Chapter 3 Did You Miss Me

"Why does my name sound so seductive from your lips?"

I accidentally returned my gaze to him and saw that he was just staring at me while biting his lower lip.

"You're just hungry," I answered nonchalantly.

It's not like I wanted to go along with his dirty remark earlier, and it wasn't like I wanted to start a conversation with him.

I also don't know why I'm still here, even though I should have walked away as soon as I found out he was here.

He just smirked at me before playing with the cigarette in his right hand, fondling with the silence. It's been a while since we conversed-if it could be counted as one-but what I noticed was that we're both maintaining a safe distance from each other.

No one attempted to come closer, and I like it that way. His presence scares me. Who wouldn't be if he had the power to manipulate me and ruin my entire life in a second?

"That's rude," I scolded him when he started to lower his gaze to my legs, which are very exposed right now because I'm just wearing dolphin shorts.

"What's exactly the rude thing, Miss Secretary?" he asked before taking another drag on his cigarette and tossing it onto the grass. "I am just admiring the view. If it's rude to admire good scenery, then should I file a case against those women who stare at me every time I walk towards the school?"

"Well, it's rude to stare if there's no permission, and..." I trailed off.

There were so many things I wanted to say, like how rude he was for not even apologizing for his perverted gaze earlier in school, and how he threw the cigarette on the floor, but I decided to shut up and let the thoughts run only in my head.

"And?" Ash asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing." I looked away. "I'll go now."

I didn't wait for him to answer as I left the place, not looking back. I even heard Ash chuckling a bit because of what I did, but it doesn't matter to me anymore.

Temptation is unavoidable and surrounds us at every turn. You can't escape it, and I'm not just referring to romantic relationships.

There were some sort of temptations and it was tempting me to sin... but one thing I learned in life is the fact that I can overcome it.

And these strange damned feelings I feel whenever I feel Ash's presence will fade soon.

By hook or by crook.

IT WAS past eleven in the evening when I got home. Since I didn't know how I got there earlier, I also didn't know the way back home right away. There weren't many people around, so I had to figure it out through trial and error.

Thankfully, I made it home somehow.

"Where have you been, child?" my mom asked worriedly as she waited for me in our living room. She looked sleepy and exhausted, with her heavy eyes and slow movements. "I thought something had happened to you. Your dad said you ran away after talking back to him."

"Good evening, mom. I didn't know you were here." I kissed her hand before taking off my slippers and entering the house. I stretched my arms and legs a bit before facing her. "Have you eaten?" I asked, trying to change the subject.

I didn't bother to explain my side anymore. No matter what kind of explanation I give, my mom wouldn't believe me. That's how much my mom loves my dad.

Even when my dad gambled away the money that was supposed to pay for my college education, she had nothing to say against him.

"Sapphire, please be patient with your father. He only did that because he was sad. I hope you understand and forgive him," my mom said as she hugged me tightly and gently stroked my back. "He's only human. He makes mistakes sometimes."

I could only manage a bitter smile. I thought I was fine, but even after all these years, it sucks.

"Sapphire," she called softly, but I ignored her and went to the kitchen to get water instead. "Sapphire," she called again, her tone intimidating this time.

I immediately turned to her, not because I was afraid, but out of respect. "I was just outside, mom. I took a walk and didn't realize it was already late."

I drank the water in one go. I needed something to calm me down, knowing that I was losing my temper. She was a good mother and I loved her, but I didn't like that she was willing to argue with me for my father's sake.

If love is as shitty as that, it would be better if I never experienced it.

"I'm going to sleep now, Mom. I have to get up early tomorrow for work, so I need to rest." I walked over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek. "You should rest too, Mom. It's late."

I was about to leave and go to my room to sleep when Mom suddenly spoke. "I hope you could give your father a little respect."

"Respect?" I asked in a sarcastic tone. "Respect has to be earned, Mom. If he really wants me to respect him, he should show me why I should. I can't just respect him because he wants me to. I won't give it to him even if he kills me right now."

My facade is strong, but deep inside, I'm crumbling. I still can't get used to my mom always choosing my dad over me... repeatedly.

I waited for her to speak, but she just stared at me, her mouth opening and closing as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. Her eyes told me she was worried about me, but she didn't fully believe everything I was saying.

I sighed deeply before leaving her alone.

"FUCK, I want to go home," I muttered as I walked toward the College of Accountancy building for my first class.

I'm so tired of this routine, yet this is the key to my success. People who didn't have any backers or generational wealth like me can't complain about studying. I don't want to live this pathetic life forever, either.

To lighten my day just a bit, I focused on listening to music. I had earphones, and it helped me to endure the noisy students surrounding me.

Hearing my favorite song, I smiled as I went to my classroom. However, I stopped walking when I saw someone in my assigned seat.

"The owner is here, bro," I heard one guy whisper to another-the one casually sitting in my chair. "Let's go."

It was Ash and his friends.

As far as I remember, they weren't my classmates, and their courses were in Engineering. My first subject for the day was a major one, so it was impossible for Civil Engineering and BS Accountancy to merge.

That could happen if it were a minor subject, but it wasn't.

Upon seeing me, Ash immediately stood up and approached me. "Hello, Sapphire Jade. Did you miss me?"