Chapter 3 5 Years Ago (Ethan Scott)

A male senior student approached a crying girl silently under the big tree. He shoved his hand to his pocket trousers and took out his neat and scented handkerchief. He cautiosly handed his customized handkerchief to the young girl to wipe her tears dry in a casual manner.

“Here take this... but please don’t sneeze in it, it’s disgusting.” He offered and joked deliberately to lighten her mood and attempted to took her sorrows away.

 Izzabelle was utterly surprised  to see a clean and neatly folded handkerchief being handed in front of her. Curiously, she lifted up her teary face and looked at the mysterious man that also tried to act naturally funny.  

At first, she hesitated for she wasn't really familiar with the guy but after contemplating for a while, she gladly took the man’s generous offer in consideration. Wiping her tears completely dry, she intentionally blew out her nose hard for a few times in repetition to see what could be the man’s exact reaction. 

She was starring at him intently without even blinking while sneezing her nose out to his neatly folded fabric only to find him helplessly flinching. She tried her best to stifle her laughter. The guy looks so funny and adorable while flinching.

“Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciated it.” She said while handing him the fabric back.

The senior student was stunned and looked at her in disbelief. How could she?

He hesitates to take it back. He can’t afford to offend her but he can’t also tolerate holding things that disgusts him. It annoyed him to the core. 

He is a neat freak!

He just starred at her intently.  He was bewildered by her shameless behaviour. He then coughed purposesly few times in a row to dispel away his awkwardness. 

“Ahem! Ahem! No... Just throw it in the trash bin. I can’t use it again, it’s already dirty.” He spatted out harshly.

“Okay... okay!” She counters back as she was strangely amused by his sudden outburst. ‘What a neat freak!’ She thought to herself.

She eyed his impressive appearance up and down, trying to recall if she happens to know him before. But she can’t remmember anything about the mysterious guy. Eventually, she finally gave up in thinking and decided to ask instead to satisfy her curiosity.

“Uhmm.. do I know you?” She stuttered as she was starring at the guy like she was being hypnotized by him. The guy looks so handsome and attractive in his casual outfit. He looks like a model of casual clothes. It perfectly fit his slim figure. 

Izzabelle gulped her saliva unconsciously as she was attracted by the handsome guy in front of her. Her grief and sorrows were momentarily taken off from her.

“No... You don’t know me, but I know you... I’m Ethan Scott.” He introduces himself truthfully while reaching his hand out for a shake.  

She gladly accepted his hand with a gentle smile playing on her lips. ‘Finally I found one!’ She muttered to herself happily.

Weeks turned into months and gradually passed by unknowingly. 

The two became friends and eventually started dating until they become a couple. They always do different stuffs together. Having lunch, brainstorming, and going out every weekend for relaxing. They enjoyed each other’s company until one day...

They both agreed to meet each other in the coffee shop near their school premises. She waits for him patiently for almost 3 hours but he didn’t bother to come. He had stood her up. They were supposed to watch a movie and stroll out together. She tried calling him but she can’t reach him. She decided to leave the cafe and went home dejectedly.

Months turned into a year as it passed unknowingly, but still he didn’t appear again. She was confused, mad, hurt and disappointed of his sudden disappearance that she swore to herself that she will hate him until her breath lasts.   

Graduation day..

“Princess, congratulations! Im so proud of you... you made it to the top inspite of everything... I have an offer for you and I fully hope that you won’t say no to me sweetie.”

Mr. Smith spoke cheerfully and excitedly. He was so proud of his daughter’s achievements today that’s why he decided to discuss his golden offer to his princess. And he is much more sure that his daughter would accept it heartily.