Love
1323 Words
Vinorca Jona POV
I nodded. "Thank you, sir," I said as I stood up to leave.
"Whatever we talked about today, keep it a secret,” he added.
Without replying, I walked out of the office, my thoughts swirling. He wanted to control me. Wasn't he satisfied making my life miserable at home? Now, even at school, he wouldn’t leave me alone—such a bastard.
"Vin!"
Amanda's voice startled me. She ran towards me and hugged me tightly, her grip almost crushing. I was grateful no one else was around to see my embarrassment.
"What happened, Amanda?" I asked, hearing her weeping.
"My dad sent Lewis abroad for further studies," she cried, her sobs echoing in the empty hallway.
"How? Why? He was here until yesterday," I said, my mind reeling. This had to be Dante’s doing. This was what he meant when he said he would make sure I never saw Lewis again.
"Even I don't know. He just did it without any reason. Lewis was so angry and sad because he didn’t get to see you," Amanda said, breaking the hug and wiping her tears with the back of her hand.
I felt a pang of guilt. It was all because of me, and I couldn’t even tell her. I was to blame for all of this.
"He won't be back for years, but don't be sad, Vin. He left his phone number. You can call him now," she said, trying to comfort me. It should have been me comforting her, and I felt ashamed.
"Is that going to be okay?" I asked anxiously. I wanted to talk to Lewis, but I didn’t know if it was appropriate.
"Of course, it will be. Don’t be shy," Amanda said, pulling out her phone and dialling Lewis' number. "Here."
With shaky hands, I took the phone and put it to my ear.
"Vin, is that you?" Lewis asked. His weak voice shattered my heart.
"Yes, it’s me," I answered, feeling a lump form in my throat.
"Don’t worry about me. Please take care of yourself," Lewis said in his sweet tone.
"I’m going to miss you," I said bluntly, feeling a sharp ache in my chest as dizziness set in.
"Me too, Vin. Please wait for me," Lewis said seriously.
"Take care of yourself," I said, cutting off the call in a panic, my heart racing. Before Lewis, I never felt these unfamiliar feelings. Now it was different, as if I had lost something important. The way he spoke made my knees weak.
Amanda patted my shoulder, unaware of my role in her and Lewis’s sadness. "You're so cute. No wonder my brother likes you. He asked me to give you this bracelet for your 18th birthday tomorrow."
She handed me the bracelet, and I was touched by the word "LOVE" engraved on it. I wore it and caressed it, feeling the warmth of his gift.
But could I wait until Lewis came back?
"Don't think too much. Your face is getting all red. Why so shy? I know you both like each other, even if you never said it," Amanda joked, smiling.
‘Do I really feel this way about him?’ I asked myself. He was warm and comforting, but love? I never thought about it, too immersed in my miseries.
"He will come back fast, and I am with you too, so I won’t give you a chance to miss him," Amanda giggled.
"I know, but I'm going to miss him for sure," I said.
"Aww, I can't wait for you both to make it official. I’ll be happier than Lewis ever could be," Amanda said. I smiled sadly, thinking if she knew the truth, she and Lewis would hate me more than anyone.
Dante was taking my friends away, just as he took my happiness. He couldn’t stand to see me happy; I felt it in every part of this situation.
"I need to go home. I'm not feeling well," I said before she could ask anything further, and I walked away.
Everything was giving me a headache. Nothing was good.
Since yesterday, everything had been a mess: first Dante, then Amy, then the Principal, now this. I didn’t know how much more I could take.
My heart couldn’t bear it any longer. My strength was running out, and my life was spinning out of control.
Finally, I reached home and immediately started climbing the stairs to my room, eager to rest. With Dante gone, I felt a slight relief.
"Why are you so late, Vinorca?"
I stopped in my tracks and looked toward the head maid, who stood beside the dining table with her usual stern expression.
"Late?"
"Yes, late," she replied. I was so lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realised how loudly I’d spoken. Her response snapped me back to reality.
But I knew I wasn’t late. I had left the university without attending any classes. My stomach was somersaulting in pain.
"I am not. I am way early today," I answered, not in the mood to hold a conversation. My body wasn’t cooperating.
"Leave it! Have something," she offered, pointing toward the food on the table.
"I already had food. I just need some rest," I declined politely. She was behaving so weirdly today, likely due to Dante’s orders. Normally, she wouldn’t care whether I ate or not.
"Tomorrow is your birthday, and Alpha Dante is coming tonight. Better not make him angry. He cancelled his trip for you," she announced bluntly.
"What?" I asked, shocked. Didn’t she tell me he was gone for half a month? How could he suddenly come back tonight?
"Why so shocked? You should be happy that Alpha Dante cares about you so much that he cancelled his trip. But as usual, you aren’t glad about anything. He ordered us to feed you today because tomorrow is your 18th birthday. It seems like you never appreciate things," she scolded me, reading my thoughts, and I clenched my sweaty fists.
He only ordered this because tomorrow is my birthday. He knows how much I hate celebrating it. Ten years ago, I lost my parents on my birthday. Still, he wants to celebrate. Didn’t he lose his parents too on the same day? He never celebrated my birthday before, and now suddenly he wants to make me feel special?
"I need rest!" I said, cutting her off. Before she could reply, I climbed the stairs as fast as I could and entered my room, slamming the door behind me. I threw my bag on the bed and sank to the floor.
Why me? Can’t he leave me alone for a day? I was so happy for three years when he wasn’t here. I made two beautiful friends who cared for me. My life was running fine, no matter how little money I had. Suddenly, he came back and crashed it all, as if the life I built for myself never existed.
In just a few days, he completely ruined it. Now, who knows what he’s planning? I’m sure his motive isn't just to celebrate my birthday. He’s going to create a fuss about everything. I already don’t want to face tomorrow. I just can’t.
Tears started streaming down my face. I wasn’t weak, but I couldn’t control these tears. They always betrayed me, rolling down without permission.
‘You really want to face him tomorrow? Have you forgotten what he did three years ago?’ a voice inside my head questioned.
I knew I didn’t want to face him. Not today, not tomorrow, not any day. Can’t I just skip it? Meeting him never brings a good vibe.
"Ahhhh!" I screamed in frustration.
Three years ago, that night was still fresh in my mind. Now, he wants to celebrate with me again. It’s not safe.
Thinking about that day made my whole body shiver.
That day made me hate my own birthday more.
- Writer
