My Secret Husband

Deserved

(GAIE’S POV)

[ZHENVALLE UNIVERSITY]

People were staring at me as I walked by with my dirty bag. I overheard that most of the people in this school were rich. Well, good for them.

"Excuse me, do you know where Room 48 is?" I shyly asked a girl I bumped into. I adjusted my glasses because she was staring at me for quite a while.

"Dunno," she replied curtly, then turned away while covering her nose. I lowered my head, feeling embarrassed by what she said.

"Is it wrong to enter a world where I don't belong?" I muttered, pouting.

"Need help?" I was startled by the voice of the guy who had helped me earlier. He smiled at me, and somehow, it lightened my mood.

"Ah, it's just—" I was left speechless as he picked up the two bags I had been carrying earlier.

"Room number?" he asked, waiting for my answer. When I didn’t respond, he looked at me and followed my gaze. He waved his left hand in front of me. "Miss?"

"Ahh, 48! Yes, 48!" I answered, flustered. He gave a small smile in response.

So embarrassing! Gaie, stop watching all those romantic dramas.

He directed me to the girls' dorm and gave me instructions on what I still needed to do. I wanted to be friends with him, but I stopped myself, realizing we weren’t really on the same level.

"T-Thank you," I said shyly, to which he just nodded and quickly walked away. I buried my face in my palms in embarrassment.

"I hope I see you again," I whispered as I knocked on the door.

"Yes?" greeted a beautiful girl, who even smiled at me. I shyly returned her smile, making her stare at me longer.

"T-This is the room that was given to me." I stammered as I noticed her questioning look.

She made an 'O' shape with her mouth and blinked a few times before realizing that I was one of her future roommates. "Come in. Welcome here," she said enthusiastically, making me bow my head even lower.

I was so embarrassed because she was so kind and so beautiful, and I felt so far behind. We were also classmates. She was taking Architecture, just like me. Her name is Paige De Silva, and it really suits her—she’s so pretty. Thank goodness I have someone I can get along with.

»»»» ✿

Paige didn’t walk with me, so I ended up arriving at the classroom first. When I got there, almost all the seats were taken. Where should I sit?

"Can I sit here?" I shyly asked the girl who was busy writing.

"No." I just nodded and accepted it, clearly sensing that she didn’t want me sitting next to her.

I asked three more people before finally finding a seat. The person next to me was sleeping, so I figured I wouldn’t be bothered. I caught a glimpse of his ID, and his name sounded so rich.

Vhiencent Hile Tañedo

Such a handsome name.

I slowly sat next to him, which caused some of my classmates to gossip about me. I ignored them and took out my ruler from my bag to start making my template. I struggled to pull it out, so I yanked it as hard as I could.

I finally got it, but the tip of the ruler hit the head of the guy who was sleeping beside me. It all happened so fast that I couldn’t process what I’d just done. I quickly covered my mouth, feeling like my soul had left my body.

Damn! That must’ve hurt! I think I hit him too hard! I’m in big trouble!

He let out a slight groan, clutching the part of his head that my ruler had hit. I instinctively moved to check on him, but he shot me a sharp, furious glare.

“Who are you, ugly?”

My jaw dropped at his question. “G-Gaiety,” I stammered, utterly taken aback. I was about to apologize when he grabbed my arm and yanked me to my feet.

“Don't even think about sitting on this chair again,” he warned, his tone dripping with menace.

“Wait, you're the one who threw mybag earlier, aren't you? It was you!”

Confirmed!

“And who do you think you are to boss me around? I'll sit here if I want to! What's it to you?” I shot back, my voice full of defiance as I gripped the table tightly. He tried pulling me up again, but I clung to the table even harder.

“Ouch! I swear I'll kick you! I’m not leaving this spot!” I yelled, my tone bolder than before. I mocked him further, daring him to react.

“Is that so?" His eyes narrowed before he suddenly hoisted me up as if I were a bride. I was too stunned to react, and before I knew it, he had dumped me outside our classroom like a sack of trash.

My blood boiled. Without hesitation, I grabbed his leg, determined to pull him down.

“s**t! Let go of me!" he shouted.

“No!” I snapped, pulling harder. He retaliated by yanking my hair, so I bit the back of his knee in response.

We were shouting and grappling when suddenly—

“What do you think you're doing?!" a teacher’s voice thundered.

Vhiencent let go of my hair, and I reluctantly stopped biting his jeans, embarrassment washing over me.

“Stand straight!" the male teacher shouted, smacking both our heads with his T-square. He inspected our IDs and addressed us sternly.

“Mr. Tañedo and Ms. Castañares, stand here on one foot—until my class ends.”

“But she started it!” / “But sir, he started it!" we both protested in unison, pointing accusatory fingers at each other.

“No buts! I'll be watching. Now, stand on one foot!"

Vhiencent kicked my leg, making me lose my balance.

“Ms. Castañares, one book on top of your head,” our classmate interjected smugly, balancing a thick book on my head.

“Deserved," Vhiencent obnoxiously muttered beside me, making my irritation spike even more.

I lightly pushed him on the arm and hurriedly moved away from him. I couldn’t help but smile when he stumbled, and just after that, the woman from earlier came out, holding a thick book.

"You’re in trouble now," he threatened, but I just glared at him and focused on balancing myself.

"Deserved," I whispered, mimicking him.