the genius' first love

8

8 LOVE BITES

"Hi Xhem!" A familiar voice called on me cheerfully in the shower room. I just finished my bath and was watching myself in the big mirror in front of the sink brushing my hair.

"Hey Dian," I responded with a big smile as she approached. Her cheerfulness was contagious, one couldn't help but be merry in front of her.

"You guys are staying in the University dorms too?" I asked with curiosity as soon as I realized that she wasn't supposed to be here.

Dian is from XU High School. The school of the wealthiest in this region. One could not enter such school without hundreds of millions in their banks. With that kind of school, I'm sure they won't let their participants stay in university dorms. The school must have prepared hotels for them. I'm not saying that the university's facilities are substandard, it's just that things had always been like that for the rich. They always sought for luxury, so they stay in luxurious hotels.

"No of course! But my I messed up my uniform a while ago while touring around and I can't go walking with it, so I changed my clothes here." She explained and took some powder from her bag and started retouching her face.

"I see..." I answered and continued combing my hair.

I meet Diane a year ago when I joined a cartooning event. During break, she offered me strawberry biscuits and that's how our friendship started. Since then, we took time to greet each other when we met in competitions and if we had extra time, we went out shopping for souvenirs before heading home.

"Your hair is pretty when they are out of the bun" She admiringly looked at me in the mirror while I was combing my hair. She must have been looking at me for while now and I didn't notice.

"Thanks, yours looks pretty in whatever ways you put them" I returned her compliment. What I said was true. Aside from her pretty face, her hair was stunningly perfect whatever style she wore it. I cannot help but looked at her specially her almond hazel eyes. They looked like the beast eyes. Suddenly I remembered the beast again, I frowned immediately.

"I heard you are having an affair with a Lagdameo kid." Her question shocked me a little. Her smiles were gone now but her aura was still wearing the cheerfulness she carries all the time.

"Rumors fly fast indeed" I answered with a sigh. Even after I took a bath and calmed myself from what happened earlier, I'm still frustrated about everything. My encounters with the beast, was clearly not one of my favorite events of my life.

"Well, it's trending on the participants' chatrooms and forums. They even have pictures of both of you." She hesitated a bit with her last word but decided to inform me anyway. However, a sense of worry swirled in her eyes knowing that such information will make me uneasy.

"Picture? What picture? Did someone capture a picture of us in the canteen?" The worry inside me started to rise up in an instant!

"Yes, but don't worry you were covered by his face so no one could tell it was you.That's why everyone is fussing about your identity online. Good thing no one can recognize your uniform so better not wear it throughout the competition," She assured me in a way that that she was very certain of her words.

I thought about it for a bit. My actions had really been too careless this time. If grandfather will know that someone was this close in taking a picture me and could have possibly posted it online, he will never allow me to go any competitions anymore. Never again.

Aside from that, I don't know the extent of trouble that it will bring my family in case pictures of me will scatter online. One noticeable picture of me will surely lead to disaster.