—
"Hi, Tyler,"
"Tyler!"
"Dude!"
"Hi, sweetie."
Both of them are not completely in at the venue yet but they were clogged near the entrance. Almost every single soul inside greeted Tyler, and he also greeted back with all smiles. They all chatted even though the music was deafening, and also, they completely ignored the one who was trailing behind him like a toad. The toad has also pushed back away from him.
The toad watched as a crowd of people began to form around him.
Althea was grateful though, she is. The less attention she receives, the less bother she will have. All is well, all is well. It was a good thing that Tyler's popularity was not only giving her misfortune.
When they finally entered the sea of crowd, she thought she would be freed from Tyler since he was being dragged here and there, but, damn him, even when she went to get food, he never let her out of his sight.
And if she somehow moves further away, he quickly makes an excuse to follow her and break from their grasp.
But he will not approach and stand by her side, he will instead stand at a distance that is enough for him to move again in case she attempts to move away.
It irked her. Now, there's no way she can escape on her own. Tyler is supposedly busy with the party and the girls! Why is he guarding her like a dog?
A dog Tyler?
... It doesn't sound bad.
'What am I thinking?!' she angrily shouted in her mind.
Why is it that every time her mind wanders, she walks leisurely into a room with nothing but crap? She needs to think about how to escape from Tyler, fast.
Ah, her precious weekend.
Althea once met the eyes of one of the guys she talked to before, about helping her out, but he just looked away like he didn't know her. The other one looked at her with sympathy.
He sent her his brain waves, 'Sorry! We forgot that when Tyler likes something, he sticks to it like a leech! You will never get him off!'
She received his brain waves, and she almost snapped.
'Sorry?! Forgot?! Do you think I'm stupid?!'
Yes, she is stupid; she was stupid enough to believe them earlier.
Snap!
Althea looked down only to see the poor stick she was holding snap into two after receiving her anger. Somehow, it calmed her nerves.
'If I can't go home early, so be it.' She gave up. She crossed through tables and picked up a glass of juice. 'Better to enjoy the party then.'
Her gaze swept through the dancing crowd. Many familiar faces are mixed with unfamiliar ones. They were grinding against each other. Some were holding a glass of alcoholic drink while dancing like they lost their mind.
All of them are wasted. The girls are wearing short dresses, like the fabrics in this world are scarce. The guys are ogling with their exposed thighs. Even occasionally touching here and there.
Althea felt her body shudder in disgust. She's fifteen, and she knows that everyone here is not far from her age. But to have this audacity to do such disgraceful acts—!
Whatever. Teenage pregnancy at its finest.
'Uh,' she thought while looking at the crowd and the place where the party was held. 'Such a grand party it is. To have this large mansion, how rich is the one who's holding the party?'
As she was absorbed in her thoughts, she did not notice an approaching figure. She did not expect that anyone would take notice of her in the first place.
"Hi, 'r you alone?" A smiling voice said. The music was loud, so the man leaned toward her ears and asked.
Every hair on her body stood. She was startled by his sudden approach. Unconsciously, she stepped back until they were at least an arm's length away.
The stranger noticed this, but instead of getting annoyed, it set his blood boiling. His smile widened. He stepped towards her again.
Althea was getting more uncomfortable. She surpassed her twitched mouth. She said calmly, "I'm—”
Wait, is she alone?
Her mind wandered towards the memory of Tyler accompanying her inside. She mentally shook her head.
"I am."
The smile of this stranger widened. Even more, Althea tried to maintain her polite smile.
'This lustful bastard, how thick of a face is he? Can't he see that I don't want to do anything?'
"That's great!" Because of the loud booming of music, he shouted. He tried being seductive, but to Althea, he was just being an ugly frog. He might be overly confident just because he hooked up with many women before, but he should exclude her from them. "Dance with me!"
The man reached for her waist. He did not even wait for her response. She, in shock, stepped away. But before his hand touched her, another strong arm snaked around Althea's waist. Althea jolted in shock, and with wide eyes, she looked over her shoulder.
She couldn't see the man's face fully because he was way taller than her. But his chiseled jaw and his low alluring voice gave his identity away.
'Tyler?!' she screamed in her mind. ' Isn't he meters away from me?'
"Sorry," his voice a smile, but his eyes glinted with malice. The other man felt that every hair on his body stood up. "She's with me."
That was a threat. He was not that stupid to not notice the threat and warning in his voice and eyes. His eyes unconsciously wandered to his arm on Althea's slender waist.
'Darn,' he mentally shook his head. 'Tyler sure is territorial.'
"Okay!" He shouted with a laugh, raising his hands and surrendering. He shot Althea a wink before turning his back on them and walking away with the discovery. No matter how he wanted to dance with the girl, he had to stop himself for now and wait until Tyler got bored with her.
Althea watched him retreating in relief.
'Finally, get me off from the nuisance.'
"You're pretty popular, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Althea looked up and met his eyes. Upon having the contact, she unconsciously shrunk her neck. "What are you talking about?"
This guy, why is he glaring at me like that?
Tyler blanked for a second before his shoulders shook visibly. He broke into a smile and his eyes were also laughing.
'Hang on one damn second, so this girl did not notice?' he was amused. The arm that was holding her small waist tightened as he surpassed the urge to hug her under the eyes of many.
It seems like everyone knew about this but the topic itself. Ever since Althea transferred to the school, almost everyone in the school knows her. She's one of the beauties. She is also smart, not the typical beauty in the school who couldn't care less about their marks. And, above all, everyone knows that Tyler has his eyes on her.
The reason why no one approached her was that she was giving off a vibe of, 'approach me and die'.
"So cute!" He blurted out of the blue.
Althea was taken aback. Did he knock his head or something? How can he call her cute all of a sudden?
N-not that she's against it or something.
Embarrassed by her thoughts, she looked away and lifted her cup to drink the remnants of the orange liquid.
They remained silent after. She felt so awkward and she couldn't bring herself to talk about anything. Not that they have anything to talk about in the first place. She just wanted to break the awkward atmosphere they had. But between them, she was the only one who felt awkward. Tyler is enjoying resting his hand on her small waist.
Althea began to move her head and body along with the loud music. The place was lively and she couldn't help but dance to the beat. She thought that a party wasn't bad as long as nothing unfortunate happened. The unfortunate thing for her is, by the way, being invited to dance on the crowded dance floor.
Tyler just watched the surroundings silently with a smile on his lips. Then he looked down at the person in his embrace and it seemed like she still was not aware of it. He chuckled.
"Hey," he called, leaning towards her ears. "How about we go to another place? We are rather getting too much attention here."
Althea ignored the tingling sensation in her ears, she looked up, and her face was only inches away from him. She paused for a second before ignoring the small gap. They spoke in that distance to the point that they were already smelling each other's breath.
"What are you—" saying? What?
Getting too much what?
'Oh please,' she prayed. 'I hope it isn't what I think.'
She looked around only to see the crowd sneaking glances at them. Some even bluntly looked and whispered towards the one on their side.
Althea was confused at first, why the hell is she getting too much attention? Then, she noticed the arm that was circling her waist.
She flushed from white to red.
"See that? I told you so, we are getting too much attention."
Althea wanted to jab his body with her elbow. Jab his ribs until they crack and pierce his own heart. Earlier, she told herself that she was grateful that Tyler was not with her because she loves the almost no attention she gets. But this—
It's too much for not wanting attention! Almost everyone in the area has their eyes on them. It's embarrassing that she could die!
Floor, open up, and swallow me whole!
CHAPTER FIVE; Sincere.—She was pulled out of the party. Tyler was holding her wrist, dragging her out of the party effortlessly. Althea struggled in futility. She cursed herself for being weaker than the other. She gave up on trying to pry his iron-like hand off her wrist and sighed helplessly. He won't budge no matter how hard she tries. Also, she's too lazy to try it again. "Tyler," she called out. "Where are we going?"They passed countless people, all of them ignoring the two. Althea did not dare to look at them, nor did Tyler.They were passing through a dimly lit part of the huge asset mansion. She knew immediately what this place was for.It's for those people who can't ignore their earthly lust and decide to engage in public sex. It's a place for those who want to quench their thirst. An unholy place.She is already fifteen. She is fully aware that most of the girls her age lost their virginity to an asshole. Althea is not part of those outgoing and careless teenagers. Ha
CHAPTER SIX; Old ways—"Knock, knock!"Early in the morning, Althea heard a knock. She was preparing for school and was about to go out when she heard it. She paused for a moment before heading towards the door and opening it."Good morning!" Said the delivery man in red, smiling brightly.The corners of her lips almost twitched. How can this guy smile like that so early in the morning?"Good morning," she also greeted, but unlike him, she was calm like a pond. "What is it?""Here!" He said cheerfully handing over a bouquet of purple flowers. "Flowers for Althea Grahams!""..."She stared at the flowers for a minute. It took a while before she understood him.'Wait- Pardon- What?'Althea looked at the flowers again, petrified. The delivery man nudges the bouquet to her again, urging her to take it. His arms are aching already. She hesitated for a moment before taking it."Thank, uh, thank you." She was unsure what to say. She wanted to ask what the hell is this and who the hell sent i
CHAPTER SEVEN; Courting-"Man!" Exclaimed a man leaning on a pillar of the school's entrance. All the buttons of his school uniform are undone, showing his underneath white shirt. "Why do I have to study? Why do I have to go to school? School sucks!"His group of friends snickered."Adler, dude," another man said. Unlike the other, he was not wearing his school uniform at all. "Suck it up! There's no way your family is letting you run off. When you are the only child of your family, you have no other choice but to inherit the business.""You have it hard, Adler." Another one said with laughter evident in his eyes."The only heir. Sucks for you.""Shut up!" He angrily shouted at the two.They laughed at him. Adler also laughed along. He and his unfortunate life.To many, being the successor of a big company is a blessing, but to those heirs, it's a long and painful task."But Tyler, you have it hard too, don't you?" Everyone turned their head towards the person on the topic.Of all the
CHAPTER EIGHT: Courting (2) – "Althea, can you do this part?" Althea read it and agreed. "Sure." "Great," Sheryl smiled at her before turning to one of their classmates. "You do this one." Althea silently typed on her laptop after determining what to do. She muted out the whispers of her group mates at the table and buried herself in her little world. Five days ago, Tyler brought her to a botanical garden at the back of the school building. In exchange, Tyler wanted to take part in Althea's group project. Instead of relaxing and having a peaceful time studying, she was pestered by him instead. Nevertheless, Althea still didn't tell him the place. She never had a peaceful four days after that. She sighed and leaned on her chair. The day had just begun, but Althea was already tired. School works after school works, everything seems so unending. She glanced at Sheryl, one of the beauties in their room. She's also smart and soft-spoken. Althea can't help but heave a sigh in her
CHAPTER NINE: Jealousy...?—"Althea, I like you."Of all the phrases that Althea wants to hear why he is still talking and flirting with her even though the bet has ended, why this?Receiving such a confession out of the blue is too much for her. Her brain short-circuited.Tyler watched her blankly for a moment before looking away, her ears red as cherries. Amusement danced in his eyes. This was one of the reasons why he kept pestering her. Her reactions are just too cute and precious. The urge to pinch her cheeks came again."Y—you—shut up… What a lie." Her words were faltering. Her mind gears were madly turning to think of any coherent words but it just over-heated.Tyler can't hold back anymore, he laughed that almost all of his body shook. "You asked! I answered! What's wrong with that? Why are you telling me to shut up suddenly?”"A—anyway!" She almost shouted that word, obviously trying too hard to change the topic. "How much did you bet?"She can't think of any topic that is wo
CHAPTER TEN: An Odd Girl—"Yes, I understand," Althea replied after listening to her mother's scolding through the phone. "I know. I won't do it again."Althea rested her head on the soft pillow then she couldn't help but sigh helplessly. On the other side of the line, her mother was still ranting. Althea was tired of listening to the point that the words entered and exited her ears without delay.Again, she sighed and looked up at the white ceiling, still holding the phone next to her ear. Currently, she's inside the school's infirmary. According to the school nurse, she fainted in the hallway. The nurse even gave her an earful, saying that if she felt unwell, she should have stayed at home. She was lucky that there was someone who saw her fainted and called for help to carry her or else she'll be there until the bell rang for a break.After that, her parents called her. Apparently, the nurse contacted them. The moment she answered the phone, her mother started cursing her endlessly
CHAPTER ELEVEN; An Awful Feeling—“…”“…”Both didn’t say a word for a while now. The unknown beautiful girl stared at her with wide sparkling eyes while Althea looked down at her with her pair of dead aquamarine eyes. To many of the passersby, they were having a staring contest. They were both amused and curious. They couldn't see two beautiful women staring and standing near each other every day. What’s more, they are nearing a corner. The two looked like they were having a serious conversation with the other, more serious and the other one was not. Some even thought that maybe they were couples thinking about their future plans, with just the one planning everything.Althea was unaware of the curious eyes and the crooked thoughts of the people. Her mind stopped at the conversation they just had. Like a broken tape, it kept on playing itself.“So, who is this fiancé of yours?”“Uhm, I think his name is… Ah! His name is Tyler!” And when her brain finally worked normally, her mind s
CHAPTER TWELVE: Nope, it’s okay! —He called at a great time. Althea smiled apologetically at the girl. “I’m sorry but I have to take this call.”The girl smiled. “No, it’s okay!”Althea excused herself once more and when she’s out of her hearing range, she answered the phone.[Why did it take you so long to answer?] Tyler asked right after she pressed the answer button. It was funny that she could imagine him frowning just from his voice. [Are you still unwell? I heard that they gave you the permission to go home early. Are you not home yet?]He did not give her the chance to speak, and Althea just silently listened. She can hear rustling noise on the other side of the line. Maybe he is already lying on his bed since it is already evening there.Tyler didn’t hear a reply and was welcomed by silence. Instead, he frowned and glanced at the screen and saw that the line was still connected. His frown deepened even more. He put the phone back near his ears and asked in concern. [Hey, are