Chapter 2 His Kindness Has A Price

“Your eyes are puffy, Alyssa, are you alright?” My mum asked as I got ready for school the second day. I forced a smile, stuffing another spoonful of fried Chinese pasta in my mouth. I pretended to be busy with chewing till I was able to cook a lie in my head. We’ve been eating some good meals since my mum started cooking for these stinky rich people. It’s either there were leftovers for us or she got some foodstuff offer from them. I  had learned that her boss enjoyed her service a lot.

It’s funny how I hadn’t cared to meet anyone in the main building personally.

“I was reading all night, mum. Didn’t get much sleep.” I lied, hoping she would buy it. Her worried face immediately stretched into a grin. “That’s my genius kid. But you do know you don’t have to put much pressure on yourself, right? You just started college, you should focus on making new friends and getting familiar with the school environment.”

Making new friends? She had no idea. “Of course, mum. That’s part of the plan”

The truth was- I had trouble sleeping last night. The reality of my situation kept me awake. A bad first impression was made yesterday at school- a very bad one that had to do with brown panties, and there was Kayden, who I had stupidly run from after the shocking encounter with him. I could still hear the gasps and shocking comments from students in my head- after he wrapped his red jacket around me.

It still felt surreal. Those private college students still behave like high school kids.

I got rid of that cheap skirt that embarrassed me yesterday immediately after I got home. Even though it used to be my favorite of all my corporate wears. Not like I had many- or many clothes at all. I didn’t allow myself to panic deeply over what happened, but I had thought about it all night and had come to a peaceful conclusion.

I would approach Kayden in school today and return his jacket. The fact that he remembered my face and what I did to him in the past was a mystery to me. The harm I caused him back then was never  intentional, but for him to still remember meant it hurt him, and I genuinely felt bad about that. I had to apologize. And maybe forming truce with the school’s hot Quarterback would make other kids forget yesterday’s event, and I would finally be able to make decent friends.

Because sincerely, peace was all I needed in this new phase of my life. I’ve had enough chaos in the past.

“Aly, you should wait for the chauffeur. My boss’s son is back and will be leaving from home for a while.  You can now start going to school together with them.” What? The thought of sitting together in the car with the unfamiliar heir was even uncomfortable.

“Maybe next time, mum. I will just catch a bus. I gave her a sharp peck on her cheek, then grabbed my bag- rushed out of our quarters before she could say more. 

As I hurried towards the bus, I forced my heartbeat to slow. I picked a quiet seat near the back when I entered, feeling insecurity settling in.  Maybe I should have accepted the offer to go with the Jackmans’ driver- maybe dropping from their car in the presence of those students would make them assume I belonged to the top one percent and get them to cut me some accolades- pretending like yesterday didn’t happen.

I should have considered taking the chance to meet with the house heir- who knows, he might become my only friend in Calderon… Okay… who am I deceiving? A billionaire’s son would never want to have anything to do with the daughter of their house cook. And I had clearly been avoiding that house because I didn’t want to be reminded by any rich kid that I was poor. 

Talking about the heir- I wondered what he looked like. Definitely fatter than me and probably a spoilt kid. I wasn’t even fat. I was quite puffy but it was my medications’ side effects that I had to deal with- according to my doctor. But who do I tell?

By the time I walked into the school premises, I heard them. “Isn’t that the girl with brown panties?”

“Oh yes, the fat girl from yesterday,” a girl insinuated and my chest ached. 

“Come on, you have to admit that she’s really pretty. You lots are just jealous of her because Kayden wrapped his jacket around her yesterday. Another girl defended me, yet I didn’t dare to look back. I started to walk faster through the hallway, ignoring the footsteps behind me.

“Hey,” I blinked, recognizing the feminine voice from earlier as she walked up to me. I looked up at her, unable to respond.

“Okay, I get it. You are mad at my friends for being silly. Trust me, they don’t mean all of that.” She was a pretty brunette- I noticed. Taller too. I tried to say something but my lips remained locked as if the situation was surreal. What if she was baiting me? 

“I’m Louisa, and you?” My fingers tapped nervously on my bag straps. She kind of looked like me. The eyes…

“Alyssa,” was all I said before leaving her hanging and rushing into an empty class. I hated needing my meds, but felt like I could do with some right now. Instead, I pulled my water bottle from my bag and gulped it down. That was when I noticed a boy in the class- staring at me. Shit. I had been gulping loudly and he had probably heard all that. His stare was menacing, but I ignored him and inserted myself in one corner. 

Classes went by with me avoiding prying glances, and expecting to see Kayden so that I could return his jacket and apologize for the past. But I didn’t see him. 

Not until I was ready to go home.

There he was in the student affairs area- clad in black hoodie that wrapped around him like a second skin. He was smiling subtly as the boys surrounding him laughed in a careless manner. Kayden looked so painfully gorgeous that his appearance outshone everything else around here. I was not one to ogle men- I despise all of them. But this boy who I had once bullied…

I was marveled at his transition. It was impossible not to be stunned.

Swallowing hard, I blinked the unwanted emotion away. Okay, I will approach calmly.

As I took a step, a girl with a very short skirt on suddenly jutted forward, throwing herself in his face.

“Kayden!” She shrieked, and the next thing I saw was her placing herself on his legs, her short skirt shifting dangerously up at the action. I could almost swear that I saw her pink lace panties before she crossed her legs and pecked him on his cheek. I was ready to turn and leave, but then-his eyes caught mine.

A sharp breath escaped me. I eventually approached him, forcing my focus on only him to avoid side distractions. His gaze narrowed, unable to read as I walked up to him. Was he always this…stoic?

“Um…Kayden?” My voice wavered slightly, but I continued when he only met my words with a blank glare. I could hear his friends snorting too. 

I finally extended his cleanly wrapped Jacket towards him. I had it washed yesterday, even though I had almost hesitated to because of how nice the wear smelled. His scent was as superb as he looked. Ignoring the piercing stare from the blonde on his lap, I spoke up. “I came here to return your jacket. Thank… you for yesterday. And… as for back then in the camp, I’m… I’m really sorry. I was… young and naïve.” Finally, I said it all. I felt a little bit relieved. I waited for him to reply, as his eyes continued to narrow like he was clueless.

He raised one brow at the same time words dropped from his mouth.

“Sorry, do I know you?”

My nerves suddenly tightened with shame, eyes dropping to the clothing that I extended to him. Then I heard the blonde burst into a fit of laughter- followed by bolder laughter from the males around him. I regretted my decision immediately.

I was ready to disappear when one of his childish friends said something that triggered my buried anger.