Painfully yours

Chance

Arya's P.O.V.
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As I held my ticket in my hand, with all the boxes ticked except for Xavier's name, I couldn't help but contemplate what to do. Everyone around me was pressuring me to vote for Ariana and Xavier, but I didn't want to see Xavier become the president of the student committee. I was worried that if he had more access to me in school, my safe and sound place would no longer feel that way. Despite Xavier's polite request for my vote, I made up my mind.

With the bell signaling the last five minutes to submit our votes before the polls closed, I quickly voted for Felix Bürkli and Ariana instead and submitted my ticket. I rushed into the assembly hall, where the ballots were being taken for counting. As I sat through the assembly, filled with various class performances, my anxiety grew. The student hosting the assembly announced that the ballots had been counted and the results would soon be announced.

I watched as Ariana and Xavier, along with the other candidates, monitored the hall with authority. I sat in my seat, fiddling with my fingers, unable to calm my racing heart. Slowly, the principal of our school was invited on stage to affiliate badges on the uniforms of the chosen students. Monitors and prefects were announced, each expressing their gratitude on the podium before leaving with a badge and honor.

And then came the moment I had been waiting for. The principal announced the presidential position for head girl. Ariana Grimaldi. She had won with 100% of the votes. She gracefully expressed her thanks on the podium. My heart pounded as I awaited the principal's next announcement. And to my dismay, it was Xavier who had won by 99% of the votes.

He walked up to the stage, his smile hiding a newfound sense of power. The principal pinned a badge on his blazer as he stood at the podium to give his gratitude speech. In that moment, Xavier looked beautiful, powerful, and now, he seemed scary to me.

I paid attention in class and had lunch with grace because I couldn't spot Xavier or Ariana and she filled me on her new adventures with Adnan.

As I walked into my house, the familiar scene greeted me. Men and women in suits were scattered across the multiple coffee tables, engrossed in discussions and surrounded by vision boards and pages. It seemed like a new topic was being discussed on every table. I tried to navigate through the chaos to greet my dad, but he was too busy speaking into his phone. Xavier sat beside him, and I made a conscious effort to avoid his gaze.

"Hello Arya, how're you?" Xavier questioned with my dad in sight.

"Good, thankyou ." I smiled a small smile at him. "How're you?"

"Good I suppose.I won the election by 99%." He folded his hands in his lap. My dad sat back and congratulated him

"Ofcourse, a cast - iron certainty that you would win.Some poor fellow thought he had the chance against you" He laughed.

"I wonder who" Xavier tilted his head looking at me. "Nonetheless." He smirked. Cmon really? After all this empire ,a mere student election is what you care about?

"Yes, well congratulations are in order. I'll see you around." I run my sweaty palms on my skirt and turned around

"Beta Xavier will be taking you to Paris again tonight for the weekend. I suppose your ball is nearing soon. "

"Okay papa. " I stood across them fake smiling. Ugh. No.

"Tonight?" I asked Xavier.

"Yes, do you have any pressing matters to attend yourself?" Dad replied.

"No. Nothing more pressing." I stared back at Xavier.

"Will Ariana come along?" I tensed thinking about a whole weekend with Xavier alone. Even if Ariana couldn't get him off my back, atleast she was good at talking him into calmness when he would get mad at me.