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Buzzed and faint murmured conversations, muffled footsteps echoing against cold tiles. Yet, in that moment, the world around me seemed frozen. I hung there, suspended in disbelief, my breath caught somewhere between confusion and awe. His face was alarmingly close, his sharp, siren-like eyes pulling me into their enigmatic depths. My lips parted, not for words but as a mere reflex to the weight of the moment. His features were mesmerizing siren eyes that bore into me with an intensity that contradicted the softness of his mouth. The subtle curve of his lips seemed almost delicate, betraying the toughness his eyes exuded. His nose fit so perfectly with the rest of his face, and that jawline… oh, that jawline.
He noticed my wandering gaze, and his lips twitched into a small, knowing smirk. "It's something you should be proud of," he said, his voice smooth, low.
"Not everyone can run their mouth… like you." He chuckled, his position still bent forward, his presence overwhelming. The laugh that escaped my lips felt foreign, almost accidental. It wasn't his words, it was him.
He looked impossibly cute in that moment. And then it hit me. He wasn't just cute; he was dangerously attractive.
Heat crawled up my neck, settling in my cheeks as I struggled to keep my composure. My thoughts spiraled.
'Oh God, what am I doing?, Is it because he's so close?'
I stepped back instinctively, breaking the spell. My eyes darted to the floor as I coughed awkwardly, desperate to regain control of my erratic heartbeat.
'Thank God he can't read minds' I thought, trying to calm my chaotic thoughts. But when I dared a glance back, his smirk was deeper, his gaze more piercing.
He knew.
He knows I was staring.
Embarrassment surged through me like a tidal wave. My head dipped lower, my chin nearly meeting my chest as I tried to hide my face. My skin burned, the intensity of my blush undeniable.
He straightened to his full height, towering over me effortlessly, his confidence almost palpable. Turning on his heel, he started walking again, his strides unhurried, as if mocking my flustered state.
I lowered my head more like I was about to snap my neck bone I really didn't want him to see me turn into a tomato.
Glancing at the labels at the classrooms doors in search of directions for our class. I trailed behind him, my hands fidgeting nervously with the hem of my skirt.
My grip tightened so much that I wondered if I might tear it. The tension between us lingered like a heavy cloud. I couldn't decide if he was teasing me, flirting with me, or if my overthinking mind was crafting scenarios that didn't exist. I guess he really knows how to shut people up..
After a few steps, he finally spotted the classroom. Relief flooded me, taking some few breaths.
Summoning whatever courage I had left, I quickened my pace and stepped ahead.
"You don't need to follow me anymore," he said, his tone suddenly cold.
"I wasn't following you!" I shot back, though the tremor in my voice betrayed my irritation.
"What's with you and walking ahead of people?" His frustration was evident, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Sorry you can't understand," I muttered, hoping he would let it go. But he didn't.
In one swift motion, his hand gripped mine, pulling me back to him.
"Let me just have this once, please?" I pleaded, trying to mask the rising panic in my chest. I couldn't let him see the truth, not now, not about what happened earlier this morning. But he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a murmur.
"Is all this charade about that incident?" he said and my head felt like it was about to split into different directions, my mouth fell agape, that was literally what i was trying to avoid all this while.
'Was it so obvious? Or has it spread fast?, how did her know?'
My body froze as my mind scrambled for answers.
'How did her know?'
Panic surged as I stammered,
"Oh God, how did you know? Has it spread that fast?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows, my palms instantly became sweaty. I felt so scareddd, I bit my lips hard while flipping my hair, and looking about like a thief, squatting down to hide my pain and anxiety.
He chuckled softly, dragging me up from my squatting position to make me feel better and he shook me vigorously...though his grip on my wrist didn't loosen.
"Calm down, Valen. Do you really forget things so easily?"
"Huh?" I said out of pure confusion because he's beating around the bush right now, how can I possibly calm down?, my parent will be so disappointed.
'What did I forget?'
"You really don't remember, do you?" His smirk softened, and he shook his head, his grip steady but not forceful. "I overheard it. Infant's adult playroom, remember?"
I blinked at him, utterly lost. "What—what even is that?"
"Infant's adult?....play room?" I said, why is he confusing me more, I'm already in a confused mental state here....
He said still shaking me like I should smack out of my craziness.
"Your principal's office," he clarified, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Oh yesss?.. I know our principal 's office but why'd you cal...." He interrupted me fast like he doesn't want me to speak but just to listen , i wondering why he would call it an infant adult play room..oh God thank God that it's not what I thought.
"-You do talk a lot, don't you?....., now don't get yourself all worked up.... and let's.. GO!" He said trying to assure me while raising his voice a bit.
I remember when Mr Julon said it in front of him, ahh so many unexplainable things happened today.. I need to speak to master Fu and Nysar asap.
Relief washed over me momentarily.
"Ugh, stop calling me Valen!" I blurted out just realising that he had just called me that soemknutes ago for the 2nd or 3rd time now, I'm not really great at timing but it was all awkward now.
"But I didn't…" he began, but I interrupted.
"Yes, you did! A few seconds ago!" I shouted, oh look who forgets things easily now Mr superman.
I shook my head and scoffed at him, I'm very well aware that i'm just throwing a tantrum over nothing but it's what happens when i freak out and apparently Liora isn't here to calm me.
i figured that i tend to change subjects to irrelevant ones and try to argue and completely zone out consumed in my thoughts, if i can't argue over something that's freaking me out, at least i can argue over something that doesn't matter at all just to make me feel better.
He raised a brow, his amusement turning to mock surprise. "Oh, so your brain just clicked that I said it," he teased recalling when he said it and laughed mocking me but in a playful way this time, well I hadn't realised that i had zoned out again, i stared at him and laughed along with him.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at my lips. "Yeah it just did, at least it clicks unlike the part of brain that doesn't let your emotions function, Mr. Emotionless." laughed expecting him to laugh.
His expression shifted instantly. The playful glint in his eyes vanished, replaced by a piercing glare that made me shrink back. while glaring at me in a matter of mili-seconds , i guess his siren eyes can be scary.
"Let this be the last time you interrupt me...I had been letting you interrupt me all along!.....let this be the last time!!..... you would ever do that okay!?" he said, his voice low and dangerously calm.
He is glaring at me, his tongue slightly poke his mouth in anger, he's glare was so piercing that I could feel it in my soul if it hasn't left my body right.
I flinched as he roughly removed his hands from my shoulders which I didn't know was even there and pushed me back, my shoulder hitting the wall with more force than I anticipated. Pain shot through me, but I bit my lip to stifle a yelp. His glare was relentless, his lips slightly parted as if he were restraining himself.
'Is he angry because insaid his brain doesn't work?, Seriously?
I lowered my head in shame as he yelled at me.. that's one thing I don't like at all, to be yelled upon or to be screamed at, even though i wanted to be angry....I couldn't, been angry might just worsen this situation.
OKAY!?" My breath hitched in my throat as he yelled even further I looked up looking for a hint of joke or playfulness in his eyes but he looked damn serious.
"Yes... I'm sorry..." I murmured loud enough for only me to hear because I couldn't face him, he didn't seem like the Damian of a second ago, I wondered if I said something wrong??, it's just a joke right? he's been making fun of me since I didn't get all upset, just this once and now he's already mad at me like he's about to kill me or something... Or maybe I guess I shouldn't have said that...it might have been a little too much i guess i should apologise.
He gave me one last glance and stared at me for a moment longer before releasing a sharp breath before he shoved me aside. Without another word, he turned and continued down the hallway, leaving me rooted to the spot, clutching my shoulder
After a few more steps, The classroom door loomed ahead. Damian stopped in the doorway, his tall frame silhouetted against the fluorescent lights, blocking the view inside. He glanced back at me, his expression unreadable once more and with that he went in.
The room fell silent as he entered, every pair of eyes turning toward him.
I hesitated at the threshold walking towards the classroom gripping the doors frame tightly as I passed by each classrooms.
Why does everyone have to be so mean today?
"I shouldn't have said that ...I guess he's the sailor on the ship not me" I sighed and went to the class as it was still silent
But what's even wrong?, every one's just been mean to me, can't I just have a moment of happiness.
"I knew I shouldn't have come to school today" I muttered and sighed to myself, kicking the bin next to me.
Taking a deep breath, Trying to brace myself for whatever was to come next,
Swallowing hard, feeling the weight of their stares shift to me.
I mustered my courage and I stepped inside, trying to ignore the whispers that began to ripple through the class.
My feet felt heavy, each step echoing louder in my mind than it probably was, my seat right in front, but I forced myself to walk steadily, my heart pounding with every step.
"I guess this is my grand entrance, oh lucky me" I said mocking myself and rolling my eyes.
Sliding into my seat, I stared at the desk, willing myself to disappear. But I couldn't shake the lingering thought.
"But who exactly is this guy? I wondered, my curiosity growing with every passing second....
~End of Vale's pov ~
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