~~Ashley's POV~~
We'd pieced my shredded script together, compared it with the wrinkled paper found beside my desk, and at long last, I was redeemed. It was best I accepted it already. I'd have been toast if it hadn't been for him and there was no denying it this time. Quite obvious my cold shoulders had zero effects on him. Instead, he kept helping me every single time I was in trouble.
Unfortunately, the day went by without me getting to thank him for what he did. And I wasn't so excited about that.
"Ashley, is everything okay?" I heard Archer's voice from beside me. We were walking out of the building together as school was over.
Heaving a shallow sigh, I replied, "I'm fine."
Silence …
"And thank you for earlier."
"It's nothing. Any ideas who could've done that? Who could have tried to implicate you for a crime you know nothing of?"
"If it was intentional, then I can only think of one person." Sakura. She was capable of doing this and more.
Speak of the Devil.
Sakura appeared before us from nowhere. I remained unfazed, adhering my knowing stare to hers a few paces away. The look in her eyes wasted no second in proving her guilty. After all, no one harbored as much ill feelings as she did toward me.
Taking calculated steps toward me, I braced up for a confrontation. But instead, she merely rubbed her neck and walked past, her eyes as fiery as ever.
"Why does she hate you so much?" Archer asked rhetorically when we both turned around to her receding form.
I shrugged. I couldn't care less either way. The only reason I was still watching her stroll out of eyeshot was out of sheer curiosity. The Sakura I knew would never pass me by as peacefully as she just did.
"Let's go," Archer urged and then we resumed our steps to the carpark.
He accompanied me to the car where we eventually parted ways.
Up until I got home, I could hardly get Daniil off my head. I'd told him specifically that I wouldn't be needing his help anymore. What if he had listened?
"We're home," Maverick announced, gently whirring the car into the compound.
I raised my hand to the door handle, waiting for the car to stop. Once it did, I jumped down at once and headed in.
"What?!!" rang through my ears the instant I walked into the living room. It was my mom on a call that trapped my attention that joltingly. "An anonymous donor?!"
"When?! How?!"
I rolled my eyes, getting bored already. Sullen, I dragged my feet upstairs.
"Hmmm…" I plopped down on my bed facedown with a sigh.
~"I'm afraid that won't be possible." Daniil's words reechoed at the back of my head. Stirring to lie on my back instead, I then opened my eyes, going thoughtful.
How could he tell with that much conviction that I was innocent? What if he helped me and I ended up guilty as charged? What then? Did he really have strong faith in me? Why though?
A knock sound in my ears, and my thoughts were jumbled all over. I squeezed my face, peeved by the sudden disturbance.
"Ashley! Ashley!!" My mom hailed reportedly but I didn't answer, going to get the door instead.
"Ash –" I stopped her midway by pulling the door from my end.
Running a delighted grin through both ears, she pulled me into a … definitely not a hug, but a SQUEEZE, cringing me out to the core.
"What's the occasion, Mom?" I stressed curiously, not a hint of excitement mixed with my tone.
Pulling back slightly with my arms still in her grip, she asked brightly, "Do you believe in miracles?"
I winced, narrowing my brows in wonder. Where was this coming from?
"Do you believe in God?" And yet again, she posed another absurd question. I wasn't religious, so all she achieved with her dramatic display was a cringed-out Ashley.
"What's the occasion, Mom?" I asked still.
"I just received an anonymous donation amounting to thirty. Million. Dollars."
"WHAT?!!" I exclaimed, saucer-eyed. "Thirty what?!"
"You heard me, Ashley. Thirty million dollars."
"Why? How?"
She shrugged. "A miracle?"
"Fine," I rolled my eyes plunged back into exhaustion. "Can I freshen up now?"
"What?" she flinched, somewhat repelled by my bland reaction. "You're not happy for me?"
"I am," I assured. "I really am. Just tired for now."
"You're always tired, Ashley."
"Maybe." I shrugged my brows.
She smacked her tongue jovially. "Fine, I'll give you space. But don't be late for lunch."
I nodded tiredly.
"I'll be waiting," she concluded and walked away.
The Next Day …
Daniil lived in my head rent-free. Not once had I ever waited for lunchtime this badly because I needed to speak with him, to thank him for yesterday.
Finally, it was lunchtime. The serenity was washed away by a sudden rowdiness that further indicated the bell had gone off, and so the students began dispersing.
I waited until a measure was out before packing my bag and following the crowd. To the cafeteria of course.
"I'm paying," I said, extending my card across Daniil's over the counter.
He paused midair before withdrawing his hand, smiling amusedly.
"Two servings please," I told the server. "Don't expect anything buoyant," I said to Daniil, still keeping my eyes over the counter but could feel his pasted to me.
Our trays of food were then placed before us on the counter. I grabbed mine and went on to find a table, naturally expecting him to follow suit. We found a table for ourselves and settled in.
"What's the occasion?" he asked, speaking up first.
"My name was cleared. In front of everyone," I started solemnly while he just nodded in silence. "Thank you for that."
Silence …
"Do you do this on purpose?" he asked with an unusual look in his eyes. A look I could not read.
"What?" I asked cluelessly.
"Never mind." He grabbed his drink from his tray and took a sip.
"Anyways, thanks for yesterday. It would've been bad without your interference."
"If it would, then I think I deserve more than this." He gestured slyly to his meal, raising mischievous eyes to me thereafter.
I flinched, narrowing my eyes questioningly. "What else do you want!"
"You're the one saying thank you." He shrugged.
'Well, duh, I'm paying for lunch,' I let my expression say, pouting my lips and fitting my straw between them while leaning back.
He chuckled teasingly. "You really should – "
The abrupt murmurs of unrest that ensued, sweeping over the casual chatters that reigned until a few moments ago cut him off.
Screeches evolved from every side as the students began leaving one after the other, a sense of urgency common in their reactions.
'What's going on?' I mumbled in my head, scanning the newfound rowdiness in the hall.
"The blue-eyed guy?" a feminine voice echoed amid the chaotic chatters.
'He's here. Again.' I breathed inwardly, my heart plunging deep into my stomach when my eyes impulsively clashed with Daniil's.