The Fallen Angel

16.Glum

Enduring five hours of detention after school is a real pain. I've already sent a text to mom, informing her that I'll be late, but I've decided to keep the true reason behind my delay under wraps.

While diligently tackling the extra homework assigned by the principal, the quiet of the empty classroom was shattered by the arrival of some unexpected visitors. My eyes widened in surprise as Ero and his friends strolled in, their laughter echoing off the walls and breaking the silence.

Their laughter ceased abruptly as they laid eyes on me, seated at my desk with a pen poised delicately between my fingers.

One of his friends brazenly perched on my desk and addressed me, "What are you doing here, sexy?" His words were laced with amusement as he glanced at his companions, but I remained silent, meeting his gaze without flinching.

Frustrated by their laughter, I uttered, "Could you please leave?" while glaring at my book. However, their persistent laughter annoyed me so much that I quietly grabbed my books and left the classroom without alerting the principal.

As Ero stood in my way, he inquired, "Why aren't we talking about the kiss?" His eyes narrowed, and a mischievous grin curved his lips.

Anger surged through me as I replied, "Alright, you really want to know?" Through gritted teeth, I muttered, "It was a complete nightmare," then swiftly turned and walked away from him, refusing to dwell on the painful memory any longer.

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Observing the proficient girls on the badminton court at school, I couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy. My lack of skill in the game, coupled with a history of always losing to my brother, left me feeling powerless. Given the choice, I'd rather tackle any challenge than join Hazel as a cheerleader.

Gazing at the skilled girls in their stylish attire, wielding their badminton rackets with expertise, I couldn't help but release a heavy sigh. "What should I even do?" I wondered, a mixture of admiration and frustration swirling within me as I confronted my own inadequacies in comparison.

Inhaling deeply, I was taken aback to see Aria standing beside me. With her arms crossed, she accused, "Caught you red-handed, thief!" My nervous gulp gave away my guilt, and I couldn't conceal the smile that betrayed me.

As she tugged at my ear and settled into the seat beside me, she asked, "Why didn't you pick up my calls? I was really worried." With a grin, I replied, "Ow, my ears!" and let out a chuckle. "I just wasn't in the mood to share my sadness with you," I teased lightly.

Her disappointment was evident as she responded, "But I'm your best friend."

I gazed into her eyes and admitted, "I apologize. It seems like I'm constantly causing problems for you, and I hate seeing you upset because of me."

An awkward silence enveloped us, leaving us both at a loss for words. In the midst of our silent struggle, worries and sadness weighed heavily upon us.

She asked, "I heard there was a scuffle earlier between you and Hazel," then let out a sigh before adding, "I'm sorry about Emelia. It's just unbelievable that she's sided with Hazel now. We really shouldn't have put our trust in her from the start." Catching me examining my finger, she noticed my swollen face and asked, "Are you injured?"

Quietly, I stayed as she placed her palm on mine. "Let's go to the infirmary," she urged, grasping my wrist. Tenderly, I withdrew her hand and reassured her, "I'm fine, just a few scratches. You don't need to worry. And yes, I fought back too." Understandingly, she nodded, voicing her regret, "I wish I had been there. I would've dealt with her myself."

With a smile masking the pain, I acknowledged her disappointment. Breaking the tension with humor, I quipped, "No worries, I had detention too, but Hazel had to involve her parents." Aria chuckled and inquired, "Seriously?" Affirming with a nod and a smirk, I replied, "Indeed, but I outsmarted detention in the end."

While we shared a laugh, she gestured with a thumbs up. Between chuckles, I managed to inquire, coughing slightly, "So, I ended up with badminton for sports." Her laughter subsided as I confessed, "But you know I'm hopeless at it." With a grin, I acknowledged, "I'm fully aware, but if I hadn't picked it, I'd have been roped into the chaos of cheerleading."

"So, what have you girls been up to without me?" Aiden inquired, and we both glanced up. He tenderly kissed Aria and took her hands. I looked at them both and remarked, "Could you please refrain from doing that in front of me?" I raised my eyebrows, and Aiden nodded, saying, "Of course," before giving Aria a quick peck on the lips. I stood up and playfully hit his shoulder, saying, "Quit it, you goof." Aria chuckled at our banter.

"OMG, look at you! Seems like you had a good fight with Hazel," Aiden exclaimed, chuckling. I smiled and nodded, replying, "Indeed, I vented all my anger on her today. I feel relieved." Grabbing my bag, I announced, "I need to head out now."

Before waving goodbye, I chirped, "Bye bye, lovebirds," as I left them behind. They waved back, and as I walked away, Aria shouted, "Byeeee, babes!" I turned back, smiled, and crunched my nose in response.

Walking out of the school, I encountered Hazel and her boyfriend Adrian sitting under a shady tree. Hazel appeared quite irritated, and I speculated to myself, "She's probably venting about what happened today." As Adrian noticed me, I flashed a smile and quickly averted my gaze, not wanting any eye contact. Gripping the strap of my bag, I began to walk away. Suddenly, Adrian ran towards me, calling out, "Hey, you girl!" Surprised, I turned back to him, realizing he didn't even know my name yet, and asked, "What?"

Starting his tirade, he exclaimed, "how dare you—" He stopped abruptly, noticing my injured face, and softened his tone. "How could you hurt my girlfriend?" he questioned. Glancing at Hazel, who stood nearby, I replied, "Did your beloved girlfriend send you here? Ask her about that, considering she instigated the whole thing."

His words cut deep, echoing like a nail on my heart. Gripping my bag strap tighter, I felt like my heart was being torn apart. His indirect rejection of my feelings hit me hard. As I looked down, he noticed and smirked, "So, you actually had a crush on me?" Looking up with a smile, he continued, "How could you? Isn't it disgusting?" Unbeknownst to me, a crowd had gathered, including Ero, watching the scene unfold.

Mocking me, he sneered, "So that's why you were chasing me like a stray dog, how amusing?" His laughter intensified, but I was engulfed in hurt. He grabbed my collar tightly as he issued a stern warning, "If you dare touch my girlfriend again, you're in serious trouble." Pain filled my eyes as I met his gaze, which was now filled with hatred. Speaking slowly, I continued, "You were well aware of my feelings for you before anyone else. That's why you always enjoyed seeking my attention."

His grip on my collar loosened, and he questioned, "What?" Seeing his vulnerability, I smiled. "Didn't you?" I asked, and he withdrew his hand from my collar. Leaning in closer, I whispered, "I know you had feelings for me." Just then, Hazel's friends began shouting insults at me.

Adjusting my collar, I nodded resolutely. "You're free to hate me, because I'm putting an end to my crush on you," I declared, though I knew it wouldn't be easy to stop. Despite being aware of his feelings for me, he always seemed determined to hurt me and sabotage everything. With a tinge of bitterness.

"Go babysit your girlfriend," I added with a hint of bitterness.