CHAPTER 23

My cheeks blushed when I read the words that were engraved on the bracelet. It was written, "Arien, I'm forever yours" and his name was engraved as well.

"I hope you like it, Ariens. Because I didn't know what you liked, I randomly chose this one."

"I like it very much." I quickly responded.

"Especially the words that are engraved." I whispered.

"By the way, Zion, thank you for your flowers and fruit yesterday. I had work, so I didn't know that you were coming."

When Zion calmed me down, everybody was watching us. Dave was clenching his fists because he was jealous. He turned around to avoid watching the scene.

"Dave, where are you going?" Cassy asked.

"I forgot I have something to do." Dave responded.

"Are you jealous, Dave?" Dave didn't answer Cassy. She followed her cousin to comfort him, because Cassy knew Dave had feelings for Arien a long time ago.

"Bro, they're not yet in a relationship. You still have a chance." Cassy said to Dave.

"But, I can see that Arien likes Zion. Do you think I have a chance to pursue her, Cas?"

"You never know what your future is ahead. Stop sulking here. Show Arien that you like her. You have never confessed to her yet, don't you?"

"I want to settle her life here first. But I tried to confess to her a while ago, but Zion interrupted us."

"Just try again. Who knows what will happen after you confess?" Dave nodded. He thought maybe he had a chance as long as he didn't give up.

Meanwhile, after I calmed down, everyone approached us.

"Wow! I didn't know that you were in a relationship." Said Lawrence.

"No, we are just friends." I reacted.

"Fine! And when did you become closed? I remember you both always argued every time you met each other." Lawrence asked us.

"It's a long story and I don't want to share it with you." Zion responded.

Lawrence frowned and said, "Fine! That's why I am always behind you guys because you shared nothing with me." Everyone laughed at Lawrence, and we all went back to our classroom.

"Anyway, Zion, How about, Dave?" Jake suddenly asked Zion while they were heading to their classroom.

"What do you mean, how about Dave?"

"You know Dave likes Arien, but you like her too. I don't want both of you to fight over one girl. And you were going to get engaged to Jessica. What's your plan?" Jake was worried about his friends.

"I won't get engaged to Jessica. I don't love her, too."

"What about your parents? You know they won't favor someone who has no family background."

"I am thinking of a plan about that now. My father would give me freedom to choose if I agreed to be his heir."

"I hope that you and Dave have a fair competition with Arien." Zion nodded and patted Jake's back. "Don't worry, bro. Our friendship won't be destroyed because of us."

Saturday has come. Nicole's birthday party. Everyone arrived at Nicole's house except me, because of my work. Luckily, my boss allowed me to go home early. And thanks to Clint, because he volunteered to cover up the time left for my work so I could go back home earlier than expected. I went home first to change my appearance for disguise. When I arrived at Nicole's house, some guests were drunk and tipsy.

"Arien!" Nicole called me.

"Hurry up! Everyone is here." Nicole picked me up excitedly.

"We've been waiting for you for so long. You look at us now. We are all drunk already. Hahaha! You must drink too, Arien."

"But I didn't drink alcohol, Nicole."

"Just one glass, Arien, for me, please?"

"OK, I will drink, but I can drink only one glass." I agreed with Nicole because I didn't want to disappoint her.

Nicole brought me to her room and called Cassy to change into swimwear. Cassy brought out the swimsuit for me. Nicole was disappointed when she saw the swimwear Cassy brought out.

"Hey, Cassy, how could you bring this kind of swimming wear? This is a pool party. We are not going to go diving."

"We are very sorry Nicole. You might never know this, but Arien couldn't wear sexy swimwear because of her back." Cassy stated.

"Why?" Nicole asked and wondered. Cassy and I were looking at each other.

"It's OK, Cas. Nicole is our friend now and I don't want to keep this from her." Cassy nodded and we showed my back to Nicole. It surprised Nicole when she saw a huge scar on my back.

"I'm sorry, Arien. I didn't know about it. I hope you can tell me how you got that scar. But today I won't allow you to wear that overall swimwear." Then Nicole prepared some makeup and swimming wear for me. I changed into a two-piece swimsuit and Nicole started putting makeup on my back. She gave me a scarf to cover my back and untied my hair.

"Wow! What a body! You really have a perfect body figure, Arien." Nicole was amazed.

"Right!? Unfortunately, her height was so poor. Hahaha! Cassy teased me. And we laughed out loud.

We went out of Nicole's room and went to the pool. I embraced myself to cover my body because I felt uncomfortable.

"Arien, relax!" Nicole said.

Everyone was looking at us when we arrived at the pool area. Someone was murmuring, and some were whistling. I hide behind Cassy's back.

"Wow! perfect body. But it's better to cover her face! Hahaha! One guest said, and they laughed at me.

"Don't mind them, Arien, they were just insecure with your body figure." Cassy comforted me.

"Yeah! Raise your head and show them what you've got!" Nicole added.

Zion and Dave's eyes wide opened when they saw me wearing a two-piece. They rushed to come over me and offered their towel to cover my body. from malicious eyes.

It surprised everyone in the pool at what Zion and Dave did to me. And they started murmuring again.

"What!? I can't believe what I have witnessed. How come the two most handsome men on campus were rushing toward her?""

Maybe the rumors were true about her being a witch and putting a potion on Dave and Zion."

"I can't accept this. It is OK if Dave and Zion like someone who is beautiful. But not her. She doesn't even have a little appeal."

"Hey! Stop talking nonsense! You know nothing about our Arien. If you talk another nonsense again, you better leave my house!" Nicole was furious. I patted Nicole's shoulder and said, with a smile, "It's OK, Nicole. Not everyone here thinks of me as a witch. And I came here to celebrate your birthday, not to ruin your party. Don't get enraged over them. I am not affected at all, not even a word. As long as you guys believe in me, that all matters to me. " Nicole and Cassy hugged me after they heard me.

"Our Aries are really nice and sweet." Nicole said.

"Hey! That was unfair to us. Let us join you girls! Hahaha!" Lawrence suddenly jumped on us for a group hug, and he called the others.

But behind our happiness, we didn't know that Jessica was staring at us furiously.