With Me II

They ignored my objection anyway and Aaron came to university with me but he just has to guard me from outside. All I have to do is call him with his given phone number in case of an emergency. He doesn't want me to do telepathy with him even though it's more reliable.

Aaron followed me quietly towards my room in the dormitory. I unlocked the door with a key and opened it wide enough to allow us to get in. I heard Aaron close the door as he got into my room. I immediately charged my so dead phone and took some clothes from my cabinet. Jo and Ven are definitely going to kill me.

"I'll just change into something student-like. Just…just sit on the bed." I told Aaron and I ran inside the bathroom and slammed the door. Pressing my back at it, I breathed deeply. I'm already late for my first period, I'm really dead to Jo and Ven. I removed all the clothes that I was wearing and changed into something I'm more comfortable with.

I'm now wearing a loose grey shirt, black pants, and a jacket. When will this cold weather end? I went out of the bathroom to see Aaron just lying on my bed, eyes closed. Did he not have any sleep last night? He looks better if he's just this way and not talking to me as if I am a devil sent by hell and trying to get rid of me.

I took my bag which was sitting beside him and my music sheet booklet over his head. I was going to pull myself away from him now but now I could study his face closer. His skin is smoother than mine, his eyelashes are long too and I realize that he has a little beauty mark just on his temple—you could only see it if you were this close to his face. Then he suddenly opened his eyes. I bit my lip. Shit. His eyes are beautiful especially when they're hit by the sun. If I didn't know him personally, I would've let myself fall for him completely. The problem is that he hates me—that's obvious enough, he has Stif and he seems to be just staying beside me because I'm just some sort of mission to him.

"What are you looking at?" his eyes narrowed.

"I'm not. I was just taking my things which are over your head." I took my things and gathered myself at the end of the bed. I tied my hair in a ponytail again, took my phone, and stepped outside the room. He continued to follow me until outside the music building where my classroom should be.

"I'll be under that tree," he pointed at the hideout where Ven was waiting for me yesterday. I don't know why we called it a hideout when anyone could actually see it.

"Okay," I turned my back to him and left. Whoo. Finally, I could breathe normally and lay my guards down. Putting up a barrier is tiring.

The class president greeted me first, "Sir Whel wants to see you after class." By the tone of the president, Sir Whel doesn't seem so happy about me skipping his class yesterday and today.

"Okay, thanks."

The day went on slowly and it made me sleepy. But I can't sleep in class, so I just let my eyes open but my ears are somewhere far away. I listen to the beautiful melody from the floor three levels above us, whoever was playing is playing it sentimentally. It's Love Rain by Yiruma the melody was already sad. Why make it even sadder? From what I've learned these past years through experience; music lets you take out everything that you want to express. Emotions that are building up inside that you can't bear anymore. Music is a getaway for people.

"Right," I stamped my clenched hand on the desk. I didn't realize that I spoke loudly until the professor caught my attention.

"Excuse me, Miss Valoria?" Everyone is now looking at me.

"I'm sorry. I…well…I just thought of something that I will play next…the idea kind of struck my mind."

"Congrats, Miss Valoria but kindly keep it to yourself. We don't need a distraction right now since the finals are coming."

"What?!" the whole room gasped.

"It is fast approaching everyone. I do not hope to see you all again next semester." Miss Kin said. "Better focus now."

Miss Kin continued to teach while I searched my music sheet booklet and bookmarked the song I'm going to play. The rest of the class ended swiftly without me realizing it until Jo and Ven went to my seat.

"Too bad this is the only class we're attending together and now it's going to end," Jo pouted.

"On the enrollment next semester you better come earlier. It's a first come first serve basis. GRADUATION IS COMING NEARER!" Ven shouted.

"Finally!" Jo clapped. They all cheered but I remained quiet on my seat.

"Sapphire, why are you not celebrating with us?" Ven elbowed me.

"Oh, yeah…Hooray!" I can't celebrate with you guys.

Graduation meant I had to move back to France and marry. This is why they, my parents, let me choose whatever course I want. They said I'm not going to use my brain anyway when I get married since it's going to be my husband's thing. Just the thought makes me vomit.

"Cooomee o~n we need more energy than that," Ven patted my head.

"First to touch the tree gets free ramen!" Jo shouted and ran.

"Oh no!" Ven followed. I'm going to lose anyway, why bother running. I jogged towards them not expecting to win. I stopped as they stopped in front of the tree. No one touched it.

"What's the matter?" I asked. I looked at whoever they were stunned at and saw Aaron sitting beside the fallen trunk and looking back at the other two.

"Oh hi, Aaron," I greeted. I forgot that he's waiting here.

Ven and Jo's eyes widened. "You know him?" Jo asked.

I nodded.

"Since when? I didn't know you're friends with a model." Ven gasped.

"Ah well, he's really not my friend. He's more of an acquaintance…?" I'm seriously not sure what our relationship is now. He's my babysitter? Nanny?

"Is your class over?" Aaron asked nonchalantly. Ugh, there he goes again.

"No, I still have class after this. It's the last one then I'll go to Jo's place to practice this," I showed him my music sheet.

He breathed deeply, "Okay."

"Are you hungry? We're about to buy food. What do you want?"

"Anything." He said.

"Okay." Seeesh so reserved. But when he saw Stif yesterday, he seemed so alive. "Let's go buy," I pulled Jo.

"No, I'll stay."

"I stay too," Ven winked.

I think my mouth just made a semi "o" as they sat on the grassy land and talked. Aaron wasn't responding to their questions but if ever, he uses his one question one-word rule. I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

I left them and went to the food area. Before stepping inside the canteen I looked around to see if the overly huge guy was around. Luckily, he seems not interested anymore. I bought two ramen and a pizza which was supposed to be for yesterday. I went back to the hideout to see Aaron above the tree trunk above Jo and Ven trying to avoid their noise.

"Aaron," I called, trying to reach him for the ramen.

"Thanks," he said.

"Where's our ramen?" Jo said.

"Neither of you touched the tree. That was the rule. Ven, here's the pizza for yesterday's accident." I sat on the dead log behind Jo and Ven.

"Yaz," Ven opened the box and happily dug in. Jo took a pizza too and happily ate.