CHAPTER 13: IT’S COMPLICATED

Traveling was something that she loved the most. She got to see new places and be with her friends and family. And also make memories with the people that mattered the most to her.

Although some people would be like passersby, it was still great to look back one day and recall just how nice it was.

Besides, the greatest thing that she loved about going on trips like these was the fact that it was never for free.

There was always a catch whenever it came to trips and she was always aiming for them.

And the seniors' vacation trip being the last trip of the year, Darica wanted to make sure that she made use of it and got as many benefits as she could.

As the drive was eighteen hours long, it was a tiresome one, actually. Even when hosting a Livestream, one would get tired as well.

So, during the journey, everyone enjoyed themselves by singing, chatting amongst themselves, and interacting with viewers for those who were hosting any livestreams.

And when they were tired, they would sleep and just do anything that any other person would do when traveling long distances.

On the way to Okasa, the city that was closer to Darwin's Island, Darica wasn't having it easy as a frown could be seen once in a while on her face as she furiously typed on her phone.

Yuka, seeing that side of her, knew that Darica was up to no good and whoever was talking to her, that person was surely dead for sure.

Looking at the shameless messages that kept on popping up on her screen, Darica regretted responding to the first message that had arrived thirty minutes before.

With everyone tired of all the cheering and singing, most of the people on the bus were all asleep. However, she couldn't sleep, so she was busy browsing her phone when a message from someone she failed to kick aside came in.

Curious about what he wanted to say after she had politely rejected his earlier proposal, she began to respond. And now, thirty minutes later, she was starting to wonder just why she did that in the first place.

[DUKE: Babe, it's been over a year. Can't you at least give me a chance to prove myself?]

[DUKE: You know that my feelings for you are genuine, alright? I will never mess with a girl like you. You rock my world. Can't you give me a child?]

[DUKE: Babe ….. babe … please, answer me!]

Reading those messages that she had gotten used to and was now familiar with as he had been busy sending them and saying them in person indeed for more than a year, Darica wanted to beat the man.

She hated complicated things. After everything she had seen while growing up, she vowed to not date, at least when she was still young. After maturing a bit and having her own assets, would she consider that?

And yet Duke appeared in her life from nowhere and started to pursue her like crazy. And the young man wasn't even embarrassed about it.

He seemed to love showing off that he was going after her. He wasn't the first boy that pursued her, but he was the first that was adamant about it. No matter what she did to shake him off, he only came stronger.

Even the students from Eastview University where Duke was studying now knew about her.

Their two schools were more like nemesis and always competing hard against each other and yet now, because of Duke, the two schools were more like sisters-in-law.

The thought of having so many people ogling her just because a certain rich playboy was interested in her truly made her feel complicated.

If she were to say that she wasn't moved by his actions, she would be lying. But her fear of letting him in was the one that was stopping her from giving him a chance.

And it was just driving her crazy.

[DARICA: Don't you know when to stop?]

[DUKE: You … you responded!]

Darica looked at the message and found it very funny. However, there was no way she was going to go easy on him because of how cute he was acting.

So, with a serious expression on her face, she typed once more.

[DARICA: Don't you know how to take no for an answer?]

[DUKE: I am afraid that it is now impossible. My parents are even waiting for me to bring you over this holiday. They can't wait to see you!]

Seeing that message, Darica completely erupted with anger, for she knew one thing: Duke wasn't the kind to joke.

He might have been joking and testing the waters when he first started, but with time, she started seeing his sincerity. It was just out in the open, and she didn't need to question it.

So, reading about his parents, triggered some hidden emotions in her that she just couldn't take it.

[DARICA: I don't want to talk to you!]

Afraid of saying something that she would regret in a moment of fury, she sent a short message before blocking Duke's number.

Clutching her racing heart with a dazed expression, Darica felt that she wasn't worth it. She felt like she was a joke, and love was truly not worth it for someone like her.

'How dare I be promiscuous and playful and be with you?'

'If you know the real me. Will you still be interested in me?'

'Is it the façade that I have forgotten to get rid of, that you are interested in?'

'Am I just a conquest you want to conquer, or do I mean a lot to you?'

'Will you also leave me like they did?'

'Instead of making myself suffer, why don't I just end it all?'

It was more of an inner battle, one that would always stay with her for as long as she lived.

She didn't want to delve into the past, but the more she thought of his smile, his endless pursuit, and the affection he had shown in the past year, she couldn't help it.

'But how long am I going to live like this?'

'Should I really let my inner demons take control of my life and dictate how I should live?'

On second thoughts, Darica felt that it was a pity for her to just accept defeat and let her past dictate her life.

She also wanted to be happy and find for herself what everyone else was interested in.

If it didn't suit her, then she would know and not assume.

But since she had already blocked his number, wouldn't she lose her cool if she unblocked him just after a few minutes?

That didn't sit well with her at all.

'If he is interested in me, he will find a way!' her stubbornness managed to win in the end.