~XANDER~
Outside the classroom, our group of seniors gathered, sharing knowing glances as we awaited the dean's exit. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, while inside, the freshmen sat unaware of the storm brewing just beyond the doors. Their world seemed serene, untouched by the reality waiting to crash in on them. Finally, the doors swung open, and the dean emerged, his smile giving the freshmen a false sense of security. Little did they know, their first taste of college life was about to get a lot more interesting, thanks to our planned intervention.
Our group strode into the room, commanding attention. "Sit down, all of you," Victor's voice rang out, firm and authoritative, halting the students' departure. With a swift motion, we took our places. Victor continued, his tone measured yet commanding, "Good afternoon, everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day. But now, it’s time for the real college announcements."
Everyone looked at each other with confusion as they reluctantly sat in their seats. I remember being in their position when I was a freshman, but I never found myself in a group as hesitant as this one. “Let’s introduce ourselves. Who wants to go first?” one of my friends asked.
They did as instructed, one after another introducing themselves, giving us a chance to mock them. When the introductions ended, the seniors announced my rules, outlining the consequences that might arise if these rules were not followed. The whispers of these consequences filled the room just as I graced them with my presence. As every girl's gaze fixed upon me, drawn in by my presence and charisma, the room fell into pin-drop silence. I knew I held sway over them all, and I relished it.
I scanned each face with an intense stare as Victor moved toward me and whispered something in my ear. “The girl on the second-to-last bench is the one from the canteen,”
I tilted my body to get a good look at the girl, who didn’t understand what was happening as every eye in the room was fixed on her.
"Everyone, leave," I commanded firmly without breaking my gaze from her face.
Quickly, everyone gathered their belongings and left the room.
"Except you. You will stay."
She looked at her friend with wide eyes, her expression betraying a sense of feeling trapped, unaware of the mistake she might have committed. I noticed how her friend muttered some suggestion, perhaps hinting at compliance.
My gaze flickered between them, catching the silent exchange. It seemed as if something more than mere friendship was brewing between them.
Everyone left the room, leaving her behind.
'New Birdie,' that's what I called her. After all, the information I collected about her throughout the day told me she was new to the city. That excited me when I saw the fear crawling in those eyes.
From where I stood, she appeared frightened. A warm smile stretched across my face, akin to a child gleefully clutching their favorite toy.
As she approached, each calculated step accentuated her perfect curves, subtly outlined by her jeans and tank top, stirring a primal urge within me. Unlike many girls I knew who sought to flaunt their bodies to attract attention, she exuded a sense of casual comfort in her attire.
Beneath those casual clothes, she seemed like a hidden treasure, evoking an instinctual desire to see her without them.
Am I a bad guy? No, I wasn't alone in noticing her allure.
She approached me with lowered gaze, a captivating sight inviting exploration. From her long legs to her delicate waist, every aspect of her form held my attention. Even her flawless skin seemed to beckon.
"Ahem," I cleared my throat, quelling the primal urges within me.
She stood before me, her presence commanding, her fragrance lingering in the air.
"I managed to ask, 'What's your name?'"
She whispered her name, 'Aoife Marshall,' her long lashes fluttering behind her glasses as she continued to avoid my gaze.
"Do you know why I stopped you? My eyes shifted from her lashes towards her pouty pink lips, and a black mole complimented them as she sucked her lower lip. The blush of her cheeks could give competition to the ripest of tomatoes. I didn’t know if she answered my question or not. I was busy exploring her beauty, watching her lift her hand as she rested a strand of hair behind her ear. Suddenly my eyes caught on the tattoo on her wrist. "El Amor Nunca Falla—N.M." (Love Never Fails—N.M.) Curious, I asked, "What’s that?" She creased her brows at me. "It’s personal," she answered. "Okay, Miss Aoife Marshall. I am here to warn you as your senior. Follow the rules. Otherwise, these people here will make your life miserable. This is your last warning after what you pulled in the canteen," I warned, looking at her.
“But...” she whispered and stopped herself before looking at me. “Did you just answer me back? Take those off.” I signaled for her to remove her spectacles. She did, revealing her big blue sapphire eyes hidden behind them. It took me a moment to scan those beautiful eyes, and I felt mesmerized.
“It was not my fault. One of your friends called me baby girl,” she murmured.
I stepped closer and leaned in near her ear. God, I wanted to touch this doll, but I had to stop myself. “I don’t care. Better be careful, little birdie. Otherwise, I will have to chop your wings.”
She swallowed hard, fear evident in her gaze as she stole a glance at me. “And next time, keep your eyes down,” I added, returning to my old position without breaking my gaze from her face. “Did you understand me?”
“Yes,” her voice distorted.
“Yes, what?” Tears rolled from her eyes as she answered while wiping her cheeks. “Yes, sir. Can I go?” she added immediately. I remained silent, observing the deepening flush on her cheeks. In the midst of her embarrassment, I momentarily forgot about the presence of my crew, who had begun to laugh at her expense. She stood there, awaiting my response. Sensing that the situation could escalate with my crew's taunting, I made a decision. "Go," I said softly, prompting her to swiftly grab her bag and flee, leaving her glasses behind.
~Aoife~
What was I thinking when I chose this college for my studies? These people are behaving like animals, humiliating me in front of everyone. I am determined to file a complaint against these bullies.
As tears streamed down my face, I realized I had forgotten my glasses on the table. Should I muster the courage to go back and retrieve them, or should I simply leave?
After waiting for a while, I gathered my courage and returned. With no spare pair and little time to acquire a new one, I braced myself against the pain and approached the door, keeping my eyes cast downward.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw them playing some sort of cruel game with my glasses.
"Can I have my glasses?" I whimpered.
Victor began to approach me, but Xander halted him. He retrieved the glasses from Victor's hand and closed the gap between us. I couldn't fathom why he did this, but the humiliation he had inflicted earlier filled me with resentment.
"Here, take them," he whispered in a subdued tone.
I extended my hand, and he gingerly placed the glasses in it. His touch sent a shiver down my spine momentarily, but I shook it off when I realized all eyes were on me. I could sense his piercing gaze fixed upon me.
"Thank you," I whispered back.
He remained there, watching me intently as I left the room without looking back.
Tomorrow, I will resolve to file a complaint against them. They need to learn a lesson.
~AOIFE~The next day, I found myself standing before the dean's office, nerves fluttering within me. Glancing around anxiously, I hesitated before finally rapping on the door. Memories of the seniors' humiliating treatment flooded my mind.Their actions in class were bad enough, but it was the extent of their mistreatment, not just towards me but everyone else, that truly appalled me. As a girl living independently, I refused to accept such injustice any longer. Determined, I resolved to ensure that no one else would suffer as I did the day before.I questioned myself, "Am I doing right or wrong?" Finally summoning the courage, I approached the door and knocked. "Come in," a voice beckoned from the other side. As I entered, the dean greeted me with a smile. "Good morning, sir.""Good morning. What brings you here? Miss..." the dean trailed off, struggling to recall my name."Aoife Marshall. Sir, as you mentioned yesterday, your college has a strict policy against bullies." My confident
As I explained everything to Clara and Luka, I struggled to contain my anger. "You're in a huge predicament. You gave them a reason to torture you, and I know Xander will not forgive you for this." Luka remarked on my situation before Clara waved off his comment."Shut up, Luka.""What do you expect me to say? I'm not mistaken.""They vandalized my room and publicly shamed me. What more could they possibly want?" My voice trembled with anger, and tears threatened to spill from my eyes.Luka's eyes squinted as he noticed someone approaching from behind.The three of us gulped as we saw Xander giving me an angry glare, followed by Zareena and Victor. It didn't take long for me to understand they had informed him about my latest actions.Something told me I was in trouble now. The way these bullies were looking at me gave me the vibe that a war had begun.Before that war could start, we hastily walked into our classroom and settled into our seats. It was best to play it safe for now.**
~Xander~I was alone in my classroom, reading stupid social media posts while scrolling my phone. The day seemed fine, as all my mates were out, and I was waiting for Matt. I heard a knock and didn’t bother to look up. I mean, who would knock before entering the classroom?Once again, my annoyed ears heard the same sound, and this time I jerked my neck to rebuke the person. Beyond my expectations, I saw her. It was none other than the new birdie looking at me. I stuffed the phone in my front pocket and walked toward her. With a blush, she lowered her peer.“What are you doing here?” I said, while scanning her beauty. She tucked away a strand of hair behind her ear, and my eyes caught her tattoo again.“Can I talk to you?” she asked.What is she doing here? Didn’t she know others would insult her more than ever for entering a senior’s classroom? And why was she talking to me like that?Her cheeks turned red, and the composed breathing hooked my attention. Her voice was seducing me, and
~Aoife~The morning was cold and foggy, just like my life had been these past few days. I used to love this weather when mom made hot cocoa for me, and we watched movies together. Now that she’s gone, this weather makes me feel alone. I was awake, looking at her picture close to my bed.“Good morning, Mum.” I remembered she loved to kiss my forehead, and never forget to mention welcoming the new day with fresh energy, but today I didn’t want to get out of bed. Why would I? I have zero motivation, nor was I eager to start my day.When I came here, I was ready to win the world, but in the last few days, everything changed. All I wanted was to hide where these people couldn’t torture me anymore. I just wanted this to be over. But what about the promises I made to my mother? I promised her to conquer every fear in my life.I glanced at my tattoo: Love never fails.She used to call me the love of her life. If she were here, she would never want me to hide. While I was wrapped in the turm
~Xander~She left her innocent eyes on my soul. This moment reminds me of a story. Some folks who needed emotional rescue were trapped in an iceberg that took many years to form. When you bring your gentle flame to their outer walls and melt a little, if they are brave enough, they will light their internal flame and allow the ice to melt. If they are afraid, they will add more layers of ice faster than you can melt it.Unknowingly, I felt the same. Aoife was an unknown flame that melted my heart, and I was not ready for the change. My playboy image wanted to bite every part of her delicate body, while my heart wanted to be with her. In this turmoil, when Zareena pushed her, it enraged my emotions to a degree I’d never felt before.My angry look toward Zareena scared her off, and she stomped outside. I didn’t understand my sudden anger. Is Aoife controlling me? Or does Zareena’s misbehavior towards Aoife affect me?All I knew was her teary eyes influenced me deeply. With this emotiona
My big tears rolled down my cheeks, and I finally relaxed when he pulled away.“Are you okay?” My eyes were closed as I heard that voice. I thought it was Matt who questioned me, but when I opened my eyes, Matt was blowing air on my wound.I felt another presence beside me when I saw my hand had not flinched on the chair. My nails dug into someone's hand instead of the leather arm. From the corner of my eyes, I saw something unexpected.“You… Oh, I am sorry, sir.”Right out of the blue? What was he doing here?It was Xander. But when did he arrive? And why was he standing next to me?Lots of questions boomed in my mind as I jerked my hand away from his wrist that was now scratched from my nails. “What are you doing here?” Matt questioned.He didn’t answer because he was busy looking at my nervous, flushed face. I gulped down a lump in my throat and backed myself behind the chair, lowering my eyes immediately.“Xan, what?” Matt asked again.Looking at his scratched wrist, I somehow fe
That next morning, I rushed myself to the library. Once there, Aunt Agnes was busy talking to her husband. “Good morning.” I smiled.“Good morning, pretty girl,” Uncle answered immediately.“Good morning, dear. What brings you here so early?” “I hope I am not asking too much from you guys. Since you are looking for a helping hand, I need a job. My brother wants to admit himself to rehab, and he needs my help.”They furrowed their brows, listening to me carefully.“Do you want money? We can help you,” Aunty offered.“No, I want this job. Please accept my offer to help.”They smiled and nodded their heads, quickly in agreement.Before I even mentioned my paycheck, Uncle said, “I will talk to management. We will pay you biweekly if that’s okay?”I nodded with excitement and happy tears as I hugged them.“Thank you for helping me. I’ll come after college hours,” I said excitedly before leaving the library and walking out.As I left, my mind was busy scheduling my day with the additional
~Xander~Waiting... Waiting... Waiting...My mind was like the ocean, watching the incoming ships of my thoughts drowning inside me.Is she going to be okay? What the heck were the doctors doing with her in there? Why is there no information about her? How long are they going to take? I was continuously burning in anguish, and the troublesome thoughts didn’t let me rest for a second. I was starting to ask myself why I had this unsettled anger and toward whom? Something told me it was me. Why didn’t I reach her on time? Why was I not there to protect her? And the essential fact of the matter, who the hell did this thing to her?That person will surely be dead at my hands. I will drown him the same way he did her.In the next thoughts, I literally planned the slow death of that unknown person who tried to kill her.I was in constant pain at the thought of losing her. My body reacted the same as I thought, making me punch the wall before I yelled out threats to the doctors and the hospit