Xyrine Jean's POV
I felt like every step I took made everyone stare at me. Every breath I exhaled seemed to echo, as if they were listening closely. I swear, it felt like everyone was talking about me!
Waaaaah! This is a nightmare! I screamed internally.
I glanced at Ella, the mastermind behind all this chaos. How can she sit there eating so calmly when I can't even lift my head in peace?
"Oh my gosh, couz! Why are you looking at me like that? Are you still mad at me?" she asked as her tears threatening to spill, all while casually taking a bite of her hotdog. Such a drama queen.
"What if I make you swallow that whole hotdog, huh? Would you like that?" I hissed as I'm glaring at her.
She immediately shook her head, nearly choking. "Ack! No way!"
I rolled my eyes at her dramatic response.
"Seriously though, I only did it to help you. I didn't know it would end up making him leave for good," she said, her tone softening.
I paused mid-bite. Yeah. For all the embarrassment I endured yesterday, it didn't change anything.
Pushing my food around my plate, I muttered under my breath, "Maybe this is where it ends for real..."
Ella and I sat in awkward silence until the cafeteria speakers suddenly crackled to life.
"FINE! I LIKE HER! I'VE LIKED HIM FOR A LONG TIME!"
The spoon I was holding clattered to the ground.
"WHEN DID YOU REALIZE YOU LIKED HIM?"
"What... was that?" I asked, my voice shaking as my heart pounded in my chest.
Ella and I exchanged wide-eyed glances before I shot up from my seat. "Hey, couz! I have nothing to do with that!" she exclaimed, hands raised defensively, her eyes practically bulging.
"At first, I never thought I'd like him. He acted like he owned the whole university, like every student was under him thumb. Everything he wanted, he got. he didn't care about anyone but himself. He was completely self-centered, and yet..."
I froze, feeling the blood drain from my face as my brain registered the words being broadcast again. Students all around me were staring now, whispering and pointing in my direction.
"Ah! Fvck! I have to go!" I yelled, bolting out of the cafeteria and sprinting towards the audio room.
Who the hell recorded that embarrassing confession yesterday? Gosh. This is crazy!
"Every time I saw him, even by chance, my heart would race. I hated seeing him, but I couldn't understand why being around him made me feel like that."
Ah, shit! Hearing it again makes my skin crawl. Why is this being played over and over again?!
I ran faster, speakers along the hallway echoing my confession from yesterday like a humiliating nightmare on repeat.
"Even though I hated him so much... somehow, I started to like him. I like Spade."
"Nooo!" I groaned, practically collapsing in front of the audio room.
I barely caught my breath when a voice startled me.
"Oh, so you finally made it here."
I looked up as my chest tightened. "Monique?"
She smirked as her arms crossed while her lackeys flanked her sides. "Funny, isn't it? I wonder how it feels right now as you confess your feelings so publicly without even knowing if they'll be returned," she sneered while her mocking laughter pierced through me.
I stood up as I narrowed my eyes. "You did this, didn't you?"
"And if I did, what can you do about it?" she taunted. "You're all alone now as I'm thinking of ways to make you pay."
Her words struck a nerve as, for the first time, I realized how true they were. Spade was the only reason Monique hadn't been able to mess with me before, but now I had no one.
She seemed to notice my silence as she grinned wickedly. "See? You have nothing to say. Now it's my turn to get even," she said while signaling her lackeys. "Hold her."
I backed away as panic surged through me while they advanced. Step by step, I retreated until my back collided with something solid.
"Hey, what's this drama about?"
That voice sent shivers down my spine. I turned slowly as my breath hitched when a familiar face leaned in while resting his chin on my shoulder.
"Spade?"
He adjusted the shades perched on his nose as he finally took them off to reveal his eyes. "Yeah. Do you miss me?"
"Aaaah!" I panicked while trying to move away, but his arms immediately wrapped around my waist.
"Don't move," he mumbled. "I'm tired." I froze when I saw his face—he really did look exhausted. The warmth of his body against mine made me stiffen even more.
"Spade... I thought you were in Europe?" Monique asked as her confidence faltered.
"Well, I'm clearly not," he replied lazily while not even sparing her a glance.
"Don't tell me... you came back because of her?" she demanded as her expression darkened.
"Why asking something so obvious?"
My heart pounded harder and faster and louder as if it might burst out of my chest.
"Ugh! This is insane!" Monique growled while stomping her foot. "You'll regret this, Spade!" she yelled before storming off with her lackeys.
When we were finally alone, Spade leaned closer as his breath warmed my ear. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
I swallowed hard while my voice caught in my throat. "Why are you here? I thought... I thought you already left. I thought you'd never come back," I stammered as I avoided his gaze.
Without warning, he turned me to face him while holding my shoulders firmly. "Did you forget what I told you? Even if I'm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean or 30,000 feet above the ground, just say the word as I'll fvcking jump off."
"You're crazy," I whispered.
"Indeed," he said. "Now it's your turn."
"What do you mean?"
The moment our eyes met I quickly looked down at my feet.
Gosh. This is hyperventilating. My face felt like it was burning.
"Xyrine." He called my name but I still refused to lift my head. "Is it true?" His voice was gentle as he asked.
I fidgeted with my fingers. "Ah...eh...can I—" My words were cut off when he gently held my chin and lifted it to face him.
"I already heard your confession but I want to hear it personally with my own ears. This is the last chance so I hope you'll tell the truth..." He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Xyrine, do you like me?" His voice was serious as he looked directly into my eyes.
My whole body felt like it had frozen because of his question. I wanted to open my mouth but I couldn't bring myself to say anything. Silence stretched between us for several minutes before he pulled away.
"I guess I came back for nothing after all." He put his shades back on and turned away.
He was already far when I finally snapped out of it.
"Spade," I whispered weakly.
"Heaven knows how much I really hate you. You're so arrogant from head to toe. Your attitude is unbearable down to the bone. I truly despise you but..." I took a deep breath and looked in his direction.
"I LIKE YOU OKAY?! YOU'RE CRAZY AND I LIKE YOU! YES, I LIKE YOU, YOU INSANE JERK! I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW OR WHEN, BUT I REALLY REALLY LIKE YOU, OKAY?!" My tears were already spilling. "SO CAN YOU PLEASE JUST LOOK BACK NOW?"
I felt the warm tears streaming down my cheeks so I covered my face with my hands.
AAAH! I wanted to scream out of frustration and embarrassment but I held it in. This was so embarrassing but I didn't care anymore.
Several minutes passed yet he still didn't react. I was about to lower my hands from my face when a strong hand suddenly grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me in. When I lowered my hands he was only a step away from me.
"Geez you're so ugly when you cry..." He muttered before completely pulling me into his chest.
"Wait Spade what are you—"
"Can you hear it?"
"H-Hear what?"
"My heartbeat can you hear it?" His voice was serious as he asked which made me focus on the sound.
I was stunned when I finally heard it. It was pounding like... hell.
"My heart has never beaten this fast before," he admitted.
I was still listening to it when he suddenly turned me to face him.
"I accept your confession."
My heart pounded as my mouth slightly opened.
"What?"
"You confessed so I accept it," he said confidently.
Wait something feels off.
"Are you crazy?" I frowned. "You were the one who confessed first!"
"I'm afraid I don't remember—" BANG!
"Dammit what was that for?!" He winced as he grabbed his knee.
"Well, I just felt like I needed to kick you," I said before turning away.
"Hey what about giving me a kiss instead?" he whispered but I ignored him.
"Hey tell me are we official now? Are we?" he kept shouting which made the other students turn to look at us.
Ack! This crazy guy! I lowered my head in embarrassment.
"Oh? What are you all looking at? Yes we're official now! Any objections?" He announced loudly which made me shake my head in disbelief.
But... him and me? together? A smile slowly formed on my lips.
"This is crazy!"
THE NEXT DAY
"So she's the girl?"
"She looks like a gangster isn't she?"
"How come a famous guy like Spade Inigo Sy will like her?"
Arg! Haven't they gotten tired of talking about me? I just ignored them because I was already late.
I hurriedly walked but as I turned, I bumped into someone. The impact was so strong I ended up sitting on the floor.
"Hey, are you okay? Sorry, I didn't see you," the person I bumped into said, sounding flustered.
I looked up at him. I don't know why but I just stared at him instead of getting angry. I almost opened my mouth, but thankfully I stopped myself.
"It's fine," I replied shyly despite the pain in my butt.
"I'm Edward by the way, I'm new here. Nice to meet you," he said with a smile while extending his hand for a handshake.
Without realizing it, I smiled when I saw him smile. Damn, I thought only the 4 kings had crazy face cards in Montreal.
I was about to shake his hand when suddenly someone grabbed my hand and put it in his pocket.
"You have a death wish?" Spade asked, frowning at the guy in front of me.
What the hell is this abnormal saying?
"Just ignored him, and nice meeting you too," I quickly said, then pulled Spade away to wherever because I was afraid he might say something crazier.
"Hey what about later! You won't see each other again!" Spade shouted at Edward as I dragged him.
Arg! What is he saying? This is so embarrassing!
"What's your problem? Why did you say that to the guy? He wasn't doing anything wrong," I said while trying to shake my knees free.
Instead of answering my question, I was slightly shocked when he bent his knees and continued shaking mine.
"What are you doing? Are you a kid? Next time, be careful," he yelled while still shaking me knees.
I felt like I turned red from what he did. I just avoided looking at him.
"Aww. Are they officially togethe nowr?" I heard the students around us whisper.
When he finished cleaning me, he was about to hold my hand but I pulled away. "I don't remember answering you yesterday," I said.
"But I already answered you so we're together! Either you like it or not, you're my girlfriend," he confidently said, leaving me speechless.
"Your girlfriend, my ass!" I said, then started walking away, leaving him behind.
This guy's crazy. I was irritated by his madness but I couldn't stop myself from smiling. Arg! So annoying!
When we entered the room, everyone was already there. It felt weird because they all seemed to be waiting for us.
I jumped when Spade suddenly put his arm around me. "Listen up you four. Me and Xyrine. We're together."
I almost choked on what he said. Is he crazy?! Why is he flaunting that?!
When I looked at Louren, he just smiled. The other two avoided eye contact and Monique walked out.
Arg! Why are they reacting like that?
The entire class felt the awkwardness around me. It was suffocating.
BREAKTIME
"Oh Rapunzel, your hair might get stepped on," Ella teased me.
"Cut it out!" I snapped.
"So, what's it feel like now that your boyfriend is the leader of the 4 kings?" she asked with a grin.
"Arg! What's wrong with you? You're so loud! And we're not together!"
"As if. You guys aren't but you were holding hands earlier, and shaking knees. What do you call that? Best friends?"
I almost laughed at her expression. She looked ridiculous. "Ah just shut up!"
She kept teasing me until there was a loud noise in the cafeteria, which could only mean one thing.
"Waaah cous, there's your babe! Look! Just the walk and stance, he's a whole meal! Imagine if you looked at his face, you'd get the abs too. Bang! Your boyfriend's a buffet!"
Because of Ella's abnormal behavior, I had no choice but to look at Spade. I quickly looked away when our eyes met.
What the heck was that?
I kept eating my food when suddenly the whole cafeteria went silent. When I looked up, all four of them were standing in front of me.
"Tomorrow at xxx park. 6 PM." After saying that, he left immediately.
What did he say?
The cafeteria buzzed with whispers because of that. When I looked at Ella, she was like a zombie from Train to Busan because of how much she was fangirling and epilepsy-ing. lol
I just face-palmed. Well, we've already crossed this line, there's no going back.
There is no return.