~~Ashley's POV~~
"I'll pay for your meal." In my face was a hand out of the blue, extending a platinum black card to the cashier across the counter. I tilted to my left to see him. Again. I coughed in disbelief.
'Good lord. I know I haven't been an ardent worshipper but I also know you're boundless in generosity and mercy and would not bestow on me a punishment for a sin I know nothing of.' I was still struggling to erase the mental picture his first impression painted in my head but here he was making matters worse. His eyes looked nothing like blue but whenever they peered into mine, I felt entranced for a second, somehow seeing those pair of blue eyes that drove me to misery about two months ago. I barely managed to mask my nerves with the easiest emotion I could muster in split seconds – disdain. I would rather cease to breathe than have him or anyone in school look at me with pity.
I heaved a sigh and rolled my eyeballs.
Then leaning back with my forearms resting on the counter I veered to ask: "Do you know me from somewhere? Why do you keep following me?" I just had to ask. Recently, I saw him almost everywhere I turned to!
My recurring nightmares still had me trapped in this neverending cycle of woe; I was unable to break free. To sum it all up, I wanted him off my back! 'I need a breather.' But no matter how hard I tried, he came back better and more determined. Did he enjoy being looked down on? To be honest, I felt somewhat horrible for treating him like a dirt bag but that was the least of my concerns. I mean, I wasn't having it any easier. I felt stalked … choked … suffocated! It's ultimately his fault for not knowing when to stop.
"Are you stalking me?"
"Easy…one question at a time," he stressed, carefully fitting his card back in his wallet. He was already flaunting his wealth; one more reason – added to the endless list of red flags I consciously noted – to pacify my guilt. Standing before me was a born narcissist who cared too much about himself to give a damn about anyone's feelings given how disrespectful he treated people; girls who flocked around him precisely. I still did not know why I cared so much about giving him a dose of his own medicine. Or maybe I did? He only ever tried to talk to me. Why did I even care about how he treated others? 'Ugh…Whatever. My head's a mess right now.'
Without uttering another word, I folded my arms across my chest that said: 'I'm listening.'
"Yes. I know you, your name is Ashley Sinclair." Yup, it's confirmed. He's a stalker. "And I am not following you around. I happened to run into you just now." Big fat lie. Then…
The last response was delayed.
I raised my brows, motioning he completed his replies. "You're stalking me right?"
"Stalking… is a bit too much."
"So what exactly do you…"
"Miss if you don't mind, kindly move your tray to a seat in the dining area," the cashier intruded, cutting me off civilly.
"Your food." Tilting his head he motioned I carry the tray.
"I lost my appetite," I said flatly before turning around to leave.
"Wai … wait!" I heard him call out and then felt his firm yet gentle grip around my right arm.
"What do you want from me?!" I raised my voice, high enough to spare myself needless attention.
"I just want to talk. Why do you loathe me so much?" 'Where's that coming from?' My movements froze as I was completely caught off guard by his question. I didn't expect him to ask that directly. And why would he even care about something like that? With flickering eyelids, I scanned our surroundings to make sure people weren't watching then redirected my flustered eyes to him.
It took me a while to realize my arm was still within his grip then tried to withdraw but he held on firmer. I hardened my glare again having let my guard down for a moment, but his keen stare remained unfazed; instead, he minimized whatever distance was left between us. Like the room around us was empty, and every other person present was invisible, he focused on me. My drumming heart skipped a beat. This was the closest I'd been to him. Staring intensely into his eyes, I felt entranced; like I could get lost in its amber patterns if our eyes remained locked for much longer. To prevent that from happening, I blinked. "Let. Me. Go." My voice was almost trembling but I managed to pull off the stern order.
"Sure." He let go and then smiled slyly, still peering into my soul. 'I hope he didn't perceive my fear.' I scanned the room one last time then shot him a threatening lour before storming off.
My stomach growled as I walked out of the cafeteria but no! The last thing I wanted was to go back in there to him. I puckered my lips into a babyish frown, bowing my head as I made my way to our lecture hall.
I sighted Sakura and Hana standing around my seat from the entrance. I heaved a sigh knowing those two – popularly known as "the Yoshida cousins" – spelled trouble. I was in no mood for their madness this afternoon. I heaved a sigh, adjusted my face, and took approaching steps.
On seeing me, Hana stood up and walked up to me as I went closer.
"Where's Archer? I heard you both have been hanging around together lately," she said with an authoritative tone, yet calmly.
"Whoever told you we hung out together should be able to tell you his whereabouts since he or she watches us closely," I retorted.
"I haven't come here to fight with you. Do you know where Archer is? I haven't seen him all day."
"I'm sure she's already feeling on top of the world having one of the hottest guy on campus dance around her tail," Sakura chirped from behind. Hottest guy? Was she referring to the blue eyed guy? I ignored her remark anyways. I couldn't care less.
"I am not Archer's keeper Hana."
"So you don't know where he is right now? I saw him earlier this morning but never got the chance to speak with him. I heard you both normally have lunch together."
"She must …" Sakura tried to interfere again but paused when Hana raised her hands, motioning she be quiet. My eyes darted to her, amused at how much authority Hana had over the invincible 'Sakura of IUC.' I scoffed silently.
"I thought you might know where Archer is. Sorry for disturbing your personal space." Her apology swelled with sarcasm. She looked me up and down, flaunting her superiority in height. She walked past me while Sakura followed suit.
...
In the Library.
"Here you are Archer." Hana suddenly materialized before him across his reading table.
He raised his eyes from his book for a second. "Hey Hana."
She recoiled with a scowl, displeased with how 'much' emotion he attached to that. "'Hey Hana'? Is that all you have to say?!"
"Shhhh…" With his forefinger placed across his lips he fervently reminded her of the serenity she met when she walked in, pointing on the notice hanging on the wall behind her. "Be quiet…" he whispered still.
She scoffed multiple times, fluttering her eyelids at him in disbelief before stiffening her glare. "Meet me outside," she ordered low-pitched, not necessarily whispering.
Archer rolled his eyeballs dramatically before following suit.
"Congratulations Archer!" she fired with every shred of sarcasm she could muster, the moment he walked out that door. "I hear you've been messing around with Ashley in my absence."
Archer sucked in a deep breath with eyes closed, too drained to entertain her squabble.
"I'd been away for weeks, Archer. No calls! No texts!!"
"You said you wanted to break up!" Archer snapped unexpectedly, compelling a flinch from her.
She went silent for a couple of seconds .
"How could you, Archer? I thought we talked that through already." She whined in a way that could've aroused pity in him if he didn't know better.
"What? You apologize and then it's over?"
"Archer I clearly said I needed a break. And I apologized already," she tried to defend herself with sunken shoulders taking careful steps towards him.
"Hana please! You take breaks when you want to and get back when you want to. Are you the only one who needs breaks? Do you ever think of me?!"
"Archer I truly am sorry."
And once again, Archer was rendered defenseless in the face of her plea. More like…manipulation. She knew what buttons to push to get her way, and Archer couldn't detest his soft spot more at times like this! If only he could put on the show for much longer, then maybe she'd learn to respect his feelings.
Hana wasn't any less pretty or hot than Sakura, after all, they were cousins. And that was why some folks couldn't understand why she remained with Archer despite his goofiness sometimes but ironically, to her, that was his charm. Hana was drawn to Archer's deep-rooted kindness towards all and sundry. Despite being on the weak side, his readiness to fight for all he cared for was his most attractive quality. His easygoing nature almost made her forget what a thorn in his flesh she could be, hence his outburst that caught her off guard.
Locking her wobbly eyes with his, she moved her hands slowly to his chest.' The job's almost done,' she thought, putting the icing on the cake. He on the other hand suppressed the urge to encircle her in his arms. Why? He didn't know.
Just when he was about giving in…
Archer tore his eyes from hers, extending them over her shoulders instead.
"If it's a bad time I can always come back later." Hana heard a familiar voice and then turned around to see Ashley.
Ashley!
A sudden scowl took root in her face, eroding any chances of remaining collected.
"No, it's fine. I promised to explain the topics to you today." Archer nudged her aside, taking advancing steps toward Ashley. That made her go mad! She clenched her fists steaming with rage.
"I'll talk to you later." He told her off, walking back in with Ashley.
There and then, Hana trotted towards the duo, pulled Ashley away and sent two resounding slaps across her cheek… in her mind. How desperately she wanted to act on her wish but her muscles thought otherwise, also overridden by shock to move an inch. All she could afford to do was shoot a blistering glare at the pair walk farther away from eyeshot. If only eyes could kill.
Hana could barely keep her teeth from breaking, gritting them ferociously. Ashley she considered so insignificant bugged her so much, and at the same time, she felt so helpless. She'd just returned from spending her summer break in Japan, and as if Archer's abstinence apparently because of her wasn't enough, he had the guts to stand her up. For Ashley!
The same wench!!!
Hana although was usually calm in the worst-case scenarios unlike Sakura but this was the height of it! Ashley was going to get served a taste of her own medicine.