complete deception

the sharp snap of fingers in front of my face yanked me back to reality "earth to Hailey!" lyric laughed wavering her hands dramatically you've been staring into space for a while now. what are you daydreaming about? I blinked several times before focusing on her amused face "nothing" "that's a lie " lyric replied "it's not.....I replied I turned to face her, you're ten minutes late lyric, I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. she gasped, placing a hand over her chest "ten minutes late " the horror "seriously lyric you are always late this days you better drop the habit. one day this lateness is going to get you into trouble or better yet make you miss a good opportunity I said tried hard to stay annoyed I'm sorry babe i will change I promise lyric quickly added shaking me slightly forgive me babe oh my gosh Hailey you look so radiant and beautiful today what's the secret I busted out laughing out loud you fool I always look like this what's the difference, I know you are just trying to make me laugh I furrowed playfully "see!" she said "proudly you can't” stay mad at me unfortunately I whispered she linked her arm through mine as we started walking across the campus. The morning sun cast long shadows across the pathway, students hurried past us with cofee cups, some rushing to class, while others stood chatting through the hall way. I honestly can't believe Anna isn't coming back this semester lyric shite as we continue walking. ( Brianna is the third member of our group. she, me and lyric have been friends right from kindergarten. our mother's became friends during our school sport weekend in kindergarten then and right after they were inseparable. unfortunately Anna and her family relocated to Paris, because of the father's business fashion house.) "yeah me too me , we are really gonna be miss her a lot I replied but thinking about it, I think we just got our self an escape zone, whenever we get bored and need a vacation lyric added wow that's true I respond before I glanced at my phone to check the time my eyes windend 8:32 am oh no! what happened? lyric beside me asked I'm late for professor Jane's lectures. I quickly unhook our twined arms, without second thought and running towards my lecture hall l'm sorry babe, I cause it .. text me when you're done okay, love you lyric shouted after me. I love you too replying back while I keep running to my destination by the time I reached the hall, I was breathless the room was already filling up professor Jane stood at the front organizing her slide, with her back turned to the class I slip in, trying not to attract attention I quickly scanned the room for empty seat near spotting one near a guy wearing a grey hoodie I hurried and dropped into the seat I was still catching my breath when Professor Jane began speaking. "Good morning, everyone." The room quiet down instantly. I reached for my notebook and started writing. A few minutes later, I felt someone staring at me. Slowly, I turned my head. The guy beside me was looking at me. Not in a creepy way. More like he was trying to figure something out. before he leaned towards me and whispered with a calm voice please I got distracted for a few seconds, could you repeat the last point she said. The moment I looked at him properly, every coherent thought vanished. Blue eyes. Not ordinary blue. The kind of blue that looked unreal. The kind people wrote songs about. Combined with dark hair, sharp features, and a jawline that could probably cut glass, the result was unfair. Completely unfair For a second, I just stared His eyebrows lifted slightly, clearly waiting for an answer. Heat rushed to my cheeks. Get it together, Hayley I quickly looked away. "The market segmentation model," I whispered. She's explaining the four categories. "Oh" He nodded. "Thanks." I gave a small nod and turned back toward the front but concentrating became impossible. Every few seconds I found myself painfully aware of his presence. The way he sat. The way he occasionally pushed his hair back. The way his voice sounded. Stop it!!...Hailey, I forced my eyes onto my notes. Professor Jane continued talking, but half the lecture felt like a blur. By the time class ended, I was exhausted. The moment Professor Jane dismissed everyone, I began packing my things. The sooner I got out of there, the better. I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed for the door. "Excuse me." I stopped, that voice. Turning around, I found the hoodie guy standing behind me. Up close, he looked even better. Wonderful. "Yeah?" He smiled. A small smile. But somehow it made my heart do ridiculous things. "I wanted to thank you again." "For what?" "The notes earlier." "Oh"! I laughed softly. "It was nothing." "No, it helped, he smile widened. "I'm glad I asked." For a moment neither of us spoke. I secretly waited for him to say something else. Anything. Maybe ask my name. Maybe introduce himself. Something. Instead, he extended his hand. "I'm Jaiden." Jaiden. The name suited him. I smiled. "I'm—" My phone suddenly rang. Loudly I glanced at the screen Lyric. I wanted to scream "Sorry," I said quickly. "I have to take this." Jaiden chuckled "No problem" I answered the call while trying not to look disappointed By the time I finished speaking with Lyric and looked up again, Jaiden was already gone. And somehow, despite only knowing his first name, I was bit disappointed we didn't get to talk much. but I have to go cause my brother and lyric are waiting for me outside lyric just told me about her seeing Kai my brother packing near the school lot then I remembered my mother blackmail me and lyric yesterday to help her with Kai's wedding prepare shopping, cos she decided to do must of the decorations and baking herself luckily for her each of us only have one lectures today. I turned walking to the entrance to meet my brother and lyric there he was—Kai, leaning against a sleek, black luxury car. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a boyish charm that was uncannily like mine just a masculine echo. His smile lit up his face as he opened the door for us. "Mom is waiting," Kai said calmly. "Wait, why did Mom send you to pick us up instead of Mr. Caleb, the driver?" I asked, surprised. It wasn't every day Kai volunteered to play chauffeur. As Kai settled into the driver's seat, he reached over and flicked my forehead before adjusting his seatbelt. "Mom sent him on an errand too. That's why she forced me to pick you guys up." Then he glanced at Lyric through the rearview mirror. "Hey, Lyric, tell James to meet me at the usual spot by 9 p.m. today. I have no idea why he isn't responding to my texts or voicemails." "Okay, I will," Lyric replied. Kai nodded and started the engine. As the car pulled away from the school gate, he glanced down at his phone one more time, a small frown wrinkling his forehead before he shoved it into the cup holder. The drive continued with light conversation filling the quiet space of the car. Lyric babbled from the back seat about her acting class, while I tried my best to look engaged, nodding along in all the right places. In reality, my mind was still stuck in that lecture hall, trapped in the memory of a pair of unreal blue eyes and a voice that made my heart do ridiculous things. I couldn't even say his name out loud, but it felt heavy in my chest. I was pulled out of my thoughts when the towering glass building of the mall came into view, its sleek windows catching the bright morning sun. Kai turned the steering wheel, navigating into the busy parking lot. "Alright, ladies," Kai said, killing the engine and looking back at us. "we are here!!!!" he added with a playful tone which made me and lyric laugh "Brace yourselves". We are entering Mom's wedding war zone." Kai said as we all stepped out of the car at the same time. immediately I spotted the familiar figure standing outside the entrance of the building.