Chapter 5

SERA'S POV.

I got back to the apartment about to go in when the door next door clicked open from inside.

I didn't look towards him and just tried to open mine. The keys kept fumbling in my hands till it fell.

I felt my face burn from embarrassment.

I tried to crouch down to get the keys, buying him enough time to at least help a woman in need.

He was no longer there.

What?

He's so unreal for his attitude.

"Can't even help a struggling schoolmate?" I muttered before going into the house.

Mum had sent several texts

: did you move already?

:why aren't you picking up my calls

And many others.

I sighed while I chewed in frustration.

Then, I glanced at my injured leg and ankle.

Anna, she must've felt threatened when I mentioned the center stage.

It's only a few weeks away and my recovery would take those weeks.

She played well, doesn't mean I'll sit back.

The center stage might not work but something else will.

What's she so afraid of losing?

After my meal, I was too lazy to unpack so I just laid on my bed waiting for sleep to claim me.

My mind went back to my next door neighbor

"Is he back?" I muttered

Ugh! Why do I care?

I rolled over to the other side of the bed and finally drifted off to sleep.

~Next day.

After days of living on a tight schedule, I woke up the next day at almost noon.

My hair, almost taking the form of a bird's nest. I grabbed my glasses next to my bed and got up.

A thud!

I had totally forgotten about my injury.

After washing up, I unpacked the boxes. While doing that, I came across a box of portraits.

I didn't have a single picture alone. I was always with Devin. From childhood, to middle school, high school and even as freshmen of Crestmont.

You could see excitement in my smile, matched with Devin's.

I smiled so hard, it blinded me and I couldn't see the gradual fall of Devin's.

Maybe that's when things started to go AWOL.

My phone buzzed in pocket.

I set the portrait down and checked who called.

An unknown caller.

"Hello?" I said faintly.

"Sera, it's me. Devin" He said.

I looked at the caller ID again. Why'd he use am unknown number?

"What?" I asked

"Can we meet? Please?" He asked

I let out an exhale.

I didn't want to talk to him or see him but I hate that somehow his pleas still get to me.

"I won't take much of your time, just let me make things right" He said.

"I have somewhere else to be, sorry" I hung up though it was hard to.

My gaze fell on the portrait again. The joy was there. Now, it didn't exist anymore.

I spent the whole day thinking of how to survive Crestmont's rule. I needed a plan but certainly my plan revolved around Devin, Damien or giving up my place in the Academy and maybe live as a farmer.

Who am I kidding?

Damien.

Asking him to accept me would be much worse than just kissing him. He had more influence than other captains in the academy. A responsible rebel, that's who he was.

He made rules.

He broke rules.

And no one escaped him when they get tangled in his business.

Relationship? Countless. They didn't last a week, or maybe two.

I stared at the two names on my book, both encircled a lot of times.

I picked up my phone after it lit with a notification.

Crestmont's social page.

New pictures had been posted. Not behind an anonymous sender but Anna herself.

She posted pictures of her and Devin at the piano classroom.

My jaw hung open.

She really did that?

Reactions and comments began flooding the page.

My mind immediately went to Devin.

Has he seen this?

I got up and rushed out of the house, headed to the academy.

If Devin has seen this, then it sure has gone viral enough to reach the instructors.

I didn't wait to make sure my door was locked, I leaped as fast as I could.

Then — BAM!

I collided into him.

My phone slipped out of my hand to the floor

"Sorry" I picked up my phone, didn't wait for the elevator and just went down the stairs.

I approached the academy's gates and then I suddenly stopped.

What am I doing?

I stared at the building that stood a distance from the gates.

Why'd I care?

I turned my back on the gates and stood still.

That little "I'm sorry" at the field was still registered in my head. Why care for someone who already set a boundary in front of the while school?

I walked away.

Almost home, I saw the rest of Damien's friends heading towards the apartment. I stood behind a wall and watched what they were doing.

Then Damien came out of his apartment, he looked vexed.

Why though?

Shortly after, a smile pressed to his lips.

A silent scoff escaped my lips then for a brief second, our eyes met.

I retreated behind the wall

"What was that?" Jake— his best friend asked.

"Who knows?" Damien said then I heard his door click shut.

I stepped lightly to my door and went in.

My fingers hovered over my keyboard thinking of how to put a text through Devin.

Right then, he called.

I picked up, almost without hesitation

"Devin, did you see the news?" I asked.

"Hmm, it's nothing serious" He said but I could tell from his voice, it was more then just that.

Anna had claimed him and given evidence to the school. He almost doesn't have a choice now.

~Night.

I waited by my door, ear pressed against it, waiting for the opening of Damien's.

My foot tapped against the floor then stopped when I heard it open.

His friends came out then I heard

"Do you have a neighbor? Should we say hi?" Jake asked.

"Neighbor my foot" He said " Get going" He said to them.

Their footsteps began to distance from his apartment then I heard his door open again.

Before he could close it. I dashed outside!

"Wait!" I called.

Damien flinched. I almost snatched the soul out of him.

He stared down at me like I meant nothing. Well, to him.

He attempted to close the door but I set my foot by the door with my fluffy pink bunny slippers.

"A minute" I held a finger up

"I have nothing to say to you, get your foot out of my door" He kicked my foot, unknown that was my injured foot.

I fell backwards, my brows creased in pain.

He shut the door then opened again

"You have ten seconds" He said " one...two..." He began.

Is he seriously counting now?

What kind of human is this anyways?

"...nine...ten." He said then pushed the door to a close. I held it still

"Date me!" I raised my voice.

He paused.

Then looked down at me

"What?"

I stood up straight

"You heard me" I said.

Who the fuck was I commanding?

"Date me" I repeated.

Damien leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed

"I'll assume you lost your mind" He said "don't talk to me till you regain your senses" He said.

"I'm totally fine. I mean what I said" I fixed my glasses.

His brows remained furrowed. He wasn't buying it.

"Apparently, after much thought, I figured out you're the only one who can help me get out of this mess" I said.

He parted his lips to speak but before he could say a thing, I spoke again

"Crestmont is gonna drown me in humiliation. You're not that cruel to let me die in it. Just one favor, please?" I asked.

Damien waited for a while before speaking

"Lens girl..." He called

"Seraphina Miller. Sera for short" I corrected.

" Lens girl" He stated again "listen. I am that cruel to let you die in that humiliation. If you caused something, face the consequence alone, don't drag others into your mess" I said.

I tried to speak but he held his finger up, shutting me up.

I pressed my lips together

"And what makes you think, I'd date someone like you?" He asked "Me refusing to give an answer at the field was my highest act of mercy to someone I hate. Don't bother me, or it'll be more than just Crestmont" He slammed the door at my face.

I stood there for a while, all those words settled within me. I had just confirmed what people said about Damien being an unforgiving fool.

Well well Sera. Life just won you 2-0.