CHAPTER 9

"Maybe they are Dave's friend." I continued to head to the washroom.

"Dave, when did you arrive?" A man asked.

"Zion, Jessica! We arrived yesterday. By the way, this is my cousin, Cassy. I'm with another friend, but she's in the washroom now."

"It's fine, we've eaten and are on our way home. You can introduce her to us next time. You're coming to our school, right?" Jessica asked.

"Oh, yes, with Cassy and Arien."

"I didn't know you had a beautiful cousin." Zion stated.

"Yeah, but not as beautiful as me." Jessica hinted.

"Hmmmp! I'm sure you'll be disappointed if you see Arien." Cassy mumbled.

"Anyway, are you two dating?" Dave inquired.

"No way! We were just having a family dinner! And I don't want to have a relationship yet. I'm enjoying my single life now!" Zion reacted.

"But soon we will be engaged. Our family has already agreed." According to Jessica,

"They are, but not me!" It is emphasized by Zion.

"Ptttfff! I'm sorry!" Cassy was giggling about what she heard.

Jessica was frowning and asked Zion to go home. When I returned to the table, they had already left.

"Where's your friend Dave? I only saw their backs as I was about to open the restroom door."

"They've already gone home. You will meet them later when school starts."

I nodded and started eating our dinner. Then, Dave sent us to our apartment. Before he left us, he informed me, "Arien, if you have time, you can call me to practice. I keep motorcycle spares at home." I nodded, and I asked Dave if he had a scooter.

"I have a different class schedule with Cassy, so I can't join her car every day." I told Dave, and he said he had it. According to Dave, I can pick it up at any time.

Cassy and I were watching a movie in the living room when she suddenly asked a weird question.

"Arien, do you like Dave?"

"Yes, because he's very, considerate. She always understands me." I said it with no hidden meaning.

"I know you fell in love with Dave!" she exclaimed.

"Hey! It's not love. I like him as a friend. Stop bluffing around! I don't feel like having a boyfriend yet. I need to focus on my goal first."

"What if you fell in love with Dave suddenly?"

"I don't know. I don't even have experience yet of love. How would I know if I was falling in love?"

"Well, as of now. Anyway, I'll be having one of those experiences soon! Hahaha! Then I will teach you! Haha!"

You're insane; we'll sleep better now. I think you're just exhausted today because we went to a lot of places. Goodnight, I will not listen to your nonsense today!

Cassy was pouting when I left her.

Five days before the start of the school year. I met Dave every day for practice and I got the scooter he lent to me. I got my part-time job as well. Everything was done with the help of time management, work, study, and practice.

Day of school. I'm all prepared now. I also finished my disguise.

"I'm perfectly ugly now!" I've seen my reflection in the mirror. And I called Cassy to wake her up.

"Cassy, wake up now! I'm going to school first. Your breakfast is ready on the table. See you later!"

"Ok, 10 more minutes. I will wake up later. Be careful, Arien."

I safely arrived at the university and went to the parking lot.

"Wow, my scooter is really outstanding! Don't allow them to bully you baby scooter. Haha!" I giggled to myself when I noticed all the luxury cars in the parking lot beside my scooter.

"This place is enormous. Where can I find the ceremony hall? I should ask someone. Maybe they can point me in the right direction." I murmured.

After walking for a few minutes, I saw a group of students and asked for direction. And let's see how they react to my appearance.

"Excuse me, may ask where the ceremony hall located?"

"Crap! You scared me to death! I thought I saw some monster pop out somewhere in the daytime!" The students reacted.

"Oh! I'm sorry, did I scare you? I apologize for my unattractive appearance. I only want to know the direction where the ceremony hall located."

One female student scolded her friend for being rude and pointed me toward where the ceremony hall was.

"Many thanks for your help. It's very large in here, and it's my first time, so I'm not familiar with my surroundings." I stated.

"Zion! Have you just arrived?" One student was called Zion. And I said my goodbye to them. Then they nodded and said goodbye, too.

After the ceremony was over, I went to my first class. I didn't expect that the woman I met earlier was one of my classmates. I greeted her first.

"Hi! My name is Arien Holmes. May I know your name as well?" She replied she was Nicole McKinley. And we had a lot of conversation we talked. I'm glad that she's very kind and easy to talk with.

Our class ended, and someone picked Nicole up.

"I'm here to pick you up for lunch, Nics." Zion and Jake were waiting outside."

"Arien, do you want to join us for lunch?" Nicole asked.

"No way! She will cause to lose our appetite for her appearance!" A male student rejected me because of my ugliness.

"You're being rude again, Lawrence. You had never known her, and yet you talked like trash again. She did nothing to you, right?" Nicole scolded him and pinched him.

"Arien, I'm sorry about my boyfriend. He really has a sharp tongue. "Please disregard his words. Nicole apologised to Arien for her boyfriend.

"It's fine, Nicole. When they see my appearance, everyone must say that word. And I will not take his words to heart. You don't have to be worried." I explained.

"You're so nice, Arien. "I'd like to make friends with you." Nicole stated,

"Me too. I would love to be friends with you. You must go now. Your other friends are waiting for you outside. See you, Nicole.