Different Worlds: The School For The Rich

The Prince Continually Bothered Me

I managed to escape the pursuit of a group of persistent girls yesterday, and today marked the beginning of classes. I have a seat by the window, which I really like. As I gazed out at the view before me, I felt a twinge of sadness thinking that Mia and I are in different departments. She opted for nursing, while I chose business management, so we’re clearly not in the same place.

“Excuse me, someone is looking for you,” a girl said with a smile as she approached me. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was Mia. I turned to the door to see who it was, but my hopes faded quickly when I saw it was Stellan.

I couldn’t help but frown slightly. He gestured for me to come over, but I shook my head, making him pout like a puppy. He then walked into the room, causing everyone to blush and whisper, which made me feel even more uncomfortable. I worried that if he approached me, it would lead everyone to believe we were involved. I nervously signaled for him to stay away; he seemed to understand, but he didn’t take my advice.

Now he was right in front of me, and all I wanted was to find a place to hide. The whispers grew louder as everyone speculated about our relationship. Stellan flashed me a big grin, and I wished I could wipe that smirk off his face, but I maintained my composure.

“I finally found you. When are you going to tell me your name?” he asked enthusiastically, making me facepalm. So, he had come just to learn my name. “I told you—”

“Aisha!” My eyes widened at the sound of Mia's voice as she entered the room and came toward me. She glanced at Stellan, who teasingly raised his eyebrows at me, prompting me to give her a warning look.

“Oh, so your name is Aisha. What a lovely name,” Stellan remarked, reaching out to ruffle my hair. I gasped. “Hey!” I exclaimed, but he only chuckled as he stepped back. “See you later, Aisha,” he said with a wink before leaving.

Everyone continued to stare at me in disbelief over what had just happened. I sighed, knowing that this would spread quickly and that the girls would soon be aware of it.

“You're so lucky, Aisha! It seems Stellan has taken an interest in you,” Mia said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Stellan is a guy who doesn’t focus on any woman; he’s primarily concerned with himself,” she continued, which reminded me of the time I saw him with the assistant principal. “I wouldn’t say that, though…” I disagreed with her, and she looked puzzled. “Why not?” she asked, and I just giggled.

“Nothing,” I shrugged, not wanting to reveal the truth.

“I don’t always understand you, Aisha,” she said with a small smile. “I came here to see you, but since you seem fine, I’ll head back to my class. Goodbye, Aisha.” She waved goodbye, and I returned the gesture.

The timing worked out perfectly because as Mia left, our instructor arrived, introduced himself, and began our first lesson. I took notes while listening. The room was calm, and I appreciated it. It was quiet, and I felt fortunate to have classmates who stayed focused on the lecture rather than engaging in distractions.

After class, I found myself with five hours of free time before my next session in the afternoon. Deciding to grab some breakfast at the cafeteria, I realized I had skipped my meal in my focus on the first class.

As I stood in line with the other students, I glanced at the menu overhead, contemplating my order. The prices were steep and the options seemed extravagant. Just then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to find Stellan once again. Why does he always seem to show up when I least expect it?

"What do you want?" I sighed, trying to mask my irritation while continuing to line up.

"Can’t I just be here? I’m hungry too," he said with a wink that made me cringe. "Fine, but you can stand anywhere but right here," I replied warily, raising an eyebrow. "I prefer to be close to you," he said, lowering his voice in a tone that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine.

"Whatever," I murmured, looking away as I attempted to gather my thoughts. This guy was unsettling.

Eventually, we took a seat at the same table, and I struggled to ignore the curious stares of the other students. Glancing at him, I saw Stellan enjoying his food with a look of pure innocence. How did my life take such a surprising turn?

The following day, Stellan continued to pop up wherever I went. His frequent appearances turned me into something of an idol among my peers, all because of his apparent interest in me.

In my swimming class, he was there, cheering me on from the sidelines.

"You can do it, sweetie!" he shouted enthusiastically from the stands.

"What the?!" I spluttered, slightly taken aback as I swam freestyle in the pool.

Even as I walked through the hallways, he would dash toward me with a cheerful expression.

"Aaaaaiiissshhhhaaaa~" he called out, using a playful tone that made it seem like he missed me. He stopped in front of me, beaming.

"What?!" I groaned, already fatigued by his constant presence.

"Oh, you’re not happy to see me?" he replied, giving me an adorable puppy-dog look that made me want to hit him.

During our department's game event, he was there too, despite belonging to another department. He watched as I played soccer.

"I had no idea you could play, Aisha! That’s my girl!" he exclaimed, bouncing with joy, prompting gasps from the crowd, including myself.

"When did I become your girl?!" I shouted back, shocked and irritated.

I shared everything that happened with Mia, but all she did was laugh at my distress. I couldn't believe it. I was dealing with three girls who despised me, and now this popular guy at school was showing interest in me. I was certain that the rumor had reached the group of girls, and they were probably furious, particularly Beatrice. I thought my assumption was correct when I heard her voice approaching the room through the hallway.

"AIIIIISSSHHHHAAAA!" she screamed, banging on the door angrily. Mia gasped and looked at me, unsure of what to do.

"Open the door, Aisha!" she shouted with anger. I bit my lower lip, realizing the situation was serious.

Reluctantly, I opened the door to face her and her friends. "Did I tell you to stay away from Stellan!?" she hissed, jabbing a finger at me. "He's mine, not yours!" She claimed him as if he belonged to her.

"Calm down! I didn't take your guy. And, to begin with, he wasn't really yours." I placed my hands on my hips to emphasize reality.

"Besides, he approached me first. Get that through your head, Beatrice." My words seemed to annoy her, but I could tell they struck a nerve.

"We’re your seniors, so show some respect," she said, her brow furrowing.

"No, I don’t care who you are or what your title is. If you disrespect me, I’ll return the favor," I replied, clenching my fists as my patience wore thin, which made them step back.

"This isn't over, Aisha," Beatrice muttered before leaving. Once they were finally gone, I let out a sigh of relief, feeling lighter.

Mia came over, looking impressed. "That was incredible, Aisha. You handled that so well. If I were in your shoes, I think I would have cried," she admitted sincerely. I shut the door and glanced at her.

"Well, at least they’re gone... for now," I replied quietly, my mind racing with thoughts.

The next day, to my surprise, was peaceful until I entered the school’s entrance hall and spotted Stellan, Beatrice, and her friends chatting and laughing together, his demeanor relaxed. As soon as Stellan sensed my presence, he turned to me with a broad smile, which made me cringe internally.

Quickly, I decided to avoid them and took a different entrance to the school.

"Aisha!" he called out to me, which only added to my frustration. I paused and reluctantly faced them, noticing the girls glaring in my direction, with Beatrice radiating jealousy.

"How are you?" Stellan approached and wrapped his arms around me, catching me off guard, especially in front of the other girls. I attempted to break free, but he pulled me back, forcing my face against his chest, where I detected his sweet caramel fragrance.

"Stellan?! Why are you hugging that first-year?" Beatrice moved closer, trying to separate us, but he batted her hand away, leaving her embarrassed. He shot her a quick glare before reverting to a grin.

"Please, don’t try to break the hug," he said playfully until I finally pushed him off. "What was that hug for?" I inquired, more annoyed than curious. He could sense my irritation.

"Wow, Aisha. I simply missed you," he replied with a hint of sweetness as I struggled to regain my composure. He just didn’t get it; the more he engaged with me, the more trouble I’d face from those girls. "We’re not close. Don’t touch me," I snapped as I walked past them.

Stellan seemed about to follow, but Beatrice intervened, trying to charm him with her alluring gaze. "Please, Stellan. Ignore her; she doesn’t see how amazing you are. But I do," she whispered seductively. Stellan glanced at her and gently pushed her away.

"I'm sorry, ladies," he said before pursuing me, calling my name and leaving the girls behind.

Beatrice’s friends attempted to console her, but their efforts only intensified her anger. She stomped her heels in frustration. "That girl..." she muttered with disdain, plotting to make my life miserable.

I stepped to the back of the school, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. Leaning against the wall, I gazed up at the sky.

"Aisha!" That voice again. I turned to see him, my expression blank, and noticed a cupcake in his hand that he had purchased from the canteen. "Why..." I murmured, looking down at the ground.

"What? I can't hear you, Aisha," he said, his breath coming quickly as if he were rushed. "I got this from the cafeteria, hoping it would cheer you up." He sounded cheerful, but I felt my teeth clench and my fists tighten.

"Why..." I repeated softly, and he leaned in closer to catch my words. "Here, Aisha, take this." He offered the cupcake, but I looked up at him, anger evident on my face.

"Why do you keep following me?!" I knocked the cupcake from his hand, watching it fall to the ground, his eyes widening in shock. Frustration surged through me, and I grasped his collar, drawing him closer.

"Aisha—"

"No! Don’t say anything! Do you realize how much you've messed up my life? Acting all friendly without a clue about the impact it's having on me!" I spat, my breathing heavy.

"I don’t understand, Aisha." He spoke calmly, yet confusion was clear in his voice.

"You know how popular you are, and talking to me risks making half the school dislike me. So just stop. Stop following me and talking to me." I pushed him away forcefully, prompting him to step back.

"I just wanted to be friends because I find you interesting," he explained, and I couldn't suppress a small, incredulous laugh.

"Interesting? Whatever. Just leave me alone. Pretend you don’t know me," I said straightforwardly, silently begging him to stop.

He fell silent, and I noticed the sadness in his eyes. Finally, he replied, "Okay, if that's what you want, Aisha." With that, he walked away slowly, leaving me alone once more. I rested my head against the wall.