Caught

Everything started the day before the Final Exams.

The day where all the students were tested on what they had learned for the past lessons.

However, for a member of the Mojan family tree, this is not just a simple day. 

The examination is a war.

Our weapon is our pen.

The enemies are the questions.

It is the most crucial part of my life.

It will be the day when I can prove my worth to my parents.

The main reason that I am here, sneak into the teacher's office to get a copy of the test papers for tomorrow's test.

It was midnight when I snuck inside the campus. I made sure the security was out patrolling. I opened the window and climbed down using the pipes. My heart skipped a beat when there was a beam of light flashing on my face. I saw a silhouette of a man with shoulder-length hair. I heard a familiar voice.

"Oh. Hello, Mojan." He said in a mischievous tone.

When my eyes adjusted to the brightness, I saw his face grinning like an idiot.

"Paris?! What are you doing here?!" I hissed, grabbing the flashlight from his hand to switch it off.

"I should be the one asking you that question. What are you doing here, Mojan?"

"You saw nothing." I firmly said, turning around as I was about to leave. However, his arms pinned my shoulders on the wall.

"Not so fast, London. What do you have here?" He said, pulling out the eight pieces of paper from my back pocket.

I was sweating like a pig when he opened it. He let out an insolent laugh the moment his eyes landed on the paper.

"Are you planning to cheat on our exams?"

I'm doomed.

"Please don't tell anybody."

I was about to cry, but we heard a voice from afar.

"Hey! Who's there?!" said the man.

We immediately turned our backs so the security wouldn't see our faces.

"Run." He whispered and so we did.

I'm not good at running. I was a few steps behind Paris. I glanced at the back. I panicked when I saw the guard was about to catch up to me.

Fortunately, Paris grabbed my wrist then we started gaining distance from the guard. For some reason, I don't know if I should be thankful or annoyed for what he did. The poor security stopped in his tracks catching his breath. Paris allowed me to climb the wall first. Reaching the other side of the wall, I started running. I didn't wait for him to come down. Forget about the papers. Forget about cheating. I need to go home.

"Where do you think you're going?" He blocked my way with his eyes darted on me,

"You're coming with me." he grabbed my wrist, gripping it tight.

"No, I can't. You don't understand. It's getting late and I need to go home." I tried to get out of his clutches but he was stronger than I thought.

"Stop acting like you are Cinderella. Remember that I still have the test papers. If you want it, you need to cooperate." He said with a smirk plastered on his face.

"Where are you taking me?"

"Somewhere peaceful and no one can disturb us."

I was taken aback by what he said.

He glanced, seeing my horrified reaction. "Oh, don't give that look. I won't do anything to you. Disgusting." He shook his head and dragged me even harder I almost fell.

"Then what do you want from me, Simmons?" I asked him but he didn't answer.

He continued walking and dragging me like a criminal. We arrived at the place filled with mini lights. They were like fireflies resting on the trees. It was truly peaceful and no one can see us here. This made me more uncomfortable. He paused in front of an oak tree.

"You first." He ordered as he gestured towards the ladder. I could only roll my eyes and follow his commands. Looking at my arm I cursed the red marks he left because of his grip.

I was in awe when I entered the treehouse. I was expecting the walls would be filled with vandalisms, bottles of beer, or traces of violence. To my surprise it was neat and the walls were well painted. But it was not a good time to appreciate beauty. If only I'm not dealing with this playboy. He sat in the bean bag in one corner, then suddenly bursts out laughing. I looked at him, raising one of my brows.

"Ha! Ha! Ha! Have you seen the face of that security? He was panting like a dog. He's too old for his job." He was laughing uncontrollably, holding his stomach.

"So are we just going to laugh all night like we're some bunch of addicts here?" I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms.

"No. No. No. Sorry, I just can't help it. Ha! Ha! Ha!" he bursts again.

I was silent the whole time waiting for him to stop. I was tapping my shoe on the wooden floor as an indication of my impatience.

"Okay. I'm leaving then." I bid him goodbye and turned around.

"Wait, wait. Don't you want to hear what I'm about to say?" He crossed his legs and returned to his proper posture. He brushes his hair with his fingers that were destroyed due to his continuous laughing.

"Okay. Mojan, I am glad to announce to you that you may retrieve the test papers from me."

"How?" I answered in haste.

I want to get this over with.

"That was fast feedback. I can sense you wanted these." He snorted, flashing the papers.

I studied his stupid face for a while. "However, you wouldn't want to be a voluntary slash involuntary cheating accomplice without a price. Am I right?" I said, tilting my head and then crossed my arms.

"How sharp." He exclaimed, clapping his hands in a loud but slow manner, "As what I expected from the smartest girl in class. That makes me wonder why. Why are you planning to cheat anyway?"

"I have my reasons. It's none of your business."

"Ouch! How grumpy! If you want these papers, then start talking politely, will you?" I gasped in disbelief. I never thought that not losing your cool while talking could be this hard. My hand was itching to land on his face every time I heard his remarks.

"What's going on, Simmons? You are the son of the highest-paid businessman. You have the money. You have the looks and charm that make the girls crazy. You are very, very popular. So, what do you want from me? Can't you just be satisfied with your life so I can live on my own?"

"Nope, satisfaction does not exist in Paris's vocabulary."

"What do you want, greedy Paris?" I seethed.

I have to get those test papers. It's now or never.

"I want you to help me to be Venice's boyfriend."

It's my turn to laugh now. I did laugh in front of him which made his brows raise.

"What? You? Venice's boyfriend? Dream on, dude. Did you realize how many girls became your ex, you nasty playboy?! Did you lose count of it that you forgot? More importantly, did you realize how many suitors she dumped already? And with a bad record of your past relationships, it makes you underqualified for the position of Venice's boyfriend."

"It's your job to clean it for me, genius."

I rolled my eyes at the idea of correcting his mistakes.

"You get the high scores for the examination and I get a girlfriend. It's a win-win situation, right?"

I shook my head while putting up a sarcastic smile. "It's not that easy. It's impossible. And it's like I'm selling my friend to a devilish guy."

He snorted then shook his head. "Friend? Don't be silly. They don't make parents proud. It worries them."

Yeah, she does not treat me as a friend anyway. Let's sell her off to this dumbass! That would be great! She will be out of your sight and Scot will be yours, London. No. I should not think that way.

"But I'm no Cupid! She likes someone else and it was our friend, Scot Richards."

"Think of a plan to get him out of the picture. Stop making excuses and use that brain of yours."

"What if we-" I didn't finish what I was about to say. I was thinking what if we fell in love with each other instead of them. But it would be dreadful to fall in love with this guy. That is the last thing that I would desire to happen.

"What?" he asked.

"Urgh! Nevermind." I grunted, abandoning the subject.

Think of a plan, huh? He's driving my head nuts! This guy is unbelievable! If only he didn't show up tonight I won't be sneaking right now to my own house like a burglar. Though I have the test papers now, I'm dead if I get caught by my parents. The back door began to open revealing two silhouettes of a man and a woman. My heart started to beat fast. It always frightens me to think what's the next thing that will take place.

"Mom. Dad. Please, I can explain."

This is all his fault.