Chapter Eight – Rival At First Sight

Eli became even clinger after my ‘birthday party’. It is weird to have him always hugging my arm, hugging my waist, and just hugging all over. Is he trying to do something? Also, I am not liking that intense look in his eyes whenever he thinks I am not looking at him. 

  He would always invite me over to his home so that I could watch him dress up in his clothing. He would even make me choose what he should wear telling me, “I want to dress in a way that you enjoy. Your opinion matters to me after all.”

  It didn’t help that he blushed when he said that to me. I don’t know what is happening to him at all. I mean as long as he isn’t trying to mess with me I will, unfortunately, allow this to continue but I am going to figure out a way for him not to always be in my personal space. It gets uncomfortable if he is always close to me.

  After my ‘birthday party’ passed and I became eleven I was invited to countless tea parties that I didn’t have a choice in refusing since my ‘father’ already decided for me. I met with countless other young girls who were my age.

  During one of the tea parties I was at I met Aurelia's future group of followers again. They ended up getting drawn to me and we became ‘friends’. They would often visit me and tell me stuff they heard from their parents in secret. It was useful getting information like this without anyone knowing.

  I also got closer to the follower who caused my death in one route because of her love. I decided if I didn’t want that to happen again I needed her to be taken… So I decided that she should get engaged.

  It was rather easy to do. The parents just happen to want to have a close relationship with a family and I just happen to find one who was willing to do that. They also just happen to meet each other during a small get together for other nobles. Now she is engaged to get married after school.

  I know I shouldn't be using my magic in such a way but I am planning for my future. I can’t have anything going wrong. I need everything going perfectly. I need to be smarter than everyone. Gifted with my magic. So powerful that no one can lay their hands on me. 

  I was at a social gathering that my ‘father’ decided to take me to instead of my ‘brother’ since he noticed how “well-behaved” I have been acting during these months and didn’t have to worry about getting embarrassed by me.

  Eli was also at this gathering wearing a light blue dress that puffy at the end of it and had heart patterns all over it. His hair was in a high ponytail that was held up by a light blue bow. I didn’t understand why someone who could use fire magic dress in all blue. I assume he would like red.

  “Hey, Hey! Aurelia, do I look pretty today? I dress like this with you in mind.” Eli gave me a shy look as he asked me this. I looked at him and just gave an indifferent approval noise. Eli let out a happy giggle and hugged my arm happily. 

  “I think you look so nice in your clothing today! It makes you look so mysterious and handsome.” Eli was looking at me with passionate eyes as he looked at the clothes I was wearing for the small gathering. I was wearing another black ruffled top and still had my magic stone ribbon around my neck. I had on neat looking black pants and my height was even taller with my heel shoes. My hair was down and out showing off my curly hair. I had some makeup on but it was just my lips and eyes.

  “Thanks… Mae help me get dressed.” I felt rather pleased that Mae was happy with how I was dressing. She was more supportive than my ‘father’ who looked at my new clothing style with distaste. 

  As I was standing in the corner with Eli eating the food that was from the food table I saw a group of girls giggling and blushing in a direction. I look over to where they were looking and I grip onto the plate of cake I was holding tightly. I could feel my heartbeat increase slightly once I realized it was a love interest from the game.

  Colton Lynn, the second love interest of the game and the route I hated the most. He was practically dressed like an asshole with his neatly pressed navy suit. His silver hair was long and in a braid that added to his boyish charm. His stern green eyes could be seen behind his frameless glasses.

  I could remember all the frustration I had from doing his route in the game. Always having to suck up to him. Be submissive to him and always be on his side just because he had an inferiority complex with his other siblings. He was such a tiring route to even deal with and I don’t want to even get involved with him.

  “Ah, does Aurelia want to meet Colton? I could introduce you to him but he means to people he just meets. He is a good guy! But he doesn’t hold back with what he thinks about people…” Eli told me that with a troubled expression but I noticed that his eyes darken a bit when he thought I wanted to talk to Colton. 

  “I have no interest in meeting him.” I didn’t know why Eli didn’t want me to meet with Colton but I didn’t care. I would rather not meet with a jerk like him anyway. I will just avoid him and the heroine in the future. Not going to even acknowledge his existence.

  “Oh, okay!” Eli smiled happily when I told him that but he quickly frowned and his face grew embarrassed as he looked at me. “I need to use the bathroom…”

  “You can go. I will wait for you to come back.” I was just pushing around my cake as I told Eli that, not understanding why he told me that in the first place.

  “Can you please go with me? You can just wait outside the bathroom. I don’t want to be alone….” Eli's eyes grew teary-eyed as he looked up at me and I could only let out a sigh as I placed the plate of destroyed cake down on a table nearby.

  I held out my arm for him to hold on and started to walk to the bathroom once he grabbed my arm. I could feel someone staring at me as I walked Eli to the bathroom but I just ignored it. Unless they are giving me a look of hatred I won’t even pay attention to it.

  Once we reached the bathroom I stood outside the door and leaned against the wall with a bored expression.  As I was waiting for Eli to be finished in the bathroom I heard footsteps coming towards me. 

  Looking up to see who was coming toward me I could feel my eyebrow twitch in irritation once I saw it was Colton. I just ignored him, assuming he was going to the bathroom as well but I got confused when he stopped in front of me and stared me down.  Well, he wasn’t staring me down seeing as I was a few inches taller than him especially with the shoes I was wearing.

  “...What?” I was getting annoyed after a few seconds pass of him just staring at me with a frown on his face. What did he want from me? We have never met each other before so he shouldn’t even be bothering me right now.

  “So you're the one teacher been praising lately? I don’t see what so good about you. I never saw someone with such a depressed-looking face before. It is rather disgusting.” The first thing Colton said to me was a bunch of insults. I got confused then I got pissed off.

  Why is this small child speaking to me like we know each other? Does he want to get me angry?

  “Who are you talking about?” I didn’t want to lose my composure in front of this idiot so I just asked him who he was talking about since this conversation came out of nowhere.

  “I’m talking about the person who teaches you, idiot. I don’t know what Mr. Pryor sees in a student like you? Especially with such a past of yours. Just because you are improving doesn’t erase your history.” Colton was giving me a look that was the same as my ‘father’ and my ‘brother’.

  “What type of history do I have? Tell me. I am really curious about what you think about me.” I pushed myself off the wall I was against and walked toward Colton. I was looking down at him as we were close to each other.

  “Your father didn’t want to see the face of the person who killed his wife and gave you a house that wasn’t even close to him. Quick to anger and always want to be acknowledged by your brother who is far suited to your family name than you. I feel sorry that your mother had to die to give birth to such a child.” Colton continued to speak down at me and I could feel my heart tighten as the feelings of the original Aurelia appeared.

  Why is he talking to me like this? What did I do? I don’t want to be hated! Stop hating me! I want everyone to like me…. It hurt so much…. Why does it feel like my chest is breaking? Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop. Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop! Make it stop! MAKE IT STOP!

  ‘Who does he think he is? Talking to us like this? Just because he is a prince doesn't mean shit to us. Show him who he is messing with.’ My head was so loud as it was getting overwhelmed with the two voices that were screaming at me currently. I could feel my breathing was increasing and I feel like I could see red.

  I grabbed the front of Colton's suit and lifted him off the ground and brought his face close to me. I could see his eyes widen in surprise at this and he was struggling in my grip but I didn’t let go of him. I wanted to hurt him. I wanted to make him cry. I wanted him to feel what I was feeling. 

  “Aurelia…? What are you doing?” I was called out of my emotional daze and I looked behind me to see a concerned Eli who just came out of the bathroom. He looked like he put on some makeup while he was in there which explains why he was taking a while in the bathroom.

  I let go of Colton who fell right on his ass. He glared up at me and I glared right back at him. I never hated someone this strongly before. I never wanted to make someone suffer this badly. Even when I was bullied in my last life I never felt this much hate before.

  “I will make sure I am always better than you starting today. You will never be in first place as long as I live. I will be the one who takes that seat. Don't you ever fucking think I will allow you to be better than me. I am the one who is better than you.” I spit that out to Colton who was still on the ground and started to walk away from him. I could hear Eli walking behind me quickly to catch up to me but I was too mad currently.

  If Eli didn’t show up when he did I may have done something that would have been bad. But the thing is… I wouldn’t have regretted it.