CHAPTER 6: The Forbidden Wing

EVELYN'S POV

“Then you have to steel up,” Lilly responded, and my heart thumped hard. “Cause, people are really going to come at you.”

I couldn't bear to listen any longer, so I just ended the call. My hand slammed against the bed with my phone still in my grip, and I let out a loud sigh, eyes fixed on the ceiling. I knew everyone must think of me as a traitor now, when they actually had no idea what I went through.

I slammed the back of my head repeatedly against the bed as I tried to conjure a way out of this when the door bell rang. My eyes flew towards the door, and I hesitated before finally darting towards it and checking the peephole.

Damien's face appeared, and I inhaled slowly before opening the door. “Hey.”

“Hey,” he responded, then his eyes met mine and his face dropped. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” I shook my head, then lowered it.

“Doesn't look like nothing,” he muttered, and I heard a soft screech.

When I lifted my eyes, a wooden chair and a table were right beside him.

“What are these for?”

“Just stuff to make studying easier for you,” he responded, picking up the table, and I got out of his way as he helped himself in.

I didn't notice despite how much I carefully explored the room when he left that a study chair and table were missing. I picked the chair up after him, and he helped set them up at the corner of the room.

Then he turned to face me before I could thank him. “Now tell me, what happened?”

“Someone leaked pictures of me entering Westlake's players hostel with you, and the whole school is going crazy.”

“Really…” he said in a light tone, and I lifted my gaze to meet him instantly. “That's what got you looking like this?”

“Yes,” I shot at him. “Don't you think that's enough reason to be worried. Everyone thinks I betrayed Northcrest by moving in with you.”

He scoffed, and I wondered if he's got emotions at all.

“Then what would they think if you lose your scholarship, and end up dropping out just because you couldn't care less about others opinion about you.”

My jaws clenched tightly as he said those words. He was painfully right, but does he have to spell it out like that without even giving a fuck about my emotions.

“You're here now,” he said in a low tone. “Shut every other thing out, and prove yourself right for making this choice. That's the best thing you could ever do for yourself.”

“You make it sound so easy,” I gritted my teeth, palm pressing hard against my face. “But I'm so fucking scared right now. I don't even know how to walk in school with everyone's eyes on me.”

For the first time since the conversation started, his eyes softened.

“I understand what you're going through right now, but the best way to go is forward.” Then he came closer to me, and brushed his palm against my hair.

“I'll see you tomorrow,” he muttered, turning towards the door. “But you can still call me in case you need anything.”

“Thank you,” I responded, and he walked out of my room, the door clicking shut behind him.

I crashed into my bed, elbows on my lap, and my head propped up with my hands.

“Fuck this,” I muttered, clutching my toes against the floor. “There's no way I'm going to regret choosing me.”

Despite that, my heart was still slamming hard against my chest as I shut my eyes, and my back met with the bed.

***

I hissed loudly as the sound of my alarm pierced into my sleep. I'd spent the whole night thinking, and I only started feeling sleepy around 5:40AM. I straightened sluggishly and picked my phone up from the table as I disengaged the alarm. I only had one hour before my appointment with the Vice Chancellor.

I sped into the bathroom, showered quickly. Then I threw on the first outfit I laid my eyes on, and I darted quickly out of the house.

Outside, the weather was bright and the sky had a blue hue, without a single cloud in sight. I was halfway to the elevator when a sharp whistle sound cut through the air. I paused, backtracking to the balcony to peep at the training tracks below. Damien was there alongside his teammates, mid-sprint, his focus stable.

I lingered a second longer than I meant to before finally turning and heading for the elevator. “Fuck.”

When I got to the ground floor, I walked carefully, watching every side before making a move. When I got outside the building, my eyes landed on Damien again, I sneaked around the building, and I'd almost gotten out of the compound when a voice stopped me in my tracks.

“Evelyn.”

I bit my lower lips painfully as I turned.

“Why were you sneaking around the building?” Damien asked, completely drained in balls of sweat.

“I… I…” I stuttered, clutching my bag tightly. “I was just trying to leave without pulling attention to myself.”

“Do you plan on sneaking like this when you get to your school?” He asked, the corner of his lips lifting slightly.

“You're enjoying this, aren't you?” Heat rushed to my face and I turned around, but he caught my hand before I could even take a step.

His sweat got on me, but I couldn't deny how hot he looked with all his physical specs showing in his wear.

“Oh sorry,” he apologized, as he quickly let go of my hand. “I got carried away and let my sweat touch you.”

“It's fine,” I responded calmly, but I couldn't stop staring at his wide chest. “I've got to go now, so that I don't miss my appointment with the Vice Chancellor.”

“Okay,” he nodded, and waved. “I'll see you later then.”

“Sure,” I turned around, and let out a muffled scream.

***

A few minutes later, the wheels screeched loudly and the train stopped right in front of my school. I let out a deep breath as I alighted and immediately, all eyes were on me.

I pulled my hood closer to my face, and I slouched as I walked past the horde of students murmuring several insults and staring at me. I finally got into the administrative block and I let out the sigh of relief and pulled down my hood. Then—

“Isn't that Evelyn? A student pointed at me in the hallway.

“The fuck…” another student responded. “It is.”

Five of them were approaching me in fast steps, and I had no choice than to make a run for it. I ran across the hallway towards the VC's office, but when I got there, the door was locked.

“What the fuck…” I cussed at the door, almost out of breath.

“I think she went that way,” I heard a student say, and the footsteps started getting closer.

So I did the only thing that came to my head next, I ran towards the prohibited part of the building—the only place we've been warned over and over never to explore, as the penalty could be as severe as an expulsion. I ran to the north wing of the building until I hit a wall—it was completely dark, but I was sure no one would ever dare to find me here.

“What the fuck…” One of the students muttered. “Where did she go?”

The footsteps lingered for a moment, then finally receded.

I let out a sigh of relief, back resting against the wall, then I pulled my phone out of my bag and turned on the flashlight, as I looked around.

What I saw next knocked the air out of my chest—there was an old carving of a young woman on a massive wooden door, and the woman looked exactly like me.

“What are you doing there, Miss Evelyn?”

I froze as I turned around, and the Vice Chancellor was staring right at my face.