Alpha Prince's Legendary Mate

8. You deserve that

Zuri's Point of View

Spending the whole night awake, I studied all the changes Ayaan added to the presentation. I also practised my part of the presentation as many times as I could. I think I have never worried about an assignment this much. Nor that I have worked this hard for any exam or assignment before. I just want to perform perfectly so that Ayaan would get the marks he deserves.

The next day at the university, Ayaan continued his usual cold behaviour. When everyone else was together with their partners and practising, he stayed looking at his phone and completely ignoring me. He seemed so calm and relaxed. I wish he at least talked with me to reduce this nervousness that was killing me. But he didn't even bother to look at me.

Around 10, we all were gathered in the lecture hall for the presentations. When the other students were presenting their work, I actually had no mood to concentrate on them. I was scared that I would do something wrong… But as usual, Ayaan was looking at those students presentations with his typical relaxed look…

I even went to the washroom multiple times as I wanted to wash my face and reduce this nervousness at least a bit…

When there were just 3 pairs before us to do their presentations, I thought of going to the washroom one last time. I used the toilet and then rewashed my face…

"You can do this, Zuri..." I said with fake confidence to the girl who was staring at me in the mirror. That girl looked terrible with red eyes due to lack of sleep. She looked pale than ever… I sighed, thinking this is how I will do the presentation in front of the whole batch…

We had to wear formal. So I was wearing a knee-length dark blue skirt and a white long sleeve blouse. I think wearing white just aggravated the lifeless look on my face. Most of all, the other girls looked fabulous with their formal clothes when I look so pathetic like this.

I went out of the washroom, but I couldn't take even a few steps further when someone grabbed my hand and pulled me to the dark corridor next to the bathroom.

I tried my best to scream, but that person had his hand covering my mouth, avoiding that.

Still keeping his palm on my mouth, that person turned me to face him…

Ayaan!!!

Yeah, it was the mighty prince Ayaan, looking handsome than ever in a white long sleeve shirt tucked into dark blue trouser. He had a dark blue tie on. Earlier he was just wearing a jean to a T-shirt. I think he just changed into these clothes…

I was amazed by how matching our outfits were. Like we selected these after discussion with each other.

When he understood I was calmed down, he removed his palm from my mouth. But one of his hands was still wrapped around my waist, supporting me…

"How many times do you have to hit the washroom? Do you have a stomachache?" he asked angrily.

"What? No!!!" I got startled by this unexpected question.

I didn't even think he noticed me going to the washroom all the time. He was in the front row as usual, and I used the back door to go out of the lecture hall.

"Then why the fu** you always run here?" he asked.

"I…. I am..." I was looking for words to complete the sentence.

"You are what?" he was even angrier.

He was staring at my eyes… Though he sounded angrier, that was not what reflected on his eyes. His eyes were full of concern…

When I see he was actually concern about me, it gave me confidence.

I gathered courage and spoke up…

"I am nervous, Ayaan..." I said.

"Nervous? For what?" he asked. Are you that dumb?

"Because of the presentation, what else?" I said.

"There is nothing to be nervous about!" he stated, gently putting his free hand on my shoulder.

Of course, for you, there is nothing to worry about. You can just go and talk about whatever the s**t you want; you would still get good marks; that's how much bright you are. But it is not the story for many of us.

I wish I could tell these to his face…

"We got ready for the presentation well. We have covered everything. So don't worry… This is just an assignment." he said softly.

"I am not worried about the assignment, Ayaan. I don't even care what the final score I will get. But I am worried that your marks will be reduced because of me..." while treats filling in my eyes, I said.

He stared at my eyes for a few seconds, and then he started talking.

"Listen, Zuri..." he said, peeping into my eyes even more. His voice was so gentle…

"You don't have to worry about that at all. I am confident that you will nail it. Even if you make a mistake, don't overthink about it." Ayaan said. The way he said that made me believe that he genuinely meant every word he said. But he didn't have this thinking when he came to my house. He actually threatened me to perform with my best.

I inhaled deeply…

"Now, wipe these tears..." he said, gently wiping tears from my cheeks…

"Let's go and show them what we've got," he said with a smile on his face.

****************************

After talking to him, I felt a lot better. His words and his simple touches could make me feel confident and relaxed…

When it was our time to present, we nailed it just like he said.

I could deliver my part of the presentation very well, and I clearly observed how even Ayaan looked at me with surprise. I think I have never spoken that confidently in my whole life. I didn't even know I have this ability to talk like that.

However, in the end, the professor especially praised Ayaan and me. He said that our presentation was the best, which brought tears to my eyes…

I quickly looked at Ayaan to know how he feels hearing this. He was looking right at the professor, and there was that rare smile on his lips.

I thought he would look at me at least once before we leave the lecture hall, though he won't indeed talk with me. But he didn't…

But most of the other students came to me, and they all praised me a lot.

I was walking with Gina towards the cafeteria, thinking about him when someone tripped me. I totally lost my balance and fell down. Thanks to God, nothing serious happens except for getting my knees scratched…

It was Chelsey who tripped me… She was laughing like crazy with her friends. They even video the whole thing.

I didn't care what they did, but my heart was aching to see Ayaan among them. Yes, he didn't laugh at me or contribute to hurting me. Still, he was silent, and he allowed them to harass me like this.

Gina offered her hand to me to get up.

"You are such a pathetic useless bit**! Don't think you can be a star with just one stupid speech!" she screamed at me.

So this is all about doing the presentation perfectly. Of course, she is jealous… She actually created a mess when she was presenting. The professor even scolded her.

Without caring about what she said, I wiped my knees with a tissue Gina gave me. My eyes were filled with tears… I couldn't bear the fact he is giving me the cold shoulder after talking with me like that just a little while ago.

"Chelsey..." right then, I heard Ayaan's deep voice from my behind…

I turned around involuntarily…

He gave me a burning glare and looked away…

"Let's go. I am hungry!" he said, looking at Chelsey.

Chelsey frowned at me once again before they left Gina and me…

"Why the fu** you cry now? This is nothing unusual." Giana snarled. She can't bear me getting bullied like this. She wants to stop all these, but she has no better idea than to go to a lecturer and complain. I knew complaining to the lecturers is useless… He is the brightest student in the batch. Captain of the rugby team. Also, he is the crown prince of our state. lectures will never go against him…

I wiped out tears from my fingers and hold her hand.

"Let's eat..." I said, changing the topic.

**********************

We went to the cafeteria and started eating. Within like 5 minutes, Ayaan and his friends took a seat at the table next to us.

Since then, they were shouting, laughing and insulting other people.

"Potatoe!!!" suddenly Levy shouted at me, making me almost choke on my food.

"We didn't know you were such a speaker." he again shouted.

"Can't you give us a speech again?" then someone screamed…

I tried to just ignore them. But they didn't let me do that.

Sid came to me and pulled my hand forcefully. Which made the milkshake I was having in my hand fell all over my blouse…

"s**t!!!" I screamed as I stand up…

I got really furious because he just ruined the best formal blouse I had.

"What's wrong with you!!!" I screamed, knowing I am inviting troubles by talking to him like this,

"How dare you scream at me, b***h!!" Sid screamed angrily.

"She thinks now she is better than us just because she did one presentation well." Levy's angry voice raised,

"You're responsible for this, Ayaan. You are the one who made her do the presentation that well!" Chelsey complained.

My eyes involuntarily travelled to Ayaan, who was eating a burger without giving a s**t about what was happening.

"I just used her to get what I want. Don't blame me now." I couldn't even believe those words really escaped from Ayaan…

My heart crushed by the cruelty of those words and also by the ignorant look on his face.

So all those times, you took me closer to you and spoke to me gently like you really concern about me… Are tall those times just fake? How could you do this to me, Ayaan? How could you?

You made me think like you actually have a soft side, and you genuinely care… But you're just using me all this time. I believed you like a fool…

Tears were streaming down my eyes, yet I was staring at Ayaan… He was still looking away, enjoying his fu**ing burger!!!

I snatched my backpack, thinking of leaving because I knew I would break into cries if I stay here anytime more…

But Sid held my hand and stopped me…

"You didn't give us the speech!!" he said.

"I..." I was trying to say something when someone shouted my name…

"Zuri!!!" it's true that I haven't heard that deep voice many times in my life. Still, I didn't have to look around to see who it was…

"Adrian!!!" I screamed…

Yes, It was Adrian… He was coming towards us. I couldn't even believe he is actually here.

My eyes travelled to Ayaan without even thinking. He was straight at Adrian with his eyes wide opened…

Not just Ayaan, everyone nearby us was staring at Adrian…

Adrian has this intimidating handsome look with him that could make anyone fear him and, in the meantime, feel attracted to him.

Adrian didn't shift his eyes from me even for a second. He walked up to me and stood in front of me. Then he took my hand when my whole body shiver with an unexplainable feeling.

"Come with me!" it was not a request but a command.

Then without letting me follow him, he started literally dragging me behind him…

I quickly turned my head and looked at Ayaan… He was not eating anymore. His mouth was half-opened, and he was staring at us with so much rage and pain in his eyes…

Well… you deserve that, Ayaan...