Once Upon a Lie

Chapter 3

Monica's POV

Why? Why am I so paranoid? He will not just tell others that, right?

"Why do you look so grumpy all day?" and took a scoop of her food.

"Yeah right, who wouldn't after get called out by Ms Myrna?" and rolled her eyes.

The one with the red glasses and long-cut hair is Alice, while the one with long brown curly hair is Britanny. They have both been my friends since junior high school. And now we are in our first year of senior high school in St. Ishiyama High.

"Ugh that's because of that damn Az!" she groaned and chomped her food.

"Az? You mean Aztech?" and her eyes suddenly widened at that remark. "That handsome volleyball player?!" and Alice shook me.

Oh s**t! I didn't mean to utter his name!

"N-No! I don't mean it!" she said and panicked, causing me to suddenly stand and I did not even notice his presence. There I got the soup and suddenly poured it onto his white uniform.

"Woah!" said those behind him. I was so shocked that I had no time to react but I suddenly grabbed my towel and wiped him.

"I'm sorry oh my gosh! Are you hurt?" I asked and continued asking him. I looked up only to see those handsome features and those wild eyes. He is so handsome! Shucks!

But my smile suddenly faded when I realized who he was.

"It's alright," he said and stopped my hand. The reason for my worries is here! Arghhh!

"If that's okay I'll go now, bye!" she said and grabbed her tray before running away.

"Monica wait!" Alice said and reached her hand. She and Brit stand and bow to him.

"We're sorry!" and ran to follow me.

We reached the park and garden of the school where there were tables and chairs. It is hot here right now, so there are not many students, but you can eat here.

"Just what you are thinking, Monica?!" Alice shrieked and put her tray on the table too.

"Yes! To think that you would be that rude to the members of Four Princes!" Brit said and stomped her feet on the ground.

"Four Prince?" I asked nonchalantly, trying to avoid the question because I know that I am so damn now. But what could I do in that situation but to just run away?

"Yes, the most popular and hottest guys in schools! And I know that there are gonna be five princes now because of Shawn, the transfer in our class! kyaaah!" she said and screamed silently.

"Oh, are they popular?" and Monica rolled her eyes.

"Yes, how could you not know?"

"Well, I don't know them either," Alice said, "But let's get back to the topic. You mentioned Aztech. Just what happened last night?"

I did not know if I should answer her or pretend that I didn't know anything.

"Well, it was Niks. Not Aztech. I am mistaken." and I faked a cough. "So, Nikky asked me yesterday to teach them... it was fun and I got tired. That's all."

"Hmmn, is that really all, huh?!" Brit poked her sides.

"Brit, you're so energetic today!" I told her and Alice smiled at us. This is the typical day for us in school.

Brittany is a child of lawyers, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. She is a very cheerful friend. Alice is a child of the politician, Assemblyman Zhang. They both have a powerful background. But they are down to earth and it is nice.

Our school is a prestigious academy in the City. Excel in Academics and Extra-curricular activities. Those who passed the test and interview screening that's like a hole in a needle are the ones eligible here. It was not easy. And I was lucky to have passed.

But compared to the big universities, our school is nothing. That is why I am aiming for a scholarship when I graduate high school and get good work that pays well.

Yes, to lift our lives from hardship. It was still hard to accept what happened at the tournament last time.

"Speaking of it, I have three tickets for the upcoming sports competition. Will you come?"

"Kyaaah, of course!" Alice screamed and grabbed her tickets. "How did you get this limited edition tix?" then Brit grinned and flicked her fingers.

"Whom else? My parents, of course!" she said and clapped her hands.

"Your parents really are awesome!" Alice was very happy. I sighed.

"I'm sorry I will not be able to go there because I have part-time work," I said plainly when Britanny grinned at me and put her hands on my back.

"I'll pay for your day's worth!"

"No!"

"I'll double it! Just come girl!"

And on the way home, she was called into the office and was asked to help a very silent man in the library. He was so cold and his chestnut-colored hair did not suit his cold personality.

"You have to put the book like this, in chronological order," he says with the cold expression on his face and looks like he hates my presence. But I am the new student assistant! He should at least be nice to me.

I could not focus the rest of the day and decided to wait for Aztech after his training. Volleyball players usually go home late. That's why I know that he is still there. I decided to look in the grounds and they were still playing.

"Well, I guess I will wait here and drag him out," and sat on the side of the tree. I feel very tired after a long day. Finally, some rest.

But when I woke up, utter silence and darkness welcomed me. There are no players on the court anymore.

"Aish, I lost him! Damn it!" and tried scratching my head.

Third person POV

"Are you waiting for me?" he arrogantly said and smirked at the tree. "I noticed you were here from the start of our training." He said and Monica rolled her eyes.

"You think so?" she asked and crossed her arms in front of her.

"Yes," and smirked, "All the girls are in awe when they see me. It was the first time that someone like you was this arrogant." he smirked again.

"Excuse me, but I need to go now," and checked her watch because it was late now. It's 9:05PM.

"Oh, how rude, I'm not done talking to you yet," he said and grabbed her arms, which she had pulled off successfully.

"Hmmn," he said, but he knows that part of her leaves a red mark now.

"What do you want, Katekyo?" she asked him, "You have been annoying me for two days in a row now, you know?"

"Haha! I'm glad you noticed me." he smiled and he pulled my wrist, causing me to go towards him. I was shocked by his sudden actions. Because of that, my mouth was left wide open.

"What are you doing?" I asked him and pushed him away.

"U- Uh I'm sorry..." he said and rested his head on the three. "I need your help."

"That's not the right way to ask for help, you know?" I rolled my eyes but then turned towards him. "What do you need?"

He sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"I need to bring someone to my parent's birthday party," he said, "And you are the only one that comes to my mind. Please help me!" I hit his arm and looked at him with those grimacing eyes.

"Are you insane, Katekyo?"

"No, but please help me."

"Why would I help someone like you?" I asked him, referring to what happened in the past few years.

""Hmmn, that's right," he said and touched his chin. Come to think of it, he is handsome. I look away.

"I'll pay you," he said and smiled like an i***t.

"No, no, no," I said and pushed him away, "You're basically asking me to pretend to be your girlfriend."

"That's right!" he said and pulled something from his backpack, "This is the deposit money."

"No, no, I will not take it," I said and pushed him softly.

"Just accept it and give me your answer tomorrow night. You can return it then," he said and waved at me.

"Wait! Katekyo!" And I was left there, dumbfounded.

"What the hell...?" I asked myself while looking at the money inside the envelope inside my room. With the amount, I can pay three month's worth of rent with money.

*Knock knock*

"Come in!"

"Hey, sister!" and my cute little brother showed up. His face looked worried about me. I immediately hid the envelope.

"Hey, Julius!" I said and snuggled my face into his face.

"Eww, sister, get off me!" he said and pushed me away.

"So cold! What if I'm gonna cry?" I asked him and he rolled his eyes.

"Well, something arrived. It was addressed to you?" he asked, and was not sure.

"Huh? There is no package that I am expecting right now," I said and stood up to go downstairs and check.

And what surprises me is the pile of teddy bears and flowers. There was a deliveryman standing waiting for his signature.

"Are you Ms. Monica Fernandez?" he asked while holding a pen and paper.

"Yes, that's me. But I believe I did not order anything like... this..." mentioning the surroundings.

"Well, it was ordered by Mr. Katekyo Dawnstellar."

"Katekyo?!"

"Yes, and he wanted to make sure you would receive this. Please sign here, Ms."

"No, no, I will not accept it! Call your boss!" I asked and put my hand on my waist.

"He is not answering Ms. We need to deliver a lot of packages, please receive them." he said and smiled.

And there was nothing I could do but to follow him and my mood was not good all day. Good thing it was the weekend today.

On days like this, I will go shopping for our house. The budget is tight but there is just the two of us, so it's good.

"Oh!" I bumped into someone and did not know who he was.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" and he helped put up my bag and splashed my things around in the grocery hall.

"It's alright!" I said and picked up. When I look at him, he looks familiar.

"Hi, I am Hayden Westhire, nice to meet you!" and he extended his hands towards me.

"O- Oh! I'm Monica Fernandez! Are you by any chance studying at St. Ishiyama High School?" I asked and was excited.

"Y- yes? But how do you know?"

"Because I'm studying there too! You are the current Vice President, right?" I giggled, his name was posted all over the school. His academic standing is so good that he has been competing with other schools in different subjects. Moreover, he got a scholarship offer from one of the prestigious universities. He is also ranked 1 in the whole academy!

He is an upperclassman and I don't see him because he is always excused. LOL

"What a small world!" he said and was very cheerful.

"Hayden!" someone called his name. It was a woman with short hair. She looks like the president of the student council.

"Oh! I need to go now. See you at school!"

"All right!" I waved at him and smiled. Seems the rumors about him are true.

**

When I came home, I looked at the man who is giving us the insurance money every month.

"You know that what you are giving me is not enough!" I said and bit my lips. "50 dollars is so low with all the bills I am paying for!"

"Mica, you should be grateful that you are still receiving money from me." he grinned and put the money on the table. "Otherwise, I would stop doing so and take it all."

I clenched my fist at his remarks. I cannot wait to be 18 years old, a legal age to properly get the money. He is taking more. I know that my parents will not just leave us that petty amount!

I could not do anything but glare at him. That day, I felt so wasted. That I ran my heart out along the riverside.

"Damn it!" I said and threw the stone. The moon shone above and the river flowed timelessly. I cried my heart out because of all the problems that kept coming to me.

"Why is this happening to me...?" because my life used to be a path of flowers with a bright future, now I don't even know how to. "Argh!" and threw another stone. My eyes are becoming blurry from crying so hard.

"Here," and a handkerchief was handed to me. I looked up to see his green eyes that looked greenish blue when the moonlight shone on them. That moment, I thought he was a dashing prince charming who came to save me from all these problems.

"Uwaaah!" I said and cried my heart out in his handkerchief.

Aztech Walton, why do you always see me in my most embarrassing situations?!