Love Born From Revenge

Chapter 07.

Pree

DD/ MM /YY

Dear Diary,

I got a text from my favorite bookstore about the newly imported books, so l left home earlier than usual. After grabbing a few romance books to fill my shelves, I head straight to school.

It was only twenty past one when I arrived, which meant I had more than half an hour to wait till class began. Of course, I usually didn't come this early, but whatever. Since I was already there, I could pass my time by reading.

The classroom was all a mess, for the desks and chairs were all over the place. It seemed the morning class was doing some activities. And they didn't even bother to put things back. Leaving with no choice, I started arranging the chairs into the U shape.

While organizing, I heard some noises from outside the class. I looked out the window to see many girls squealing with joy at the sight of a tall, blond-haired guy in an oblong face shape heading towards our building. He was carrying a piece of paper and looking around as if searching for something. I had a feeling that he was the one Su and the trio had talked about. Even so, it had nothing to do with me. So, with a shrug, I got back to what I was doing.

Our afternoon class had fewer members, so I pushed the excessive chairs to the back corner, pilling them up there. When I turned back, I found myself being stared at by none other than him. I didn't know when he came in. I didn't even hear his footsteps.

The guy showed no intention of neither moving nor speaking, so I decided to be the one who initiated a conversation, which was uncharacteristic of me. Still, he was a foreigner, and I was the local. It would be rude to ignore someone new in our homeland.

I asked him, 'May I help you?' He asked me back if he was in the right class. Our conversation was short, for I didn't beat around the bush. All I replied was yes and pointed to an empty seat that no one took yesterday.

This should be the end of everything. I was done answering, and he was done asking. We both should be able to go our own ways. However, it didn't seem to be the case.

He wouldn't stop staring at me, acting as if I was the alien here. In our country, this type of behavior was considered offensive.

"What are you staring at?" I asked him.

Diary, did you know what he said next?

He told me that he thought I was a ghost!

Could you believe this?

I knew I'd always been good at being invisible. No one noticed my presence or my existence. But still, to ask if I was a ghost?

Was this the type of question you should be asking someone at the first meeting?

I understood that he was from a different country, so our culture might not be the same. But, still, this was way too much.

At first glance, he had me suck in a breath at his high cheekbones and a pair of deep-set black eyes as dark as the raven that went well with the brunette hair leaving to cover most of his forehead. All those combined with well-built masculinity in a six feet tall frame that was rare to find around here, complemented by the designer's jeans and a tight t-shirt that almost shaped his chocolate ab underneath, I almost thought one of my male characters had become alive.

Too bad it wasn't the case.

My first impression of him had already hinted that he and I wouldn't be able to become friends anytime soon.

I close my diary and put it inside the pillow—my secret hiding place. Hopping off the bed, I walk to the window and slide it open, letting the cold air in. One of the streetlights in front of my house is broken, so I expect to see nothing but darkness out there. However, the moonlight illuminates the neighborhood with its soothing silver radiance beautifying the sophisticated area with natural light. The night breeze's muffled sounds and the leaves rustling echoes throughout the silent night as if to accompany the lonely moon in the sky where stars are nowhere in sight.

I lean down and rest my arms on the window, face tilting upwards to admire the full moon. I am lost in thought as I stare at the dimly lit silver ball when an unexpected version of something similar to a live photo enters my peripheral version.

"What was I thinking?" I shake my head vigorously as if to shake the image out of my head. Still, I can't erase Albert Stanley's smile.

It was the one that he flashed at me when he caught me looking at him during class.

To make it even worse, I even find it charming to the point that I get a strange reaction from the left side of my chest whenever Albert's smile appears in my head.

*******

The sound of my cell phone ringing shakes me awake. I ignore the first few calls, thinking the caller will eventually get tired and give up. Frustratingly, the persistent caller doesn't give me a break. The phone keeps ringing to the point that it almost falls off the nightstand.

I open my eyes and squint at the clock to see that it is only seven am.

"Who is calling at this hour? It's the holiday if you forget." I groan, pulling the pillow to cover my ears, hoping to block the sound away. But it mercilessly continues to torment my beauty sleep. "Oh, fine!" I sit up on the bed and grab the phone to see that the caller is Su.

The moment I slide the phone to accept the call, my best friend's voice echoes loud and clear even though I don't even click on a loudspeaker.

"Hey, where were you? Why didn't you pick up on my first call?"

I can hear every word even before the phone reaches my ear. "Morning, Su." I yawn. "Where else do you think I am? I was sleeping safely and soundly on my bed until your call. Did you forget that it's a holiday?"

"Nope, I didn't. In fact, I remember it clearly, which is why I call you."

"Okay, then why are you calling me?"

"Do you want to go to the movie with Ty and me? And don't roll your eyes."

I stop my eyes midway since she has told me so. "Do you even have to ask? You know the answer."

She sighs. "I know. But in case a miracle happens today."

"Sorry, dear, not today. I just bought new books yesterday. I'd rather spend time reading them than go and be a third wheel."

"We've never thought of you like that."

"I know. But it's a fact."

The conversation goes silent briefly before Su brings up the topic I don't expect her to. "Maybe next time, you won't be the third wheel anymore. We may be able to go on a double date."

Please, don't tell me she is at it again.

"Su."

"Pree, did you know that Al was staring at you yesterday?"

He did? Su's words catch me by surprise.

"No, he didn't. He was looking at Mia or Cindy. We were sitting in the same row. Maybe you saw it wrong."

"No, my dear. I knew what I saw. He was looking at you. Also, there is one more thing."

Here she goes with her FBI thing again. I roll my eyes at the thought. Still, I can't deny my curiosity.

"And that is?" I ask, prompting her when she takes too long to say.

"When he hung out with Mia's group yesterday, he was asking about you."