HER INNOCENT SLAVE (ENGLISH)

HER INNOCENT SLAVE 12

(HIS) Chapter 12

Everyone was in a rush because of the upcoming school festival. Since our dismissal times were different, I insisted on bringing my own car. It wasn’t possible for us to always wait for each other—especially now that he often came home late. If he could wait for me in the parking lot for hours, I couldn’t. I’d rather go home and sleep than wait for him.

There was no issue between him and Catelynn. That was good. But still, I couldn’t help but wonder why Leela didn’t tell her about me and Lucas. Maybe she was waiting for Catelynn to catch us instead, so she didn’t interfere? Or maybe it wasn’t even Leela that I saw? I was so sure it was her before. But now, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

“Did you see Raymond’s costume? Their booth’s theme is fairy tales!”

“Yeah. He’s hot, but he’s too bulky for Cinderella!”

They laughed. Everyone was noisy and chatting. I felt like I was the only one just sitting quietly, observing. After the school festival, it would be vacation, so the students were also making the most of the last few days. As for me, I was excited to go to the island where Ate Riaca was. I’d go there right after the festival.

“Isn’t she going to help?”

“Do you want to ask her? Make her help us?”

My classmates went into chaos the moment they entered because of the decorations they were working on for the booth. I just looked at them and didn’t join in. I’d just eat and buy food to contribute, but they couldn’t count on me to help set things up, even if I heard some of them talking about me. I gave my share of money, and that was more than enough.

“I don’t want to! Forget it! We can do this ourselves!”

I leaned my chin on my hand and ignored them. The booths were lined up in the wide field. They were placed side by side so that outsiders who wanted to buy food could easily go around.

Catelynn and Lucas’s booth was at the far end, while ours was somewhere in the middle. The festival lasted the whole week, but the booths were only open for three days. The remaining days were reserved for games and sports.

When boredom hit me, I stood up and looked around at the food stalls. Suddenly, there were so many people. Most were unfamiliar, probably outsiders or from other schools.

“He goes here every day because he wants to see that volleyball player he likes!”

“Volleyball player? Is she pretty?”

“Yeah! Flawless and long legs! But I heard she already has a boyfriend!”

It was a group of guys talking. I didn’t need to ask to figure out they were talking about Catelynn. I was behind them. When they noticed me, they pushed each other and let me pass. One of them whistled, teasing about who would get my number.

“I prefer this one, bro!”

But my mind wasn’t there. I was thinking about how even guys from other schools found Catelynn beautiful. Had Lucas really never kissed her? If Catelynn’s boyfriend was one of those guys behind me, she would probably already be pregnant.

I stopped and found it hard to breathe when I remembered something. What did Lucas say before? That after law school, he and Catelynn would get married?

If that was the case, then what we were doing was like practice for him? Maybe he was just going along with me because, like he said, he had no choice. Even if he avoided me, I’d find a way to get close. He was indebted to me, and to make his life easier, he just went with the flow. When he married Catelynn, he’d already be a hustler who knew how to please his girlfriend.

“See? She left! Go after her!”

I rolled my eyes and walked faster.

“Womanizers. All looks, no balls.”

I stopped here and there. Whenever something caught my eye and I got curious to taste it, I bought it. I forgot about Catelynn and Lucas once I went back to our booth to eat. The table was almost full. I carried several trays with me. I just told them to get it from our booth.

“Lucienne?”

I had one foot propped up while chewing when I looked up to see who called me. It was Catelynn, who seemed to have passed by our booth.

“So you’re here? What are you guys selling?”

She came closer and looked up at the printed menu, then bent down to glance at me. I quickly lowered my foot. I didn’t know why, but suddenly I felt self-conscious about how she caught me eating.

“Are you here alone? Come on, let’s go to our booth. Everyone’s there already to eat. It’s the first day, so we won’t charge you,” she added with a gentle laugh.

I bowed my head to my food. I was nearly finished anyway, so I nodded. While we walked, I felt awkward at how she kept glancing at me with a smile. Both her hands were clasped behind her as she walked slowly.

I couldn’t help but compare myself to her. I stared at her. She had almost pale skin, while mine was like those of European models. I wasn’t dark, but I wasn’t as fair as her either. She looked radiant under the bright sun.

Her thin lips were very red, while mine were full and slightly pouted. Hers were smooth, while mine had a vertical line in the middle of my lower lip. Ate Riaca once said it made my lips sexy, but I couldn’t help but admire Catelynn’s smooth, thin red lips.

Her nose was small and pointed like mine. Her big, innocent eyes matched her small face. I blinked my brown, upturned eyes. I looked fierce without even trying, while she looked innocent in every way. She was my opposite.

In every angle, the difference between us was striking. Her beauty was gentle, while I looked intimidating because of my sharp eyes. Her body was beautiful, her skin smooth. As for height, she was taller than me with longer legs. While staring at her, I realized she was too perfect. Beautiful and kind. I was just beautiful, I've never been called kind in my entire life.

Suddenly, I felt insecure about myself, even though I shouldn’t have.

“We’re here!”

She caught me staring at her. She smiled and pointed to the table where her friends were. My eyes met Lucas’s. He was standing and arranging food on the table. I didn’t know why, but suddenly I felt embarrassed standing next to Catelynn.

When I looked at her again, it was like my confidence to show off my body to Lucas faded. Didn’t he compare me to his girlfriend before? That he wouldn’t lower his standards to choose me? I think I finally understood what he meant.

“I saw her on the way, so I brought her here. Are we starting to eat?” Catelynn asked gently.

She was so soft-spoken and graceful that I felt awkward for her. I grew up rough and careless, so I wasn’t used to dealing with gentle girls like her.

“Sit down.” That was Lucas, pulling out a chair while looking at me.

Catelynn stepped forward and sat on the chair Lucas pulled out. She held her boyfriend’s hand and made him sit beside her. Then she turned to me.

“Lucienne, sit down!”

Catelynn pointed to the chair across from them. Lucas and I met eyes as I sat down. I looked away and focused on the others who were also sitting down. Leela and Rome sat on either side of me. Ryder sat next to Lucas. They chatted while I ate in silence. Rome only spoke to me once in a while since he could see I was busy eating. I wasn’t really hungry, but I felt awkward, so I used food as a distraction.

“Slow down, Lucienne! You’re going to choke!” Rome laughed.

Everyone looked at me. Lucas stood and got bottled drinks. I nearly choked when I felt him behind me, handing me water first. The cap was already off, ready to drink.

He gave the others their drinks too, but theirs still had caps on. Even his girlfriend’s had a cap. He only removed mine. Rome and Ryder didn’t notice. But I caught Leela and Catelynn exchanging glances.

I cleared my throat and just drank. After eating, I excused myself to return to our booth. There were even more people now, and the tables were full, so I just stood at the side of our stall. I leaned against it, waiting to digest the food I ate.

Some guys eating nearby kept glancing at me. The group from earlier who let me pass in line was there too. Another group of guys was teasing someone. I wouldn’t have paid attention if I hadn’t noticed one of them standing up.

I stared and recognized him. He was the guy I smiled at in the library. Rome once mentioned that he was a second-year college student. He fixed his hair and licked his lips while looking at me. My eyebrow rose when I realized he was heading my way.

“Hi. Are you alone?”

I smirked and crossed my arms, suppressing a laugh at his opening line. My expectations dropped. He was handsome, so I thought he’d have better game.

“I was… alone. Now that you’re here, I’m not alone anymore.” I grinned.

He smiled and extended his hand.

“I’m Ace…”

I pursed my lips as I took his hand. He was tall and handsome, probably a popular playboy at school. Rome had mentioned him a few times, thinking he was the one I made out with in the library.

“Lucienne.” I smirked as I gave him my hand.

His smile widened when I didn’t let go right away. I smirked and glanced at his friends watching us.

“I saw you smiling at me in the library. Do you mind if I ask why?”

I shook my head and tried pulling my hand back. This time, he didn’t let go. He even pulled a little, making us closer. He smelled nice—not bad at all. His breath wasn’t unpleasant either. If we had a torrid kiss, I didn’t think I’d be disgusted.

“I don’t mind. I just find you handsome.”

Our eyes locked intensely. I didn’t like how insecure I had felt with Catelynn earlier. But with the way this guy was looking at me, my confidence rose again. I didn’t need to compare myself to her. I didn’t need to care if he thought Catelynn was more desirable than me. Lucas wasn’t my boyfriend. I didn’t like him romantically, so I had no reason to feel insecure.

“I know you’re with your friends. But can you leave them and come with me?” I traced my finger across his chest.

I wanted to give this one a head job to prove to myself that Lucas wasn’t special. If I could give Lucas a blow job, I could do it with another man too.

He bit his lower lip, looking like he wanted to kiss me. I bit mine too while staring at his. That seemed to trigger him; he leaned in as if to kiss me.

I turned away. His kiss landed on my cheek. His friends erupted in noise. They probably thought we kissed. From the right side, it was clear he didn’t kiss me. From the left, it looked like we did. His friends were on the left.

“Don’t go too fast. I prefer the slow thrust.”

He chuckled softly. He was about to reply when someone suddenly yanked him harshly by the shoulder. I turned and was shocked to see Lucas at the side. He had dragged Ace away from me. His breathing was heavy, his expression dark as he glared at me. Before Ace could even protest, Lucas had already grabbed my arm and pulled me, away from the crowd of onlookers with curious eyes.