Chapter 1: THE BOY I SHOULDN'T NOTICE
“Aurora!!”
I turned toward the direction of the scream. Standing beside a luxurious car in the school parking lot were my friend, Leah, and her cute brother.
Wait! What?!
Did I just say cute brother?
“Oh, what was I thinking?” I muttered, shaking my head nervously.
Ever since Aiden was transferred to this school, he had always maintained a cold demeanor and never made any effort to get close to anyone. In fact, we had barely exchanged a conversation.
So why should I be thinking of him that way?
Leah was waving at me with a wide smile, her eyes sparkling with warmth. Beside her stood her brother—the complete opposite of her.
Aiden's tall figure was dressed in a perfectly tailored school uniform. His dark, piercing eyes and unreadable expression gave him an intimidating, almost untouchable aura. With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, he cast me a brief glance before turning and heading toward his class.
Leah scoffed.
“Proud brat,” she muttered.
“Hey, bestie. How was your weekend?” Leah asked as we linked arms.
“Well, it wasn't anything special. Just my usual routine,” I replied with a smile.
“If I'd known you weren't having any fun, I would have come to pick you up for the yacht party we attended,” Leah said regretfully.
“I can guess you had a lot of fun,” I teased.
“Yes, it was lit! And guess what?” she exclaimed, grinning mischievously.
“What?” I asked eagerly.
“The Almighty Queen of the Girls got rejected!” she blurted out, bursting into hysterical laughter.
“The Almighty Queen of the Girls? And who could that be?” I asked, genuinely clueless.
“Don't tell me you've forgotten the sassy Elena, your opponent in last year's debate competition,” Leah said incredulously.
“Oh, yeah. I remember her now,” I replied.
The debate competition was an annual event held between schools across the city.
“That sassy girl who gave me such a tough time,” I recalled, scoffing.
“So, who would have rejected the great queen's advances?” I asked curiously.
“No other person than my cold brother,” Leah replied mockingly.
“Wait! What?!” I exclaimed, completely stunned.
“So, she has liked your brother all this while?” I asked in disbelief.
“Yes. She hid it so well that none of us knew. But I guess she could no longer uphold her pride and eventually confessed, only to get rejected,” Leah replied scornfully.
We continued toward our classroom as she filled me in on everything that had happened at the party.
---
We had just finished our last class before the break period when a notification appeared on my phone.
Aurora, please. I'd like you to help me with a difficult topic. I'll be waiting for you in the empty classroom behind the science lab.
I read the message and sighed.
It was from my “school daughter,” Naomi, whom I had always looked after since she started attending the school.
“What's the matter? Why did you sigh?” Leah asked with concern.
“Nothing serious. But I won't be joining you for lunch. I want to help Naomi with her schoolwork,” I explained apologetically.
“Oh, it's alright. I'll go with my brother,” she replied.
Leah headed to Aiden's class and walked toward his desk, where he was having a conversation with his friends.
“Leah, you're always so pretty that I often wonder when I'll finally have you,” Jake, the group's resident playboy, teased.
Lena immediately hissed and rolled her eyes.
Aiden shot Jake a deadly glare before turning toward his sister.
“What are you here for?” he asked coldly.
“I came so you'd accompany me to the eatery,” she replied pleadingly.
“What about your friend?” he asked casually.
“She went to attend to her school daughter's request,” Leah explained.
“Let's go. But I won't spend much time,” he replied.
“Okay, then,” she agreed.
As they walked out, Jake continued checking Leah out.
Aiden couldn't hide the cold fury in his eyes.
Jake noticed and couldn't help but laugh.
“Well, you better not tear me apart with those eyes,” he joked.
Aiden ignored him.
He and Leah walked down the hallway, where the stares and giggles from the girls were something Leah had long become accustomed to whenever she walked beside her brother.
When they reached the cafeteria, the situation was no different. Leah had to reserve a table at the far end of the room so she could enjoy her meal in peace.
“What would you like to order?” the cafeteria attendant asked them.
“Let me have a double espresso,” Aiden replied while adjusting his headset.
“Is that the only thing you want?” the attendant asked.
“Hmm.” He nodded.
“And how about you?” the attendant asked, turning to Leah.
“I'll have chicken piccata with sautéed vegetables and freshly squeezed juice,” Leah replied.
“Okay. Give me a few minutes,” the attendant assured them.
“Why didn't you order a proper meal?” Leah asked Aiden with concern.
“I don't have much of an appetite today,” Aiden explained.
Shortly afterward, their orders were served.
Aiden sipped his double espresso while occasionally nodding to the rhythm of the music playing through his headset.
Leah was enjoying her meal and was halfway through when Aiden suddenly stood up.
“So soon?” Leah asked.
“You know I said I wouldn't spend much time. I still have unfinished schoolwork to attend to,” he explained.
“Okay, fine,” she replied.
---
Aurora's POV
I was done with Naomi and dismissed her to her class.
I was walking along the path leading to the other block, which connected to the cafeteria, when someone suddenly stopped in front of me.
I lost my balance and fell hard to the ground.
A sharp pain shot through my buttocks, causing me to wince.
I looked up angrily, eager to see who had been careless enough to make me fall.
But the moment I saw him, my anger vanished.
I gasped in shock.
