Chapter Twenty Three

<Nina >

Last night’s talk made me so motivated that I barely even slept a wink till morning. I couldn’t even call Gene when I finally charged my phone. A text message was sent to me hours ago stating that he was feeling sleepy after we had that “call”.

I feel really sleep-deprived, the red lines on both eyes clearly provide its proof. And well, luckily with my eye pad, it can hide the other one. Well, unfortunately after the excessive rubbing back at the Japanese restaurant, the bruised eye seems to get worse thanks to that.

I have another uniform ready for today’s class, after all, Rodrigo had a set of six uniforms when I arrived. I guess he really has a habit of having things ready. Even before proposing to my mom, even with the school enrollment.

Speaking of which, I haven’t talked about Sebastian Jacques to Yu last night. Yesterday’s incident overwhelmed me and I keep forgetting things. I’ll make a mental note to ask him this in person.

And when I open the door from the bedroom, I usually expect to see Luca in the kitchen either drinking his coffee or using his laptop but instead, I see him fixing his tie.

This is something I haven’t expected to see at 6AM. Instead of wearing his usual pajamas and messy bed hair in the morning, he is now wearing a clean navy blue Burberry suit with a red tie. His blonde hair, usually untidy, is no longer unkempt as his locks are neatly brushed in the right places.

I briefly recall seeing him in a suit last night. But due to unforeseen circumstances, I never had the chance to see what he was wearing properly.

But right now, before me is the real deal.

A thought finally hit me that all this time, I’m living with the billionaire for days. And we have 263 days to go.

263 dreadful days if we can’t find ways to repel our awkward moments alone.

“A-are you going somewhere?” Great, I have to stutter each time I talk to him.

“Yeah,” he replies, flatly.

To your work, right? But instead of saying that, “To Heather’s, right?” Then at that moment, my eyes widen and this time I clasp my mouth.

My mouth...has a mind of its own. Or maybe at the back of my mind, the reason why I haven’t seen Heather again was that he goes to her place instead.

“S-sorry, f-forget what I’ve said!” Of course, he has to go to work. It’s still Tuesday, after all.

But when those words slip out from my mouth, Luca just stiffens as he turns to glare at me. It’s not like I am finally used to his glares but no, what surprised me is the dark red blush paint on his cheeks.

It’s like the time when I saw him blushing in Yu’s picture.

“New rule: Don’t talk about my love life while you’re still here.”

“You mean sex life?”

This makes Luca gawk at my daring question. And I can see that his cheeks flare up—whether it’s from embarrassment or anger, who knows? Luca is an enigma to me.

But he doesn’t deny going to Heather’s house.

“You—” he gives an upheave sigh. “You know what? Let’s pretend this conversation never happened. Breakfast is on the table, don’t forget it.”

And with that, he leaves with a slam of the entrance door. I sigh, as I slump down on my seat. What the heck happened to him that made him on the edge of his seat? Didn’t he promise that we eat breakfast together every day?

As I continue to ponder, a part of me wishes that we should get along. Even once.

But it doesn’t matter, really, I should get used to it. I have to go to school.

Like usual.

But it brings a sour mood to me in the morning, the way Luca acted earlier.

…………………….

School seems the same as before. Maybe because I got bored staying in Luca’s place and I decided to go earlier, only to find that the gates won’t open until 7AM. I tried contacting Gene but he said his voice is hurting a lot and needs some rest. So, we’re just texting instead.

Yu also sent me a message stating that he should be picking me up from school starting today to which I hastily texted in response that he didn’t need to sacrifice his time, fully aware that Luca gives him more work.

Now I am currently sitting at one of the benches closest to the entrance, the temperature is a bit chilly and I wish that I could wear my jeans again. At least I don’t walk around in this cold season with my bare legs.

At least they should just add wool stockings especially now the weather is getting worse each day.

‘By the way, I was wondering…was there something wrong in your new school yesterday?’

I stare at the phone for a minute before I reread Gene’s message again. Then another message pops in.

‘It’s just a gut feeling of mine.’

Ugh, I hate it when Gene’s intuition is right. I smile, sheepishly. I text him that I am fine and add another text as an afterthought.

‘Bullies in Dawn Academy are nothing compared to the bullies there. I think it has something to do with the fact that I don’t belong here, that’s all.’

Yeah, sending this is much better. But then I realize a little too late that the message might get him worried. So I immediately added another text.

‘Don’t worry about me. They are nothing like Duke.’

Then sent.

“I didn’t expect you to come back, Nina.”

Honestly, I didn’t expect him to come this early. A part of me expected myself to run into him since we’re in the same class but not outside the school gates.

And also, where no one is around.

So I sigh and turn to face my newest bully on my list. “Good morning to you, too, Clarence.”

The first thing to do when dealing with bullies like him is to show your polite side.

“Oh? You don’t look scared anymore.” He looks genuinely surprised as he heads his way to sit next to me.

I scoot a bit farther from him but he just scoots closer. “Clarence, don’t you hate me or something?”

“My, hate is such a strong word,” he says while grinning.

“Well, your actions told me otherwise.”

“Well, no denying there.” he shrugs.

I look to see any chance of walking away from him. I immediately stood up with all intentions of getting away but to my dismay, his hand grabs my wrist.

I sigh again. “I won’t get in your way, promise. You already gave me a warning.”

“I’m just wondering why you didn’t call the police afterward, let alone telling your stepfather what happened.”

Because it will only make it worse for me and if Yu and Luca find out (Especially Yu), they will march into my school. If that happens, they will find out that I’m living with Luca de Milano and thus, giving my mom and Rodrigo a hard time.

“Because I think you’re just t-testing me.” I don’t know if I answered correctly. It may sound confident but deep down I’m trying my best not to wet myself out of fear.

Otherwise, bullies find fascination towards preying on the weak even more.

“Testing you?” he starts roaring in laughter, ignoring the fact that students might come in anytime. Speaking of which, when is the gate going to open?

“You are funny, Nina, I’ve never thought of that at all!”

“Then, you just literally wanted me to quit school?”

“Bingo~,” He says as he gives me a thumbs up.

“But w-why?”

“Simple, I just hate people like you.”

I am totally flabbergasted. “So you’re saying that you drove those scholar students away just because you hate us?”

“Bingo, again!” he exclaims as he pats my back. “You’re not as dumb as I thought, Nina.”

“Why would you do that?” My voice probably croaks as I ask.

“Again, I’ve said it earlier. Also, for another reason,” he says, his smile curves into a frown. And at that moment, I know that he’s no longer showing mischief anymore.

Right now, he’s showing the same expression he was wearing right before he ripped off my uniform.

“You look exactly like her, Nina. That’s what pisses me off.”

Sigh, my stepbrother who doesn't talk to me, my best friend who is keeping secrets from me, my mother is still in Spain and now the class bully hates me because I look like someone he despises.

Story of my life, I mentally chuckle.

Maybe, I should have skipped school.