Amethyst's POV
I woke up when I felt someone touching my face. I frowned and opened my eyes. The person I didn't expect was right in front of me.
Ace Park...
What was he doing here? Why was he here? Where was Scarlett? Why was he holding my face?
He pulled his hand away from my face and sat up properly. I sat up on the bed, unable to look at him. The atmosphere around me was too wrapped in awkwardness.
"Good to see that you're awake now. It's 11:40 already, and it's lunchtime. I already bought lunch for you so you don't have to bother. And..." He paused briefly. I looked at him. He was looking at me.
"W-why?" I asked, trying hard not to show how nervous I was in his presence.
"Are you okay now?" he asked.
Why did he care about me? Why was he treating me this way? Was this how he bullied people? Was he like this to everyone he bullied? Because if he was, it was far from what I thought.
I thought, from our first encounter, that he hated me so much. He even hissed at me and kicked the table! At the restaurant, he humiliated me. And now, why was he like this?
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Why are you like this, Ace Park?" I asked seriously. He stared at me and frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you treating me like this? Aren't you furious at me? You even said that I should face my consequences. Then you act like this, that! That face. Why did you suddenly become kind? I don't get it."
"What are you talking about, Ami?"
"Please don't pretend as if you really cared about me. I just don't get you."
"I'm not pretending," he replied.
"Then what is this? I can't figure you out. You're too weird. We only met yesterday. You even k-kissed me and took my number without my permission?" I said in frustration. I exhaled and got out of bed.
"Where are you going?" he asked, surprised. He stood up and grabbed my arm. "Please don't get up."
"Let go of me. I'm getting traumatized by you. We're strangers, okay? Just forget all of this." I brushed his hand off, but he grabbed me back. "What the—"
"I said don't get up!" he shouted loudly, making me jump in surprise. I held my chest because it suddenly felt heavy. "Why are you so stubborn? Don't you get it?"
"Did you just... shout at me?" I said softly.
"Yes, because you're so stubborn. Miss Cecil reminded me that you're not allowed to leave yet. Can you please listen to me just this time?" he explained to me in frustration.
I became quiet and couldn't answer him. I sat back down on the bed and calmed myself. I didn't want to end up back in the hospital.
"Eat up." He handed me the mini table with food. "I'll tell Forsythia that you won't be able to attend the meeting today."
I looked at him as he took out his phone and dialed. He was calling Forsythia. He told her that I couldn't attend the meeting because of my damn stomach ache. But I was actually fine now. I could attend the meeting.
"Okay, thank you." He ended the call and faced me. I avoided his gaze and picked up the spoon.
Wasn't he going to eat?
I started eating even though he was just silently watching me. He was just sitting on the stool, observing me. Maybe he was already thinking of pranks to play on me.
What are you thinking now, Ace Park?
"Amethyst..." he called, but I ignored him. "Ami..." he called again, but I didn't turn to face him.
What was this stunt now?
"You said earlier that you weren't sick. But why were you so pale earlier? Are you lying to me?"
I turned to him and frowned. He stood up and sat on the bed facing me. I avoided his gaze. Why would he ask that?
"And why are you..." He reached for my hand that was holding the spoon. I felt electrified by his touch. "Asking me why I'm concerned about you? Don't you get what I am doing?" he said seriously. "Please look at me, Ami."
"Yes, I don't get you," I answered directly. I looked at him. The emotion in his eyes was different. I couldn't figure it out. "But why, Ace Park? What are you doing?" I asked.
"I need you."
"What?"
"I said, I need you."
"W-what are you talking about? Maybe you just need to eat more—"
"Amethyst, I'm serious. I need you."
"You need me—what? Why would you need me? What can I do for you?" I asked, confused, and pulled my hand away from his grasp. I sat up properly.
I was afraid of the words that might come out of his mouth. He sometimes spoke without a filter. He just kept going. And the things he said, you couldn't tell where they were coming from. Whether they were true or not. I wouldn't know if this was just one of his pranks.
"Nothing. It's just that, I need you. You just need to stick to me."
Stick to him? Why would I stick to him? I'd only be putting myself in danger.
"I don't need to stick to you. Besides, maybe your brain is just rattled, right? B-because what you're saying isn't convincing." I said and got off the bed and stood up. He immediately stood up too and grabbed my arm.
Here he went again. Why was he so fond of grabbing my arm?
I held his hand and slowly removed it from my arm. He let go, but then he held my hand instead.
"This isn't right, Ace," I said.
It was the first time I had just called him by his name. He looked at me with a confused expression. I bravely looked him in the eyes.
"Stop it, please? I can't get close to you and I can't tell you the reason right now. You're moving too fast. That's wrong."
Because it really was wrong. He was upper class, while I was only middle class.
I didn't know if he was aware that I was middle class or not. And even if he was, this was absolutely wrong. He knew what kind of society Winter Society was. A middle-class person didn't belong with the upper class, and it was forbidden to have a relationship between the two.
In short, it's forbidden. Not allowed, impossible. Besides, I didn't want to get involved in the world of the upper class. They were too high up. It's like being trapped inside a large cage. We couldn't be together. I couldn't be with him. Everything was happening too fast. He was too fast with everything he did. He wasn't thinking things through.
"Whatever you're thinking right now, stop it. Think carefully about what you're doing. Isn't everything happening too quickly? You only saw me yesterday. Our encounter was terrible. I even cursed you, remember? So this is wrong. This is very wrong, Ace Park." I pulled my hand away from his grasp. I stepped back.
"Forget everything that happened. Yesterday, earlier, and now. Everything, forget it, and I'll do the same. Don't think about the accident and your k-kiss. Just don't pay attention to me anymore. Please." I pleaded and turned my back to him. "That would be better for both of us."
"Are you refusing me? Are you rejecting me?"
I stopped walking. I bit my lower lip. I could sense the lifeless, blank tone in his voice.
Was I really refusing him right now? Or was I just scared? But why would I be scared? But why would I accept his offer either?
"Do you know that you're the first person to reject me? And that's annoying, you know that?" he said with a laugh, but the annoyance in his tone was noticeable.
The first person to reject him? Me? On what? His offer for me to stick to him? That he needed me? For what? He was so confusing!
I turned to face him with a confused expression. He was also looking at me, but compared to earlier, the emotion he was showing was different. Annoyance.
"You're annoying, very annoying," he said with a smirk and walked closer to me. "I thought you'd fall into my trap. I thought you were like the other girls who are crazy about me."
My eyebrows furrowed further at his behavior. A trap?
"But I guess I was wrong. Tsk tsk tsk," and then he shook his head. He stopped right in front of me. The distance between us was small. "Shayna talked to me yesterday and she favored that I should forgive you and just don't mind you. What a good friend she is, right?"
"W-we're not close," I answered, but he just laughed mockingly.
"That's what I find puzzling. You two are not close and she defended you against me?" And he pointed to himself. "Winter Monarch University knows who I am in this school and what I can do. Shayna knows that too, but why did she do that? You only just met yesterday, right? Are you too close already?" he said teasingly.
He was different. His demeanor was completely different. It was like the Ace Park I first met. Arrogant and a spoiled brat. His smirk at me was mocking.
I didn't answer him and was about to turn away when he grabbed my arm. I winced in pain. I held his hand to remove it from my arm because his grip was too tight.
"Stop it! It hurts!" I shouted and tried to pull his hand away, but he was firm.
"You're already hurting from just this. How about when the whole university is against you? Maybe you won't be able to handle what they'll do to you."
"What are you doing, huh?! Let go of me, or I'll scream!" I threatened him, but it had no effect.
"Go on, just scream. No one will hear you. Remember? The meeting."
I stopped and cursed in my mind. All the students were in a meeting right now. No one would definitely hear me.
But where was Miss Cecil?
"Finding Miss Cecil?" he said with a laugh. "You can't expect her to come. She was called away, and I'm the only one who took in charge of you." He said with a smirk and released me abruptly.
I wanted to cry, not because I was hurt by him grabbing my arm. I wanted to cry because why did I have to go through this? It was hell.
He wasn't just arrogant, a spoiled brat, and high on ego. He was also a demon disguised behind that face. Scarlett was right. That she couldn't go against the one and only Ace Park.
He took a box from his coat. It was pure black and looked expensive even without any design on it. He opened it, and cards appeared before me.
"Did Scarlett tell you about these cards?" he asked and took the card at the very front. He stared at it.
Scarlett didn't tell me about the cards. They hadn't mentioned anything about them. But I had a feeling I knew what they were for. They were for the person he was going to bully, and that was me.
"I guess they didn't mention it to you, or they really didn't mention it? But I don't care anyway," he said with a shrug.
"W-why? What are you going to do? Are you going to turn my life into hell?" I asked and stared at him. He stared back at me.
"Hmm, depends."
Depends?
"It's not like I'm the one who's going to bully you. Uh, wait. Is that even called bullying? I'm not sure though. I don't even know what's going to happen to you. You know. I don't let my hands lay on those dirty things. I'm Ace Park." He answered with a smile and showed me the card.
There was a golden diamond engraved in the center. What did that mean?
"You're lucky, this is the one I drew. Diamond for Peace." And he put it in the pocket of my coat, then closed the black box of cards. He put it back in his coat and faced me with a smile.
"There are only 51 cards left because you have one. I don't know how many Diamond for Peace are in the box. Your luck will base on the cards, Benson."
"What do you want to happen, huh?! What are you doing, Ace Park?!" I shouted at him furiously. I couldn't take it anymore. I couldn't understand what he was doing. "You really are an asshole," I said through gritted teeth.
He didn't answer. He was still standing, hands in his pockets, looking at me. But the smirk that was on his lips earlier was gone. The look he was giving me was blank. As if he didn't care about my angry expression.
"Is this your game? Huh?!" And I laughed mockingly. "You're so childish." I said the last words and then turned my back on him.
I left the clinic and slammed the door shut. I held my chest. It was getting heavy again. I took out my inhaler.
I have an asthma.
I walked slowly and sat down on the stairs. I also felt my tears continuously falling. My chest felt heavy and painful.
I wanted to go home...
"Hey, Miss?"
---
Brianna's POV
I was bored, sitting on the gymnasium bleachers right now. Arms crossed, I watched the students who were sitting so sophisticatedly and perfectly. The meeting for the upcoming Club Day was about to start.
Scarlett wasn't here because she went to see Snow; she wasn't feeling well again. Amethyst wasn't here either because she was at the clinic. Forsythia was also very busy with the council. Kimberly, Annalisa, and Shayna were here, but I didn't really vibe with them much. Especially Shayna.
"It's taking so long to start. Where's the speaker?" I complained.
"Find the speaker then, Brianna. Or you can be the speaker," Annalisa replied to me.
I pouted. This girl always had a comeback when I spoke. I knew her teasing wasn't serious, but sometimes it was annoying.
"Really, Mrs. Valderama?" I provoked back. She gave me a dirty look, so I gave her a very sweet smile.
I looked around the gymnasium. The Winter Flowers weren't here yet, and I was sure that when they arrived, the girls would look like worms again.
I understood that they had strong appeal, good looks, and wealth, but everyone, the whole university, also knew who the Winter Flowers were. What they were capable of doing.
I leaned back in my seat and crossed my legs. I exhaled and closed my eyes. I was still thinking about everything Ace Park did. All the mischief he caused.
The Winter Cards. One of his games. A game you would never want to play. But he stopped that. I hoped he wouldn't do it again.
"Omg! Here they are!"
"Omo! Look at them!"
"God really makes them perfectly!"
"Park looks so perfect!"
"Valderama's burning!"
"Winter Flowers indeed gorgeous man!"
"Adonis!"
"Handsome!"
I covered my ears because of the soft squeals of the girls near us. This was the most irritating thing of all, their squeals and their buzzing whispers. I looked at Annalisa; her face was scowling, and she was clearly annoyed by the screaming girls too.
"Can you please lower your voices?" Kimberly reprimanded and rolled her eyes at them. The ones near her quieted down. They deserved that.
"They could just not squeal, right? My god! Whispering, but you can still hear everything. Nonsense!" I complained and stood up.
"Oh? Where are you going?" Annalisa asked me curiously.
"I'm just going out. I feel dizzy. I just need to drink some water. These girls are crazy!" I replied before turning my back on them and walking down the stairs.
I left the gymnasium and walked alone in the hallway. I was just going to the cafeteria to buy something to drink and a snack. I didn't want to get hungry while listening to the meeting.
"Brianna, wait!"
I stopped walking and looked back at the person who called me. It was Shayna. I wondered why she followed me. Why indeed? We weren't very close. It wasn't that I didn't want to be close to her, we just didn't have the same vibes.
"Oh, Shayna? Why are you here? Are you buying something too?" I asked when she approached.
She smiled. "Yes, I'm buying for Kim and Anna too," she replied and walked beside me. I nodded.
"I see, hehe," I replied.
"By the way, are you still going to join the Dance Club?" she asked.
"Uhm... I don't know. I haven't decided yet. I'm still thinking carefully about it," I replied.
"Ohh, I see," I heard her answer.
We walked quietly down the silent hallway. No whispers and no eyes staring. Especially since Shayna was here. I was sure she would be the main topic of conversation among the students again.
Shayna Silverstone is gorgeous and wealthy. The heiress of Mrs. Margaret Silverstone, CEO of Elixelle. She's tall, has a great body shape, long straight hair, and is sophisticated. All her outfits, especially her jewelry, are personally made by her mom.
She's probably the luckiest heiress I've ever met. No pressure, and she can do whatever she wants to do. She's free. Unlike me.
We reached the cafeteria and ordered our respective drinks. While waiting for the order, we sat down at a table. The entire cafeteria was quiet. It was serene and without overly noisy students.
"Please sit here for a moment, okay? Are you really okay? Do you still feel unwell?"
I frowned at the two students who entered. A tall guy who looked kind and decent. I looked at the girl with him. My eyes widened in surprise because it was Amethyst. I immediately stood up. Without saying a word, I walked towards their table where Amethyst was sitting.
"Amethyst? Why are you here?" I asked, surprised and confused. She looked up at me in shock too.
"B-brianna..." she called out softly.
I looked at the guy with her because I didn't know him. I approached him and pointed my pouch at him. He was startled and raised both hands.
"What did you do to her, huh? Why is she here? She should be at the clinic, right?" I asked.
"W-wait, let me explain," he replied, backing away. "I didn't do anything bad to her."
"And why is she here?"
"Because she needs some rest?"
"Need some rest? This is the school cafeteria. Are you joking me?"
"No! No, no," he defended, shaking his head. "Can you please calm down first?"
"How can I calm down, you didn't even answer my questions."
He closed his eyes, let out a breath, and then put his hands down. He looked at me.
"I can't exactly explain what happened BUT—" he stopped and looked towards the cafeteria entrance. I also looked there.
A tall, fair-skinned, handsome, and decent-looking guy with specs walked in. My eyebrows knitted together.
"Klyde?" I heard Shayna say.
He walked like a model towards where we were. He gave a slight smile and looked towards Amethyst's seat. My gaze followed him as he walked over to Amethyst.
"You okay now?" he asked.
He was back? Was he going to study here now? Why? I thought his parents were going to send him to school in the States.
He wasn't my ex-boyfriend if that's what you're thinking. It was just surprising to see Klyde Guevara at WinMon again. After four years, this was the first time I had seen him again.
"Klyde," Shayna called out to him. I looked at her. She was carrying the drinks she bought.
I walked to the counter, picked up my order, and paid. I walked back to their spot. I watched what he was doing to Amethyst. She didn't look okay, but why was she here instead of the clinic?
"Just inhale and exhale so the heaviness in your chest goes away, okay?" I heard him say to Amethyst.
I sat down in a chair near Amethyst. I was worried something had happened to her, and Scarlett had entrusted her to me. She told me to keep an eye on her because she was with Ace.
Right! He was with Ace earlier.
But the Winter Flowers were already at the gymnasium, and they were all there. And Amethyst was here with Klyde. What happened earlier?
"I-I'm fine now," Amethyst said softly.
"Amethyst, what happened? What did Ace do to you?" I asked.
"Huh? Nothing. He d-didn't do anything," she replied.
"Then why are you here?" I asked again. I didn't believe nothing happened.
"Ace's old games," Klyde interjected and adjusted his eyeglasses. "Don't worry, she's okay now. I'll talk to Ace."
"No, I'll do it," Shayna interjected. We looked at her. "I'll talk to him."
"D-don't, Shayna. He might take out his anger on you—"
"Don't worry, Amethyst. I can handle him." And she gave her a slight smile.
No one can handle him, Shayna. Not even you. Not even his own parents.
I wanted to say that, but I decided not to, so the story wouldn't drag on. I stood up because the meeting might start soon. The Professors might think we ditched, and I'd be in trouble with Mom again.
"The meeting will start in a minute. Let's go before we get marked for ditching. Are you attending, Ami?"
She nodded and stood up. Klyde helped her up. I also went to help her.
"I'm fine. I'm not crippled that you both need to help me," she said with a smile.
"You might suddenly collapse," I said.
"I'm really fine, Brianna."
"Really, huh? No lies?"
"Yes," she nodded.
We all left the cafeteria together and headed to the gym. As soon as we entered, other students were staring at us and whispering like bees again.
"Oh my god. Who's that guy in specs?"
"Isn't that Klyde Guevara? The former ace player of WinMon High?"
"OMG! Yes, it is! Why is he here?"
"Wow, man! Look at his watch, that's the latest release of Elixelle yesterday and he even got the rare design."
"And look at his shoes! That's the limited edition from Elixelle too."
I heard all sorts of whispers from the students' mouths. We sat down where Kim and Annalisa were seated. I also asked Klyde and his companion to sit down. Amethyst sat next to me.
I looked at the Winter Flowers' spot. They seemed oblivious to the students' whispers. They were truly unbothered. Or maybe they just weren't letting the whispers get to them. They had ears too.
Everyone stopped and straightened up when the Head Master of WinMon spoke. Even though he was old, his aura was still intimidating. He was like a Don, but he wasn't. All the students, even the Winter Flowers, respected him. He seemed to be the only one they respected. They were allowed to do what they did.
"Good day, WinMon students!" he greeted. Everyone stood up and bowed together. Everyone sat down afterward.
"Today, I gathered all of you to form a formal meeting for our Club Week. Winter Monarch University has been hailing for almost four decades, and we are soaring high above everyone. WinMon is the most prestigious university in the whole Winter Society. All WinMon students are the gem of this school. For this prestigious and one of the most important events in our school, the Club Week, all the students are required to apply in their chosen Club."
Yes, it's required by the school that every student should apply to their chosen Club. Joining the different Clubs can enhance your skills and abilities to do better. For me, I only wanted one club, the Dance Club.
Ever since I was a kid, I've loved to dance. Hip hop is my main genre. I felt comforted through dancing and feeling every beat of the music. It was like escaping the reality where I truly belonged. But it wasn't easy for me. Mom wanted my attention only on my studies and the business, which I didn't want.
"Art Washington will give his message."
"Good day everyone," Art greeted. You could really see the presence of someone in a high position in him. "Next week will be our Club Week, and as we're going to celebrate it, let me introduce you first the Presidents of respective Clubs in WinMon."
"The President of Arts Club, Axel Valderama."
The students applauded, and Axel stood up from his seat and went to the front. He stood straight, not smiling at all. I looked at Annalisa. If looks could kill, Axel would be lying dead in front of everyone right now.
I grimaced and adjusted my seat. I didn't know why the two of them hated each other so much. They loathed each other's presence. They were engaged, though. A perfect couple. Couple? Were they a couple? I didn't know. They just hated each other, and I didn't know the exact reason why.
"The President of Dance Club, Niel Holland."
I smiled at the next person called. I also applauded and watched him go up the stage. He was smiling and full of energy. He was always so positive.
If there was one person in the Winter Flowers I wanted to be friends with, it was Niel. He's friendly with everyone. His friendship comes without strings attached. He's not snobbish or a spoiled brat. And he's so good at dancing. He's always chosen as the representative for competitions. Sometimes I wished I could be him.
"The President of Music Club, Black Fletcher."
Black went to the front with no reaction on his face at all. He was too cold. If Niel was the happiest, he was the saddest among the seven of them. I had never seen him smile. Annoyance and anger, yes. Every time Scarlett approached him, his annoyance would immediately show.
Scarlett was beautiful, though. Perfect. But why didn't Black like her? This guy had such high standards! He wouldn't find anyone better than Scarlett!
"On behalf of the President of Photography Club, Snow Cullen. The Vice President of Photography Club, Harvey Kim."
I heard soft squeals and whispers from the girls near me again. I just sighed because I knew what they were saying was true.
Harvey is indeed a gorgeous man. He might be the most handsome in the whole WinMon. Even if you put him in a huge crowd of people, you would definitely notice his handsomeness. Good thing he's not rude to Snow.
"The President of WinMon Magazine Club, Kimberly Anderson."
I looked at Kim and applauded her. She stood up sophisticatedly, which made me smirk. She showed a socialite presence because she really was one. An heiress just like the others and me. She was also one of the female students admired by the girls in WinMon.
Kimberly is a figure skater. She has a good body shape because she's an athlete and at the same time a model for Elixelle Company. She's confident in all her aspects. She's a good debater too, which is why students are sometimes afraid of her. Well, even me sometimes.
She stood at the front, looking at all the students with her head held high.
"The President of Mathematics Club, Annalisa Watson."
Annalisa, who was next to me, also stood up. She walked to the front with her head held high. She stood next to Kim.
Right. They were both Club Presidents. I guess I was the only one who wasn't, and Shayna. Forsythia was the school council secretary, so her position in the school was also high.
I looked at Amethyst beside me. She was just observing her surroundings.
"The President of Science Club... Klyde Guevara."
I was startled and looked at Klyde's seat. He stood up and walked with his hands in his pockets, being stared at by the students. The students' whispers about him seemed to have no effect on him. He stood next to Annalisa and simply looked at the students.
Klyde Guevara, the popular ace player in Winter Monarch Academy. If Ace Park is an ace player, Klyde is his ultimate rival.