Playing His Game

Chapter 8- When do we begin our little Game

Essel’s Pov

The weekend has passed and now it's Sunday evening. I'm sitting in bed, reading one of my beloved books, The Royal Treatment. I've lost count of how many times I've read it.

I was completely engrossed in the book, so I didn't notice the gentle tapping on my window at first. It wasn't until I heard the second tap that I set the book aside and listened. After a moment, I heard it again. It was clear that I wasn't just imagining things.

Placing the book on my bedside table, I stood up from the bed. Walking over to the window, I drew back the curtains and pushed the window pane up to peer outside. Michael was perched on his window sill, appearing completely at ease. He held a handful of pebbles in his hands.

"Did you intend to break my window?" I inquire.

"No, I didn't hit it with much force," he casually shrugs.

"What's your purpose here?" I ask, getting straight to the point.

"When do we begin our little game," he said.

I furrow my brow in confusion. "What?"

"You and me fake dating, remember?" He pointed out. "Don't tell me you've forgotten."

Honestly, I believed that he had reconsidered his decision. Since I hadn't heard from him all weekend, I assumed that he had finally seen the light, realized that the idea of dating was ridiculous, and decided to end it. It looks like I was mistaken.

"I'm still thinking about it," I replied.

"Okay, but hurry up would you."

"My mom is getting on my nerves."

After that, he leaped off the window ledge and into his room. Without uttering another sound, he shut his window and vanished from view.

I also closed my window and drew the curtains closed once more. I returned to bed and picked up my book. I had barely started reading again when there was a gentle knock on my door. "Enter," I replied.

"Hey Dad, what's going on?" I placed the book on the bed next to me and tucked my feet underneath.

Dad came over to my bed and took a seat. "It's been a while since we've had a chat. How's school?" he inquired.

"School is... well, good," I replied with a smile.

Dad chuckled. "Fair enough." There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. "I was thinking that you and Sarah should go shopping next week. What do you think?"

I grinned. "Absolutely, Dad. I'd love that," I responded sincerely.

"Dad glanced at me and smiled gratefully. He understood that Sarah and I didn't talk much, and he wanted us to connect. "Thank you, darling," he said, patting my foot as he started to get up from my bed. Then he noticed something. "Why did you throw that away? I thought you loved that picture," he asked, pointing to a crumpled photo of Latif and me in the trash."

"He was correct. I really adored that photo. It was the most cherished picture of Latif and me. We took it during our visit to the amusement park four months ago. In the photo, we were both pulling funny faces. "We've parted ways," I murmured softly.

Dad turned to me, his eyes reflecting surprise. "Why? What went wrong?"

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. "He was unfaithful to me. Our relationship was built on deception." I attempted to sound indifferent, but the pain and anger I felt whenever I thought about his actions were undeniable.

"Are you alright?" Dad inquired softly.

I gazed into my father's eyes and noticed a hint of sorrow. He kept his eyes locked with mine, waiting for my answer. He has always despised seeing me in pain or distress. I smiled to ease his concern. "I'll manage."

He smiled warmly. "That's right, no boy is worth your tears, alright?"

I nodded in agreement. "Alright."

"That's my girl." He stood up and gently kissed me on the forehead. "Good night, kiddo. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad," I answered. He gave me one final smile before leaving my room and closing the door behind him.

The following morning, I rise and prepare for the day as I always do. I dress in a pair of black high-waisted shorts and a simple white shirt with the word 'NOPE' boldly printed on the front. This shirt accurately reflects my daily mood.

"Have a good day at school, sweetheart," my mom tells me as I step out of the car. Ha, like I could actually enjoy school. "Goodbye, mom. See you later," I say, closing the door with a slam.

I make my way up the steps to the school. Ah, my favorite place to be at seven in the morning every day. Not. I really despise school. All I want is a six-month vacation twice a year, and for them to eliminate math as a subject because it's terrible.

As I enter the school, I scan the area for Michael. Why? Because he kissed me and I reacted by kicking him where it hurts. Oh no, what have I done? What was I thinking? Why am I so foolish? Idiotic. Idiotic. Idiotic.

I see Michael leaning against his locker, with his hands tucked into the pockets of his black jeans and his white shirt fitting him perfectly. It's hard to deny that he is incredibly attractive. His gaze roams the hallways, searching for someone, while his two close friends, Stephan and Nazif, chat and laugh beside him about something silly. Stephan has his arm around one of the more promiscuous girls at our school, named Rose.Rose is friends with Comfort, and you already know who she is.

I glance back at Michael and notice that he's looking at me. Oh no! I hurriedly cover my face with my long, light brown hair and attempt to pass by Michael to get to my locker.Michael keeps calling my name multiple times, but I choose not to respond and instead increase my walking speed.

Strong, muscular arms envelop my waist and draw me back against someone's chest. "Why are you avoiding me?" Michael murmurs in my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. "I need to talk to you, alone," he insists, pulling me by my wrist towards the janitor's closet. "What? But there are only two minutes until school starts," I protest. Under different circumstances, I would be happy to skip literature, but because it's Michael, I want to get away as fast as I can.

"He leads me into the janitor's closet and closes the door. I lean against the wall and let out a sigh, "What are you after?" I inquire, feeling frustrated. Michael approaches me and gently lifts my chin, making me meet his gaze with his piercing green eyes. The dimly lit closet allows me to still see the smirk on his face as he whispers, "I desire you."