(Currently on hold) Their little trade of hearts

Library gossip

  Stacey sat at the corner of the library, her hair tied in a messy bun, her eyes looked dark, as her table surrounded by numerous books, and papers as she focused on her task at hand. She's intent on her research so she could get enough credits, and graduate faster. And while doing so, she'd blocked the whispers of those around her unintentionally.   

When she finishes typing, she let out a sigh when she took her time to look at her work. She's exhausted and extremely hungry. She's skipped breakfast, and just grabbed a cup of coffee to go, before going all out on her project, despite the fact that it's Saturday. 

 "She probably seduced him. Haven't you heard? She worked at a bar," a voice whispered near her, this time, not so subtle that she couldn't just ignore it. 

She perked up her ears as she rechecked her work, making sure there's no mistake, and if there is, it'll be fixed. Her movement helped her looking like she didn't bother with their discussion when instead she's all ears.  

 "She's really pretty, such a shame she could only seduce men. Can't imagine what his girlfriend might feel like," the second girl muttered as her friend hesitates.  

"He doesn't have a girlfriend... I think?" 

She took a glance from the corner of her eyes and amusedly stared at how the second girl looked at her friend like she's seen a ghost. 

 "He doesn't have a girlfriend...Then why are you making such a fuss?! He has every right to date whomever he likes!"  

The corner of her lips twitched in amusement. It's rare to find someone with a brain, these days. At least a working one.  

 "But-"

"Even if he did have a girlfriend, what are you making the big fuss about? you're not his girlfriend, hell, you're not even the friend of his girlfriend's friend's cousin or some sort of complicated relationship nobody would keep up to." 

She had to bit the inside of her cheeks to keep her lips from curling.  

"But have my point, she's not even that pretty. I mean, look at her," the first girl complained, blatantly pointing at her, without masking the annoyance that's obvious in her tone, and if you missed it, it's also written all over her face in the way she frowned, and her lips curled.  

Someone shushed her loudly, making the girl's eyes squint in annoyance towards her. Ah, she had almost forgotten that she's the topic of their conversation.  

While having too much fun dissing her, the girl had forgotten that they're in a library.  Mind her, she had also agreed with the girl's comment towards her. Well, she can't really blame her. Apart from having ran from her dorm to the library the second she jumped off from bed, she had not left the seat she's occupying except for when she has a book to find. 

When you're working on an empty stomach, you wouldn't be needing a toilet break. But not exactly empty either. She couldn't risk the shame if her empty stomach growled in the silent hall. 

She had been working nonstop on her script. Except for the connection she might need, she wouldn't have bothered socializing nor going to university in the first place. It's too much effort, too much money and time wasted when she could've just grown a business instead. 

So she had to make the best out of her school years because, after school, you'd have to work for the rest of your life. But what's there to enjoy when her only goal is to thrive in life and to prove wrong the people who had looked down on her?  You can't slap people's faces when you're in school. Detention and fights are just a waste of time. Which is why she tends to ignore most people, like in this case.  

With her work finished, she cleared her desk and prepared to leave. She would be back the next day to print out her papers since the service area had been closed since it's not operating 24/7 like the library.  

She nodded towards the library worker. She's new around here, and with her limited time, she didn't bother getting familiar with the woman. 

Walking out of the library building, she was welcomed with an autumn breeze. She rubbed her hand against her arms, regretting not sparing a brief moment to put on more layers of clothes. As she walked on the pavement, she unexpectedly found a familiar face waiting for her on the other side of the road, and her steps faltered.   

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