4

Chapter 4

The Party Trap

Clinton’s POV

Today has done a lot of things to me; it’s really been a long day, and I still have her in every corner of my mind.

Today was the day I broke up with my girlfriend. No, let me just call her what she really was. My bitch. Yeah, I didn’t really love her, and honestly I only came into her life to use her to get what I wanted, which is getting into the elite university because she’s damn intelligent and I’m not even sorry about it.

I wanted this, to be honest, I really did. Even though part of me felt a little weird about the whole thing, like something inside had cracked a bit, like I was still yearning for her. But we’d been together for so long, and I was fed up and tired of her, tired of the boring routine. I wanted something new, someone else, not someone who was just given to me by my parents as betrothed.

I need someone who could make me stand out. Someone influential. Popular. Someone who could boost my status now that I’m in the university and make me the most popular guy in school and beat Damien from that position.

Gladys is that girl who had it all… sure as the most popular girl on campus. But ever since those few hours after we broke up, I couldn’t stop thinking about her, Clarissa. Even after everything, I think it’s weird, but I just can’t.

But then the moment I saw the school email: Freshman Welcome Party Tonight I was relieved finally. I needed a distraction, maybe to get drunk and forget her. I dressed up, sprayed on cologne, and went with a new friend I’d met on campus whose name is Danielle.

Even though I went there for distraction, But the entire time I was there, Danielle couldn’t stop talking—about people, about outfits, about random crap I didn’t care about. All I wanted was quiet. But she kept buzzing around me like a fly.

And not only her, though; every girl I overheard at the party kept going on and on about the same damn person.

Damien.

Damien this, Damien that. Hottest guy on campus. The guy everyone wanted to get with. I hate the fact that girls talk about him. He wasn’t even one of us; he wasn’t a freshman. He wasn’t in our class. He wasn’t even an undergrad. But still, they all acted like he was some damn celebrity.

And yeah. I knew Damien; I’d met him once. When we were going to college, I remembered him clearly. Because he’s Clarissa’s step-cousin. I couldn’t believe that he is also studying in this school because I hated him ever since I found out that he’s her stepcousin and they are not in any way related by blood. Anything can happen!

My heart skipped a beat even as I remembered her name in my head, twisting in my gut. That same Clarissa who used to look at him with those dreamy eyes when we were kids. Did she think I never noticed? I noticed everything. That soft smile she gave him. The way she’d go quiet when he was near. I knew she had feelings for him, obviously, and always speaks of him blushing.

And now, she’s single; she forgot about him just because she was betrothed to me. I know that. I’m so sure of it. And now Damien is back in her life from the states and attending the same university. He’s hot and popular, and girls throw themselves at him.

If they ever got entangled… if he ever touched her…

My hands balled into fists in rage and anger immediately while squeezing the cup I was holding. I didn’t want that to happen. I couldn’t let it. Never!

But why was I even jealous? We are no longer together, so to hell with them both.

I heard glass clashing behind me, and everyone rushed to the scene, but when I looked up, there she was. My eyes scanned around her whole body. Our eyes met.

She paused, and I swear I could see the hatred in her eyes. It looked like she was about to turn around and leave again. But then the DJ’s voice blasted over the speakers, followed by the announcer’s voice: “No one is allowed to leave the party until the principal gives the all-clear!”

Perfect. I really didn’t want her to go.

She was stuck. And my eyes were stuck on her.

Everyone went back to partying when some waitresses and cleaners cleaned up the mess on the floor. I went back to my seat, but this time my eyes were fixed on her, and watching every step she took, I could feel the uneasiness in her, but I just couldn’t help it.

I didn’t even try to hide it. There was something possessive rising in me. Like I needed to know where she was at all times. Like I needed to guard her, even from herself.

I watched as she walked over to a group of girls.

Emily was there, quiet, pretty, but too calm for my taste. And beside her was Zara.

Now Zara… Zara was useful. I’d met her before. She liked money more than anything else. And I liked controlling her with it; she’s more like my personal tool. If I wanted a girl, I could get Zara to help. Not so difficult; just pay her, and she’d drop something in their drink. And that’s the only thing I needed to get exactly what I wanted.

Emily didn’t know about that, and I don’t mingle with her for that. She wasn’t like Zara. But she was always around her. They are probably too scared to say anything, and they are best friends.

So when I saw Clarissa smiling and talking with them, I knew I had my chance.

I smirked to myself.

“So you think you’re smart, Clarissa?” I muttered. “After all these years, you held onto that V-card like it was sacred. You never let me take your virginity and sleep with you, not even to let me go close to it.”

But now… she was close to Damien.

I wasn’t stupid. I could feel it coming. That look in her eyes, the way she talked about him in the past, even if she never said it out loud.

I couldn’t let her give it to him. I can’t let her give it to my enemy instead.

If anyone was going to take her virginity, it was going to be me because if she gave it to him? To Damien?

I’d lose my mind.

I got up and walked casually toward the group. Deliberately brushed Zara’s shoulder. Slipped a folded note into her hand. I was sure nobody saw it because the crowd was screaming and dancing. Inside the note was crisp cash and a tiny packet of white powder. It’s cocaine, strong enough to make her dizzy, compliant, and weak… so I can have my way smoothly.

Zara didn’t need words. She looked at me once and nodded.

She smiled and came closer to Clarissa and said something with that fake bubbly tone of hers, “Girl, you must be new here! Nice to meet you. I’m Zara, and this is Emily. We’re totally going to be besties. Let’s drink to new friendships!”

Clarissa smiled; that’s how she always is with trusting people. “Of course. I’m here to drink, anyway. And it’s nice to meet you guys.”

Zara offered to pour the wine. She did it smoothly. The bottle cracked open, and while Emily’s head was turned, she tilted the powder into Clarissa’s cup, swirled the liquid gently, and handed it over like nothing ever happened.

I watched from behind the crowd, my lips curling into a dark grin. It’s Showtime!

They clinked their glasses.

“Cheers!”

I watched her lift the glass and gulp the whole thing down her throat.

Just after a few seconds, her fingers twitched. She touched her forehead, like something was spinning in her head. Her smile began to fade.

Perfect! I think it had started to work.

Within minutes, Clarissa was dizzy and staggering around; Emily held her tightly, including Zara, who was pretending as they asked her. “Are you okay? Clarissa?” But she didn’t talk; she was almost falling to the floor.

It’s about to go down tonight, because tonight I’d finally get what I’d waited years for.

And as for Damien, he would enjoy what’s left.

Damien’s POV

I was restless as I kept on glancing at the clock every second that passed. It’s 8:00pm, and Clarissa isn’t back yet. Yes, I should’ve been asleep by now because I don’t keep late nights.

But tonight, I couldn’t sit still or even close my eyes to sleep.

I was on my laptop, gaming a bit, scrolling, doing anything to distract myself. But every five minutes, I’d glance at the door. Waiting for her to come back.

But I’m actually confused about my own actions. Why did I care so much?

She said she was going to a party. That she needed to have fun, which is supposed to be normal to me, but I can’t tell why I feel like she is in trouble. I told her to be careful, and deep down, I didn’t like the idea at all. But I let her go. I had no right to stop her.

Still… something felt wrong.

I opened my phone and scrolled through the school group chat. Her number had popped up there once. So I copied the number, and I thought about calling her. Probably to ask her to come back.

My thumb hovered over her name.

Then I pulled back. No. Don’t be that guy. She’s not your girlfriend; she’s not yours. I reminded myself because she will feel like I’m disturbing her private life.

I stared at the door again. And still nothing happened, no sign of her. I was still thinking of finally calling her phone when my phone rang.

It was Isaac.

Isaac wasn’t exactly my friend, but we were in the same class. He liked parties, girls, and being flirty. And now he was calling me out of nowhere? Something must be definitely wrong.

I picked it up, and he was panting and rushing his words.

“Damien! Bro, you need to get here now, or something bad is going to happen. Remember that girl you showed me? Your roommate? Clarissa? She’s here at the undergrad party.”

My heart skipped. something bad?

“What?”

“She’s here, and listen, someone spiked her drink with a drug, and she took it. I swear I saw it with my own eyes. You need to get here before she gets…bro, she’ll be butchered and ripped apart!”

He hung up.

I froze immediately. I heard that, my heart raced, and I suddenly felt a surge of anger as my blood turned cold.

No one touches Clarissa except me!

The image of her smiling, innocent, trusting face flashed in my head. I knew this was going to happen, and I had told her not to go. I knew she wouldn’t listen. Always stubborn!

“Damn it, Clarissa!”

I jumped off the bed, grabbed my jacket, and threw it on. My hands were shaking, but I slid on my black leather gloves and downed the last gulp of wine from my glass.

If anyone touched her… I’d paint that party in blood.

They would be dead.

And as for Clarissa, she said she wasn’t going to give me trouble?

Well, here’s the damn trouble.