The Wretched Redemption

Chapter 7- University Forum Article

Gavin’s POV

Her long brown wavy hair is curled at the ends, her eyes are brighter with a little make up on and her face looks brighter than earlier. Her smiles that is because of me that I rarely see is unconditionally smiling at me. Her rosy lightly blushed cheeks and her pink shiny lips. Her once comfortable outfits didn’t give justice to her beautiful s line figure.

Her long coat ant short skirt emphasized her height. As she walked towards me her hair swayed as the wind blew her vanilla scent is addicting me. I’m slowly getting addicted to her.

I can’t help myself but to run towards her.

“You look handsome today” I chuckled I never thought she would give me a compliment

“No. You look dazzling today! I thought I saw an angel” I complimented her back, her cheeks blushed.

“Ms. Tomato” I teased her again

“Mr. Tomato” she teased me back.

“Mr. and Ms.? I pointed out

“Stop lets got or we will be late” she cut my teasing and started walking.

We entered the bus and I noticed how they are staring at us. But I realize soon enough it wasn’t us but her their looking at. Guys and girls kept stealing glances at her but She doesn’t even notice.

I want to pull their eyes out specially the guys. I stared at them one by one and they looked away.

“Gavin?”

“Uh yeah?”

“What are you doing standing there? Sit down.” I look around again and sat down beside her.

“People kept staring at you”

“I didn’t notice and of course they will stare I’m an angel as you have said earlier.” She replied brushing her hair to the side.

“Pfffft!” I burst out laughing she looks more attractive with her playfulness.

“Laugh all you want HA-HA-HA” She replied faking her laughter

“But seriously where did you hide all this time?” I ask seriously

“Ha! I was born beautiful but I really don’t dress up only when I feel like it and when I meet special people” She replied without glancing at me and continued staring out the window.

“So am I one of the special people?” I ask teasing her. She stayed silent and didn’t answer me.

I glance at her and her cheeks looks a little flushed. We both stayed silent enjoying the ride.

We reached the campus and we walk sided by side. Students are staring at the both of us whispering. The male students keep on staring at her.

I felt my blood boil and my fist clenched.

I pulled Isla a little closer to make other guys think she’s mine. I glared at them and they looked away.

I look to my side and Isla is busy with her phone. Her eyes brows furrowed as she stared at her phone.

She halted her footsteps.

“Look” She replied shoving her phone into my face

I look at it and it’s the University’s Students Forum. Where useless and baseless information circulates like a wildfire.

TODAY’S HOT TOPIC!!!

“Gavin Huxley of College of Business Dates Two Goddesses? Eiraian Collymore and the Mysterious Girl who is his real Girlfriend? Is it a love triangle or a love affair?”

Comments:

Student010: I saw them walking inside the campus! He even pulled the girl closer to him! Gosh but she is a Goddess. Anyone who know what department she belongs?????

GavinEiraianForevs: YOU! IF YOU ARE READING THIS! STAY AWAY FROM GAVIN HE BELONGS TO OUR GODDESS EIRAIAN!!!!!

GavinEiraianForevs: How dare you snatch him away from our beauty!????? Don’t walk around the campus alone if you don’t want you pretty little head bald!

Studenrt046: She looks pretty tho. ;)

RubyofBusinessDept: Don’t you dare touch her @GavinEiraianForevs I’ll make sure to find you if you ever dare to touch even a single strand of her hair!!!

She pulled her phone away from me.

“I’m sorry, you got dragged into this kind of nonsense” I apologized she look a little uncomfortable

“Well I did expect this anyway”

“I really am sorry” I replied apologetically.

“It’s fine, I’ll go my own way then” She replied and started walking

away

I wanted to grab her hand to make her stay but I couldn’t.

‘Who am I to stop her?’

This rumors will spread like a

wildfire and it will end up hurting her. I need to make sure that I cleared up my relationship with the rumors with my relationship with Reinaia before I could even dream of protecting her.

I felt useless.

I walk to my first class staring at her back walking away from me. I dialed Reinaia’s phone but it won’t connect. I run to my class hoping that she will be but there but she’s not. I wanted for her to tell people about the misunderstanding but I couldn’t even reach her.

Isla’s POV

I dialed Ruby’s number after walking away.

“Oi!! You’re the hot topic in the forum right now! Where are you!????” her voice sounds worried.

“I’m here in the library second floor”

“Wait I’m coming”

*Toot* *too*

She ended the call

I saw students glancing at me.

Someone’s phone flashed in my direction I stood up and about to confront her but Ruby suddenly showed up behind her and smashed her phone in the ground. The other student stared at us.

“What the hell?” she shouted at Ruby

“I saw you taking photo of her” Pointing at me

“So what? She’s famous because she seduced Gavin anyway!” She shouted and about to grab Ruby’s phone

I quickly run to her and grabbed her arm.

“If you asked first maybe I could’ve strike a pose” I look down at her eyes smiling

“Let go!” She snatches her arm and stomped out of the room

I looked around and the other students seems amused.

“Enjoying the show!? Anyone who wants to get smashed too? But not your phone this time it will be your face!” She glared at them and they all look down acting busy with their phone.

“That’s enough let go” I dragged her out

She halted her steps and turned around and dragged me in the restroom. She locked the door before speaking up

“First, you look gorgeous today! Second I knew this would happen because it’s GAVIN one of the uni’s popular dream guy” She chuckled

“Thanks” I replied I knew to myself that this was coming.

“Nah uhh, sorry to break it to you, but we need to change your outfit to avoid more paparazzi’s!”

She threw the paper bag she took out inside her bag.

“Paparazzi’s really?”

I changed to jeans and loose black shirt. I walked out and she threw me a black cap.

“Thanks” I replied. She hugged me

“I saw your comment on the forum by the way” I replied as she pulled away

“Well duhh? They’re keep babbling nonsense and their threats are useless. I will find them and break their fingers if I have to” She replied and I saw her fist clenched

“Well I didn’t think twice before agreeing to Gavin this morning. I was just happy to spend time with him considering my feelings.”

“He’s single, you’re single. What’s wrong with that? Don’t mind them. But if Gavin really likes you, he needs to do something about this first before anything happens to you”

“I don’t know. He said sorry but I can’t say I’m not afraid even if it was empty threat’s, we aren’t sure how people’s mind work” I replied as I brushed my hair and put in a ponytail. I took out my glasses and put it on.

“That’s better”

She patted my back as we walk to our first class. Students seem not to notice me anymore but there are still one or two glancing at me.

The day went without any more problems.

My phone vibrates I opened it and its Gavin and Theo.

Theo [Isla are you alright? Where are you?]

[Ruby and I just ended our last class, meet us in the café besides the one we used to go] I replied

I opened Gavin’s message next,

Gavin [Can we talk? Meet me at the convenience store after 6pm. I will wait for you there]

[I have a prior engagement; I will need to take a rain check for that] I replied

*bzzt* *bzzt*

Theo [Okay, I’ll be there in 10 minutes]

I didn’t reply.

Gavin’s POV

I tried to reach out on Reinaia the whole day but I didn’t get a reply. I waited for her in class but she’s absent the whole day. I went to the publishing department to confront them about the posted photo and article about me and Isla and they took it down. I felt relieve but students are now gossiping about it and it already spread in their private group chats.

The guys in class keeps smirking and the girls are eyeing me up and down.

I walk around the whole day with their whispers behind me. A guy with glasses and shorter than me approach me,

“You really are a great guy aren’t you!?” He shouted at me. It sounded like a compliment but it was an insult.

“What!? Do you have any problem with me!?” I pushed him to the wall.

The anger that I’ve been keeping in check the whole day seems to be reaching its limit. I feel disappointed with myself for bringing Isla to this situation.

“You! We already let you have Reinaia! But you had the audacity to cheat on her!? Man you really are a jerk aren’t you!? You just have that handsome face and you think you can do what you want now!? Your anti-social weirdo anyway!” He shouted grabbing my collar his eyeglasses titled as I pushed his face to the wall.

His last sentence ticked me off. I was about to punch him in the face but I redirect it in the wall.

“First! You don’t have the say to what kind of relationship me and Reinaia have. Who the heck do you think you are!??” I look at this eyes and Put my face closer to him.

“I’m not Reinaia’s Ex or Boyfriend. But that doesn’t mean you will have the chance she’s my friend and I will not take a step back to whoever guy that will take interests in specially if you have dirty plan toward her. I will break you necks” I look around as I held his neck tight

“The girl you saw in the picture isn’t my girlfriend and Reinaia is my friend! Whoever have a problem with that come at me first! Try to touch any of them and I’ll make sure you will regret it!!” I shouted and my voice boomed in the classroom.

I let the guy go and he coughed as he tried to catch his breath. He walked away out of the classroom.

Some recorded what happened and I let them. I want the whole UNI to

know the truth before something happens to Isla and Reinaia. I know I’m famous but I didn’t expect that it will go as far as them threatening Isla.

I took my things and went out the room.

I texted Isla

[Can we talk? Meet me at the convenience store after 6pm. I will wait for you there]

[I have a prior engagement; I will need to take a rain check for that] She replied

I felt like she’s avoiding me but it’s my fault. I end up going home after that.

Green Café House

Isla's POV

Me and Ruby seated at the farthest table while we wait for Theo.

“Hey! The article it’s gone!” She suddenly shouted.

“Really?”

I pulled out my phone frantically.

“But wait! There’s a new video circulating in the forum!”

I opened the app and scrolled down. The article is really gone but there is a new one and it’s trending.

It’s a video I clicked play.

I can see Gavin pushing someone in the wall. It was the same guy I saw gossiping the second time I saw him.

I put on my headset and listened to the video. I can hear the other guy shouting at him.

“You! We already let you have Reinaia! But you had the audacity to cheat on her!? Man you really are a jerk aren’t you!? You just have that handsome face and you think you can do what you want now!? Your anti-social weirdo anyway!”

I covered my mouth as I saw him smashed the wall beside that guy’s face. My heart break as I hear the other guy’s last sentence.

“First! You don’t have the say to what kind of relationship me and Reinaia have. Who the heck do you think you are!??”

“I’m not Reinaia’s Ex or Boyfriend. But that doesn’t mean you will have the chance she’s my friend and I will not take a step back to whoever guy that will take interests in specially if you have dirty plan toward her. I will break you necks”

“The girl you saw in the picture isn’t my girlfriend and Reinaia is my friend! Whoever have a problem with that come at me first! Try to touch any of them and I’ll make sure you will regret it!!”

The video ended.

I can feel his anger from his voice. I put the phone down and I sobbed. I how he treasure's Reinaia. It warmed my heart but break my heart at the same time. I know how sensitive Gavin is about how he treat other people.

And how that guy carelessly shouted it for others to hear. The feeling of being judged in the forum and in my own face came flooding. I cried as I remember how they look at me like I was a dirt. They’re piercing eyes and how they smirked looking down at me.

Ruby came beside me and patted my back.

“Who the hell made you cry!?” Theo’s voice boomed inside the café. We were lucky that we were the only one’s there at that time.

“Theo! Calm down!” Ruby shouted at him

“How can I calm down if she’s crying!?” He replied as he sat down in front of me. He brushed his hair up. His frustration radiated.

“Stop” Ruby warned him

“I will be outside I will try to calm myself down” He replied

I look up and I wiped my tears.

Ruby wiped my face again.

“These beautiful eyes of yours shouldn’t be crying” Ruby looked at me with a calming smile

“Silly, thank you” I replied and gave her a hug.

“You good? Theo’s about to punch someone in the face”

“I’ll talk to him”

I walk out of the café and saw him busy tapping his phone.

“Hey”

“What? Why did you cry? Did anyone say anything bad to you about the article? Tell me I will staple their dirty mouths”

“You will? Pfftttt!” I chuckled

“Why? You don’t believe me?”

“I believe you but I can do it myself. I can even defeat you remember?”

“You really have the time to bully me even in this situation?” He asks as he chuckled

“You really acted manly I was afraid”

“Ha-ha you’re a monster I should be the one afraid of you” he teased me back

“But thank you for getting angry for me” I replied as I smiled.

A strand of hair covered my face. He reached brushed it out of my face.

“You like Gavin don’t you? You even got dressed for him”

I nodded without saying anything. I want to be honest with Theo about how I feel.

He patted my head without saying anything.

The door of the café suddenly burst open.

“Hey! Stop with your touchiness! Come inside it’s getting cold!” She shouted at us

“I ordered hot cappuccino! Come on before it gets cold” she continued

“Yep, coming!” Theo shouted at her

“Isla just remember, if he let those eyes cry. I will smack him in the head”

“Yeah yeah Mr. Macho man and we aren’t couple yet fyi”

“YET” he pointed out

I didn’t reply and just dragged him inside.

We end up staying in the café for 1 hour and ended the day after.

Gavin’s POV

I woke up early and checked my phone. I have a 1 message. I felt a sudden relief when it came from Isla.

[Let’s have a run tomorrow same place, same time. Let’s do the talk.]

I walked to the park 10 minutes

before the supposed time but I saw Isla sitting there alone waiting for me.

I walked slowly as I saw her head swaying a little bit. She had fallen asleep. I slowly and carefully sat beside her and pushed her head a little enough for it to land in my shoulder.

Her calm breathing and vanilla scent calmed me down.

I felt so calm I end up falling asleep. I woke up when a kid suddenly screamed.

“Mom! Look! Did they fall asleep here all night?”

Isla squirmed and opened her eyes. Her eyes widened as she realized she had fallen asleep.

“Oh my, I’m sorry” She frantically replied as she fixed her hair.

“Big sis! Do you have a home? Why are you sleeping here with big bro?” He asked Isla with her big innocent eyes.

“Leo! Come here! Don’t disturb they’re having early morning date”

Her mom shouted and winked at us.

Isla’s face blushes as she covered her face.

“Good bye big bro and big sis! Take care of big sis, big bro. My mom told me that if you make your woman happy, life will be happy as well” he replied as he walked away.

“Pffft! Silly kid but I like him” I chuckled as I turn and look at Isla.

“He’s a cheeky one” she replied

“Why didn’t you wake me up!?” She continued as she smacked my arm

“I fell asleep too. You were so calm I didn’t want to wake you up” I explained

“I didn’t drool right?” She asks with a nervous tone

“Maybe?” I replied teasing him

She smacked me again.