Chapter 3

Her fists were clenched and the whole students were shocked to see her staring at Henry with a blazing gaze.

“What you did now was clearly stupid. Why would you do that? What did he do to you?”

An almost embarrassed Henry wanted to show how pissed he was and tried to make a move on her.

“You would not even dare that, silly!” She grunted at him. “I will break your bones apart. Why don't you bullies ever pick on men your size?”

“Oh, she has got a very sharp tongue,” one of the students watching commented.

“She is quite brave,” another added.

They were all stunned by her fierce defence of Kevin.

“Is she dating him? I thought he was with Maya?”

“Maya isn't his class, Eden is closer.”

The scene was causing a lot of uproar and Henry knew there was nothing he could do.

Kevin too was embarrassed that she was making the whole students talk about him.

“Please stop, Eden. I appreciate what you're doing, standing up for me. But just let him go.”

“He is a fool and he deserves to be told right in his face!” She blurted angrily, her breathing heavy.

“You and your entire crew including Liam are nothing but a bunch of privileged children with empty heads!”

“Eden…that's enough now, please.” Kevin grabbed her wrist and shook her gently.

He knew she was a no nonsense person and this was part of how she proved that.

She was not one to condone any kind of abuse or bully exerted on anyone not to talk of those she cared about.

“I am letting you go because you are a lady and I can't be seen hurting a lady,” Henry stuttered, trying to save his face.

“Nah… don't tell yourself that silly lie. You are letting me go because you are a weak fellow hiding behind the mask of wealth. Bullshit!”

She started to walk away and intentionally dumped the remnant of Kevin's food on him, causing everyone to scream out in shock.

“That was one hell of a show she put up.”

They were all drowned by her actions.

Kevin was both overwhelmed by shame and pride.

Shame for how Henry intended to berate him and pride for how Eden stood up for him.

“I wonder if Maya would ever stand up for me that same way,”he pondered, standing up to walk from the cafeteria.

Soon, the news of how Eden stood up for Kevin spread through the campus and when Maya heard or, jealousy was tearing her apart even though she did not like him.

One of the days, she found Eden and Kevin seated in a walk way garde, on a bench. They were studying together.

The sight of them pierced her heart and she walked up to them with jealousy etched on her face.

“I need to talk with you, Kevin.” Her voice was contemptuous and it triggered Eden but she tired to stay calm for Kevin's sake.

“Sure. Go ahead,” Kevin innocently replied.

Maya cast him a devious glance. “I need to talk with you a-l-o-n-e,” she stressed on that to show him the urgency.

“Oh, sure. Kevin's glance wondered to Eden who barely said a word. She simply smirked at Maya and gathered her books to leave the couple.

“I guess I will see you later, Kevin.”

She walked away from them without even looking back.

“What is this madness with her?” Maya blurted. “You are embarrasing me terribly. It is bad enough that I have to deal with being your girlfriend, now I have to deal with being compared to that lose, unbred, chick?”

Her voice was filled with contempt.

Kevin shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

“No, I think you are getting the entire idea wrong. Eden is just my fr…”

“Just your friend. I know the words you were going to say. Yet, she goes everywhere fighting for you. And now, everyone thinks I could never do that? She makes me look bad! Don't you see?”

Those words were very manipulative and even worse when they became accompanied by tears.

Kevin felt a pang of guilt seeing her cry that much over his friendship with Eden.

“I am so sorry that you feel bad Maya. I will stop hanging around with Eden.”

“You have to promise me that you would keep to that promise.”

“I promise on my life,” he muttered, trying to take her hand in his.

She gently brushed his away, unwilling to have physical contact with him.

“I have to run now. I have a lecture by 3:30 and it is almost time.”

Kevin wanted to spend more time with her.

“Can we hang out later in the evening?” He managed to ask but was immediately met with an instant rejection.

“Not today Kevin. Maybe some other time. I have lots of school work to dom you know our examinations are a week away.”

Kevin nodded and waved at her, watching he walk away from him without even a kiss or as simple as a peck.

“I guess one day, she will see me the same way I see her. I cannot wait for that day to come.”

He was sad but had to wear off the emotions. Now, she had manipulated him into staying away from Eden.

What he did not know was that she did that because that reputation she was trying to maintain as good girl was becoming questioned and often times, Eden was pises as her rival.

She wanted to maintain her place.

As days and weeks passed by, Kevin began to initiate that distance between himself and Eden without explanations.

It continued till graduation.

After their graduation, Liam hosted a party and invited everyone for the party.

“Are you going to the party?” Liam asked Maya.

“I would have loved to but I am not sure yet.”

“I would like to go with you. Is that okay?”

Maya rolled her eyes with contempt but quickly forces a smile when he caught a glimpse of her.

“Is there a need? It is not a couple event. You could come on your own. Besides, I would like to go with Layla.”

That was a tell off but Kevin didn't want to see it that way. She was clearly embarrassed by his presence and could not imagine walking into the party with him.

The party day arrived and the students flooded the Liam Ross Mansion with giggles and laughter.

The mansion smelt of wealth and class.

Eden had called Kevin all day but he refused to take her calls because he didn't want to hurt Maya.

He had even gone an extra mile to get her a piece of Jewellry and Roses as a graduation gift for her.

He got to the venue, wearing his best attire which was not even good enough, clutching tightly to the little gifts he had for her.

“Hmm, look who is here,” one of the rich guys scorned Kevin.

“He could not even save up to afford decent clothes, what a shame!”

Kevin felt a rush of shame run through him but he maintained his confidence.

“What matters is that I am about to put a smile on the face of the woman I love,” he muttered under his breath and walked past the trolls into the main Mansion.

He was overwhelmed with the beauty of the mansion.

Suddenly, the students started cheering someone loudly and laughing out loud. He wondered was it was that was causing them such excitement and his curiousity could not be tamed.