HIS SECRET

Chapter IV

The beginning

I rise as the first bell rings, ready to walk to the canteen to make sure I do not miss lunch this time and a sigh escapes me. Each child here at the orphanage holds onto the hope of being purchased by a wealthy and generous noble, imagining a brighter future where they can be cared for and given a chance to work comfortably and treated with human decency. Some of them may achieve this, but for others, they'll end up finding themselves in the hands of cruel and sadistic nobels, who care little for their well-being and could easily abuse them if they didn't meet their expectations. 'It is a harsh reality that we have to face while living here' I mutter to myself

I place my hand gently on my cheeck. The harsh scar on my face that I had received from my mother's murderer was still clear, and this caused many potential buyers to reject me, believing that the scar meant that I was a aggressive and worthless brat. "Well I can't lie that I haven't caused trouble here before-"

I used to feel saddent to think that a scar from the past would prevent me from escaping this miserable fate of being stuck in here, but as the years passed by ...

... it began to feel like a blessing rather than a curse. 'Who cares about those stupid nobles anyways?', I thought. After all, my goal now was finding Rhys and taking revenge on the one who had killed my mother.

"Elijah," I whispered to myself, my blood starting to boil with anger. Elijah, who had been suspicious from the very beginning and had later run off with Rhys... I felt my temper rising. I can't think off all the awful scenarios that could have happened to Rhys while being in Elijah's care. If Elijah had hurt him in any way, I would find him and make him pay with his life. I losen my fist which I had been sqeezing thightly, leaving small red marks in the palm of my hand as I continue walking forward. 'I will definitly leave this place'.

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In the canteen, I was once again reminded of my lack of friends, as I saw some faces turn and stare at me, some were familiar ones and some were new ones. People referred to me as a "doofus" because of my ugly scar and my emberrassing amount of failed attempts at escaping this place. Now I've a built up reputation where people don't want to assisiate with me thinking I'll only get them in trouble. I picked up my plate which was celery soup with potatoes and other vegetables. I was eating my food in silence while trying to gather my thoughts for my plan tonight until I was abruptly interrupted when a hand was slapped on my shoulder.

'Why are you sitting alone? ^^'

I almost fell out of my chair from the unexpected jolt that it gave me. I raised my head to face him. I found myself facing a person with hazel brown eyes and short, brown hair that glimmered in the canteenlight. I was surprised by how much he resembled an older Rhys and was unable to hide my shock. Being caught off guard by his sudden appearance, I pushed his hand away and glared at him.

'Don't touch me' I snapped. It was rare for people to approach me without having some sort of ulterior motive. I felt a little tense and on edge 'this guy couldn't be any different' I thought.

'Woah don't glare at me so scary!' he says raising his hands and jumping a few steps backwards. Eventough he's acting scared, he has a wide smile on his face as if he's taking joy out of this.

Is he a moron?

"What do you want? Just leave already I've got nothing to offer," I responded, my tone full of annoyance. It was clear that he was faking his reaction in order to mock me because of my status.

"Relax dude if you keep that attitude up you'll never get a beautiful girlfriend and you'll die having been single your entire life" he says while sighning and crossing his arms pretending to be worried.

Yes he's definitely a moron.

'I do have a girlfriend actually ^^' I replied, trying to sound as smug as him as I mimicked his tone. I force a fake smile on myself while tryng to hide my pissed face.

"Sure you do," he replied. "And where is she then? He smiles diviously this time, waiting for my response. He's probably wondering if I'm speaking the truth while challenging me to reveal her. Bold of him to assume I'd let him make a fool out of me.

'She's right here with me' I say as I raise my middle finger and point it to him introducing it as my girlfriend. 'Now go help yourself to F off and get out of my sight on behalf of my girlfriend and I' I say pissed but trying to look kind with one of my eyes and the corner of my lip twitching trying to maintain a forced smile.

He stares back dumbfounded at me for a few seconds, followed by a long, loud burst of laughter. My message was clear enough, so what in the world is he laughing about? I think to myself. He eventually calms down, and says that he has taken a liking to me. I simply respond, stating that I am in a happy relationship and, besides that, I'm not interested in men.

"Stop making me look weird," he said, pulling an exaggerated disgusted face. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his acting performance. He was acting like a child and it was getting exhausting

"You were weird from the start and have nobody but yourself to blame for it" I replied with a hint of annoyance in my voice. I had run out of patience with his childish behavior and was ready to put an end to this situation as I get up. I decided to leave this idiot and return to the dorm room. He asks me to tell him my name at least before leaving while he's introduces himself as Rowan. I have no interest in telling him my name, especially after he'd been so persistent in bothering me.
He wont be able to follow me to the room as he is definitely designed to a different dorm room. I sighed with relief as I walked away, hopefully I wouldn't have to deal with him again.

Rowan stood there, feeling dissatisfied after yet another failed attempt to get closer to this guy after taking a liking to him. He knew that if he had continued to be persistent, he would have made him even angrier with him, making his plan even more difficult to fulfill. As he watched him walk away, he sighed and slunk off, hands stuffed in his pockets."I will get another chance soon," he thought to himself, determined not to give up on him.

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