As Hazel sat on her desk. Her mind is still dazed on her late night discovery; as time passes, her mind begins to focus to the lecture. Suddenly a nonchalant face blocked her sight and greeted her with a huge smile.
She wasn't really in the mood to deal with him. Not when she slept so late that the sun was already rising up as she was an hour deep in her sleep, to be then woken up by her father and lastly auto-pilots her way to uni. With a defeated sigh she then turned to the person beside her, who is already anticipating with a wagging tail.
"Good morning Michael"
"Hey Hazel, guess what?" his eyes sparkles as he asks the question
"I'm not really sure what do you want me to guess. You had a haircut or something?"
"No, not that." he chuckled "Our department already put up the rank board for this semester and I'm rank third!"
A non-existing excitement showed on Hazels face "Oh wow, really. I knew you'll do a really great job."
Michael then turns sideways and rubs his nape, " Well you helped me get there. Thanks for believing in me."
If what michael means in believing in him is paying someone to teach and review with almost 24/7, then yes. Hazel REALLY believed in him.
Hazel pats his back as she continues to write "Yeah, but it's all thanks to your efforts."
"I just told my dad earlier as well and he said he wants to personally meet you as thanks." giddiness spelling out on his tone.
Her hand suddenly stopped.
In pure disbelief Hazel looked at him, and
"Are you sure your father really said that?"
"I'm just surprised as you are when he said that." Michael was surprised by her reaction; his eyes shifted to the table then back to her "So ummm, he wants to meet you as soon as possible; so is after school alright?"
Hazel simply nodded and begun copying the lecture on the board. She wanted to act that she really isn't excited and like it wasn't like a big deal. A grin is showing on her face as she continues writing though; 'luck must be on my side today' she thought
Who knew that she would be able to get information from the source itself, of course she is not expecting that she will be able to discuss it; she wants to do something greater. Snoop around Michael's place.
"Is your house close from here?"
Michael was a bit surprised at the sudden question
"Ummm, I can't really tell you that. For security purposes"
"Oh ok. How many guards do you have in your house."
"Dont worry about that." Michael smiles at her " I can assure you that it is safe in our house."
"Do you have a study room in there? or like an archive of files?"
"If you mean a mini library, yes we do have. We have great books, if you want to read there."
"Next question, does your father have his own office there?"
"That's where he wants us to meet him actually." Michael gave out then a soft laugh
"You're really excited to see our house huh? I hope it meets your expectations"
"I'm sure it will." she said with a flat smile "Sorry for asking lots of questions, we better get back to copying the lecture.
"Hmm?" Michael pauses for a moment. "Oh. . . yes, the lecture. Yeah we should get back to it."
While in the midst of her writing, a random question pops out of Hazels thoughts
" How big is your house by the way?"
Michael being too focused on taking writing flinched at the sudden question.
"Wha- what?" Michael then smiled awkwardly "Oh, ummm just enough space for the four of us"
"Great, thanks for that."
Hazel was clearly disappointed at his answer.
As the hours to meet comes close, Hazels gears kept turning, thinking almost every outcome she could think of, or as to what the house would look like, where should she search? Would there be security at every corner watching there every move?
"Oh screw me." that was all she could mutter under her breath. As she leans back to her chair looking up the ceiling; her thoughts kept making things worse not giving any positive reinforcement.
then a voice interrupted her thoughts
"I'm sorry what?" the words she heard along with a gasp.
Her head then tilts to Michael, his hand partly covering his mouth, taken aback on his seat; cheeks heating up.
Seeing Michaels reaction disappointment showed on her face
"Really? That's what you really think I meant?"
"Oh? Oh no. . Oohh nooo" Michael is at a loss for words.
"It's just that its very new to me, or perhaps I didn't expect those words to come in your mouth?" confusion is definitely is showing on his face.
"I - I mean to come from, FROM your mouth" he clarifies himself. Michael turning red covered his face "Oh my words are awful"
He tried to peek at Hazel and saw a very much judging stare while keeping a flat expression. Michael felt that Hazel is finding the words for him but falls short.
"I understood what you mean Michael. I got the message no need to be bothered by it, because I'm not."
He felt his words cut short, any clarification or excuses would only make him more guilty of such behavior.
And as the silence pass them by the hour, the time to for Hazel to meet his father arrives.
A chauffeur stands by the lot waiting for them, opening the door for both Michael and Hazel
As typical rich spells on the exterior of the car; extravagant is what the interior says. A starry sky when you look at the roof of the car, a separate air conditioning for the backseat, and the are reclining as well?!
Hazels eyes widened and placed her hand to her chest as she accidentally pressed the button on her side and her seat started reclining. She tried to act cool like it was her intention to but Michael snorted a laugh already at her brief panic
Hazel then throws a dagger look
"How rude of me" Michael then chuckles "Let me help you put it back to normal."
Michael then tries to lean forward however the seatbelt on him doesn't let him move closer. Once unbuckled he then presses the button on Hazels arm rest.
Hazel now starts to go up, and with with every second getting closer and closer to Michael, and by the time her seat was back to normal her face is only an inch closer to Michaels neck
Michael felt her breathing on his neck, a chill run down his spine as he casually go back to his seat.
"Oh, by the way would you like to have a drink?" He said as he tries to break the air between them. He then presses the on the gap between their seat and a very small compartment then popped out with drinks
"Help yourself if you fancy any of them" he said as he grabs a bottle of water
"Thanks for the offer" Hazel replies but she didn't grab any.
"By the way I keep seeing those two cars behind us wherever the car goes. Are those guys your security people?"
"Yeah, that must be our guards just tailing us, right Mister?" Michael says to the chauffeur
"I believe we wouldn't supposed to have any security following us today as this is not a major event, Ser." says the chauffeur
"Are you sure we are being followed by those Ma'am?" the chauffeur asks Hazel as he looks on the driving mirror.
"Well, we can test it out. Mister ? What is your name?"
"It's David, ma'am."
"Ok, Sir David Turn right on that building; and you Michael keep tabs on the cars I've pointed out"
"Okay." a quiver oh his voice is clearly showing
" Where next Ma'am?" asks David as he takes a right turn.
"Just keep turning right on this building"
Hazel watched the chauffeur turn right every time until they have circled the building.
"We are now back on the road where we initially are, should I take another right again?" David asks in confusion
"No, just keep driving normally again"
Hazel then turns to Michael
"Are they still there?"
Michael nods at Hazel, cold sweat on his forehead
"Then do something, call your security now or your police" Hazel exclaims as she smacks Michaels shoulder
Michael then takes out his phone, fingers shaking as he unlocks his phone.
"Why are you shaking, they are not doing anything aside from following us."
Hazel grabs his phone
"B-but I saw one of them holding a g-gun." his voice still quivering.
"Well do you see them, pointing those at us? No right? Now whats the number to call here?" Hazel didn't let Michael respond to the question. The chauffeur is driving in cold sweat already she doesn't need more of that.
Michael told her what contact to call, in the meantime Hazel advised David to drive unto a busy road and to start cutting lane on cars to give them more space and time.
"My father just became the President, I don't understand. . why are we being targeted already?" tears form on his eyes as Michaels hands crumple on his knees.
"He is the most powerful people in this country now. Death threats and stuff should be expected." Hazel taps his back "Perhaps your Dad is not just expecting it to be this quick. Right Mister David?" Hazel calls out to the chauffeur
"Ah. . Ah yes, don't worry Sir Michael, I was informed that the security are on their way and police are being dispatched in our location." David replies
Later then, police cars then started appearing before them, and just like that the cars tailing them were gone.
Hazel caught one last glimpse of them , she saw one of them took a photo before disappearing.
"They're gone" Hazel said as she slouches on her seat. Michael on the other hand was still frantically sitting, hand still crumpled on his knees.
"Is Sir Michael alright in there?" the chauffeur asks as he looks in the mirror.
"He is holding up. Drink water or something, police cars are the ones following us now so no need to worry" Hazel then hands him a drink.
"We are now close to home Sir you can rest easy."
Michael felt disappointed again at himself.
That's not how a leader should be; a leader does not cower at such mere fears. He should've expected that, his father is the new President after all, everyone around his Dad is a target to use against him.
It was an opportunity to show, he could lead as well. He imagines himself if he acted calm and collected as well like Hazel, perhaps Hazel would start to look at him differently then.
As much as he would like to admit Hazel stole his spotlight.
Michael was not raised to even think or act like that. That was something his family would not accept.
That was a flaw.
On the other hand, Hazels mind now wanders at the true problem that she would be facing.
Those death threats Michaels family would be receiving are not her problems, those are their battles not hers.
The car now approaches the gate, it was a huge solid one, it opened up as if they are to enter the castle walls.
They were greeted by security at the gate, accompanied by a thorough inspection on herself, her things and the vehicle itself. A fortress might be perhaps the better word for it and not a castle.
While driving further inside, Hazel notices that they are currently passing a huge garden that seemed like a park, on that sight of green abundance the one that stand out most to her is the pond with ducks swimming.
As Hazel kept on scanning the whole surroundings the vehicle came to a stop. Michael taps her shoulder.
"We are here now, we can go out now."
Just after exiting the car he then extends his hand to Hazel.
"If I may." his hand reaching out from the door.
Hazel takes his hand and goes out of the car.
Hazel is now greeted by huge mansion, that seems more like a museum as the walls are more of like an ancient stone repainted to make it seem new.
"1. . 2 . . 3" she mumbles as she counts the floors of the house
"This is the space enough for you guys?" her eyes still on the mansion as she asked the question.
Michael responds to him but her thoughts are still on focus on how enormous his house was.
A smile runs across her cheeks as she said the words "I could really get lost to this."
As the door opens in front of her, Hazels plan to snoop around before meeting Michaels dad now lingers on her mind. Her heart starts racing as her time to start searching is about to begin.
Or thats what she thought; for as soon as the doors open they were are greeted by the source of her questions; Michaels father.