Chapter 10

Emilia Jones

The second the lunch break alarm rang, Charlotte grabbed my arm and began to pull me out of class. “Oh finally, I almost died of hunger in there.” She said, half cheerful.

I giggled in response at her remark. “You are so crazy, Char…”

I tilted my head back to sneak a peek at Professor Charles. The second our eyes met, I felt my tummy flutter.

I quickly looked away before my mind stained with more dirty thoughts. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag.

When we reached the cafeteria, Charlotte’s phone rang loud. She pouted her lip the second she stared at the screen, excused herself, then went to the hallway to pick it up. I simply nodded in response and began to check how much I had left so that I can get myself a decent meal.

Mandy had already texted what she wanted to eat. Before I would wire her money for food, I’d make sure she gets the best while I settle for scraps. I thought it was love. I thought I was making her happy and that somehow she would think of me as a real sister and not just cousins.

But I was wrong. Dead wrong. I quickly ignored her message and began to walk towards the queue, my shoulders tense.

I was so focused on the numbers on my phone that I didn’t realize I had hit something that felt like a wall. My phone fell on the marble floor, extending the crack on the screen.

My heart jumped right out of my chest.

“Ouch! Watch it!” I exclaimed, rubbing my shoulder. “Look at what you have done to my phone, you jerk.”

I huffed, my chest heaving. I didn’t even look up right away to see who it was. I was too upset to care who the hell had the guts to run into me.

“Excuse me, you are the one who couldn’t stay focused. Busy on your phone and all, you are the one who has ruined my shoes. You stepped on them.” A deep voice spoke, soft yet nonchalant. Like he would rather be anywhere else apart from here.

I finally looked up after picking my phone, and when I did, I wished I should have turned away immediately and run for the hills.

It was Roy, a guy from my class. He was extremely tall, almost like Prof Charles, with a broad wide chest which he always hid in a hoodie. But seeing his build, anyone can tell the guy is a giant. My pulse quickened.

I let out a nervous laugh and clutched my purse tightly. *Way to go, Emilia, you just pissed off the one guy the class fears.* I scolded myself.

He pulled down his hoodie and stared down at me with an angry frown on his face.

His face… was… similar… familiar to Prof Charles.

They had the same jawline, same dark hair, except Roy had piercings on his right brow, his lip and ears. It was the first time I was seeing him without a hoodie. My eyes widened slightly.

He cleared his throat and pointed at his shoes.

“Uhm… my shoes… Clean them. Now.” He ordered.

I quickly snapped back to reality, shook my head and crossed my arms on my chest.

“No. I don’t care how scary you look. I am not touching your filthy feet.” I snapped, taking a step backwards out of fear. But he moved forward with great masculinity. It all reminded me of Prof Charles. My back stiffened.

“What did you say? So the genius Emilia can’t even own up to her mistake?” He lowered his gaze to my lips for a split second before glaring into my eyes like I am dirt.

“I am not cleaning your shoes. Period.” I scrunched my nose and looked away, feeling annoyed.

He chuckled darkly. I should have been scared. I should have started begging for him to leave me alone. But in that instant, I was done being the one to fold.

I held up my chin and squared my shoulders. “I said, No.”

“You have some nerve…” Then his phone rang. He read the text, and his expression grew from cold to scared. He backed off immediately then walked away.

I scratched the back of my head for a second, feeling confused about the whole thing.

*Why did he suddenly leave?* I wondered.

The whole class knew Roy was the silent one, but once provoked, nothing makes him fold.

At least I knew better than to escalate the situation.

I dusted my phone and stood in the queue to grab my food. I was suddenly in the mood for something savory, like my life at the moment. My fingers still trembled slightly.

Then I received a text from an unknown number.

“Stay away from other men. You’re mine. Exclusively.”

I read the message almost ten times. I looked around me to see if anyone was watching me, but no. Everyone seemed busy in their own world. My stomach dropped.

But then I realized, only one person can write something like this. Mike.

*That greedy, arrogant asshole.* I stamped my foot on the ground.

I searched around for Mike until I saw him heading to the next queue beside me.

Mastering all the courage in me, I walked over to him and grabbed him by the ear. I was short, maybe 5’5”, but I still couldn’t let him control every inch of my life.

“You asshole, stop texting me shit. First you cheat on me, then you start making ground rules for me? I can talk to who I want and hang out with anyone I want. Got it!” I snapped, taking a few deep breaths as I unleashed every ounce of anger in me. My grip on his ear tightened.

Mike’s pupils dilated. He looked confused, like I’d just accused him of murder.

“What? I never sent you any text, apart from the one I sent yesterday when I asked you for nudes and you ignored me… how boring.” He said it so casually.

“You’re so disgusting. What do you mean you never sent a text?” I felt like cold water has been splashed over my head. My hand dropped from his ear.

Before he could say another word, I turned to leave, not wanting to give him any details about my personal life.

But he caught my arm fast. “Wait, is there some dude eyeing you? I’ll gut them.”

I yanked my arm fast away from him. He had some nerve.

“Don’t touch me!”

Then another text popped up on my screen.

“I thought I made myself clear.”