MIDSUMMER CRUSH

Chapter 14

Giselle’s POV

I followed Aariz inside as he led me to his son’s room. “I won’t mind sleeping out on the couch,” I said and glanced at him.

“But I would,” he said and took his pillow and an extra blanket out. “Make yourself comfortable and wake me up if you need anything,” he added as he stood in the doorway.

“Alright,” I sighed and looked at Naman who was fast asleep on his side of the bed.  “Okay then, good night,” he smiled and shoved his hands in his pocket.

“Good night…” I said and noticed him still standing there smiling in my direction.

“Erm…aren’t you going to sleep?” I enquired and wondered what was going on in his mind.

“Uhm…oh, ya! That skipped my mind, good night,” he said it in awkwardness and gently closed the door as he left.

Lying beside Naman, I recollected the hours spent with Aariz. His efforts to surprise me had instead left me confused. It hurt me to realise he was drunk and wasn’t aware of what he had been doing that night on the yacht. All the while I had been thinking he liked me and was too shy to confess it, but what he did tonight brought me back to believing he had something for me.

“Is he merely flirting?” I argued in my mind, but as far as I knew he wasn’t a flirt in St. George. It was the girls who were crazy after him. Replaying the song we danced on, in my mind, I went back memory lane when our winter break ended and the second semester commenced. My friends were back from vacations, and so were our awful professors who never seized to make our lives miserable. My job as an ISC was over, yet Aariz never cared to know me more or strengthen our friendship.

Why would he anyway? He was recruited into Alpha Epsilon, I knew he wouldn’t attend any lectures and only be committed to social activities. And that’s what happened, he stuck to the rules of his fraternity and ignored me, or rather showed his frat brothers that he was ignoring me, because I clearly remember him striking brief conversations that one would have with an acquaintance.

My mind was disturbed thinking about the past, “Was Aariz two faced?” I thought and glanced at Naman. It’s best if I stop over thinking about this, he was never into me then, he’s not into me now. I pulled the blanket and finally closed my eyes.

Aariz’s POV

As I lay on the couch I thought about the past, the past that Giselle didn’t know about me and  Zehara. She still believed that we were college sweethearts, though what one see’s is not always meant to be true. I sighed and recollected my memories at St. George as I drifted into slumber.

Year 2009...

Aariz was just beginning to get familiar with his fraternity and life at St. Georg’s  when  his benefactor, Zehara’s father sent him a mail.

“I hope you’ve adjusted well to your new surroundings. Don’t get too carried away though, remember what I sent you there for. I love my daughter more than anything and it’s your duty to see that nobody messes with her nor does she get into any mess. She’s betrothed to the prince, her safety is your priority. Remember, she must never find out the reason I sent you there. Let me know if you need more financial aid, and stay undercover as much as you can,”

Aariz shut his computer and sighed at his fate that was forever controlled in Zehara’s father’s hands. Being an orphan, he was obliged to her father for all the years of care and financial aid that he had been receiving. He was raised along with Zehara to protect her, he was her undercover bodyguard. This was a secret nobody knew, not even Zehara herself.

It was the first day of semester two, Aariz got excited about attending his first class. As ordered, he had to be by Zehara’s side every now and then, hence he went up to her dorm to walk her to class. “You’re kidding me, right? You think I as in I will attend any of these lectures!” she laughed and refused to go with him.

“Then why are you here in the first place?” he raised his brows.

“Oh Aariz, college isn’t about boring lectures and grades! It’s all about sororities, boys and climbing up the social ladder,” she explained animatedly and startled him.

“Wait…what was that about boys?” He looked at her pensively.

“Well, you know the usual, having social events and parties with frat brothers,” she rolled her eyes and seemed less interested in shedding light on it.

“Hmm….Zehara, do your frat brothers know you’re engaged?” he crossed his arms and cornered her.

“Damn! Don’t start talking like dad. I’m sick of being reminded about my relationship status,” she fumed. “This was the reason I enrolled in a place far away from home,” she complained.

“I’m sorry, but I’m just concerned for you,” he explained and tried to calm her.

“Concern…or jealous?” she paused and peered into his eyes.

“Why should I be jealous?” he found her question a bit odd.

Zehara studied his expression and looked elsewhere before changing the topic. “By the way it’s good you came. I need a partner for today’s charity event at the union hall,” she smiled and flipped her hair. “Will you come?” she asked and battled her lashes.

“Like I have any option…” he muttered softly and agreed to go give her company while rest of the non Greek organization students attended lectures like Giselle.

“I can’t tell you how happy we are that you cleared your test,” Amber exclaimed as the last lecture for the day ended.

“Speaking about happy, the new professor nearly killed that feeling with the amount of assignments he’s given,” Reece frowned and chewed on her pen.

“I don’t think she was that bad, and regarding my test, I’m just relieved I’m no longer an ISC,” Giselle stretched her hands and yawned.

“That must have been exciting though! Did you come across someone hot? I would totally get hitched to one if I were in your place,” Aliyah winked as they all walked in the corridor.

“Excuse me!” Aariz stood before them out of nowhere and startled the girls.

“Erm…hi…could I have a word with you for a minute,” he brushed his hair with his fingers and smiled sheepishly while Giselle’s friends looked on in astonishment. “Uhm…alone…” he added and attracted eyeballs as Giselle followed him to the corner.

“Hi, long time no see,” he brushed his hands and spoke  like he was in a hurry.

Giselle was about to speak when he blurted. “Could I borrow your notes? You probably know that I didn’t attend today’s lectures.”

“Oh! No problem, you can have mine,” she returned the smile and handed over her books.

“Thanks a bunch, I’ll have them returned to your dorm by night,” he said.

“I don’t live on campus, you can return them in class,” she replied and suddenly paused. “Besides you shouldn’t worry that much, you’re in a greek organization, students like you get grades without attending classes,” she said and wondered how he was planning to manage both.

“Is it? That’s news to me, anyway thanks again. You’re the only one I’m familiar with,” he said and walked past her friends. Too shy to acknowledge their smiles, he went away without glancing at them and a left Aliyah and Reece upset.

“Whoa he’s got some attitude there,” Reece frowned.

“I’ve never seen this guy before, how do you know him?” Katnis enquired suspiciously before everyone pounced on her for answers.

“Are you dating someone? So rude you kept it under wraps! What were you guys whispering? Does he have a brother?” they fired questions on her until Giselle blew the time out whistle.

“Relax girls! I’m not dating anyone, he’s an international student and our new classmate,” she explained and cleared their doubts.

“Great, I’m so going to date him. Did you see his walk, man that was something,” Aliyah said dreamily.

“Yup and did you see his jersey? He belongs to Alpha Epsilon, there’s no way he’s going to date anyone of us,” Giselle laughed and began walking ahead.

“I can’t say the same for you, he seemed interested only in you a minute ago,” Amber smirked.

“Stop getting ideas, Amber. He just wanted my notes, that’s all,” Giselle sighed.

“Oh my gosh, he’ll be in class tomorrow! I can’t wait to catch a seat next to him,” Aliyah squealed while the rest looked at her in pity. Aliyah had a record of dating every hot guy she spotted. Even if they were from Alpha epsilon, she knew how to catch her prey. The only problem with her was that she never had any steady relationships and they all ended in breakups.

The following day, Giselle and her friends were in for a surprise when Aariz walked into their class. “He came…” Reece seated beside her, whispered and noticed her fidgeting with her calculator. “You okay?” she enquired worriedly.

“Yea…” Giselle replied without raising her head. She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes as he chose the seat diagonal to her.

 She didn’t know why, but his presence made her conscious. It wasn’t until Prof. Hayden introduced Aariz to the whole class that Giselle looked at him.

“He’s Aariz, and will be joining us from today. I hope you all make him feel comfortable and if not, then here’s some news for you all,” Prof Hayden said and looked at everyone.  “He’s the new class representative, so beware! You wouldn’t want to get on his bad side, would you?” he added and snorted while Giselle gasped.

The rest of the girls in class however began stealing glances and daydreaming about him while the boys ignored and him. “Wow, looks like someone won Prof. Hayden’s heart already. Aren’t you going to congratulate your best friend on becoming class representative?” Reece whispered as the lecture commenced.

“He’s not my best friend,” Giselle blushed and buried her head in her books when all of a sudden someone excused herself in.

“Sorry, am I late?” Zehara enquired half heartedly as she walked in.

The whole class including Prof. Hayden looked at her in astonishment and wondered what work a sorority girl had in here. “Welcome Zehara, I must say you’re not late. Just a minute early for the next class,” Prof. Hayden remarked and ended his lecture. He looked at her in amusement before leaving the class and so did the rest.

“Winds of change! Look who’s stepped in, I bet she lost her way or mistook this to be a beauty class,” Aliyah smirked as her gaze followed Zehara who grabbed the empty seat beside Aariz.

“Missed me?” Zehara leaned towards him and smiled.

“Wow, I didn’t expect you to walk in. You surprised me,” Aariz exclaimed in amusement.

“And so did you at that charity event. You created a lot of buzz, my sorority sisters can’t seem to stop talking about you. So I thought of coming in and helping you just in case…” she paused.

“Just in case what?” Aariz enquired suspiciously.

“Just in case girls start pouncing over you, you’re my best friend after all,” she smirked mischievously and reached for his hand.

“Look, they’re holding hands!” Katnis alerted Giselle and the rest before they looked in Aariz’s direction. “Are they seeing each other?” Reece enquired before the next professor walked in and ordered all to be seated again.

Throughout the lectures, Zehara  sat sticking to him and disturbing him. “You sure they aren’t involved?”Reece asked as she kept glancing at them.

“I said I don’t know,” Giselle made a face and continued reading though her mind was wandering somewhere else. She reminisced about the evening she had first seen Zehara with Aariz at the tennis lawn. “Maybe they are seeing each other…” she thought and glanced at them too.

When the lectures came to an end, Giselle bid goodbye to her friends and left for home. She forgot all about Aariz and sat up late watching a horror movie with her parents.  “I can’t sit any longer, I’m sleepy already,” her father yawned and rose from the couch. “Giselle, why don’t you call it a night and head to bed as well? You’ve got classes tomorrow,” he added as he prepared to leave.

“Few minutes more dad, the best part is yet to come,” Giselle said with her eyes glued to the movie. Her father sighed and left her and her mother in the living room. Sitting engrossed, she waited for her favourite part when all of a sudden there was a beep from her cell phone.

Reluctant, she clumsily picked it up and opened a txt sent by someone anonymous. “Prof. Jack’s class has been postponed to 2:pm tomorrow” Giselle read it in her mind and stared at the unknown number. Who was this and how did they get her number? She got curious and decided to enquire.

Back in the Alpha Epsilon’s dorm, Aariz received a txt from Giselle.

“Thanks for the update, but who’s this?”  Aariz read it and smiled before txting her back.

“This is your new class representative, Aariz. Friends call me Riz. May I know who are you?,” Giselle read the txt and broke into a smile. Rather a big grin that went noticed by her mother.

“Who is it?” Her mother asked and startled her.

“Nobody! Just a silly joke sent by Amber,” Giselle struck a straight face and pretended to watch the movie. When she noticed that he mother was not looking, she secretly txt him back.

However no sooner she hit the send button, she realised she had done something that left her red face. “Freak, no! Undo, undo!” she crazily hit all the buttons and did a face palm.

Aariz received her txt and read it. “Hi there class representative! I’m Giselle, friends call me Gis,” he laughed towards the end of the txt and looked at his computer screen that had details of all of St. Georg’s students. It wasn’t a coincidence that he was made class representative all of a sudden. Being Zehara’s undercover bodyguard, he knew all the ways and means to get access to private information about students, after all he had to make sure no one was a threat to Zehara on and around campus.