Until You See Me

Chapter 4

Alya arrived at Bethany Academy with swollen eyes.

She had cried almost the entire drive there, trying to pull herself together before anyone saw her. Thankfully, she had afternoon classes, giving her enough time to calm down after what happened at Grey's office.

She parked her car in the school garage, took a deep breath, and checked herself in the mirror.

Her eyes were still slightly red.

“Great,” she muttered. “Everyone's going to know.”

She grabbed her bag and headed toward the main building.

Bethany Academy was one of the most prestigious and wealthiest schools in Monarch City. Most of the students came from influential and affluent families, including Alya and her friends.

As soon as she reached their usual meeting spot, she saw Jen, Chelo, Kishi, and Kenneth waiting for her.

Jen was the first to notice her.

“Girl, what happened to you?” she asked, immediately walking toward her. “Did you cry?”

Alya tried to smile.

But the moment she saw her friends, her emotions came rushing back.

She immediately hugged Jen.

“I hate today.”

Chelo looked worried.

“Alya, what happened?”

Alya pulled away and wiped her tears.

“It's Grey.”

Kenneth sighed knowingly.

“It's about Grey again?”

Kenneth was Alya's closest guy friend and her childhood best friend. He had known her long enough to understand exactly what was going on without her having to explain everything.

Alya nodded.

“I went to his office this morning.”

“And?” Kishi asked carefully.

“I brought him lunch. I cooked his favorite food.”

Jen's expression softened.

“Alya…”

“He wasn't alone.”

The group exchanged looks.

“He was with another girl,” Alya continued, her voice trembling. “They were kissing.”

Chelo immediately wrapped an arm around her.

“Oh, girl…”

“And I—I got angry.”

Kenneth raised an eyebrow.

“You didn't…”

“I did.”

“Alya!”

“I know!” she cried. “I know it was stupid!”

Kishi sighed.

“What happened?”

“I fought with the girl.”

Jen covered her mouth.

“You actually fought her?”

Alya nodded miserably.

“And Grey took her side.”

Kenneth's expression became serious.

“He pushed you away?”

“He told me to leave.”

Alya's eyes filled with tears again.

“He said I shouldn't be there because he was working.”

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then Jen took Alya's hands.

“Listen to me. You don't deserve to cry over someone who doesn't appreciate you.”

Alya looked at her.

“But I love him.”

“I know,” Jen said softly. “But loving someone doesn't mean you have to keep hurting yourself for them.”

Chelo nodded.

“Exactly. Look at you, Alya. You're beautiful, you're kind, you're smart, and you come from a good family. You literally have everything going for you.”

Kishi smiled.

“Grey is the one missing out.”

Kenneth crossed his arms.

“Honestly? He's wasting you.”

Alya gave him a look.

“Don't say that.”

“Why not? It's true.”

He gently tapped her forehead.

“You've spent so much time trying to make him notice you that you've forgotten you're already worth noticing.”

Alya became quiet.

Jen smiled.

“Maybe you don't need to change yourself just to make Grey look at you.”

Chelo nodded.

“You're already enough, Alya.”

Alya sniffed and smiled faintly.

“You guys are too nice.”

“That's what friends are for,” Kishi said.

Kenneth grinned.

“And because someone needs to keep you from doing anything crazy.”

Alya rolled her eyes.

“I wasn't going to do anything crazy.”

All four of them stared at her.

“Okay,” she admitted. “Maybe a little.”

They laughed.

Eventually, the conversation lightened, and they headed toward their classrooms.

Since they were taking different subjects, they separated at the hallway.

“See you after class!” Jen called.

“Bye!”

---

After their last classes, the group met again outside the building.

Alya suddenly remembered something.

“Guys!”

Everyone looked at her.

“Grey's birthday is next week.”

Kenneth immediately groaned.

“Oh, no.”

“What?”

“Here we go again.”

Alya ignored him.

“What do you think I should give him?”

Jen thought for a moment.

“He already has everything.”

“Exactly,” Chelo agreed. “What can you possibly buy for someone like Grey?”

Alya frowned.

“I don't know.”

Kishi suddenly snapped her fingers.

“Wait. Instead of buying something, why don't you make something yourself?”

Alya's eyes lit up.

“Make something?”

“Yeah. Something personal.”

Jen nodded.

“That actually sounds better.”

Chelo smiled.

“Grey can buy whatever he wants. But he can't buy something you personally made for him.”

Alya thought about it.

Then a smile slowly appeared on her face.

“Yeah…”

She looked excited again.

“I like that idea.”

Kenneth sighed.

“I already know where this is going.”

Alya ignored him.

“Let's go shopping after our last class tomorrow.”

“I'm in,” Jen said.

“Me too,” Chelo agreed.

Kishi nodded enthusiastically.

“Let's go!”

They all looked at Kenneth.

He shook his head.

“I won't come. I have something I need to do.”

“What?” Alya asked.

“Something important.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Fine.”

Kenneth smiled.

“Good luck with your little birthday project.”

Alya smiled to herself.

This time, she wanted to give Grey something he would never forget.

Something made by her.

Something that might finally make him see just how much she cared about him.

---------

After school, Alya drove home with a smile on her face. The sadness she had felt earlier had slowly been replaced by excitement as she thought about Grey's upcoming birthday.

She parked her car in the family garage and hurried inside.

As soon as she entered the living room, she spotted her parents.

“Dad! Mom!”

She immediately walked over and kissed them both on the cheek.

Her father smiled warmly.

“How are you, sweetheart?”

“I'm fine, Dad.”

Her mother looked at her curiously.

“You seem very happy today.”

“I am!” Alya said excitedly. “I'm going to prepare something special for Grey's birthday.”

Her father raised an eyebrow.

“Grey?”

“Yes!” She nodded enthusiastically. “I already have an idea.”

Her mother smiled knowingly.

“Just don't exhaust yourself, sweetheart.”

“I won't.”

Alya kissed them both once more.

“Bye, Mom. Bye, Dad. I'm going to my room.”

“Alright, sweetheart,” her father replied.

Alya quickly ran upstairs.

The moment she entered her bedroom, she dropped her bag onto the chair and opened her laptop.

She began searching for personalized gifts that she could make herself.

“Hmm… What can I make?”

She scrolled through different ideas.

Then she saw something that caught her attention.

**Engraved flower vase.**

Alya clicked on it.

Her eyes immediately lit up as she looked through the different designs.

Some had names engraved on them. Others had short messages or elegant patterns.

A smile slowly appeared on her face.

“I think this is perfect.”

A flower vase would be something Grey could keep in his office.

And unlike an expensive gift that he could simply buy himself, this would be something she personally made for him.

She immediately reached for her phone.

There was only one person she knew who could help her arrange everything.

She called the household's butler.

After a few rings, Lyjohn answered.

“Yes, Miss Alya?”

“Mr. Lyjohn, can you help me with something?”

“Of course, Miss Alya. What do you need?”

“I want to make an engraved flower vase for Grey's birthday.”

There was a brief pause.

“You want to make it yourself, Miss Alya?”

“Yes!” Alya replied excitedly. “I don't want to just buy one. I want someone to teach me how to make it.”

“I understand.”

“And can you also find a shop or a place where I can actually make it myself?”

“Certainly, Miss Alya. I will look for someone who can teach you and arrange a place where you can work on the vase.”

“Really? Thank you, Mr. Lyjohn!”

“It would be my pleasure, Miss Alya.”

Alya smiled.

“Please don't tell anyone what I'm planning, okay?”

Lyjohn chuckled softly.

“Of course. Your secret is safe with me.”

“Thank you!”

She ended the call and placed her phone beside her laptop.

Alya stared at the picture of the engraved vase on her screen.

She imagined Grey receiving it.

Maybe he would smile.

Maybe he would finally appreciate the effort she had put into it.

Maybe, just maybe, he would realize how much she cared about him.

Alya hugged her pillow tightly.

“I hope you like it, Grey.”

She looked back at the screen, her eyes filled with determination.

“This time, I'll make something you'll never forget.”