Chasing His Plus-sized Crush

Chapter 8

Kiara got back into the room that she shared with her two best friends, Mary and Alora.

"Kiara, what happened?" Mary asked her first, as she saw how downcast Kiara looked and also holding onto the credit card that Mark had given her.

"Nothing. I am fine," Kiara replied, moving over to her bed to sit down. She did not want to discuss what had happened.

Mary stood in front of Kiara's bed, watching her best friend sit down.

"You clearly do not look fine. And what are these red marks all over your neck? Ah! Did you and Bryan do anything for real?" Mary asked, her eyes bulging out as she rushed to the bed to sit beside Kiara.

"No. We did not do anything," Kiara quickly denied it.

But Mary did not believe her.

"It's fine. If you do not want to tell me what the problem is," Mary said, taking a closer look at Kiara's neck.

"Kiara is an adult. What's bad is if she did anything with Bryan. Is it because he's the hottest boy on campus or just because his parents are rich?" Alora asked, as she sat on her bed, eating her lunch.

Kiara's stomach grumbled, and she stood up from her bed to pack her bag.

"Where are you taking your bags to?" Mary asked when she saw Kiara packing her things to leave.

"I am going back home for the holidays. I will be back for the second year," Kiara said, and Mary was left speechless.

"I thought we agreed not to go back home until our second-year break?" Mary asked, clearly angry as she did not want to stay alone.

"I just thought about it. I do not want to stay on campus. Also, my mother is having a new jewellery launch in her company. I want to attend it," Kiara said, giving excuses.

"Fine. I am not from the north, so I cannot travel there with you. I am going to miss you though," Mary said, her eyes reddening with unshed tears.

"Don't worry. I will give you a call," Kiara said, once she packed her bag to leave.

"How about we go out for lunch today?" Mary proposed, and Kiara thought against it.

"No. I do not feel like leaving this room. I am still trending online, and it's best that I stay low until the matter dies down," Kiara said, and Mary agreed.

"That's fine." Mary let Kiara be as she left the room alone.

Kiara ordered her meal, not leaving the room, as she did not want to attract the wrong attention. Also, her body ached, and it was best to stay away from any sort of misunderstanding at the moment.

After receiving her food and munching it to the last drop, as she loved to eat, Kiara felt tired, so she plopped on her bed and drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Kiara dragged her bag and set to leave for the north.

"I am going to miss you, Kiara," Mary hugged Kiara in the room.

It was a bright Sunday morning, Kiara had worn a long headscarf like a veil to cover her head and neck. She wore a blue dress and a black pair of shoes.

"I am going home now, Mary. Take care," Kiara told her friend as they parted from the hug.

Mary was slightly emotional since Kiara was leaving. They decided to chat over the phone.

It was 8 in the morning when Kiara arrived at the train station. She paid for her ticket and got into the train.

Taking her seat at the front, Kiara sat calmly, thinking about her life struggles.

There were other passengers on the train. A man moved to sit beside Kiara, and she was absent-minded about who the person was.

However, when Kiara raised her head and saw the man's face, she was stunned.

"Kiara," the man uttered her name in shock, and she lowered her head.

"Alec, where are you going?" Kiara asked. She knew Alec Graham was her senior from the north. He was also a student at Ashland University, but they were not communicating on campus.

Alec wore a green hoodie and black trousers. He was a 24-year-old guy, and he liked Kiara. Not caring that she was plus-sized.

"I wasn't expecting that you would be going home too. How was your first year?" Alec engaged Kiara in the train, pretending like he did not see or hear the trending topic on the university online page.

"It was fine. I did well, getting a distinction," Kiara said, as she smiled.

"That's great. I guess we will be seeing each other often now that you are going home," Alec said, his voice considerably warm.

"Maybe," Kiara smiled, looking away at the landscape and river that the train drove past.

"About the trending chat on the university forum. Did you really have anything to do with Bryan Anderson? I don't mean to ask about it, but you know, the Anderson family is very influential, and many girls want to be with Bryan," Alec said, as he relaxed in his seat. His gaze was fixed on Kiara's face.

Kiara looked back at Alec. Thankfully, she wore a black headscarf like a Muslim to cover her head and neck, so that Alec would not see any evidence.

"It's just rumors. But I happen to have had a drink with Bryan last night," Kiara admitted before lowering her head.

"I'm not trying to judge you, Kiara. But you are a very decent girl. I just felt bad that many girls who are not of your standard derive joy in dragging you online. But it's fine. I hope that you will overlook them and focus on your studies," Alec said, and Kiara sighed with relief that he was not scolding her.

"I will stay focused. Thank you," Kiara smiled at Alec. As the rest of the train ride became silent.

After three hours on the train, they arrived at the North area of Ashland.

"Welcome home, Kiara. Can I have your contact? I would like to keep in touch with you, maybe during this holiday period," Alec asked, once the train stopped and Kiara set to get out.

"Alright." Kiara did not think too much about it. She collected Alec's phone, gave him her number, then picked up her bag and got out of the train.

Once Kiara hailed a taxi, she went back to her mother's house.

Kiara lived with her mother and her grandmother. When she arrived at the towering black gate that her mother lived in, she knocked on the gate, and a security man pulled it open.

"Welcome, small Madam," the security man, Khaza Norman, ushered Kiara inside the exquisite compound with a friendly smile. Khaza was a 45-year-old man who had been working for Kiara's mother for more than 15 years.

"Thanks, Khaza," Kiara smiled at him.

"Let me help you with the bag," Khaza offered, extending his hand to take Kiara's bag, but she stopped him.

"No. It's fine. I can carry it," Kiara declined. She smiled, entered the compound that belonged to her mother, and then went to the front of the white house to enter inside.