CHAPTER SEVEN

A few hours ago

Alva, lost in the cool bathtub water that made her feel like she was in the sky, had her brown eyes staring at the ceiling while her mind drifted in thought. The sudden drop of water from the tap and the voices from the bathroom pulled her out of the spiral of thoughts in her mind.Then she stepped out of the bathtub slowly and tied the blue towel on her body. She shivered slightly, feeling that something was off. The sound she had earlier heard was coming from the bathroom door.

As she moved into the bathroom, her eyes widened. Her boss—Cody—was standing in the doorway.

"Maybe he saw me…" she thought, a nasty chill spreading in her chest. She was half-naked, and he looked… too calm.

He cleared his throat. "Sorry," he said, looking away. She clenched the towel tighter and tried to pretend she hadn't seen the flush of pink on his skin, though it was still there, intact.

For about a moment, they simply stared at each other, the air thick with tension. The sudden droplets on the floor echoed with a strange, sharp intensity. It was the only sound in the room, sounding more like a countdown tick.

Then, suddenly, Alva felt the destiny unfold under her. The water on the floor betrayed her footing, and she slipped.Cold and treacherous, the floor turned into a slippery slope—she felt herself falling, her limbs flailing wildly, the towel unraveling from her damp skin like a thin ribbon.

Then, in a flash, Cody was beside her. His strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to his body. Then the towel slipped silently to the floor, leaving her body exposed to him. A fiery blush spread across her cheeks as she felt his warm breath on her skin.

She tried pushing him away, but his grip was firm, and his eyes burned with intensity, seeming to pierce through her soul. In a desperate bid to escape his gaze, she forcefully pushed him away, and he stumbled backward, landing on the ground.

Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed the towel, wrapping it hastily around her body, her hand trembling with mortification.

"Get out!" Alva cried out, her voice shaking.

Her voice shook with anguish.

Cody's face turned dark with anger and hurt. Slowly, he rose to his feet. Without a word, he turned and walked away.

Alva crumpled on the floor, her mind reeling with the consequences of her actions.

What have I done again?

"Ugh," she sighed frequently.

Why did he have to come? Wasn't he the one who booked the room?

And why is he barging into the room while I'm naked?

Is he no longer a gay...?

She stood up, walking to the door, when her eyes caught him sitting at the bed with a rub beside him. She bit her lip, thinking what to do.

What if she fell and he dragged her toward himself again, and the towel fell...

Or what if he told her to get it herself?

Arghh....

Her thoughts kept making her feel agitated and discouraged.

Cody was wearing a black robe, and his dog tag was visible on his chest. He was focused on his phone and didn't even glance at her. He took a deep sigh and continued pressing his phone, lost in thought.

What could be on that mind of his?

He sighed again, still not giving her a reaction. She moved closer to him, then he threw the towel to her on the floor.

"Thanks," she said, picking up the robe. With her other hand holding the towel to prevent it from falling off, she asked, "Could you turn away?"

But he ignored her.

Alva just went into the bathroom and changed regardless. She came back with lots of questions running through her mind.

Are you a pervert, Cody?

Questions like that kept moving around, almost slipping from her mouth.

But she bit her tongue instead.

"Why did you enter?"

"..."

"I know he won't spare you."

"Why?"

"This is my room."

"What?"

"You entered the wrong room."

"Oh, so I'm at fault, huh?"

"..."

"Then are we staying here together?"

"If you don't want to, you could find your room at the E1 building."

"Huh?"

"..."

"That far?"

"..."

"So, are we sharing the bed together?"

"You're sleeping at the couch if you like. But know I won't touch you. I don't have any interest in you or your body."

Does he not find me attractive?

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"He's sure," she scoffed.

"What if you lose control of yourself?"

"I'm not into people like you, and I won't lose any control over myself."

I finally confirmed he isn't my type. If he doesn't find me attractive, and I don't find any gut to be—

"Okay." I managed to say.

"Now sleep, we are leaving early."

"OK. I have another question to ask."

"Are you a… um… then who is your type?"

---

***

The school's sleek, modern architecture gleamed in the sunlight, with large windows and sliding glass doors that seamlessly connected the indoors to the outer doors.The sound of laughter, chatter, and playful shouts filled the air. Students of all ages hurried to their classes or activities.

In the large courtyard of the high school, students were engaged in different games like basketball, volleyball, and dodgeball, their faces flushed with excitement as they dodged and weaved around.

Other nearby students were busy with a lively game of tag.

On the athletic field, a track meet was in full swing, with students competing in events like the long dash, long jump, and shot put. Fans cheered on their favorite athletes, their excitement filling the air.

"Who is she?"

"You don't know her?"

"No."

"She's the rich transfer kid."

"Let's make friends with her."

"No, she doesn't speak to anyone. She's so—"

"Introvert."

"Weird."

"No one knows her name," she whispered.

"A snob..."

"Brian, Brian," Nathan's voice came from the hallway with a curious tone and wide eyes. He spotted Brian, who was wearing headphones and waved at him. Brian kept his head down and didn't stop but later did "I hope it's not about Alva."

"Ugh. Of course, where is she, home?"

Brian took a deep breath and sighed.

"She gots a job at the New York," said brian.

"I think you should move on."

"No."

"She would find love there."

"No. I dreamt of her last night."

Ugh, why will anyone think of dating Alva? Most especially my best friend. Alva is just the opposite of everything good in life

"Dreaming about Alva is alarming. Dreaming about dating her is the best nightmare. Sometimes, I feel dating is a step ahead of getting married. If not, explain it to me," Nathan said dramatically.

"ahh," Brian muttered.

Suddenly, a girl wearing a crisp white blouse tucked into a high-collared thin skirt with a sky-blue tie and short sleeves appeared at the lane.. Her skin was pale, and her eyes were as sharp as steel. Her hair was sleek and jet black, with strands framing her heart-shaped face. She looked straight ahead, walking with such grace and poise.

Brian's heart skipped a beat.

"Who is she?" Brian asked, grabbing Nathan's arm.

"Don't know. Only heard she's a snub."

"Snub?"

"That's what they used in addressing her," Nathan added, staring at her.

"She is pretty," he complimented.

"Not as pretty as your sister."

"Hm. Really, bro?"

Victoria sat in the front row, her face glistening with tiny droplets of sweat due to the race. She had arrived a few minutes earlier. She took out her fancy glitter can from her pink bag and gulped some water. After refreshing herself, she took the black earphones and a rich wrap around her neck. Then she tucked the buds into her ears as she listened to her favorite song. Her right hand cradled her phone, the thumb scrolling lazily through.

Through the screen, her long black hair whipped back due to the cool atmosphere. Then she suddenly pushed her hair back and tied it up in a ponytail, just as she was almost tying it, a boy sneaked behind her and snatched it from her top.

Her eyes widened in shock and fury as she spun around, her face reddening with anger. "Give that back!" her voice rose in indignation.

"So, you could speak," Brian said with disbelief at her beautiful voice. "You've got a pretty voice in there, hidden just like you," Brian flirted.

"Bro, you're really good at flirting."

"Give it back," she demanded, her sweet voice getting deeper.

"No," Brian declined, raising the phone, which made her upset.

"Who is this?" he asked, looking at the screen.

"Come get it," he said, smiling.

She just stared at him, her eyes red

Ugh, I really want to push him off and get my phone," she muttered and walked away, but the consequences might be worse.

Vickky suddenly stood on her toes, her small body stretching upward, trying to grab the phone from his hand. But her arms were too short to reach—the phone was held eternally above her head. Despite her best effort, she was still unable to reach it. Her face became a mixture of frustration and determination, while Brian kept smiling, enjoying the play.

"Do you mind if you drop my phone back and get the hell out of here?" Her voice was harsh and challenging, her face wiped of any smile, but anger kept blazing in her eyes.

Don't be angry. He is just a flirt, and a pervert trying to date her.

"Okay, I will give you back, but..." he started, but she cut him off before he finished his statement.

"No buts. Give me now!" her demand was getting out of hand, and Brian knew it. He just want her to talk to him..

but she is really a snub.

"There, but—" he said, trying to take a glimpse of her reaction, "and my but is that you have to tell me your name," he announced.

She was seething.

He may be right. It was a parent's way to get her name. What benefit did he do? Both of them, is the school better off not giving her a name as the best student in the school?

If she told him her name, would he guard her back and leave her alone till she finished school?

Is this just how he behaves, or are all the students here like him?

"A deal or not," his voice cut through her thoughts.

She took a step forward, her voice low and menacing, like a savage unleashed.

"Lucy, now hand over my phone and don't try to outsmart me," her gaze warning him not to trifle with her, while her words dripped with venom and malice.

"Okay way,"

"What did you say?"

"Way," he announced, handing over the phone to her with a soft smile plastered.

She scoffed as she dragged her phone from him and was about to move before she paused and bore into his soul, issuing a silent, haunting, "Don't ever cross my path again," then she walked away.

Brian was really a dummy,

"Yes!" he shouted in joy.

She really wasn't really bad like the way people speak about her. She really is.....

After Brian runs off, the girls who had been hiding behind a chair, eavesdropping on the conversation between Brian and Lucy...

"So her name's Lucy," one of them whispered, her eyes gleaming with mischief as they exchanged glances.

"Hmm," she nodded and giggled while the girl in the middle brought her phone out and started typing.

Within minutes, they'd uploaded a post in the school group chat, proclaiming to the school DMs:

"Did you guys see that? Lucy had a thing with Brian, and also, her name is Lucy!!"

"Hey, isn't that Lucy who had a thing for Lyman?" a passerby girl whispered to another.

"So she told him her name because she liked him," another one chipped in.

As they passed by, more hurtful comments arose about her...

Thank goodness she didn't tell him her actual name—Vickky.

And seriously, why would they say she had a thing for a perv like him? If he was the only guy left in the entire world, she'd rather not get involved.

"Lucy," she began to admire her new name.

Then suddenly, she started reading the comments from the post those girls had posted earlier—today's gossip.

"Why did she ignore us apart from Brian?"

"She liked him."

"Who wouldn't like him? He's freaking handsome."

"So she liked him and then 'gave up'?"

"Is she trying to play hard to get?"

"Why won't Brian go out with her?"

The comments got wilder and wilder.

Again, she suddenly switched it off with pain in her heart.

+++

"Look at her, wearing those Boss clothes like she's his girlfriend," a worker sneers.

"That shirt is way too big for her. She looks like she's drowning in it! And what's with the short skirt?"

"Trying to distract him? She's just a desperate climber trying to get ahead by any means."

Alva's eyes widened as she looked down at her boss's shirt. "No… why all this hate?" she thought. She had no idea how to explain herself to those staff. It felt like the more she tried, the deeper she got into trouble.

"OK," she ran off.

"So they all liked him… not that he's so great," she murmured angrily as she tried to remember last night.