It was only five o'clock in the morning when I heard a series of knocks on my bedroom door.
"Mom, it's early!" I shouted and closed my eyes again to sleep but the knocking still did not stop.
"Clare! Are you alright? Clare!" I woke up suddenly to hear Ashton's cold voice.
I approached the door but I did not open it. I don't have a wig, contact lenses, freckles, manang clothes and big glasses so he can't see me. "Ashton ..." I said in a low voice.
I heard him blow hard. "Clare, I'm so sorry, I heard what happened. I'm sorry I didn't. I'm sorry-"
I cut off whatever he had to say. "Ashton, I'm fine. How did you get in."
"Can you open this fucking door?" Irritated he said and ignored my question.
"I-you can't come in because what, ... I-I'm naked! That's right, I used to sleep naked!" When I excuse myself. I was touched by my cheek when I felt its heat. With all the excuses, is what I said still naked?
"O-okay. I'm just going to wait in the living room. Your mom let me in." He said so I just nodded even though he could not see.
I heard footsteps moving away so I knew he was in the living room.
I immediately went to the bathroom and the first thing I did was to brush. I stared at myself in the mirror. There is no trace of the ugly nerd Clare. It's all Crystalline now.
My former messy and loose black hair, black eyes, lots of freckles on my face, big mirrors, manang clothes that make me look fat are gone.
I'm wearing my black nighties. The real color of my hair is blonde, only Daddy and older brother, my eyes are amber color, my lips are naturally red and cute pointed nose.
It all changed because of my pretense. I just want to be a normal person. Having a friend is not because you have a lot of money but because of your habit.
I thought when I became like this, I would hope for it all but it didn't, it got worse.
I quickly took a shower and put on my things again to become Clare Santos. I had difficulty moving because of the cast of my left arm.
Mommy insisted that we go to the hospital because of what happened to me and I did not expect that I would have to be cement cast because I did not fall well.
That time, my parents are fuming mad, brother Cryston too. They even wanted me to go home first but I just shook my head.
After going to the hospital, they took me back to the condo and left. Now, Kuya is mad at me. He said he was sulking because I still prefer to live like this even though it is okay.
I opened the door of my room and went straight to the living room where Ashton was. He was typing on his cellphone but immediately looked at me when he noticed my presence.
He stiff when he saw me but after that, he slowly walked and to my surprise, he hugged me tight. I did not know what to do but my right hand moved spontaneously and hugged him too.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, I'm not there to protect you." He mutter that words in my ear so many times but it like music to me.
His voice is not cold when he whispers that but husky. It sounds so great for me. Just a few minutes later he let go of the hug and touched both my cheeks.
"I'm sorry." He sincerely whisper again.
"It's not your fault." No strength I say. His presence really make me uncomfortable but i like it, especially his eyes. Cold blue.
~
We walked hand in again to the gate. Unlike the other day he had no emotions, now he has. And it's fuming mad.
"All of you! Listen to me !," I was surprised when he suddenly shouted. The other students were confused and gathered, which surprised me. Do the students really follow him? Unbelievable. "This girl beside me is my girlfriend! Whoever I hear hurts her, I will make you taste the Gladiators blood."
After that he pulled me into the room. No one even speaks and whispers. I ignored that because I was wondering what the Gladiators Blood he was saying was.
"Who putangina pulled my Girlfriend's chair yesterday ?!" He shouted angrily again. How did he know someone pulled my chair?
I looked at my blockmates and they all pointed to the pale man behind our chair. He bent down and I could even see the slight tremor of his hand.
I jumped when Ashton suddenly pulled out his coat and without a word punched the trembling man. It is known that he was punched as if he had no intention of stopping because the women were just left while the men were just watching and the others were being videotaped.
I didn't let Ashton down, I knew that would stop. "Get out of my sight!" After saying that, he let go of the man who was already sitting on the floor and hurried out.
Ashton pulled me to sit next to him. Everyone fell silent and seemed scared of the man next to me with his jaw tightened and his fist clenched.
I held his bent hand pout. "Is your hand okay?"
He raised an eyebrow at me. "Huh?"
I extended my snout even more. "I'm worried about your hand, the man's face looks as thick as that."
He smirk and amusement filled his face. He quickly approached me and his eyes widened as he quickly applied his lip to mine.
I held my breath and seemed to be pushed into the seat because of what he had done. I can also hear my classmates sighing.
"Y-you k-kissed me."
He just stared at me with a playful smile. I walked away as his face approached me again but he immediately touched my back. His face is so close to me right now. His lips hit my ear so I felt something strange in my stomach. It's butterflies on my stomach.
"I told you. I love to break rules." He huskily whispers.
~
I just walk around the whole school while still thinking about Ashton's delicious kiss- i mean Ashton's obscene kiss.
I was a little angry but my visiting body did not agree with me. I just kept walking when I met a woman. She looks like a slut because of her coloring book face and oh-not-so-short-skirt. Because it's short, it looks like she doesn't want to wear a skirt anymore like my knee-length one.
"You look better without your glasses." He said sideways so I turned my back.
"Are you talking to me?" I will ask.
"What do you think?" He asked calmly and stared at me.
I just sweetly smile at her. "Oh thank you. You look better without my glasses too!"
He did not speak and seemed to think first of the meaning of what I said before I was blindfolded.
"Get lost you fat ass!" He shouted so I frowned.
"I am a fat ass but i can lose weight. But you're a dumb ass, how can you gonna fix that!" I also shouted so the gossips watching him laughed.
"Hey I'm not a dumb! I can pass my exams!"
I covered my mouth and acted surprised. "How can you pass your exams if you can pass away?"
'Burn!'
'Savage!'
'It's good that Campus Bitch, he also found his match.'
The audience whispered so I smiled. The woman in front of me now blushed with anger and embarrassment. It's so nice when that freak stop talking to you, it's like a trash took itself out.
"You bitch!" He shouted and started to rush but I threw the handkerchief at him earlier in my pocket.
"Here's a handkerchief, you have a little bullshit in your mouth!" The men were 'ooh' and the woman was embarrassed to run away.
I was surprised when someone suddenly walked up to me. I don't even have to ask who that is because I already know her perfume. Manly, and lavender and roses with a touch of Calvin Cleins Obsession.
"You're savage, I love it." Ashton said that's why I smile.
"Not all the people are made of sugar, spice and everything nice. Because i made of sarcasm, wine and everything fine."
He smirked and intertwined our hands. "Yeah. You really are. You even savage the campus bitch."
I raised an eyebrow. "Campus bitch, huh? I think I'm bitcher than her."