Amelia found herself reluctantly heading to the library to work on their class project with Aiden. Despite her apprehensions, she knew that completing the assignment was crucial.
Upon arriving at the library, Amelia and Aiden settled into a corner with their laptops and textbooks spread out before them. However, Amelia quickly realized that Aiden had no intention of working collaboratively. Instead, he began bossing her around, dictating what tasks she should focus on and how she should approach the project.
Despite her frustration, Amelia tried to maintain her composure and focus on the task at hand. Their project revolved around analyzing case studies of successful business ventures and identifying key strategies for achieving success in the competitive market. It required extensive research, critical analysis, and creative problem-solving skills, all of which Amelia wanted to work on.
As Aiden continued to micromanage their work, Amelia couldn't help but feel increasingly annoyed and undervalued. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to stay calm, reminding herself that she was capable of handling the project on her own if need be.
Amelia's POV
I couldn't believe how calmly Aiden was behaving, as if yesterday's incident hadn't even happened. It was like he didn't care at all about what he had done to me, about how he had almost drowned me. The audacity of it all made my blood boil with rage.
But despite the churning inside me, I forced myself to remain outwardly calm. I knew that losing my cool wouldn't help me achieve my goal of revenge. Instead, I needed to bide my time, to plan my comeback and execute it with precision.
As I sat across from Aiden, listening to him bark orders and assert his dominance, I couldn't help but feel a sense of grim determination wash over me. This wasn't over, not by a long shot. I would make him pay for what he had done, and I would do it in a way that left him regretting ever crossing me.
It was time to execute my plan.
I looked at Aiden, my voice steady but laced with accusation. "Do you have no shame? The coach knows what you did, yet he's covering for you. How can you live with yourself?"
His words sliced through the tension, his tone dripping with arrogance. "The coach is wise," he began, his voice laced with superiority, "unlike you. You better watch your step if you want to avoid any future consequences. Consider yourself lucky that I let the coach handle it."
I felt like slapping his face and knocking this arrogance out of him, but come on, Amelia, what he did deserves something more than just a slap.
It's 12:00 pm now. As we wrap up our work, ask me how hard it was to tolerate him, all thanks to my patience. We had to submit our assignment online, and I tell Aiden that I will do that. He had to play football, so he let me.
With a sense of satisfaction bubbling within me, I meticulously submit the assignment, ensuring to attach an audio file. In that file lies the key to my revengeâa damning confession from Aiden himself, admitting to his malicious act of trying to drown me. It's a small victory, but it fills me with a sense of empowerment, knowing that I've outsmarted him and turned the tables in my favor. And the series of my revenge begins.
I just can't wait for tomorrow when the teacher will discuss the assignments in class along with the audio I sent.
.............................
As I was packing my bag and laptop, Rose bounded over to me, her face beaming with excitement. She twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, a habit she had when she was particularly thrilled about something. "Hey, Amelia!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with energy. "I was just thinking of grabbing a snack at the cafeteria. Wanna join?"
I smiled, glad for the distraction from my thoughts. "Sure, Rose. Sounds like a plan," I replied, zipping up my bag.
As we made our way to the cafeteria, Rose turned to me with a concerned expression. "Hey, how was the assignment?" she asked, her tone softening. "I'm really sorry about yesterday and Aiden's behavior. Did anything happen between you two today?"
I paused, feeling a mix of emotions wash over me. "Thanks, Rose," I said, trying to mask my lingering frustration. "No, nothing happened today. Let's just focus on getting some food." Despite my attempt to brush it off, the memory of yesterday's incident with Aiden still lingered in the back of my mind, casting a shadow over our conversation.
As we reached the counter, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air, making our mouths water with its savory scent. I grabbed a tray and loaded it with some crispy french fries, a steaming bowl of ramen, and a slice of chicken cake that had caught my eye. It struck me that despite being at this university for some time now, it was my first visit to the cafeteria. The bustling atmosphere, coupled with the delicious spread of food, made it feel like I was dining at a fancy restaurant rather than a university cafeteria.
Rose and I found an empty table and settled in, the chatter of students mingling with the clinking of cutlery in the background. As we dug into our meals, Rose turned to me with a curious expression. "So, Amelia," she began, "we've been studying at Crestmont since forever, we went to its school, college and now university. But you, you just appeared out of nowhere. How did you end up here?"
I took a moment to chew on a mouthful of ramen before replying. "Well, it's a bit of a long story," I said, thinking back to the events that led me to Crestmont. "But let's just say fate had a hand in it. We used to live in another city but due to my father's official transfer, my family and I shifted here last month."
As Rose listened to my explanation, her eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, that's quite a journey," she remarked, nodding in understanding. "Moving to a new city can be both daunting and exciting, but I'm glad fate brought you here."
I smiled gratefully at her understanding. "Yeah, it's been quite an adjustment," I admitted, recalling the whirlwind of changes that accompanied our move. "But I'm slowly settling in, and having friends like you and the others certainly makes it easier."
Rose beamed at me, her enthusiasm contagious. "Well, consider me your official tour guide!" she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I'll show you all the best spots in the city, from cafes to hidden gems. We'll have a blast exploring together!"
I couldn't help but grin at her infectious energy. "That sounds amazing," I replied eagerly. "I can't wait to see everything this city has to offer and to spend more time with you, Rose."
As Rose and I chatted, her excitement beaming, a deep, masculine voice cut through the air, calling out her name. I watched in concern as Rose's expression shifted from joy to fear, her features paling noticeably. Curious, I turned to see who had caused such a reaction.
Standing behind us was a tall, imposing figure, his presence commanding attention. He exuded an air of confidence, his posture straight and assured. With sharp features and piercing eyes, he possessed a rugged handsomeness that was hard to ignore. His dark hair was styled effortlessly.
Recognition dawned on me as I realized that he was one of Aiden's close friends. Despite his striking appearance, there was an undeniable intensity about him that made me uneasy.
My confusion grew as I observed Rose's demeanor, her usual happiness replaced by apprehension. It was clear that there was more to their relationship than met the eye, and I couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay hidden beneath the surface.
As the boy approached, he seemed to tower over us, his presence imposing. Ignoring my presence, he leaned in close to Rose, his voice low and intense. "Why didn't you come yesterday? I told you to be there," he murmured, his words sending a shiver down Rose's spine. Her face paled even further, her hands trembling slightly as she struggled to compose herself.
I watched him as he whispered something into Rose's ear, his words meant for her alone. Whatever he said seemed to unsettle her further, and I couldn't help but wonder about the nature of their relationship. His actions were possessive, his touch almost patronizing as he gently patted Rose's head before walking away.
Turning to Rose, I couldn't contain my curiosity any longer. "Who was that?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern. "And why did he make you so afraid?"
"His name is Jason," Rose began, her voice still a bit shaky from the encounter. "He's a friend of Aiden's, and he's also in our class," she explained, though her words did little to ease my confusion.
I nodded, piecing together the connection between Jason and Aiden. It made sense that they would be friends, given Aiden's dominant presence. But what had Jason said to Rose that left her so visibly shaken?
As I pressed her for more information, Rose skillfully deflected the topic, her reluctance to discuss it only deepening my curiosity. It was clear there was more to this story.