"Good morning, ma'am." greeted the woman who wore a formal black blazer with black pants when Mint enters the school gate. She's a slightly tall woman, have a slightly tan skin and despite of her color. She's very lovely. A typical tall, dark and beautiful woman.
"Good morning, ma'am." Mint greeted back with a smile. Then silently, without the other notices, her gaze went to the man that is slightly standing inside their guard house. Talking to someone.
Before the man and the woman notices her action, Mint immediately averted her gaze and said her goodbye to the person she was talking to.
While walking, she deeply signed.
'As usual, his very handsome.'
Mint is now employed as the Driving Encoder of a driving school which is based in Aethercliff Academy. She's already 24 years old this year. She come from a single mother household with two female children. She's the eldest among the two.
Since young, she can say that she's very different from her peers. As she grew up witnessing her parents' fights until they finally separated, she ought to grow differently. With her young age, she's a little bit mature and sensible. This characteristics of her, sometimes gave guilt to her mother.
Mint is so close off to the world. She likes to be alone. Until going to college, not unless her peers, classmates, instructors or other acquaintances initiated to talk with her nor interacted with her, she just does nothing. If possible, she just sits there and just stay quiet. Only minding her own world. Except her family of course. She may seem so cold and not care about everything as she's only interested in food and reading novels, she really does make sure that her priority is her family.
Aethercliff Academy is her alma matter. She graduated from college here. Though after two years before she was employed to the Aethercliff in one of their departments under their Driving School. She didn't really have the intention in accepting the offer but her supervisor when she'd still in her On-the-Job Training on the said department persuade her. After thinking it very carefully, she finally accepted.
The procedure in applying for the job is so easy as she knew, she has the recommendation by her supervisor before. So, when it's time for the interview. The 'interview' is very easy. You can't really tell that it's an interview because during it, it's just a casual interaction between the president of the school and Mint. To the president into their employee.
When the president learned that Mint is in fact a graduate of Aethercliff, he accepted Mint immediately. The president only asks for Mint's age, address and religion. Then surprisingly, he preached a little bit about God. After that, she was appointed already as a driving encoder.
Mint knew that being an encoder only is a little bit hard as it has a little salary. But. . . . . she will make do with it. She will make sure of that. She didn't want to go back anymore.
When working at Aethercliff, she met Sage Ashford. Sage Ashford is a very typical hot man. A man who will be always admired and have the attention by many women. His 190.5 centimeters tall. He has a black jet hair styled in Faux Hawk. Have a lean body and always have his eye glasses on, a little tan which only heightened his handsome features.
From the very first time Mint saw Sage, she wasn't interested in him at all. But when she started having interactions with Sage. There and then, Mint gradually started to notice him. As time went by, Mint's little interest in Sage blossomed and eventually turned into love.
Truthfully, Mint is afraid to love. Because she knows that her love is not ordinary. Once she loves someone. Her love will be always mixed with obsession and possessiveness. Even she, herself, she can't help it. Ashford is three years older than Mint. But it doesn't matter as Mint liked the way the man whom her future partner with is older that her.
As the department which belongs to Mint and Sage have a boss that is super close to their department. They ought to see each other and have a little bit interaction especially when they have a little lunch which will always be held in the laboratory of Mint's department.
When facing with Sage, Mint always feels shy. But that doesn't mean she will not stare at Sage even if it's only secretly and stealthily to satiate her desire for Sage. Mint always like seeing and watching how Sage interacts with everyone. The way how he jokes, talk, tease and laugh at their every colleagues. Though when the others started to joke and tease Sage with Mint's colleague in the same department, Jasmine. Even Sage started to tease and joke with their other woman colleagues, Mint feels really jealous. She always wanted to lash out and lock Sage for her to view him alone.
In fact, back in Mint's room. She has a little area where Sage has many portraits of him. Big and small sizes with different scenarios. All of it, Sage is the main character of it. Every time she woke up and she's going to school. She was staring at those pictures. Even when she gets home. She has always the time to appreciate them.
If everyone will know how she is. They will surely think that she is so sick. But who cares anyway. She doesn't care.
One day, the Executive Vice President Office have to held a big program concerning the whole academy. Of course, Mint's department and Sage's department will be surely involved. The program proceed smoothly without any problems and incident happens. Every department under the EVP office worked and communicated nicely with each other.
The program ended late at night. When tidying up and cleaning the venue, they finished it before going home, so they were caught by eight pm. But before they went home, the ones who stayed decided to go bar hoping first. Even though Mint wanted to go home because she was really tired, when she found out it was confirmed that Sage was coming, she agreed to come along. Will she let the opportunity to be with and interact with Sage pass by? Of course not.
When there already in the bar, everyone is so excited. Well, partly Mint as it's the very first time that she will experience in going to a bar. No one knew that Mint has a big tolerance in drinking alcohol. So, when Mint and the other we're already settled, it really rained with alcohol. There are many pitchers that was mixed and was presented in their table. Mint was surprised because she was used to drinking hard drinks. But the one on their table is diluted with light drinks. Mint finds the taste, refreshing.
Mint didn't realize that Laurel had noticed that she had already had a few glasses.
"Mint, slowly. How many glasses have you had already?" Laurel asks to Mint.
Mint only smiles at her and shrugged her shoulders.
"I just drunk a little. Hahaha."
"Sure? How could I not know that you can drink a lot?"
"What are you doing? It's nothing. Look at what we're drinking. It's just like juice."
The conversation between the two was overheard by Jasmin.
"Gaga. What juice are you talking about, I'm starting to feel dizzy here." Jasmin's face looked like she saw a ghost when she looked at Mint.
"Hahaha. These to. That's it. I can't taste any wine. I really feel like drinking a juice here." Mints said to Laurel and Jasmin sincerely while laughing.
Despite of being jealous by these two sometimes because of Sage. Mint doesn't really hate the two. Especially with Jasmin as she knew that Jasmin already has a boyfriend. The three joke around to the point that the other women in the group joined them.
Mint let herself for a but to express herself and just enjoy the moment. This is rare as this was just the very first time she's been here. They continue drinking. Some of them, who were already a bit dizzy, went to the singing area. There we're a set of musical instruments that is on standby on one of the sides of the area. So that if there, anyone who wanted to perform then they can do so. The one's who go there sing their selves wholeheartedly that occasionally, Mint and the others who we're left on their table laugh hard because of how hilarious the ones who come to the stage and teasing some that did a duet.
The scene proceeds like that for a long time. Mint didn't realize that she had drunk too much. She can't really feel the effect of the alcohol and if it will hit him. Mint can deny it. She's really enjoying what is happening right now.
When Mint feels the call of nature. Incase Jasmin and Laurel will look for her she said, "Hey. Gotta goes to the comfort room first. Will you join me?"
"No. I think I'm fine." Laurel answered to Mint while she continues sipping on her glass.
"How about you Ma'am Jasmine?"
"Haha. I'm not feeling the need to pee yet. Make sure you'll come back, okay? Maybe later, you'll leave suddenly. That's just your excuse for peeing." Jasmin tease Mint while she gets a chip on the table and ate it.
Mint laugh there and shakes her head, "Seriously, of course I'll go back. Of course, I can't just leave you here."
"Hahaha. Who knows, you might end up leaving us here." Jasmin jokingly said
"Okay fine. Go ahead, we'll wait for you here." Laurel said.
"Will be back later." Mint said while laughing but before she went away, she dunks what's remaining in her glass.
Mint went out of the main lounge and find her place to their comfort room. She walks until she reaches the place on the back where the sign of comfort room is in there. She shrugged and wen it. After she does her business, when going out she bumped into something hard.
"Aw. . ." Mint moaned.
Mint lost her balance and was about to fall because of the impact. She just waited for her to fall to the floor, but she felt someone hold her waist, preventing her from completely falling. She immediately looks at the one who held her. Her eyes widen a little bit. It's Sage. She quickly struggled to break free from Sage because she was so embarrassed. But unexpectedly, it only resulted in her to completely fall through the ground, but thankfully Sage didn't let that happen.
Maybe because of the shock from Mint's struggle, Sage couldn't hold her properly. When Sage caught her again, he also lost his balance and they were both about to fall to the floor, but accidentally, because Sage was holding Mint tightly, Mint fell on top of Sage and unintentionally their lips met. While their lips are still connected, Mint stared at Sage with widen eyes.
The two were so stunned and no one moved.
After a while, Mint immediately stands up then she brought his hand into her lips. Caressing it. Not believing something like that will happen.
She saw Sage slowly getting up while he stared at her. His stare makes Mint so shy so not wanting to confront Sage now, she moved to leave that very place. Though, she didn't have that privilege as Sage yanked her right arm and slowly slam her into the wall there. His arms were slam into both side of Mints head, caging her and preventing her not to leave.
"W-what?" Mint asks softly while looking down. She can't bring herself to look Sage in the eye.
"Look at me." Sage commanded Mint full of authority.
Not wanting to agitate Sage more, Mint gaze went to Sage.
"Do you think you can leave like that?" Sage whispered while he brought his head into Mints left shoulder blade. Inhaling her sent which makes Mint shivered a little because she can feel the breath of Sage in her neck.
Mint stayed still and protested stutteringly, "I-I didn't m-mean to do t-that. Y-you know w-what I m-mean. So, w-will you l-let me go n-now?"
Not liking how Mint stuttered, not moving his head away and still his head is leaning at Mint's shoulder, he looks at Mint and said with a cold voice, "You can talk straightly there."
"I'm sorry." Mint whispered.
"Hmm" Sage inhaled deeply then he moved his away and then proceed to look at Mint directly into her eyes. Their faces we're so close, their nose is almost touching.
"That, still, you cause all of it. What can you compensate me?" Sage said using his hoarse voice.
Music into Mint's ears. She knows that she is in a bad situation right now. But this is Sage. She can't think of anything else to do. Her only thought and attention are on Sage.
"What do you want me to do?" Mint boldly asks at Sage.
Sage smirked a little there, "You can give me a kiss."
Mint couldn't hold back anymore. Sage attention into her right now is causing for her inner self to come out. This made her a little bit excited. The joy that Sage attention is on her is filling her whole self. The lease that she put into her inner self, is slowly breaking. His possessiveness and obsession for Sage, is starting to come out.
Not wanting to hold herself back as she knows herself that she will gladly do anything that Sage will say. She knows also that she wanted that kiss. Because she didn't want to regret what will she do right now, she voluntarily pulled Sage's head and kissed him. Sage was momentarily taken aback by the shock that Mint would actually kiss him, but he quickly responded to Mint's kiss and deepened it further.