close to my dialling heart

43🌹she's worth a fortune

🎶Now there's a shadow that I can't see. It got my heart really beating, and in my heart I know, but tell me darling oh, I'm gonna fight for yoh🎶
                   ~Lyani ft Joshua perez~

DOVE 🕊

As the classroom emptied, I found myself alone with Xavier, the one person whose presence made my mind wander. I had asked him to stay behind, because I was confused over Ms. Skyler's lesson on regression analysis. Truthfully, his distracting hands and gaze had made it impossible for me to focus. With the teacher's penchant for surprise exams at the end of each topic, I needed Xavier's help to grasp the concept. I poured over the notes he had scribbled for me, trying to make sense of the jumbled mess. Just as clarity began to dawn, Xavier's phone pierced the silence, shrill and insistent. He hesitated, his eyes locked on mine, before answering the call.

Xavier's face remained impassive as he listened to the caller, but then, a subtle smile crept onto his lips. Though his phone wasn't on speaker, the other person's words seemed to amuse him, their tone sparking a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Yes, sir," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "I'm honoured." For a fleeting moment, he seemed to struggle against an eye-roll, but his gaze snapped back into focus, his smile lingering like a whisper.

As the conversation continued, Xavier's tone turned firm, yet his attitude remained laced with sarcasm. "Should I pick you up?" he asked, his voice devoid of enthusiasm. The caller's response elicited a curt "I'll do just that" from Xavier, his sharp exhale following like a pent-up sigh. He set his phone – a sleek new Samsung ZFold 4 – on the table, his eyes drifting away from mine.

I broke the silence, curiosity getting the better of me. "What happened to your other phone?" I asked, nodding towards the new device on the table. Xavier's gaze followed mine, his expression nonchalant. "Nothing, I still have it." I nodded slightly, my mind already wandering to another topic. "Hey, what about Cloud?" I asked, suddenly remembering my forgotten pet. How could I have forgotten about him? Xavier's face lit up with a warm smile. "He's fine, wanna see him?" I nodded enthusiastically, my eagerness evident. But Xavier's next words dampened my excitement. "But I'm sure you're busy today, so some other day." I looked down at my work, my mind drifting away. Xavier's earlier phone call had hinted at a busy schedule, and I didn't want to impose.

I couldn't help but admire Xavier's success and hoped to emulate it, despite my struggles with finance. But as I delved deeper into my notes, I realized my true passion lay elsewhere – in art, a love Xavier had helped me rediscover. Nana's wishes aside, I clung to the hope that everything would work out. I sighed, releasing myself from my thoughts, and returned to reality to find Xavier's gaze fixed on me. "Why do you look at me like that?" I asked, my cheeks flushing as I met his eyes. Xavier shrugged, a charming smile spreading across his face. "I think it's obvious," he said, his voice low and playful. "I have a crush on you." His feigned shyness only added to his allure, making him look adorable. I laughed, trying to hide my own blush, but it only deepened the color of my cheeks.

Just as I was about to respond to Xavier, Tristan walked in, his presence making me even more aware of Xavier's gaze on me. My blood pressure spiked, not because of Tristan. I blew out a nervous breath and dropped my eyes to the table, trying to calm myself. Xavier's confession had caught me off guard, and Tristan's arrival only added to my discomfort. I rummaged through my bag and retrieved Tristan's wristwatch, eager to escape the awkwardness. "Here... sorry I didn't return it sooner," I said, trying to sound casual despite my racing heart. Tristan's smile was faint as he accepted the watch from me, his eyes flicking to Xavier before returning to mine, but I couldn't meet his gaze, my attention still fixed on Xavier.

Xavier's gaze snapped back to me as I handed Tristan his watch, the tension in the room palpable. "I'll see you later then," Tristan said, his voice curt, before turning and exiting the room. I felt like I was melting from the inside out, my nerves on edge. Xavier's voice broke the silence, his tone gentle. "You're shaking." I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. "I'm nervous." Xavier's thumb stroked the top of my hand, his touch soothing. "Don't get so nervous, I only told you not to be seen with him." I laughed nervously, my eyes darting to his. "I can't help it, because you don't like him." I bit my lip, hesitant to continue. "You want to know why?" Xavier asked, his eyes locked on mine as I nodded, "I hate explaining stuff, though," he admitted. Xavier's gaze never wavered. "His cousin, Harry," He finally said.