BOLD OF YOU

Slowly, I turned around, only to find myself staring at the one person I had desperately wanted to forget but had never quite managed to.

Kael.

My high school crush.

The boy I had foolishly confessed my feelings to, only to have him reject me in front of the whole class, saying I wasn't his type.

Although, back then, he had softened the rejection with a promise that perhaps things might be different after we graduated.

Perhaps he would give me a chance.

And stupidly enough, I had held on to those words.

"Bianca?" he repeated, looking me over.

A nervous smile immediately found its way to my lips.

"Kael! Hi!"

I hated how excited I sounded.

I hated that my heart was suddenly beating faster just because he was standing in front of me.

He looked different. Older, more mature, and considerably more handsome than I remembered.

He was dressed in an expensive-looking suit, a designer wristwatch adorning his wrist. Two other young men stood beside him, equally well-dressed, their appearances screaming wealth and privilege.

They are Alphas, the scents are strong.

"What are you doing here?" Kael asked.

I blinked.

"Here?"

"Yes. At this company."

"Oh…" I tightened my grip on my folder. "I'm here for the recruitment."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Recruitment?"

I nodded eagerly.

"Yes. They're hiring, so I thought I'd try my luck."

His gaze travelled down my body for a moment before returning to my face.

"Do you even know what kind of company this is, Bianca?"

I swallowed.

"Yes. It's a technology company."

"And you think you can work here?"

His question caught me off guard.

"Well, I…"

"Bianca, you didn't even go to college. What makes you think you're qualified to work in a place like this? This is the best company in the city. They're rejecting qualified applicants from overseas, and you think you stand a chance?"

My smile slowly faded.

One of his friends chuckled, but Kael didn't seem remotely bothered.

"And look around you," he continued, gesturing towards the other applicants. "Do you honestly think you can compete with these people? Have you even considered your physical appearance? Do you really think this is a good decision?"

He shook his head, a mocking smile tugging at his lips.

"Bianca, it's been years, and you still haven't changed. You're still dreaming way above your league."

My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

I instinctively adjusted my jacket, suddenly conscious of my body and the way my clothes fitted.

"I know I may not meet the company's standards, but I'm not applying for an executive position," I replied quietly.

He scoffed.

"Then what position are you applying for?"

"A cleaning job."

There was a brief silence before his two friends burst into laughter.

"A cleaning job?" one of them repeated incredulously.

I nodded, trying desperately to maintain my composure.

"Yes. I heard they're hiring cleaners too. So I was hoping the requirements for that position would allow people to apply regardless of their educational background or physical appearance."

I gave a small shrug.

"Everyone deserves an opportunity, don't you think?"

Kael simply stared at me.

After all these years, a single conversation with him was still enough to make my heart behave like that of a foolish teenager.

It was ridiculous.

Despite everything, a part of me was still painfully aware of his presence. The same boy I'd once admired from a distance. The boy whose attention I'd spent so many years hoping to earn.

"So…" I attempted another smile. "How have you been?"

He gave me a puzzled look.

"Fine."

"Oh. That's good."

I nodded, suddenly unsure of what else to say.

One of his friends leaned closer to him, speaking loudly enough for me to hear.

"Dude, I think she still likes you."

The other man laughed.

"Look at her face. She's blushing so hard."

"Wait…" The first man snapped his fingers as though something had just occurred to him. "Is she the fat one you told us you rejected in high school? The one who was desperate for you?"

My eyes widened.

He burst into laughter.

"Come on, Kael. Do her a favour already. Marry her!"

"Yeah!" the other added. "Give the poor girl what she's been waiting for all these years."

"Shut up!" Kael snapped.

His expression had suddenly darkened.

His friends exchanged amused glances.

"What?" one of them asked, raising both hands innocently. "I'm just saying."

"Can you two stop embarrassing yourselves?"

He turned away, clearly irritated.

For a brief moment, I wondered whether he was angry because his friends were teasing him or because I was standing there.

Then he glanced at me.

"Anyway, Bianca, I have somewhere to be. Good luck with your cleaning job."

"Thanks," I replied slowly, heart racing.

"I guess she definitely needs that cleaning job to lose some weight," one of his friends chimed in.

I turned towards him.

"You shouldn't be talking, you know. You're chubbier than I am."

The smile on his face faltered.

Kael stared at me in disbelief before looking towards his now-offended friend.

"Don't talk to Big Joe like that," he said, sounding almost amused. "He's not a woman, so it doesn't matter. You know that yourself."

I tilted my head.

"Yeah. The rule was probably made up by someone like him."

Kael's eyebrows lifted in disbelief while Big Joe's expression hardened.

"You're pretty bold for someone who looks like that."

"I could say the same about you."

His jaw tightened, and he turned towards Kael.

"Dude, train your bitch and teach her how to talk, or I will!"