Damion roused from his sleep with a banging headache. He saw Bella staring down at him, smoothing his forehead and his heart ached.
Never had anyone shown him that kind of affection before. He never knew his mother and there was no way the old ladies in the orphanage would do this when they were so exhausted everyday, they almost slept on their feet.He tried to sit up and groaned when he felt a sharp pain in his side. Bella shushed him as she continued to smoothen his forehead, “Just lie down and rest. You need it.”“W-wat-ter,” Damion croaked and Bella snatched the bottle she had kept for him on his nightstand and extended it to him. He gulped down the water like a man that had been trapped in the desert for years and didn’t stop until the bottle was empty.Bella regarded him for a while before she asked the question that had been gnawing on her mind since she saw his appearance when the bodyguards helped him in. “Who did this to you?”Damion woke up energetic that morning. It was the first day of school when he would start lectures. He had been researching so much on his courses, reading and soaking up the knowledge he could get during the night.His routine at work had also changed the day before, and now he only worked part-time, delivering pizzas in the evenings. His grandfather and cousin had tried to talk him out of it but he remained as stubborn as ever, and it was safe to say that they weren’t happy with his decision.He hurriedly dressed up, excited about his first day at college. He wondered how different it would feel compared to high school, and he was about to find out.He arrived at the institution two hours before his first lecture, just so that he would have ample time to survey and appreciate the beauty of the buildings. He found a spot for his bike in the parking lot and trekked down the sidewalk, awe in his gaze.Riverdale College was not named the most beautiful college in the whole of the state
Bianca stood beside Damion's desk, silently waiting. For what? Damion couldn't say but he observed her nervously.He was sure they were eyes on him but the row at which he sat was empty. He stared at the girl in front of him and she stared back at him, no words exchanged.Finally, he worked up the courage to speak. "I'm sorr...""Shift." She interrupted him with one word and the moment he heard her voice, he was awestruck. If he had thought her voice sounded velvety when she was singing, it was nothing compared to this.She spoke with so much authority in her voice but at the same time, there was a tone of gentleness and kindness there.It took him a minute to process what she just said to him due to the fact he was lost in his own world. She nudged him on the shoulder and he blinked, embarrassed as he made room for her. She sat down as elegant as a princess and Damion could not help but wonder who her family was. She had this regal air around her without even trying which meant that
Bianca climbed the wooden stairs slowly and on tiptoes when she got home from school to prevent making any noise that would alert her parents that she was back home. The stairs had elaborate railings, carved balusters, and inlaid wood, making it look like something out of a fairytale.Her family was among the top five richest families in the country but what baffled her was how much they loved wood.They lived in an opulent home with two stories, a swimming pool, and a front and back yard. The house was floored with wooden floorboards, which offered a subtle warmth to the touch and is rarely ever cold and since it was used alongside heated floors, it ensured a cozy and pleasant floor while still looking regal. The living room, family room, dining room, kitchen, and two bedrooms and baths for the housekeeper and chef were all on the first floor, and she was relieved that her parents were not there when she snuck in. There were three bedrooms–one for her and the master bedroom for he
Bianca woke up the next day with a spring in her steps, thinking about seeing Damion at school. As she climbed down the stairs, she saw her parents having breakfast in the dining room.“Good morning love. Aren’t you going to eat your breakfast?” Her mum asked when she walked past them.Bianca turned back and answered in a sweet voice, “I can’t stay, ma. I have to get to school now or I’ll be late for my lectures. Dad wouldn’t like it if I’m late, would you dad?” She was just bluffing at this point because she still had two hours before her first lecture and her father knew, and Bianca knew that he was aware of her lie, but she didn’t back down or cower. Her father looked up at her from where he sat, his jaw tight like he was trying to keep himself from talking and Bianca held his stare before he finally looked away.She knew he understood the game she was playing, but at the same time, she knew that he was rest assured that no matter wh
“What happened to your face?” she asked. Damion cursed inwardly as he quickly dropped the cup back on the grass and pulled his hoodie to cover that side of his face. He had removed his nose mask with the hope that his hoodie was big enough to make up for the absence of it.“Nothing,” He answered, his face still hidden from her. Bianca crawled forward on her knees and when she positioned herself in front of him, she raised his head up and gently removed the hand that was holding the hoodie, squinting her eyes to examine the damage. She was so close to Damion that he could see the changes of her emotions flashing across her eyes. First, it was shock, then pity before it all morphed into anger. “Who did this to you, Damion? Please tell me,” she pleaded. Thank God her father had a law firm so she knew ways in which she could help him if it came to the law or charging the person to court.“Don’t bother about it, really. I’m fine,” he said as he subtl
Damion breathed deeply as he shut the door of the restroom behind him. He stared at himself in the mirror of the bathroom stall and he could see the anger still present in his eyes.Only this time, it was not directed at Bianca but himself. What was he thinking taking his frustrations and helplessness on a woman who was only trying to help?His family would be so disappointed in him if they hear about what he had done, and what about Bianca’s family? When they were introducing themselves the day before, she had mentioned that her dad was the CEO of one of the best law firms in the country. He was screwed if her dad got to hear about what he had done. He screamed as he removed his face cap and pulled at his hair. As if he didn’t already have enough trouble to deal with, he had added more.Heartbroken, he called Bella. “Hello cousin. So nice of you to call me after a long while. I’m preparing for a shoot right now and I was going to call you when I finish here,” Bella said over the pho
Bella excused herself from the dining table and went to meet Damion where he stood with his head bowed. “Did something happen?” she rested her hand on his shoulder in a silent show of support.Damion shook his head and touched her hand lightly, “Let’s go eat. I’ll explain later.”Bella looked at him worriedly as he turned and left but she followed, filing everything in her head for later. They all sat down at the table while the chefs brought in the food.“This looks so delicious, Ericson.” Patricia, Bianca’s mother, appraised to which Ericson responded with, “It’s all the chefs. Most times, I have no idea what I want to eat. I learned a long time ago to just leave everything in their hands.”Everyone chuckled at that except Damion and Bianca, each lost in their own thoughts. Ericson sat down on one end of the table, Bella on his right and Damion on his left, while Roberts sat on the other end, his wife on his left and Bianca on his right; that way, Damion and Bianca sat side by side
“What in God’s name was that drama you performed at the Lance mansion all about?” Bianca’s father burst out in rage immediately as they entered the family room.Bianca knew it would come to this, and there was no escaping what was to come. Her father had been silent throughout the car ride and her mother had played some country music to help with the tension in the car.The tension was so alive, brimming with electricity that Bianca had felt it on her skin, even though none of them had said a word.This was one of the days she was thankful that her father had insisted on driving them himself. If a driver had taken them to the Lance mansion, there would have been no way she would escape her father’s wrath in the car.It was when he filed into the family room upon getting to the house that she knew it was not going to be easy at all. Her father was going to lash out on her with everything he’s got, but she was determined to stand her ground. She would not be a pawn any longer.“I just s