8.

21^st Century

New York

“Sweaty pigs.”

He mumbled before cupping his nose because the stench wafted off freely.

He failed to realize that the words said in disgust were not punctuated in a whisper. They were loud enough to be heard by everyone.

After his declaration, a dead silence settled in the hallway and all eyes landed on him. Noticing the sudden change in atmosphere, Alex looked up and inhaled sharply, apprehending his mistake. Naturally, his frame tensed, and fear gripped the heart. Gulping audibly, he started to back away but was roughly pushed by the quarterback- Victor Ivanshov.

Victor’s dark eyes shined in displeasure as he glared at the nerd furiously. He brought Alex closer to his face by the loose hoodie. The two males were of equal height, but the same cannot be said about the build.

Alex resembled a toothpick in front of the bulky football player.

“What did you say?” Victor spat through clenched teeth, and Alex shivered within his hold. Perspiration coats his dermis like a second layer. He found it difficult to breathe while fearing the consequences of his stupidity. The audience watched both in excitement and pity, whereas some even pulled out their phones to record the next scene. Victor brought his fist up and punched Alex square on the cheek. The impact was hard and it sent the lanky boy tumbling on the floor. A pained wince was perceived.

Laughter and hoots filled the silent hallways as the other players cheered for Victor. Alex gasped in both shock and hurt while clutching his throbbing cheek. For a moment, the world around him spins. When he got punched, his glasses were thrown somewhere, and blindly, he reached for them. His palms grazed the floor until they met a pair of soft hands.

Delicate and cold feminine hands.  

The intruder helped him to put the spectacles back and once his vision cleared, his breath hitched under the intense stare of honey-brown eyes.

Students gaped at the newcomer and bit their lips in anticipation.

“Babe, get away from him,” Victor said gently to the person, but one stern glare paused his approaching steps. The person helped the fallen Alex to stand and offered him their scented handkerchief to clean the wound that was bleeding freely on his right cheekbone.

“Have you gone insane, Victor?” Her voice sliced the tensed silence and Victor lowered his eyes in shame for being caught by her. His heart throbbed nervously.

“Get lost.”

She spat acidly, not carrying a trace of emotion on her face and everybody scurried, clearing the hallway. They threw curious glances at the trio one last time, then disappeared into their respective classes.

“Lauren, please stay out of this.” Victor snapped, feeling mortified in front of the girl he adores. He wants to be good in her eyes, so she notices him. But this scenario will draw a negative image.

“Don’t kid with me, Victor. If anybody in the student body complained about this, you will get suspended and those scholarship dreams would go in vain.” Lauren Williams, the straight-A student, gritted to put some sense in the brainless giant standing in front of her. Alex sighed behind her and threw a hateful glance towards the jock. “And you, you should stay out of their business and worry for yourself. Go and wash your face.” She ordered after facing Alex, but his focus was on her moving pink lips. He nodded absentmindedly and turned to do what she asked.

“Baby, please don’t be mad.”

Hearing the pleading of Victor, Alex huffs in defeat. He didn’t like it. He hated when other guys on the campus addressed her or tried to be cozy around her. Couldn’t they say her name? How difficult was that?

Lauren Williams   

Scoffing in irritation, he entered the men’s room and prepared to wash the newly acquired bruise. But as he bought his hands up to begin the task, halts to admire the soft little kerchief crumbled in his fist. The baby pink fabric held the sweetest fragrance. Her fragrance. Bringing the kerchief close to the nose, he inhaled and sighs in content when the scent filled his lungs. Just for a moment, he felt he was standing in heaven. Maybe it seems like a scenario of a creep enjoying weird stuff, but for Alex, it was the only resort. This is how far he could go and taste the boundaries.

Lauren Miller was the most beautiful girl in the college. Every guy wanted her, but it wasn’t that easy. She was an impossible game. It wasn’t just about the outer appearance. Other than being breathtakingly beautiful, Lauren Miller was known as a strong and confident girl. Her kind persona made her everybody’s friend. She wasn’t one of those who believed in groups. Her mind was broad and invited whoever needed her help. Every teacher praises her for her fantastic assignments and excellent grades.

Washing her kerchief gently under the water to remove the blood, Alex slides it in his pocket.

Soon his blue eyes scanned the large bruise on his cheekbone with a grimace. If his father saw the injury, he would probably go bonkers. The old man was dangerous and held an air of authority around him. He was overprotective when it came to his son, and will surely reach the depth of matter and take the actions that could threaten Victor’s future. Alex clicked his tongue in annoyance. Why does he care for people who have not only hurt him once but on numerous occasions? Maybe he doesn’t. He wants to face his fights and deal with them as peacefully as possible. Moreover, Lauren was always here to stop the trouble coming his way. Oh, she loved to play his knight in shining armor. He smiled goofily in the mirror while dabbing the tissues on the wound. They’ve been best friends in middle school, and she often used to pick fights for his sake. She would punch those who dared to insult him. But everything changed when they came to high school. She became more reserved and private. She stopped being that carefree and bubbly person and wore a serious mask. She stopped going out with friends and avoided becoming a source of attention.

Alex was left troubled by her sudden change in demeanor but later embraced it thinking his appearance wasn’t good enough to be around her.

Throwing the used tissue inside the bin, he slung his bag on the shoulder and hurried to the class. He was already ten minutes late and the teacher was strict enough to send him back home. Praying his lucky stars, he stopped in front of the wooden doors and knocked lightly. He waited for a moment then decided to swing the door open, but someone else beat him. A panting Lauren stood beside him, wearing an equally nervous expression. She didn’t spare him any look and stepped ahead of him to enter the silent class. The moment she did so, Alex’s eyes fell on her back out of habit, and they widen in panic. His heart came to the throat. On instinct, he plastered his front to her back, making her gasp in surprise.

“Please don’t move.” He uttered softly and she nodded. She was aware of what he was trying to do. He was hiding the stains of shame that could be perceived easily in daylight. Small red spots were decorating her pants and it was obvious that it was blood. “Let’s just walk together and take the seat in the back.” He suggested in her ear and she nodded once again, relaxing against him. Inhaling in her hair, he moves behind her slowly, ignoring the fifty sets of eyes glaring at them.

The surprised teacher turned to look at them and raised an eyebrow questioningly. Disapproval dripped from his features, making Lauren tense.

“Um… Sorry, sir. We are late because Lauren was helping in cleaning my wound.” Alex filled the blanks and pointed at his bruised cheek. Lauren nodded along with him to make them look believable. The poor teacher sighed and asked to take the seats.

“Make sure you don’t make it a habit.” He mumbled tiredly, as there was no hope, and handed them their papers.

As Lauren moved, Alex walked right behind her, keeping a minimum distance between them. She walked stiffly. He was sweating too.

Her face got heated in embarrassment for dragging him into this. She was sure that her periods wouldn’t come another week, but mother nature had different plans, and she didn’t have an extra pair of trousers at the moment. Now here he was, her old friend working as a human shield to save her from the X-ray vision of curious students. They were left stunned because the two opposite personalities showed up together in the class and moved so intimately.

When Lauren settled on the chair, Alex sighed in relief and fell on the chair beside her. She was thankful that she didn’t forget to keep the emergency kit for such a scene. Her only regret was forgetting the trousers.  From under her lashes, she eyes Alex and thanked him in silence. If it hadn’t been for him, she must have missed the quiz and become a laughing stock. The moment she saw him waiting at the doors, her heart bloomed with relief, and without thinking further, she took a leap of faith. Her heart assured that he will help. He has always helped and understood her silence since they were kids.

It came naturally to him. She knew he would tend to her at the worst, no matter what.

The two started their quiz while sharing secret glances.

At times Alex would look at her with concern and she would try her best to keep her eyes glued on the paper. Their minds thought alike as they ticked the options one after another fluently. What question he failed to understand, she showed him the correct option.

Victor Ivanshov, from his seat at the front, turns to look at them and is forced to not beat his chest like a barbaric. The sight of college’s nerd sitting so close to the girl he wanted sets fire on his nerves. He has been running around her for the past few days and because of a weakling, he wasn’t ready to give up. Lauren Miller was rich and beautiful. She could aid him in so many ways, but only if that was easy. The stubborn girl was too reserved to let anyone enter her sanctum. She wouldn’t even talk to him if it wasn’t related to their studies or work. On many occasions, he had managed to get her alone but there was something about her that restricted the supposed advances.

Victor Ivanshov was a popular jock but not as rich as her. His father was a mere manager in one of her companies. She was the only daughter and child of her billionaire father and had plenty of suitors to match.

In the silence of the examination room, Alex and Lauren battled with questions like a team and ended up doing well under each other’s guidance. If the professor found out, he would scold them, but they were good at hiding it. Before anybody else in the classroom could drop their pens, both Alex and Lauren stood up together and, like earlier, marched towards the teacher’s desk. Dropping their papers in front of the vigilant invigilator, they scurry out of the examination hall and dashed towards the exit. Alex walked behind her firmly, maintaining a respectful distance while his eyes kept scanning the hallways. Thankfully it was less crowded as others were busy with their respective classes.

Alex followed her closely to the parking lot and stopped when she unlocked her car and settled inside, on the driver’s seat.

They maintained silence and fortunately, it wasn’t nagging or uncomfortable. Their minds were elsewhere, running over different possibilities. Suddenly Lauren pointed at the lone bicycle standing at the end of parking lot. Alex followed her line of sight and felt his ears heating. He cleared his throat awkwardly and shifted from one leg to another.

“You still use it.”

She stated and his heart warmed, noticing a flicker of recognition in her eyes. She still remembers his property. Even after so many years.

“Yeah. I love the feel of morning air and nature.” He replied to her unasked question and scratched the back of his head. A lazy smile settled on her lips, and she chuckles.

“I wouldn’t have thought any different. Thank you, Alex, for what you did today.” She appreciated his efforts, and he felt his heart flooding with butterflies. His stomach flips as he saw the light of direct sun falling on her figure, defining her magnificent features richly. Soon, his shoulders sagged in realization, and he knew it was time to part their ways once again and go on being strangers. He smiled and nodded at her before backing away from the elegant vehicle.

“Anything for you, Lauren.”

She pressed on the accelerator and drove away instantly, ignoring his words as a deeply situated anger started swirling in her mind.

She hated him for so many reasons but couldn’t accomplish to kick him out. He is always there, haunting her thoughts.

They were friends before, but now they were strangers.

It all ended the night her father delivered the worst news of her life.

Mason Williams was a renowned businessman and held a great reputation. But at one point in life, he was betrayed by his business partners and faced bankruptcy. Her family was about to come on the streets, and her father was willing to commit suicide. If it hadn’t been the generous Stefan Miller, Alex’s father, then she must have lost Mason forever. Mr. Stefan Miller not only offered support to build the empire back but also helped in gaining their lost status. Since then, the two men became trustworthy associates.

Her father felt indebted to Mr. Miller’s kind gesture and asked him to take whatever he wanted.

Aware of Alex’s feelings towards Lauren, Stefan decided to turn this business arrangement into a healthy relation.

She was promised to wed Millers in the future. The princess of the house was betrayed by her father when he sold her to gold miners to fill his well. She hated Millers for doing that to her, for not granting her any choices, for ruining her childhood- the time when she was supposed to be carefree and outgoing and make friends. Alex unknowingly tied her to himself and refrained her from breathing in freedom. She can’t date or have boyfriends now. She was stuck with him, a selfish boy who thought of her as a toy that will bend the way he wanted.

Her care for him evaporated that day and hate filled her heart.

He has broken her trust once, and she wouldn’t offer him that chance ever again.

When she fought him five years back about the supposed contract, he had promised to keep it a secret and not embarrass her in front of anyone. He promised he won’t touch her or even hold her hand if it makes her uncomfortable. Oh, he just wanted to be with her. He was afraid to lose that one person who cared for him and accepted all his flaws.

Her kind and innocent gestures touched his heart. Her sweet smiles and careless laughs stole his breath and in that mere moment, he thought of claiming her before somebody else could steal her.

They both were sixteen back then and naïve. Their hearts overpowered their minds.

Alexander Miller got Laura Williams lawfully on contract paper but lost her at the same time. When Lauren saw her name on a paper, on a business contract, she realized her worth in her father’s eyes and lost her way in the darkness. From being the daughter of her lovely father, she became an object of sale.  Her heart couldn’t help but reminisce if her mother would’ve been alive, she must have protected her.

Lauren didn’t become cold by choice; her people turned her into one by snatching her voice and breaking her dreams.