Elected To Love

Chapter 18

The last week of August marked the end of summer break as everyone prepared for their assignments and back-to-school essentials.

By the end of July, all preparations for the exhibition had been completed, and it would now take place by mid-September.

Looking back on what transpired last month, Aliara couldn't believe how far Ivan and her relationship had progressed. However, one thing was certain: the thin line that had previously existed was now gone and all that remained was the two's acceptance of it.

Aliara packed all her belongings and got ready for school, she grabbed a hold of her phone that was kept on the side stand and opened her chats, but to her disappointment, she found no text from Ivan.

Who had been constantly messaging her during his stay in Milan, Italy, his homeland. Her eyes fell on her prior conversations with him, and as she scrolled, she turned her face in embracement.

The voicemail right in front of her eyes from when she wished him a safe voyage to Italy stood there, and she was embarrassed for doing so. She scrolled back to her home page, called Uma, eager to get her ideas out and erase her embarrassment.

"Hey, you ready?" She asked Uma while going out of her house, and the girl said yes. They talked until Aliara arrived at the school's front gate. When she entered, she was greeted by Ivan, and their gazes connected.

Sparks flew between them as they stood there staring at one other; it had been about a month since they met, and it was time for them to realize it.

The guard abruptly urged Aliara to step further to avoid blocking the door, breaking her eye contact with Ivan, and she quickly walked closer to him. As the youngsters arrived, she tripped, her mind racing and her eyes closing tightly.

Oh! No, not again; she couldn't fall flat on her face in front of him--but her thoughts were interrupted as she felt a hand on her wrist and was drawn closer, their bodies clashing.

"You ok?" Her eyes opened when she heard Ivan's concerned voice and turned up to face him. "Hey, did you lose your voice?" he said again, their eyes locking. When he asked, breaking their eye contact, Aliara realized where they were on the campus.

Their position didn't feel comfortable as the students around them watched. She pushed Ivan, who stumbled and chuckled, attempting to ignore his increasing heart rate.

"Sorry," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, to which Ivan abruptly patted her head, turning Aliara red as he added, "It's ok until you're ok," his voice as sweet as sugar.

"Come on, let's walk together," he urged, withdrawing his hand from her head and tugging her to walk beside him as they approached the classes.

"How are you?" Aliara asked as they walked, and Ivan nodded, "Good, how about you? Ready? We have a lot coming," he enquired, and she nodded with a little smile.

"You didn't tell me when you arrived back from Milan?" She enquired, causing him to turn his head towards her as he detected the trouble in her voice.

"I am sorry Carina, things happened and I didn't have time to inform you about my return. I just came back four days ago," he said, making Aliara wide her eyes and keeping a hand on his mouth.

"Don't call me that here," she murmured, standing just behind the gate to the Senior's lobby.

"Call you what?" Ivan asked softly, releasing her hand and lightly squeezing it as he teased her. Aliara looked around before mumbling, "T-the name, C-Carina," causing Ivan to grin softly at her adorableness.

"Okay, as you say, your highness," he murmured, looking into her eyes one last time before strolling into the lobby and opening the gate as he beckoned for her to enter. Aliara entered, and the two walked side by side, unaware to the stares they received while walking to their respective classrooms.