At exactly two o'clock in the afternoon, many students at Royal High University, where Hannah studies, are rushing to leave the school grounds for various reasons.
Some are eager to return home, while others are simply excited to hang out with their friends.
Among the numerous students that are walking towards the school gate, one student stood out among the rest.
People around her could not help but notice her because of her stunning, chestnut-brown hair, which complemented her blue-grey eyes, and her almost overwhelming confidence.
Their stares were searing, as if they were about to devour her, but Hannah did not seem to mind.
She had long grown accustomed to being the center of attention, and so she simply allowed them to keep stealing glances at her every move.
"Hey," Hannah heard a voice next to her say before an arm suddenly looped around hers, surprising her a bit. However, seeing that it was just Alliana, Hannah greeted her back with a smile.
"Why are you alone? Where's Olivia?" she asked.
Since the three of them would typically eat lunch together and depart the school grounds together, Hannah was genuinely curious about their friend's whereabouts, considering that she was rarely missing at times like these.
"Where else?" Alliana grumbled, the smile plastered on her face just a few moments earlier now completely gone.
"I'm seriously wondering what she saw in my brother for her to be such a fool for him" she added
"There are moments when I fear that Frost may have used a potion or put a spell on our friend. If he hasn't, why else would Olivia be so madly in love with him?"
Alliana continued to complain as the two of them walked towards the school entrance, their arms still wrapped around each other.
"Well, why not?" Hannah asked.
"It's obvious from my beauty and talents alone that our family's genes are top-notch, Liana," Hannah reasoned confidently, sounding like she was bragging about herself, which made Alliana nod in agreement when she thought of her own gorgeous face.
"You also can't deny that your brother is a good-looking man. Your mom and dad are affluent, and since you aren't interested in your family's business, Frost is now most likely the one to inherit the majority of the shares of the great Jimba Corporation," she added, causing her cousin to frown even more profusely.
"Not to mention that he's kind and smart and that his relatives are all nice and easy to get along with. To be honest with you, he's the perfect man," she continued, defending her cousin against his sister's words before she finished her long litany.
"Whatever! I don't care about you guys, but the only Frost Edward Salvador I know is the messy, mean, and huge crybaby who only knows how to cry when mom scolds him. That's who my brother is, not some mister perfect you're talking about," Alliana retorted, and since Olivia wasn't there to defend her most beloved boyfriend from his sister and Hannah was too lazy to have a childish argument with Alliana, no one was left to defend Frost.
"Anyways, I wanna ask if you can come with me to the mall" Alliana said, breaking the conversation about her brother.
"I want to check if there are any newly released outfits and if there is anything else I want to buy," she added, inviting Hannah to go shopping with her, but as tempting as it sounded, Hannah could only dejectedly decline her
"Why? Do you have other plans today? Can't you reschedule it?" Alliana asked, causing Hannah to sigh deeply as if she were dreading what she was about to say, which she did.
"I can't" I am going on a blind date, set up by the one and only Marc Sheldon Y. Salvador," Hannah announced dramatically, making Alliana's mouth gape hilariously.
"Oh. My. God, I can't believe this," Alliana said as if she had just heard something fantastic.
"I can't believe this," she said again, practically squealing.
She even fanned herself with her hands while exaggerating her breathing in and out, as if Hannah's remarks had caused her to lose her breath, before continuing to speak.
"Even the proud Hannah Shanel Y. Salvador would one day be forced into a business marriage. I really can't believe this, you're just like the main character in the story I've been telling you about"
Hearing this, Hannah can't help but roll her eyes as she reprimands her cousin, who is now laughing uncontrollably.
"Don't be silly. It's just a date. I don't have any plans to get married" she hissed at her still laughing cousin.
"Okay, okay. Calm down. I'm going to shop alone today. You better hurry on your date" Alliana continued to tease before she ran away, making Hannah roll her eyes once more before walking to where her car was parked.
"Good afternoon, Señorita" Benjamin said, opening the car door for her. She returned his greeting before boarding the car.
The interior of the car remained as silent as it had always been, with Benjamin not needing to ask Hannah where they were headed because he already knew.
Despite the oppressive silence that enveloped the car, Benjamin acts as if he is accustomed to his eldest miss's silent treatment of him, which he actually is, and drives calmly toward the five-star restaurant where Hannah is supposed to meet her date.
During the ride, Hannah would ocassionaly use the camera on her phone to check her appearance.
She smoothed the blouse that she was wearing with her hand and was about to comb her chestnut brown hair using her slender fingers when, all of a sudden, Benjamin forcefully stepped on the brakes.
Hannah's small frame lurched forward as a result of Benjamin slamming on the brakes without warning, and if it hadn't been for the seatbelt that she was wearing, she would have probably slammed into the back of the driver's seat.
"I'm so sorry, Señorita! Are you okay?" Benjamin asked in a panic, his bulging brown eyes frantically scanning his eldest miss's body to check for any signs of injuries.
For the first time in his ten years as the Salvador family's chauffeur for the eldest miss, the normally composed man was involved in an accident that he felt would jeopardize his employers' faith in him.
Benjamin is aware of how much Hannah means to the Salvador family. She was meticulously raised by her elder brothers and now-deceased parents, who gave her all the love and care they could from the day she was born till today.
Every product that she uses and all of the food that she eats can only be the best among the best. She was loved and pampered by everyone in the family. She was doted on as if she were a princess, and not once did she ever suffer from any hardship or pain.
"Señor Sheldon and Señor Sean will certainly have my head served on a silver platter if the Señorita is injured"
Just thinking about the consequences that he would face if something happened to Hannah, Benjamin cannot help but shudder in fear.
He was already thinking about how to explain the incident to Hannah's older brothers if she was hurt when, all of a sudden, her calm and luscious voice broke him out of his trance.
"Don't worry, I'm fine," Hannah said, her posture still relaxed and steady.
"What happened?" she asked.
Hannah's attitude remains calm, as if she is unperturbed by the accident that just occurred, and if it weren't for the way she tightly grabbed the seat underneath her, which shows exactly how terrified she was, it would appear that nothing happened.
"An old man collapsed in front of our car,"
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Author's Note
Hey guys, what do you think? I'm interested in hearing your thoughts, so please leave a comment below and tell me what you think about the characters and the events that are taking place.