, but as usual, his expression was unreadable. Sometimes I wonder if this guy ever experienced being frazzled. He stood there, calm and unaffected, like a towering boulder unmoved by a raging tide.“Is this true?” The headmistress asked, turning to me and Asher for answers. I noticed her hesitating slightly, her gaze flickering nervously toward Hayden before returning to us.I wonder what’s up with her. Was she... afraid of him? Then again, considering Hayden’s family practically funded this entire academy, her reaction wasn’t surprising.The bully fritted his teeth and glared at Asher with a menacing look, silently warning him of th
The day ended in a blur. I waited for Aiden in the parking lot as we had agreed, but he was still not here. I was curious what was going on with him. I remembered he had basketball practice, so I headed to the gymnasium to check. When I got there, it was already empty. Disappointed, I turned my heels around and decided to just wait for him in the car but then I heard a loud sound. Instinctively, I followed the noise, my curiosity peaking. I walked and when I was turning in a corner near the restrooms, I froze when I saw Asher talking with someone. His face was filled with fresh tears. His eyes riddled with pain. I was about to walk away, not wanting to intrude, but then I noticed a reflection in the glass wall.Aiden.What were they doing here alone? Oh my God! Aiden might be bullying him again! This idiot!I was about to intervene to put a stop to it, but Asher's broken voice resonated in the quiet room, stopping me.“You,” he said, trembling, his voice low and strained. Asher’s h
“Hey, Bella! Wait up,” I was walking through the school grounds when I heard my name being called. Turning around, I immediately regretted it. To my dismay, it was Gab, jogging towards me with a goofy grin on his face. I sighed and quickly looked away, hastening my steps. “Hey, wait up.” He called again. His footsteps growing louder until he popped up in front of me, waving a hand in my face.I ignored him and tried to walk past despite his persistent attempt to get my attention. “Hey, are you mad at me or something?” He asked. A hint of concern creeping into his voice.I shot him a sideway glance. “What do you think?” I shot back, my tone sharp as I raised a brow at him. “What did I do?” He asked, pouting, looking like a scolded puppy. I stopped abruptly, crossing my arms as I faced him. For a moment, I questioned why I couldn’t stand him. Maybe I just don’t want to associate myself with him, but for entirely no reason. Let’s just say it’s a gut feeling, and past experiences te
“Bella, hey!” Aiden’s voice broke through my thoughts as he snapped his fingers in front of my face. I blinked, startled, and looked at him. He was staring at me like I had completely lost it.“What?”“Did you even hear a single word I said to you just now?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. Oh? Was he talking to me? “Sorry, I spaced out, what were you saying?”“I was asking if you could go to the mall with me. I need to buy something, and I could use your help,” he repeated patiently.It was Saturday, and my original plan involved sprawling on my bed all day, doing absolutely nothing. The thought of going out made me hesitate. There was also the chance of running into Hayden since he usually does his work I this office during weekends, and after what happened last night, I wasn’t ready to face him.I was trying to collect my thoughts especially with what he said last night. Thinking about it still makes me want to scream
Aiden was on to me the entire drive to the mall.He kept pestering me about what Hayden meant by what the said earlier and I couldn’t give him and answer, obviously, so I stayed silent,, which only made him more persistent. Thankfully we arrived and I could finally get him to shut his mouth. I glanced at the black card in my hand, still shaken by the fact that I am able to hold something so rare. Quickly, I tucked it inside my purse, determined to only pull it out once Aiden finally runs out of cash for the sudden shopping spree he wants us to do. Aiden dragged me through multiple shops, and after just the first one, he had already spent over ten thousand dollars. Sigh. Maybe Hayden was right to give me the card after all. Knowing Aiden’s credit cards were frozen, I couldn’t help but wonder just how far he’d go with his spending spree.“Do you think this looks good?” He asked, holding up an orange and green shirt that has cartoon faces on them.
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
I played with the pen in my hand as I listened to my professor go on and on about her lecture. I looked at the clock and saw that there was still twenty minutes before it hits five o’clock. Hayden was gonna pick me up at five and I would hate it if I kept him waiting for too long. I threw my head down, and didn’t look up until the bell rang. I quickly got up and went straight to the parking lot, but before I could reach there, I saw something unfold in front of me. Aiden was dragging Asher. Initially I would have scrammed and run to them. However, there was something odd. Asher’s eyes were squinted, not from fear, but from laughing as Aiden held his hands. I was curious what was going on with them, but since I didn’t have time, I just shook my head, and was just glad that they weren’t on bad terms anymore. It seems Aiden patched things up with him. And now…it’s my turn to patch things up with someone. As I walked to the parking lot, I could see students flocking on the sides as
In a blink of an eye. Two years have already passed after we left the country and settled in a small town where Hayden’s mother grew up.Hayden had to do his job at home since he doesn’t want to leave us alone. However, there are occasional trips where he had to go back for some important meetings and negotiations. You might think I left on impulse, but no. We didn’t leave immediately that night. I stayed home, and fulfilled my promise not my father to take care of him till the end. Thankfully he passed away without experiencing any pain. One night, while he was sleeping, he didn’t wake up. All that’s left was a letter in his nightstand. It seems he had already prepared everything. It’s as if he knew what was going to happen that night. He was clutching a frame in his chest that showed an image of him and my mom when they were younger. He had on a bright smile, and she was looking at him with so much affection. When I stumbled into his room, I could only silently cry, but the pai
I think it’s safe to say that all of us are I hell right now. It was exams week and I haven’t been able to catch up with all the discussion. If you heard the thing about how a one day absent in college can have a huge effect, it’s not a lie. And now imagine my case. A whole week of being excused. “I can’t read any more of this concepts.” I buried my face on the mountains of books. “Shhh! No loud talking!” The librarian reprimanded making me flinch. I looked at the others and they seemed to be handling this exam weeks pretty calmly. “You shouldn’t have gone on a break for a week,” Aiden shook his head at me, silently laughing at my misery. I glared at him and stuck my tongue out. Tsk! He’s just jealous because he can’t freely blow off school. Not that I can, but…ugh! This exam is killing me!!! “Stop that Aiden. You’re scores were pretty much hanging in the last prelimination.” Asher said making me chuckle. Aiden quickly shut his mouth and drowned himself on his books. I l
The cool morning breeze wrapped itself around me as I stepped out of my car. The campus stretched ahead in all its usual chaos. Students hurried between buildings, their chatter blending into the hum of the bustling crowd. I wasn’t in a rush today though. Not that I wasn’t excited to be back, it’s just…I’m not really looking forward to anything. I figured I’d just go see Aiden since I’m too early for my first class anyway. I reached the gymnasium since I’m aware that the has practices in the morning. However, his team mates were already heading out. I asked one person and he said that Aiden was still in the locker room, showering. I figured I’d just wait for him here outside to finish. A few minutes passed and I heard his voice, however, he wasn’t alone. I was sitting on the bleacher near the wall so he didn’t see me as they both passed by. Who is that person he is talking? A friend? I was about to call him, but when I saw what they did next, I just wished the ground would sw
The cool night air brushed against my skin as Hayden and I stepped into the garden. The soft glow of lanterns hanging from the trees illuminated the pathway, casting flickering shadows on the ground. The sky stretched above us, a vast canvas adorned with a sea of stars. "Come on," I urged, tugging his hand. "I want to show you something."Hayden chuckled, following my lead. "You're being very secretive. Should I be worried?"I shot him a playful glare. "Just trust me."We stopped at a secluded patch of grass where the view of the sky was clearest. I spread a thick blanket I had brought earlier and gestured for him to sit. He raised a brow but complied, settling beside me as I lay on my back, staring up at the constellations."This was something my mom and I used to do," I said, my voice softer now. "Whenever I had a bad day or just needed to escape, she'd bring me out here, and we'd just watch the stars. She knew all the constellations, and she'd tell me their stories."Hayden's gaz
"How are things there?" Hayden asked at the other end of the line while I read a bunch of papers in father's office.His health was deteriorating day by day, which is why I can't focus much on the task that Tom is bombarding me with. "It's fine, I'm just really struggling emotionally. I can't help but get worried of father. He's alone at our house. I know Benjamin is there but I still can't get rid of the feeling." I said, massaging my temples."Do you want me to go over and take a look?" He asked. "No, no need, besides I know your bu..." Before I could finish the call ended. I looked at the phone to see that my battery was dead. I groaned, flooping my head on the table. The papers were all the same. It was all contracts of our artists that needed to be reviewed and signed. I was told the company will fo a temporary reolacement of CEO just until when I finish college. Father seemed to have agreed to it as well so the question now is who exactly are the boards recommending?...I