8:00 AM, 8th of August.
Soon as I arrived at the university, Headmistress Brown wanted to see me. I knew by then, that Grandfather had told her what happened last Friday.
"Ms. Harper," Headmistress called, coming in from the door.
"Headmistress," I replied, bowing as a courtesy.
"I believe you know why you are here early in the morning," she said, raising her brow.
"Yes."
She went on and on about Grandfather's requests. I didn't bother to listen because I already knew about it. I just waited till she was done and left the room. Soon as I closed the door, I saw Nate coming towards me. I ducked my head, trying to avoid his stare, and continued walking, but he grabbed my hand.
"Why are you--" but before he could continue, Headmistress Brown had called his attention to her office. Phew! That was a close call. I could feel my heart beating fast that I ran out of the office.
I was panting when I arrived in the classroom, but I didn't have any more time to catch my breath because Valerie and the girls swarmed right in front of me, bombarding me with questions.
"LUNA! Why haven't you contacted me on Friday? And what the hell was that scene with the new guy?" Valerie asked with a stern look.
"Are you guys dating?" Kate asked, with her face clearly imagining the image of us together.
"Did you already know him from before?" asked Jane.
My mind was still processing that has been happening to me that I breathe in deep and shouted, "WILL YOU GUYS FUCKING SHUT UP?" Valerie and the rest of the students in the hall and room looked towards me and stopped at what they were doing. The girls knew that they crossed the line, and so they bowed their heads in embarrassment.
"You of all people should know that I have no right to explain myself. Now, if you guys want to gossip about me, go ahead. I dare you to do it. What happened last Friday was a party. People get wasted and do things stupidly. We had fun, and so don't fucking ruin it by messing up my week starting today. Got it?" I said furiously. I didn't wait for a reply and pushed them aside, making way for me to enter the room.
I sat down at my chair and brushed my hair with my hand. I am really in a terrible mood right now that I could not think clearly. The other students went back to their seats when the bell rang, signaling that the classes are about to start.
I drowned my face with my hands, then to my hair, messing it out of frustration. "Urgh!" I said under my breath. Should I just come clean that I'm not the same socialite they think I am? I don't want another encounter with my Grandfather, and I definitely do not want to finish school this year. I need to if I want to survive in the industry.
The past year has taught me to be more responsible for myself, my actions, and my decisions. It took one terrible incident for me to realize all of these things. A horrific incident that may have taught me to become better and at the cost of great pain and suffering.
I heard a thump on my desk. I lifted my head to see what it was, and there was a hand holding a coffee cup from the vending machine. I looked to see who gave it and saw Nate.
"Drink up," he said and went to his seat. The students were teasing, but the professor slammed his table to get the attention of everyone. He asked where Nate had been, and he simply replied that he came from the Headmistress' Office.
My mind can't handle all the thoughts that I am thinking about. I want to scream. Maybe I should've just taken an absence today; that way, I could've cleared my mind. Plus, I can't see Nate now. No! What happens between us is something I really DO NOT want to talk about.
11:30 AM, 8th of August.
The bell rang for lunch. The girls came to me, but I shoo them away, telling them that I won't be eating together because I'm still pissed. They know insisting on what they want from now on will just make the situation worse.
I grabbed my wallet in my bag and was about to leave the room when Nate intentionally blocked my way.
"What do you think you are doing?" I asked. I hear students whispering and glancing back and forth at us. I seriously do not want to be in the spotlight right now.
He did not say anything but grabbed me by the arm and dragged me out of the room. Students were coming out of their rooms and looking at the both of us while Nate was pulling me, and I was hitting him at the back in the hopes that he will let me go.
"Nathaniel Cooper!" I shouted. He stopped just before we were about to go upstairs. I then knew where he wanted to go. He didn't budge nor said something. He was standing with his firm grip on my arm.
"Let me go!" I demanded, but when he didn't, I took the liberty of stepping on his shoe. Seeing him from the back, I saw him squint from the pain, but he continued dragging, going up to the stairs.
I could literally hear the speculations and questions about what is happening between us.
Nate was still grabbing my arm, and it hurts. When we arrived at the rooftop, he scanned if there were anyone around and when he realized there was none. He locked the door behind us and pushed me by the wall. He locked me between his arms, telling me I can't avoid him anymore even if I try to. I looked away, avoiding his amber eyes.
"Look at me," he said fiercely. It was a first for me to hear him in this tone, but I didn't look.
"I said, LOOK AT ME!" he shouted. I looked at him and saw how angry he was, but I don't understand why he felt that way. Was he mad because I left him that morning?
"W-what?" I stuttered, trying to break off the tension between us, but it was not working.
Our eyes met. I could see his anger melting away just by looking at my eyes. I looked down at his lips, then remembered how we kissed and found comfort in one another. I looked back to his eyes to not be swayed from temptation, but I saw him looking at mine, trying to fight back the desire to kiss me that's boiling up inside him.
"Argh," he said, turning his back on me. I then breathe in and out deeply, grateful for the broken tension.
"What is it, Nate?" I asked. I don't know what came to my mind to ask a stupid question.
He scratched his head with frustration trying to find the right words to say, but I didn't expect what he said.
"I'm sorry."
It caught me by surprise. I never expected an apology. Was he apologizing for what happened between us? Did he regret it? Oh my god! I can't handle this.
"Sorry? For what?" I asked with a confused look.
"For hurting you and making a scene. I know you don't like that. It's just… Why are you avoiding me?" he asked, looking directly at me with a bewildered face, wanting an answer so badly that I could not come up with a reply.
"I--I honestly don't know," I said, diverting my eyes away from him.
There was silence between us once again. I was leaning on the wall while he was sitting across me. He was fidgeting with his clenched fist. I could not see his face because he cowered down, telling me he's trying to organize his thoughts and understand the predicament we are in.
I wanted to speak up, but I still can't find the right words to say. I'm at a loss. I have never been in this situation that I had to answer to someone. If I was the old me, I could've hit him already for dragging me away. No one was able to mess me up so bad except for him.
I can't explain it, but he always has this force around him, pulling me towards him. I know nothing about him. I don't even recognize him from before, but it always felt that we had a connection.
"Luna," he called, not looking at me. I didn't reply and waited out his next words. "I'm sorry."
He stood up and left. I was just there, standing stunned for the second time I heard the apology. I scoffed because I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.
The first apology may be about him dragging me, but the second one doesn't really sound like it.