The Mysterious Alpha

Chapter 9: Coming Home

❤ Isabella’s POV ❤

WHEN we were done at the restroom, we went our separate ways. Paula and Cynthia walked to their classroom while I walked toward mine. They took my number and we agreed to hang out one of these days.

I was looking at my bag while walking when I bumped into something hard. I knew immediately who it was based on the scent.

I looked up and confirmed that it was Nikolas. I cleared my throat before saying "Uhm, I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at where I was going."

Nikolas: "No worries. Are you okay?"

Isabella: "Uhm. Yeah."

Nikolas: "How's your first day of school?"

Isabella: "It's okay."

Nikolas: "I saw you coming in earlier on your bike. It doesn't look very safe. Why don't I give you a ride--"

Arwind: "Isabella!"

I turned around and saw Arwind walking briskly toward me. He looked really worried. When I turned back to face Nikolas, he was already walking away. I was about to call him back when Arwind said "Are you okay?"

Isabella: "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be okay?"

Arwind: "That was Nikolas. What did he say to you?"

Isabella: "Nothing much. He was just asking how my first day of school was."

Arwind: "That's it?"

Isabella: "Yeah. I don't know what you're worried about. It's not the first time I have talked to Nikolas."

Arwind: "It's not?"

Isabella: "I ran into him when I was around town. He introduced himself to my sister and me."

Arwind: "Listen, Isabella. I'm serious. Stay away from him."

Isabella: "What's the big deal, Arwind? You can't tell me what to do, and you certainly can't tell me who I can't talk to."

I walked away from Arwind and headed to the classroom. I'm so annoyed at Arwind and I'm glad that I'm not sitting with him.

I think Nikolas was about to offer to give me a ride home before Arwind interrupted. I don't know if I would have said yes, but I didn't even get the chance to decide.

I hate being told what to do, especially since I don't understand why Arwind and his friends want me to stay away from the 'brownies' including Nikolas. Being snobbish and rich doesn't make them bad people. Maybe Arwind and his friends are really just looking out for me, but I wanted to judge people for myself.

Classes resumed not long after and I didn't even look at Arwind. I'm still annoyed at him. I was anticipating the end of our last period and was looking forward to being let out of class.

I was excited not because I looked forward to going home, but because I plan to talk to Nikolas and ask him about the ride home he offered earlier. I'm not necessarily going to say yes but I was thinking maybe tomorrow he could. I can ask mom to drive me to school and Nikolas could drive me home.

As I walked out of the classroom, Arwind tried to catch up with me and said "Isabella. Wait!"

I glanced at him and said "Let's talk tomorrow, Arwind. I'm tired and I just want to go home."

I then walked out as fast as I could. I was really hoping to find Nikolas by his car alone so it won't be too awkward when I asked to speak to him alone.

I found Nikolas in the parking lot, but he already had a few of his friends with him, including Stephanie. I summoned all my courage and walked up to the group. Once I got near them, they all turned to look at me and I froze. I was telling myself to say something, but it seems that the cat got my tongue.

Stephanie crossed her arms in front of her and looked me up and down before asking, "What do you want?"

I glanced at Nikolas who looked amused. All I could do is turn around and run away. I could still hear the laughter when I got to my bike. I unlocked it and put my helmet on, then rode away immediately.

I stop after pedaling for about five minutes in order to breathe. I was pedaling as fast as I could to get as far away from school as I could. I can't believe I became the laughing stock on my first day of school. I felt so embarrassed.

I got home 10 minutes later, and my heart stopped when I saw Nikolas' SUV parked in front of our house. What's more, he's leaning on it and seems to be waiting for somebody. When he saw me approaching, he sat up and smiled.

I stopped in front of him and said "What are you doing here?"

Nikolas: "Well, I kind of had the hunch that you wanted to talk to me earlier."

Isabella: "What made you say that?"

Nikolas: "Well, you were coming to see me at the lot earlier, weren't you?"

I wanted to deny it, but for some reason, I couldn't lie.

Nikolas: "By the way, I apologize for what my friend did earlier. They're not used to dealing with strangers."

Isabella: "I have to go pick up my sister from the neighbor's house. You should go."

I got off my bike and was about to leave when Nikolas said "Wait."

I turned my head and said "W-what?"

Nikolas walked closer, and I could feel my heart beating faster. He stopped a few inches away from me and asked "What were you going to talk to me about earlier?"

Isabella: "N-nothing. Don't worry about it."

Nikolas: "Come on, Isabella. I'm here now. We're all alone. Just tell me."

I gulped in some air and bit my lip before I was able to talk. Nikolas really makes me so nervous, even more so that he's standing so close to me.

Isabella: "Uhm, you were saying something to me before Arwind interrupted."

Nikolas: "Oh, that. Well, what's the deal with that guy? Why is he following you around?"

Isabella: "We're in the same class. We're friends."

Nikolas: "Is that all? You're just friends?"

Isabella: "Yeah. Why?"

Nikolas: "I don't like the way he's looking at you."

Isabella: "What do you mean? How is he looking at me?"

Nikolas: "It doesn't look friendly?"

Isabella: "Does he look at me as if he hates me?"

Nikolas: "No. It's quite the opposite."

We kept looking at each other, and I was mesmerized by his eyes once more. For some reason, whenever I look at Nikolas, I feel drawn, as if he's pulling me towards him. I can't explain it, but it's as if I can't stop looking at him.

Isabella: "Are you jealous of Arwind?"

Nikolas squinted his eyes but didn't say anything. I just realized how stupid I must have sounded. I moved back and said "I'm sorry. Please disregard that. I really need to go."

I walked closer to the door. I was waiting for Nikolas to stop me but I didn't hear anything, so I just kept walking. When I turned around again, I almost jumped when I found him standing behind me.

Nikolas: "I didn't mean to startle you, I was just going to ask if I could borrow your phone?"

I looked at him and tried to read his face if he was serious. He wasn't smiling, so I reached into my bag and got my cellphone, unlocked it, and handed it to Nikolas.

He started typing and when he was done, he handed me back my phone and said "I'll see you tomorrow," before turning around and heading to his vehicle. I kept looking at him until he has driven away and was out of my sight. I couldn't really see the inside of his vehicle because it was heavily tinted.

When I looked at my phone, I couldn't help but smile as I saw that he actually saved his number on my phone. He put a heart emoji after his name, which made me blush. I wonder what that means. Could my sister be right when she said that Nikolas actually likes me?

I suddenly remembered my sister and immediately chained the bike on the porch, before heading toward our neighbor's house.

Mrs. Alejo has agreed to look after Angelica when she gets off from school. My sister gets off school at noon, and her school service would drop her off at Mrs. Alejo's house where I would pick her up when I get home. Our neighbor is a widow who lives alone in her house, and she was kind enough to let my sister stay with her while waiting for me to get home.

I thanked our neighbor as I picked Angelica up. As soon as we got home, I asked Angelica how her first day of school was, and she talked about the friends she's made. Afterward, she talked about her brown-eyed classmates and how none of them talked to her.

If only I could tell my sister what happened on my first day, I would have said "Same, sis. Same."