3: The old habit never dies

"Gracie, is this a new bag?" 

"Yes, Chiara, my father has returned, and he bought this one for me, and it's the newest model," she happily replied.

I stood at the exit of the mass communication department, looking at how energetic Gracie’s face was.

"Graciela, come out,"

I yelled.

The way she immediately dropped the bag out of fright was a divine blessing.

She screamed as the leather bag hit the floor. The glare she sent my way was a murderous one. 

“Because you called me, should I run out? Why should I listen to you?" she angrily said.

I sighed.

Walking into the lecture room. "Alright then, don't come out,"

I entered and sat down in front of her and her two friends, Chiara and Sabrina. Chiara hiss, not minding if I am in front of her.

"Graciela, why is your stepsister so rude and rough? Only people like you have enough patients to deal with her kind..."

Sabrina then rolls her eyes, looking at me in disgust."I heard that she came from a small town in Sicily, and on the first day she arrived, she caused a lot of trouble and even tried to seduce young master Dellucci. Is this true?"

Graciela smiles.

"Yes, it is true. What a pity that Signor Dellucci didn't bother to respond to her because of her complexion. Such a disgrace, if I were her, I would have killed myself a long time ago,"

I smirk, looking at her with a sad face."Then since Rocco Ferrari rejected you during your confession of love, why haven't you killed yourself yet?"

Graciela's eyes turned red, and she was breathing like a wounded animal.

"You whore... I'll rip you apart..." she hits the table angrily.

I smirk, resting my head on the desk. "You want to fight?" 

Immediately, the scene of last time flashed in her head of how Caitrona climbed on her and started hitting her mercilessly.

The last time I heard from aunty and Talia, I found out that this bitch can do anything. Graciela thought.

The sweat dripping from Graciela's forehead is an excellent sign that's she's scared.

"Are you scared?"

With a snort. "Who is scared? I don't want to hold a grudge against someone like you,"

I boldly stood up. "I will be nice and remind you of something. If you don't have the ability, Then don't talk rubbish. If I find out again that you are spreading rumors on campus again about me..."

I gave her my deadliest glare.

"The one that will be ripped apart will not just be one mouth of a bitch but three mouths,"

"You..." she groans. The fright on their faces is priceless.

"Then I'll make sure we both live in campus dorm instead of going home after lectures, and you do know what that means, right?"

I winked at her. "Bye,"

Strolling boldly from Graciela's lecture room, I bumped into something hard and felt it wrong on my head.

"Sorry,"

"Who is this?" I yelled in pain.

"Are you okay?" the voice repeats.

I raised my head to see blue eyes, brown hair, and a builder's body.

"Rocky..."

Why do I have to slam my face to his stoned chest...damn you, Rocco Ferrari.

"Whatever, I am fi-" I stopped immediately. I saw Graciela and her two musketeers staring at us, and then I decided to act.

His meek voice echoes again. "Did I hurt you?"

I hold my forehead and wince in pain that I don't feel.

Rocco holds me on my shoulder to support me.

"Rocco ignores her. How can she be hurt," Graciela pushed me to the other side angrily.

I grind my teeth angrily. "My head hurts," I stumble back a bit, then Rocco holds my me gain to maintain my balance.

"Rocco, I'm sorry to bother you then,"

Rocco looks guilty. "Can I take you to the school infirmary to have a check?"

Rocco holds my shoulder as he supports me to walk. Graciela groans in anger. "Caitrona, you are so shameless,"

Rocco looks back at her in disgust. "Graciela, what do you think you're doing,"

"Rocco, this dark whore is acting,"

I fake a pitiful face. "Rocco, I didn't..."

Graciela angrily pushes me away from Rocco. "You whore,"

Rocky (short for Rocco) grabs her arm angrily. "Gracie, you are crazy,"

Graciela was shocked. "Rocky, you...you are speaking up for her?"

"Enough," Rocky spat. "It is obvious that you are the one making a scene first,"

He turns around, holding my arm. "It is alright, don't be scared..."

"Scared? This slut, how can she be scared?" Graciela murmurs in between her breath.

"Let us go," I mouthed in pity. Immediatdiately, I turn back to take a peep at Graciela's face.

I smirk at her and whisper. "I win, you lose,"

She groans. "Caitrona, just wait and see," she whispers back angrily.

_The Infirmary_

I was just wondering how good Rocco Ferrari is, but luckily for me, he's not my type.

Rocky opens the door. "Come in, didn't you say you were feeling pain?"

I smile slightly at him, refusing to enter. "No, thank you, Rocco, I was doing what I did on purpose just now,"

His smile was quickly replaced with sadness.

"On purpose?"

"You know quite well how I hate Graciela, not because she's father's favorite or her white complexion. You know very well that she likes you, so I did it on purpose to infuriate her,"

I drop my head at the floor.  "I'm sorry, Rocky, I'm sorry about what happened,"

I raised my head and walked past him with pity.

"Cai...Wait," he tries to hold my hand, but I retaliate and walk away from him.

"Caitrona Balboa, what kind of girl are you exactly?"

_

"Finally, lectures are over,"

"see you tomorrow,"

"Goodbye,"

"Bye,"

I turn to look at everyone waving at each other. For chrissake, most of them live together in a dorm, why acting foolishly.

I rolled my eyes as I decided to continue with the life of my bicycle. Yes, I ride a bike to the university even though I'm a mature adult. It's what I can afford, and I know I am not leaving on my father's money.

"I'm so tired," I complain to myself.

I raised my head and decided to move my bicycle when my eyes landed on someone who just came out from Bergonzi's hotel and suite.

It was Uncle DD, and he was about to enter his black car. I had to talk to him maybe thank him for saving me at the family banquet.

I hopped on my bicycle and started pursuing the black car. It was moving so fast, and I was unsure that I could keep up with a bike chasing a vehicle with mad engines.

The next thing I knew, I bumped on a sharp stone on the road, and I stumbled over my bicycle to the floor.

"Ahh..." I winced in pain as I looked at my hand and knee to see bleeding badly.

"This shit hurts like hell," I murmured.

"Caitrona Balboa," 

I was staring at the shiny Italian shoe that was in front of my kneeling position. The way he calls my name gives me chills.

"When are you going to behave like a lady? Stand up," he orders.

Hearing his voice renders me deaf and dumb. His eyes... His hair...his everything.

I didn't think, and I had to make my heartbeat ease a bit. Without think, I stood up and walked closer to him. He was staring at me, confused.

I lean up a bit and press my pink lips to his pitch lips without me realizing it.

What have I done...?