Emily's pov
Days went by, and I got used to the school environment and the students. I made two new friends, Daisy and Cally. I saw that arrogant boy every day in school, and he turned out to be quite brilliant in class.
We hadn't spoken since that day, and I didn't know whether to approach him again or just leave him alone.
It was lunchtime after three hours of morning classes. Cally, Daisy and I chatted as we walked into the cafeteria. I didn't need to buy food because my mom packed a lunchbox for me so I decided to pick a table while waiting for my friends to order.
I scanned the cafeteria for an empty table when I spotted that guy eating alone.
I hesitated for a moment before walking up to him.
"Hi" I greeted him as I took the seat opposite his.
He looked up and glanced at me briefly and murmured a soft "hmm" before continuing his meal.
I glared at him, took a deep breath to calm my rising anger and forced a smile.
But before I could say anything,
"Emily why are you sitting with this loser?" I heard Daisy's voice from behind me.
I looked at her with a frown, displeased with her remark.
"Can't I sit with him?" I asked, my voice sounding a bit annoyed.
""Of course not. How can you sit with someone like him? He doesn't deserve it" Daisy shouted, drawing attention from the other students.
Soon enough, we were hearing hushed whispers from the onlookers and of course their words weren't any good for the guy.
Funny enough, he didn't even raise his head from his food.
Cally was just watching with an indifferent expression.
What was so bad about eating with a classmate?
I was about to voice my thoughts when he stood up, leaving his unfinished meal and walked slowly but firmly out of the cafeteria.
I watched his retreating back as he left and felt bad.
He was just eating in peace, why humiliate him like that?
I stood up from my seat ready to follow him.
"This wasn't right" I said to Daisy with a glare.
I picked up my lunchbox and ran after him, ignoring the confused looks from the others.
I looked for him everywhere I could think of but couldn't find him leaving me feeling frustrated.
I was about to give up when,
"That guy is always alone. How pitiful" I heard a girl's voice from behind me.
'Alone?'
I turned to the source of the voice and saw two girls walking out from the library. One was slim and very pretty while the other was a bit chubby and looked plain.
"Don't you know him?" The chubby girl asked.
The slim girl shook her head in denial.
"He is the infamous orphan in class iv. Almost everyone in school despises him and no one wants to associate with him." The chubby girl explained.
"That's really bad. But their hatred towards him couldn't just be because of him being an orphan right?" The slim girl asked with a puzzled expression.
"The other students hate him because his cousin Daniel makes them . His aunt took him in after his parents died and he has been Daniel's shadow ever since. Daniel hates and mocks him so naturally other students do the same" the chubby girl said with a look of disdain.
I couldn't tell who her disdain were directed at. Could it be the guy or Daniel and the other students?
Wait, Daniel is that guy's cousin right? So he must be the one they're talking about.
I didn't waste much time and ran into the library.
As soon as I entered, I spotted him at the extreme corner by the left, engrossed in a book.
I exhaled deeply before walking up to him.
"Hey" I said awkwardly. I knew the humiliation he faced at the cafeteria was somehow my fault.
"What do you want now?" He asked coldly as he raised his head to look at me making me take a step back.
"Uh... I'm sorry for what happened back there. I don't know why they were that harsh. Please don't take it to heart" I said timidly, still standing awkwardly.
"I don't care about what anyone says" he replied. I noticed him give me a brief once-over before going back to his reading which made me feel nervous.
I sighed before taking a seat. I looked at my lunchbox then shifted my gaze to the stoic boy in front of me.
"Do you mind joining me for lunch" I said. The main reason I followed him and brought my lunchbox was to eat with him. I felt it was my fault that he didn't finish his food earlier.
"No thanks" he replied without raising his head.
"Why not?" I pushed my luck.
"Do I have to answer that?" He questioned back, raising his head to shoot me a glare.
"Is there a problem if you do?" I shot back.
What's his problem?
"I don't have the time to argue with you" he said, standing up abruptly. He didn't even bother to look at me and made his way to the exit.
I quickly followed him out.
I stood in front of him, blocking his way forward, my eyes shooting daggers.
I've never been this frustrated.
I mean I only felt guilty and just wanted to help him feel better, why does he have to make it so hard?
"Step aside" he said coldly. For a moment, I was tempted to do as he said but his arrogant face made me angrier, dismissing my earlier thought.
"What's your problem with me?" I asked angrily.
"Who said I had a problem with you?" He asked with a puzzled expression. I paused for a moment before continuing.
"Why are you so cold to me? I only wanted to help make you feel better. Why do you have to make it so complicated?" I questioned.
A flicker of emotion passed through his eyes but was so quick that I thought I had imagined it.
"Do I have a reason to be friendly to you?" He said, maintaining his tone.
I pondered on his words for a moment and realized that he had a point.
Fine then, since he doesn't want to associate with me, then I won't bother with him either.
I shot him a ferocious glare before turning on my heel to leave.
Ethan's pov
I looked at her as she walked away, sighing helplessly.
It seems that due to not having a single person on my side for so long, I had grown a wall around myself.
The thing is, I'm not so sure if her kindness is genuine. I just don't want to let my guard down and get hurt again.
I had fallen for Bianca back then because of her fake kindness towards me and I was really hurt when I found out it was all just an act.
I can't let that happen to me again.
The rest of the day went on as usual and I pushed what happened to the back of my mind.
Emily's pov
I was so exhausted by the time I got home. I took a quick shower before joining my mom in the living room.
Dad wasn't back from work yet.
"How was school today, dear" my mom asked with a smile as I plopped down on the sofa.
I smiled faintly before recounting the day's events to her, skipping that guy's part. I still don't know his name.
Guess I'll have to ask Cally tomorrow.
"Seems you're having a lot of fun" my mom beamed.
"Kind of. Forget about me mom, tell me about your day" I said excitedly.
My mom laughed softly at my enthusiasm.
And just like that, we chatted for a long time.
As I entered the class the next day, the first thing I noticed was he was absent.
I was curious about his whereabouts.
I shrugged off my concern and skipped happily to where my friends were.
A few minutes later, a tall figure walked into the classroom with his head bent down.
Where was he?
I suddenly remembered how rude he was yesterday, making me irritated. I glared at his frame and turned back to my friends.
"Emily, why do you seem interested in Ethan?" Cally asked.
I paused at her question, looking at her blankly for a moment.
"Ethan?" I asked looking puzzled.
"The guy you ran after yesterday, Ethan" she confirmed.
"Oh that. I'm not interested in him. I just felt he was being treated unfairly" I explained.
I won't deny that I was a bit curious about him and maybe wouldn't mind being his friend but that was all. Nothing more.
"Unfairly?" Daisy scoffed.
"He's just a poor orphan, who cares about his feelings?" Daisy continued.
I frowned at her words. I remembered those girls saying he was an orphan yesterday and from their conversation, I can vaguely understand the situation with him.
I glanced at his lonely figure briefly before facing my friends again.
"I still think it's unfair. He didn't choose to be an orphan neither did he choose to be poor. Besides wasn't he adopted by his aunt? Why is he still regarded as poor?" That's one thing I couldn't understand.
From Daniel's appearance and demeanor, I can tell his family, although might not be rich but can't be considered poor either.
"Adopted? Hmph, she just took him in. Nothing more, nothing less. And I think he's just being a burden. Apart from his good looks, there's nothing nice about him" Daisy said while Cally remained quiet.
"Mind your words. Don't you think you're being too harsh" I reprimanded her.
She rolled her eyes before saying
"I don't know why you are supporting him, anyways enough about that loser. What are your plans for the weekend?"
I sighed in relief as she changed the subject.
I felt uncomfortable when she kept saying harsh things about Ethan.
Apart from his arrogant and snobbish attitude, I don't really see anything wrong with him.
Half an hour later, the teacher came in and started his lesson.
Few minutes into the lesson, the teacher was about to use an equipment to prove a particular point. He reached into his pocket and realized he had forgotten it.
He scanned the classroom for a brief moment.
"Ethan, can you do me a favor and go to the staffroom. I think I forgot the equipment in my bag. Could you get it for me?" The teacher, Mr Raymond asked politely.
"Sure" Ethan replied blankly, stood up and left the classroom.
After the tiring lesson, we were all idle since there was no class until after lunch.
Everyone was chatting and laughing with their friends, everyone except Ethan.
It seemed he didn't mind though as he was busy reading a book.
He should be a really smart guy since he loves reading so much.
"Hey loser, what are you doing" Daniel shouted as he snatched the book from Ethan's hands.
I frowned at his actions.
Why does he like looking for trouble?
"Hand it back" Ethan demanded coldly, stretching his hand towards Daniel. His face was as blank as an empty sheet of paper.
"Hahaha... And what if I refuse. What are you going to do, huh?" Daniel taunted.
I felt the urge to walk up to him and slap some sense into that dense head of his.
"I said hand it back" Ethan said again, standing up this time.
"Sorry bro but no can't do" Daniel said with a mocking smile.
I watched as Ethan let out a deep breath and started walking out of the class.
His action made me furrow my brows in a frown. Why did he give up so easily?
"You've got some nerves huh, walking out on me" Daniel shouted and pushed Ethan making him fall face forward.
Ethan laid there for a moment and I couldn't help but notice him clench his fists.
He stood up after a few minutes and was about to charge at Daniel when an angry voice stopped his action.
"Stop right there Ethan" we all froze as the cold voice boomed in the classroom causing the classroom to fall into dead silence.
I turned to the door and saw Mr Raymond stand with his arms crossed, his eyes shooting daggers.
What could have made him so furious?