COLD DUTY

Annoying & Needy

Ace POV

I'm not good at comforting people, so I was relieved when a guy in soccer wear came and comforted Alexandria.

He gave me a judgmental look. I was used to that... Everyone did that to me. I turned around and was about to leave, but two guys blocked my way.

I wondered what they wanted. They looked like fourth year college students, based on the badges they were wearing.

"What did you do to her?" The playboy-looking guy accused me.

I didn't want to deal with such negativity, but the other one tried to block me again when I tried to avoid them.

"I'm sorry, but you have to deal with us today,"A friendly guy said with a smile on his lips that made him look like a psycho.

"Let her go. The next time she gets close to Xandria, I won't hesitate to hurt her, even if she's a girl"The guy who comforted Alexandria said. This guy wasn't on the list of documents that Alexander gave me. I looked at him as if scanning him from head to toe.

They seemed to have something to brag about. Their charisma was strong and the ladies were looking at them with admiration.

I was startled when Xandria suddenly hugged me, confusing the three guys.

She had regained her senses. She was so traumatized. A small situation like that had a big impact on her. I wonder what happened to her High School life.

"I thought I would never see you again, Trasie. I missed you," she said with tears on her cheeks.

"It's been two months. Why did you leave?" She added, sobbing.

Couldn't she control her emotions?

"Back off," I said as my shirt got wet.

I still had a class to attend... My expression showed how much I wanted to get out of her hug. Luckily, the playboy guy saw it and pulled her away from me.

" Who is she. Princess?" The friendly psycho asked.

"Trasie, I'm so happy to see you again. You are happy to see me, right?" Xandria

"Yeah, I guess so." I replied

"I want you to meet my cousin and friends. This is Colby, my boyfriend. He's very cold, but he's a good guy." Xandria

Colby wearing a poker face.

"And these are my cousin and friends, Sam and Shuntian. They are in the same soccer team. Sam is a playboy, he flirts with every girl he sees." Xandria

"Hey, Trasie. You're very beautiful, can I take you out?" Said Sam

" And Shuntian is very friendly, but he looks like a psycho sometimes." Xandria

" Careful Xandria. I can hear you. Hi, Trasie. You're very nice, do you want to be my friend?" Shuntian guy said

"They are really fun guys, Trasie. They helped me a lot around the campus." Xandria said proudly

"I see." I responded.

Why is she telling me this? I barely know her. She's so strange.

"She's my brother's girlfriend," she said, giggling.

I looked at her, hoping she would take back what she said. But she seemed to believe it.

"Really? Since when?" Her cousin Sam asked.

"Since they were young," she said, smiling in her delusion.

I didn't care to hear more.

"I have things to do, I'm going,"

I said, but Alexandria stopped me with a pouty face.

"When will I see you again?" She asked.

What was wrong with her? She acted like a needy puppy. I understood her situation, but not her behavior. She was a stranger to me, and I only had to protect her. I wasn't hired to be her nanny.

" We're not friends, stop acting like one"

I said and turn around. She's such a crybaby.

Sam grabbed my wrist and glared at me. I tried to take off my hands but he grip it even more.I twisted my wrist and broke free from his grip. Then I used my momentum to push him back and pin him down on the ground. I straddled his waist and held his arms above his head. I looked down at him with a fierce expression.

" You're done, Don't ever touch me again" I said and walked Away. Ladies look at me with judgement. As if.

Third Person Pov

Sam was stunned by her sudden move. He had never see a lady so aggressive and strong. He felt a mix of fear and admiration. He also felt something else, something he couldn't quite name. He stared at her face, which was inches away from his. He noticed how her eyes sparkled, how her hair fell over her shoulders, how her lips were slightly parted. He felt a strange urge to kiss her, but he quickly dismissed it. He tried to act cool.

From that day on he never stopped trying to get her attention. Anytime and Anywhere that makes Trasie annoyed.

One time....

Trasie was sitting in the cafeteria, trying to enjoy her lunch. She had just finished a difficult math test and wanted to relax. She didn't notice Sam walking towards her, carrying a tray with two sandwiches, two drinks, and two cupcakes. He had a big smile on his face and a hopeful look in his eyes.He reached her table and put his tray down.

He sat across from her and said."Hi, Trasie. I brought you some lunch. I hope you like it."

Trasie looked up and saw him. She felt a surge of annoyance and frustration. She had been trying to avoid him all day, but he always found her.

He was always sending her gifts, flowers, letters, and sweet words. But she never gave him any attention. She never thanked him for his presents, never smiled at him or talked to him. She treated him coldly, like nothing.

But he never gave up.She pushed her tray away and said.

"What are you doing here? I don't want your lunch. I don't want anything from you. Leave me alone."Sam looked hurt and confused.

"Trasie, why are you being so mean? I'm just trying to be nice to you. I'm just trying to show you how much I care about you. You're the only one for me, Trasie.."

Trasie glared at him and stood up."Sam, you're wasting your time. You're annoying, clingy, and obsessive. You need to get a life and stop bothering me."She grabbed her backpack and walked away from him.

Trasie's rejection makes Sam more passionate and persistent, her refusal only fuels Sam's determination to win her over.

On the other side.

Diane, Mia and Zara was sitting in the cafeteria, watching Sam from across the room. Diane had a crush on him for a long time, but he never noticed her. He only had eyes for Trasie, the new girl who had transferred to their school a few weeks ago.

Diane hated Trasie with a passion. She was pretty, and smart. She had everything Diane wanted, including Sam's attention.

Diane and friends saw Sam walking towards Trasie's table, carrying a tray with two sandwiches, two drinks, and two cupcakes. He had a big smile on his face and a hopeful look in his eyes.He reached Trasie's table and said something to her. Diane couldn't hear what he said, but she saw Trasie push the tray away and glare at him. She said something back to him, probably telling him to leave her alone.

Diane felt a surge of anger and jealousy. How dare Trasie reject Sam like that?

How dare she treat him so coldly? Sam deserved better than that. He deserved someone who would appreciate him, someone who would love him, someone like Diane.

Diane decided to do something about it.

But she also felt hopeful. Maybe this was her chance to get closer to Sam. Maybe this was her chance to make him see that she was the one for him.

She walked over to him and offered him her hand.

"Sam, are you okay? Do you need some help?" Diane said.

But Sam didn't pay attention to her and just past by. That hurt her even more

A N O T H E R S C E N E

Trasie was walking down the hallway , trying to ignore the glares and whispers of the other girls. She knew they hated her for being the object of Sam's obsession . She wished he would leave her alone, but he never did. He was relentless but she was not interested .

She reached her locker and open it , hoping to find some peace . But instead , she found a bouquet of roses and a card with Sam's handwriting . She threw them right away in the trash . She didn't even bother to read the card . She knew what it would say . Something like

"I like you, Trasie . Please give me a chance . You're the only one for me."

She slammed her locker door and turned around, only to see Sam standing right in front of her .

He smiled and reached for her hand.

"Hi Trasie.You look beautiful today did you get my flowers?"

Trasie pulled her hand away and glared at him.

"I don't want your flowers, your gifts or your letters, or your words. I don't want anything from you.Just stop". Trasie said calmly

Sam shook his head and move closer to her .

"Please don't be like that. You're just playing hard to get but i don't mind, I like a challenge. I'll never give up on you, Trasie . You're my soulmate."

Trasie pushed him away and tried to walk past him.

"You are delusional." Said Trasie and walked out.

The other students watched the scene with mixed emotions. Some felt sorry for Sam, some felt jealous of Trasie, some felt angry at both of them. But they all agreed on one thing: Trasie was a cold-hearted b***h who didn't deserve Sam's love.

Yet still, Sam smiled and walked together with her.

A N O T H E R S C E N E

Trasie was in the library, studying for her biology exam. She had a lot of material to cover and she needed to focus. She didn't notice Sam sneaking up behind her, carrying a paper bag with some snacks. He had a mischievous grin on his face and a hopeful look in his eyes.

He reached her table and whispered.

"Hi, Trasie. I brought you some snacks. I know you must be hungry after studying so hard."

Trasie looked up and saw him.

She felt a surge of irritation.

She pushed the paper bag away and said.

" Leave me alone."

Sam looked hurt and confused.

"Trasie, why?"

Trasie ignore him and turned back to her book.

"Sam, I'm not interested in you"

Sam moved closer to her and said.

"Trasie, Just give me a chance, Trasie. Just one chance."

Trasie slammed her book shut and stood up.

"No. Just leave"

Sam grab her bag

"Trasie, wait. Please give me a chance. Just one date, Trasie. That's all I ask."

Trasie took her bag back...

and says

" No means no! "

Their loud voices attracted the attention of the librarian, who was sitting at the desk nearby.

She looked at them with a stern expression and said.

"Excuse me, this is a library. No shouting, no running, no food allowed. You two are disturbing the other patrons. Please leave immediately or I will call security."

Trasie and Sam looked at the librarian and realized they had made a scene.

Sam muttered "Sorry" and quickly left the library.

And that sceneries beacame the talk in the college department everywhere. Especially when Saam walked into the third year building, looking for Trasie. He wanted to surprise her and ask her out for a date again. He knew she had a free period after class, and he thought it would be a good time to see her.

As soon as he entered the corridor, he caused a commotion. The girls who saw him started to scream and swoon. They couldn't believe that the handsome and charming Sam was in their building.They wondered who he was looking for, and they hoped it was them.

Diane was one of those girls. She was in the same class as Trasie, and she had a clear view of Sam. She felt her heart skip a beat when she saw him. She thought he had come for her, since he helped him one time and she felt a surge of excitement.

She quickly got up from her seat and ran towards him. She smiled and said, "Hi, Sam. What are you doing here?"

Sam looked at her with annoyance.

He recognized her as one of Mia's friends, and one of Trasie's bullies. He didn't like her at all, and he wished she would leave him alone. He said coldly, "I'm not here for you. I'm looking for someone else."

Diane felt a pang of rejection. She felt her face turn red with embarrassment. She heard the other girls laugh at her, and she felt humiliated.

She said angrily, "Who are you looking for then? Some nerd? Some loser?"

Sam ignored her and walked past her.

He scanned the classroom and spotted Trasie. She was sitting at her desk, reading a book. She looked beautiful and serene, unaware of the chaos around her. Sam felt his heart melt when he saw her. He smiled and walked towards her. She is enjoying the peace and quiet on her own world, until she hears a familiar voice behind her.

Sam: Hey, Trasie. What are you reading?

Trasie: (sighs and turns around) What do you want?

Sam: I just want to talk to you. You know. To know you better and deeper

Trasie: Why? We have nothing in common.

Sam: That's not true. We both like martial arts, right?

Trasie: Yeah, but you only do it for show. I do it for real.

Sam: Ouch. That hurts. You know, you're very cute when you're angry.

Trasie: (pokerface) Don't try to flirt with me. It won't work.

Sam: Come on, Trasie. Give me a chance. I really like you.

Trasie: Well, I don't like you. You're too arrogant, too cocky, too annoying.

Sam: But that's what makes me fun. And you're too serious, too cold, too boring.

Trasie: (stands up) I've had enough of you. Leave me alone.

Sam: (grabs her hand) Wait, Trasie. Don't go.

Trasie: (pulls her hand away) Let go of me.

Sam: (smirks) Make me.

Trasie: (punches him in the face) Fine.

Sam: (falls to the floor) Ow! That hurt!

Trasie: (walks away) Good.

The other students in the classroom watch the scene with shock and awe. Some of them laugh, some of them gasp, some of them cheer. Diane, glares at Trasie with envy and hatred. She can't believe that Sam likes Trasie more than her.