CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

As soon as I woke up, I squinted through the veins of the sun that gushed through the drapes of my room. My room had the entire best view of the city, the balcony had a fire feature and at the left corner there was a high-end table and a bookshelf which had wood accent designs.

The clock showed that It was already 7:00 A.M, which relieved me. The entrance exam doesn't start until 8:30, so I had plenty of time to prepare.

I then got out of bed, yawning. I unhurriedly slid into my flip-flops and then went looking for the bathroom. At the far end on the right side of the room had a TV, a milky-white tinted couch and also had ideational  paintings that adorned the walls.

After I went up to shower, I then ran into a mental checklist making sure I had all the requirements needed. The University, I had learned was very strict when it came to prerequisites especially for a homeschooled student like me. So its really important that I don't mess things up, even though that's my only talent.

Afterwards I started on my usual route. I toweled off, blow dried my hair and then descended the stairs fully clothed.

By the time I had reached the formal dining area, I greeted  Dad with a kiss on the cheek and sat down beside him.

“Good morning, Dad!” I smiled.

“Good morning, sweetie” He replied between his bites. “Do you have everything you need?”

“Yes” I nodded.“I have”

“Don't forget our agreement, understand?” He said in a serious tone.

“Yeah, I know dad, Low profile” I uttered. “You said it to me like a hundred times!”

“I'm serious, Krie” He confessed.

I was tongue-tied, seeing all the resentments, sorrows and fear on his  eyes that I too had held for so many years.

“I already lost my wife, I don't wanna lose my daughter” He said with utmost sincerity “You and your brother are the only family I have left, so please..do what I say”

“I will, dad” I said, reaching out for his hand while giving him a reassuring grin “I promise”

Dad was a man who could only love once. As rough as the years had been for him, never did he tried to find love again nor did he knew how. Call me selfish, but I was grateful for that. It made me clung to the hope that true love really exists. That fantasy sometimes could turn into reality.

❣

It was already 7:30, when the car veered around the school campus to halt. I had just about enough time to arrive before the morning rush of the city was settling in, just about enough time as it took me, to convince the guards that I'll be alright. I don't wanna attract attention, not today, not ever.

By the time I reached the halls, I instantly got all nervous. Anxiety coursing through my system with every step. Even though no one was paying attention to me, I kept my head bowed nonetheless.

I was overwhelmed by the vast number of students emerging for the entrance exams, thousands of them

or just so I thought it was. I could hear giggles from the either side of the hallways.Some students were entering clubs of some sorts,some together with their loved ones and some talking about the recent gossips in the university.

I exhaled trying to remind myself what I was here for. I have to pass the exams to pursue my dreams of being an astrophysicist, it was both my dream and my mother's, atleast that's what Father said. After that, I'd take business again, to help my brother and father in our expanding company.

I exhaled once more, pushing away the troubling thoughts and forced myself to keep my head straight.

But what happened next stunned me, a girl was passing out flyers and when she saw me, her jaw suddenly dropped, her eyes widened and suddenly screamed.

“OH MY GOD!”

It made my insides jump. I quickly went around to check if she meant it at someone behind me, maybe a friend, but there wasn't. Once again, uneasiness consumed me.

“YOU'RE SO PRETTY!!” She shouted, her voice going aimlessly in the hallway, turning heads. “Hi! I'm May!”

“H-hi!” I smiled. “Krie”

“What make up brand do you use? What's your skin care routine?...”

She kept talking and talking but I didn't took notice, not until everyone started looking at me!! Great, just great! So much for low profile!

“S-sorry, I gotta go!”

I instantly walked away from the girl,  murmurs of conversations fading behind me, and I could feel almost everyone's gaze piercing through my skull.

Why are they all looking at me?!!

This day just couldn't get any worse.

Speed walking, I accidentally bumped into someone who seemed to be taller than me.I quickly spun around to apologize, saying a quick sorry but before I had a chance to walk away,

the guy or whoever it was, suddenly grabbed the crook of my elbow, hard!, I tried to keep walking but he yanked me again, this time with much more strength. By the time I lifted my head to see who it was, my eyes were drawn inevitably to his own.

For the first time in nearly seven years, I felt breathless under someone's gaze. My heart then raced, like a raging bull striving to get itself free from its coop as the warmth of his hand spread like wildfire across my skin.

In those moments, I didn't speak, neither did he. We just simply stared at each other. His expression was quite unreadable.

He had the grace of an athlete, his jaw was taut, his nose was flawless, his eyes were a furious blue, he was tall and lean and had an unruly curls of blond hair that fell a bit on his forehead. Needless to say, he was unmistakably good-looking. The kind of guy that any girl would want. The kind of guy that anyone would envy.

He leaned closer, invading my personal space. The muscles of his jaw clenched. Anger was now indicative in his expression. From the corner of my eyes, students were already watching at us.The crowd was more than I could have imagined. I wasn't used to it. I felt my cheeks flushed, embarrassed of the situation.

“L-let go of me!” I demanded.

“No!” He replied.

“Josh, let her go!” A familiar voice said, I turned around and saw that it was the girl again! Somehow, I was relieved she came.

“She's my friend!”

“Well, please tell this friend of yours..” He said, annoyance rising on his throat.“To watch where she's going!”

“I-I'm sorry, okay!” I said, but he seemed dissatisfied with my answer. It tried to break free but he held the my crook of my elbow effortlessly, as if he never held me at all.“I won't do it again, I promise!”

He lips forged into a smirk.

“You think you could get away that easily?”

“Let me go!” I demanded.“Or I'll...”

“You'll what?!”

“I-I'll sue you!”

“You can't, but go ahead, do you want me to help you with that?Do you want me to come with you? I mean, I coud drive you to a lawyer if that's what you want”

“Ugh!”

I felt something stirred inside of me, something I never thought I had. Fear had now dissipated replaced by annoyance going like a bat out of hell.  He's just so irritating! I never wanted to kick someone on the face more than my entire life.

“What's with all the commotion!?” A man with a deep voice exclaimed, wearing a dark suit and tie.

He seemed to be in his mid-forties just like my father. When he saw us, Josh immediately straightened while slowly releasing me. It was about time!

“Students! Go back to your work!” He demanded, and everyone seemed to listen to his orders.Which left me frightened, what have I gotten myself into!? He could be a teacher or much more worse the Dean!

“Is there a problem here? Mr. Valerdi? and Ms. Evans and Ms...” For a moment, he was unable to speak.

“Of course not,Mr.V, we were just having.....a discussion!” The girl replied.

The man raised his eyebrows, he seemed discontented with her explanation.

“Is this true?” He asked, glancing at me.

“Y-yes” I replied.

It took him more than a second to speak. He continued gazing at me, as if he was reading my thoughts.

“Hmmm, It seems you're not very a good liar, Miss Fiore”

I was speechless. I didn't wanna respond.I knew that there is nothing I could do to make the situation simpler. There's nothing much left to tell. I lied, I got caught. I was never really good at fibbing, heck, I was never really good at anything.

But how did he knew I was a Fiore?

“Wait! What?! FIORE?!” May let out a gasp.“That's why!?”

“Mr.Valerdi and Ms.Fiore a word with you in my office” Mr. V said in a serious tone.“Now!”

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