Chapter 1
2779 Words
My head is aching. The whole world is spinning like I’m having the worst hangover of my life.
Whoever told me that it’s okay to party in a weekday is definitely joking and I was stupid to even agree to it. Because now, it’s a school day and I have to go through a terrible hangover in the campus. Damn it!
“Where have you been last night?” Ivana asked me. “I went home after the blowing of candles. I looked for you everywhere but you were nowhere in sight.”
I sighed and washed my hands over my face. I most definitely look hammered. I wanted to put on some make up but I was getting late and my brother was being annoyingly early to class. I wonder if he’s trying to impress someone that’s why he’s being so dutiful at school.
He even gave me a long ass litany inside the car as if Dad’s sermon wasn’t enough.
“I was with Lance,” I replied.
Ivana raised her brow. “Lance? Isn’t he an alumnus from the uni? Lance Potters?” she asked.
I shrugged. I don’t really know about him but he was so adamant in talking to me and sharing drinks with me.
I heard Ivana sigh hard. “Don’t tell me you did it…” she trailed and I had to look at her. I know what she means even when she doesn’t finish her sentence.
I glared at her and she shrugged innocently. “I’m just concerned, Trace. You’re with a guy and I know what those guys want from a girl,” she explained. “And I’m sure you know that they don’t just want your lips…” she looked at my body. “…they want to be inside your pants.”
I playfully threw her a bar of Snickers I got from the house. “You’re not helping!”
“I’m not trying to help, b***h!” she retorted in a laugh. “You look damn hangover. Go and put on some color on your face at least.” She pushed her make-up bag to me. “Can you even walk?”
I sighed. “I’m dizzy,” I confessed because that’s the truth. “I want an anti-hangover medicine.”
Ivana rolled her eyes and assisted me to the ladies’ room to fix my face. “What time did you go home? You weren’t even answering your phone,” she said as she put on a little blush on my cheeks.
She’s the expert when it comes to make ups so I let her do my face. After all, I trust her when it comes to making me look good.
“We were in a room,” I lazily drawled. “But we didn’t have sex.”
She stopped and looked at me with teasing smile. “Did you just make out then?”
I rolled my eyes. “We just kissed,” I told her.
She chuckled but I know there’s more meaning to that. “Kissed, huh?”
I pursed my lips in a thin line. I had to do it. I had to kiss someone else so I could forget that night.
How I wish I could forget that night. How I wish I could erase it from my memory.
It has been bothering me for days and I can’t think of anything to relieve me from thinking about it over and over again other than letting another man to touch me.
That was Lance’s purpose.
But I failed.
In the end, I only found myself longing for that kind of touch. But I don’t know where I could feel that again. I sure want to think of it as an unfortunate one-night-stand but who am I kidding? I’ve had several flings but I never really gone that far with any of them.
And his lips. Damn that man’s sinful and sexy lips. I always see them when I close my eyes.
I’m so stupid! I need to get over this right now or I can’t go on with my daily routines.
I sighed. “Shut up,” I told Ivana and she just laughed before finishing the make up on my face.
***
“Look! Cyrus is staring at you!” Ivana giggled as she nudged my side.
I rolled my eyes and looked at Cyrus Andrew Donovan. He’s a heavenly creature. He looks so good even when he’s sweaty from football practice.
He pursed his lips in a thin line and looked away.
I sighed. I have been sending him signals that I like him but he doesn’t even respond to me. He always ignores me like I’m some stupid girl with some freaking communicable disease.
Alright, maybe he doesn’t like me. No, I’m sure of that. He doesn’t like me. He likes girls who are upright and goody-goody. Like him. There’s no way he’d like a reckless party girl like me.
I took a deep breath and just continued to eat my lunch.
“I heard he likes Samantha,” Ivana said.
I looked at her with narrowed eyes. “Who told you that?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “I just heard. And besides, it’s a given. Samantha is the top in class, the teacher’s pet and she’s…” she smiled sheepishly. “…demure.”
I rolled my eyes and showed her my sour face. She laughed at my reaction.
Samantha Niel is the first honor in class, a major candidate for the Latin honors. She’s simple. If anyone will ask me, I’d say she’s just a plain Jane. But it wouldn’t surprise me to know that Cyrus Donovan likes her.
Fine. She’s demure and I’m not. It is the twenty-first century! Everyone is given a fair share of freedom! I don’t see why Cyrus Donovan thinks otherwise!
Ivana shook her head. “Maybe you should stop partying and start studying?” she suggested.
I looked at her and glared.
“What?” she asked, unaffected. “That’s what you need to do if you want a Cyrus Andrew Donovan to be into you…”
I gulped and looked at Cyrus once again. This time, he’s smiling while talking to a nerdy girl. I almost scoffed when I saw Samantha demurely smiling in front of him.
“You’re losing, Tracy…” Ivana taunted me.
I took a deep breath and glared at Samantha. She couldn’t win over me. If I need to change for Cyrus to notice me, I’ll do it.
***
After class, I went to the library. I don’t usually do this. No, I don’t. But since Ivana told me that Samantha is always in the library with Cyrus after classes, I had to. After all, I need to be someone that Cyrus likes. If he likes demure and studious, I will be demure and studious!
I sat on the secluded table in the corner most portion of the library. This is the only spot where I can see everyone. This is the most strategic place, indeed.
I opened the random book I got from the shelf and started eyeing the entrance.
Bingo!
I saw Samantha coming inside with her books on her chest. Cyrus came in after her holding his own books.
He’s not holding her books and I had to take note of that. Maybe, he really doesn’t like her. Most gentlemen would volunteer to carry the girl’s bags or books. But he doesn’t. I wonder why.
I ducked and used the book I am holding to hide from them. Damn! They are going to sit on the table in front of me! I can already see danger in that! What if they discover that I am spying on them?
“You want it here or shall we pick another place?” Samantha’s soft voice asked.
“Wherever you want, Sam.” I heard Cyrus say.
Sam? He calls her Sam? Funny! Sam the name of Genius’ dog that got crushed under a pick up! The poor dog ran away when the gates were open and met an accident almost instantly. I could still remember how my twin brother cried so hard for him.
I secretly snickered as I continued to listen to whatever they are talking about.
“So, where do you want to start?” Samantha asked.
Cyrus looked at his notes first before smiling at her. He pointed at something on his notebook. “Here. I don’t think I understand this,” he told her.
“Oh, the supply and demand!” Samantha silently beamed.
I rolled my eyes. If it’s the simple law of Supply and Demand, I can help him with that. Dad has been talking about that since Genius and I were little. I know it even when I am drunk. I know it even when I am asleep!
Is that what Cyrus is really asking her? Is he stupid or something? Or…is he only using the dumb card to get closer to her? Hmmm…that hurt a little.
Samantha started teaching him the basic details. She sounded so calm and confident as she explained the freaking law. I wonder why Cyrus doesn’t know this. This is simple!
I kept rolling my eyes. Nothing was going to happen in this library if I’m here, hiding behind this book. I have to make sure Cyrus sees me! But then I have to make sure that he doesn’t think I am stalking him or his girl. Hell, I hate saying she’s his girl.
So, I stood up and started walking towards the bookshelves. I put back the book I am holding and started pretending to be looking for another set of books.
I randomly took books from the shelves before walking back to my original place. Cyrus and Samantha are still studying as I sat there.
I can hear Cyrus asking some simple questions and Samantha answers him enthusiastically. Huh! She likes him. She’s probably squealing at home whenever she thinks of Cyrus liking her.
My phone vibrated. I took it out from my pocket and read the message.
Genius:
Where are you? I want to go home.
I rolled my eyes. I shouldn’t have agreed to leave my car in the car shop. Now, I need to go home with Genius because Dad doesn’t want me to take the cab as he believes some of the drivers are dangerous. If I know, he only wants me to ride with Genius so he’s certain I will go straight home. All my plans are ruined!
Me:
Library.
I pressed send and he replied as fast as lightning.
Genius:
Let’s go home now. Just study at home!
I glared at my phone. “Ah, damn…” I muttered under my breath as I stood up and placed the books back to the shelves.
If I could kill Genius right now, I would. He’s the extreme destroyer of my plans. Cyrus hadn’t even noticed me and now, I have to get out of here! Damn!
I was sighing hard when I was putting the books back. Just you wait, Genius! I’m going to kill you when I see you later.
“Are you finished with those?”
I froze on my spot as I slowly looked at who talked behind me. I believe my eyes widened when I saw Cyrus towering over me while looking deep into me.
“Uhm…” f**k! I couldn’t think straight!
He raised his brow. “Are you done with those, Tracy?” he asked me again.
Shit! He knows my name!
I nodded shyly. “Yes…” I replied.
He smiled curtly before taking the books from my hand. “Thank you. I am going to read one of them…” he uttered before walking back to his table with Samantha.
I almost couldn’t walk back to my things if only for Genius texting me again.
Genius:
Where are you? I want to go home! Faster!
I rolled my eyes at my phone after my brother’s impatience radiated from the screen. I placed it inside my pocket again and took my things from the table.
I heard Samantha giggle. “I don’t know you were fond of reading Greek Myth,” she said.
I narrowed my eyes and looked at Cyrus who’s smiling while holding the book I was reading moments ago.
“I don’t know. It seems fun,” he replied.
Samantha giggled once more.
I rolled my eyes but then I almost shivered when I saw Cyrus’ eyes on me. I looked away and immediately grabbed all of my things and exited the library.
“s**t! s**t! s**t, s**t, s**t!” I cursed under my breath as I walked towards the parking lot. I immediately saw Genius’ Audi and he’s standing right beside it.
He saw me and stood straight. “You went to the library? Seriously?” he asked like it’s the most impossible thing in the world.
“What?” I asked, still annoyed at Samantha’s giggles.
He laughed. “So, what? I just didn’t know you would want to spend time with the people in the library!” He teased. He’s still insinuating that I’m not into studies so well that it’s almost impossible for me to go to the library.
I rolled my eyes at him and walked to the passenger side of the car. He also entered on the driver’s seat.
“Ivana told me you’re trying to impress Cyrus Donovan,” he started as he revved the engine to life. “I don’t think you’ll ever impress him because he’s into girls who are demure and…” he trailed. “…submissive.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What do you mean submissive?” I asked.
He shrugged. “You know, those girls who will do everything for him. That’s what he wants. And he doesn’t like the bitchy types.”
“Are you saying that I am bitchy?” I asked.
He laughed. “I am not. But I’m sure as hell that you’re not submissive,” he replied as he turned to the curb.
I sighed. I am not submissive? Is that why he likes Samantha? Because he can get whatever he wants from her? Because she allows him to do anything he wants with her?
That’s definitely not my personality. I’m definitely not a submissive one because I always wanted the upper hand in every relationship I have been in. Genius knows that because he’s always seen me with my ex flings and I’m always the one to call the shots. They do everything I say, not the other way around.
But this Cyrus Donovan we’re talking about. I’ve always liked him even when he doesn’t even see me, even when he doesn’t even look my way.
He’s the hottest man in the university and most definitely the campus heartthrob not only because of his skills in football but also because of his superior looks.
Being a little submissive won’t hurt me that much, right?
“I can do that,” I stated. Genius looked at me. I smirked. “I can submit to all of his demands.” And I will make sure he falls in love with me.
- Writer
