Chapter 26

Ana Louella

After the incident that happened yesterday, I was not able to sleep nor eat properly. I could not get Ace out of my head and I am always reminded by his deep set brown eyes. He was the first person that I remembered as soon as I opened my eyes and he was even in my dream last night. With each passing day, my desire to become closer to him intensified.

I know that I should not like him but I just can't stop myself from liking him. I want to know him just as much as I want him to know me. All I ever need is for him to give me a chance and that is what I am always hoping for.

I have been thinking of Ace these past few days and I almost forgot that Andrei is still angry with me. I went to their house yesterday but he did not go out of his room to talk to me and he did not even answer any of my calls. I asked Meg to ask him what is wrong with him but he just got even angrier with me. I honestly do not know what his problem is so how am I supposed to know how I can appease him?

I shook my head to get all those thoughts out of my head and then I continued walking towards the classroom across Ace's classroom as I massaged my temples. I need to forget everything first and act like nothing is troubling my mind because I do not want other people to see me in this state.

I know that Ace does not want to see me again but I can't bear to not see him for a day so I had to go here to get even just a glimpse of him. I am not planning to show my face to him because I do not want him to be even angrier with me. I will just look at him from afar because this is the least I can do for now.

I leaned against the classroom wall and stared at the floor as I tapped my foot. I glanced at my wristwatch and I was about to straighten my position when I heard someone clear their throat, and I hastily turned my head to see who it was.

It was Dane and I immediately looked behind him to see if he was with his friends, and there, I saw Drake walking towards us and I could not help but get a little nervous.

"Who are you waiting for?" Dane asked as soon as he saw my face.

"Why am I so unlucky?" I mumbled to myself as I looked at Drake.

Drake managed to maintain the scowl on his face as he walked. He caught me staring at him and he just smirked at me. I could not bear his stare so I had to look away.

"Are you deaf? Do I need to repeat myself Louella?" Dane asked and I turned my head to see him.

"I- I am here to... I'll go ahead-" Dane cut me off.

"Answer my goddamn question." He stated and I looked at Drake who was now in front of me.

"I was-" I started and I was about to continue what I have been saying when Drake suddenly spoke.

"Let her be, Dane." He said and I looked at him.

"It's way better to have a chat with a watermelon than to talk to a pest." He added.

"Are you looking for Ace?" Dane questioned and I looked away from them.

I just want to disappear in front of them right now. This is so embarrassing!

"Aha! You're crushing on our Ace huh?" Dane exclaimed and then he tsk-tsked.

I looked at them for a moment and I saw Drake's mocking expression suddenly turned into a scowl. I can't bear to look at them anymore so I fixated my eyes on the floor.

"Out of all the things in life, why did you choose to dream of something that is impossible to happen?" Dane paused for a while and I raised my head to see him.

"It's like grasping the air. No matter how much effort you exert, you will never get a hold of it and that applies to our Ace." He added as he unclenched his right hand and then clench it again.

"I'll go ahead now." I said and then I sighed.

I was about to walk out when Dane grabbed my arm stopping me from leaving.

"We're not that heartless so we gave you advice but whether you follow it or not, you'll still end up crushed so it's all up to you." He stated as he let go of my arm and he smirked before he turned his back on me.

Dane walked away but Drake did not follow him. I was about to turn back when Drake suddenly grabbed my arm and for the second time, I was not able to leave.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

I tugged my arm but he did not let go of it and he tightened his grip on my arm instead.

"Let go of me!" I exclaimed as I tugged my arm again but he did not let go of it.

"Drake, you're hurting me! Let go!" I exclaimed and this time, he let it go.

"Why are you looking for him?" He questioned as he looked at me with piercing eyes.

"Why do you care?!" I snapped at him and he exhaled heavily before replying.

"I hate repeating what I already said so just answer my goddamn question!" He snarled.

"It has nothing to do with you, Drake. Why would I answer your question?" I replied and then I gave him a stern look.

"Damn it! Why do you keep on using that tone to me! You have no right to-" I cut him off by raising my right hand in front of him.

Drake is just so annoying and I do not want to hear his voice again. He is just so controlling and I hate it! If he can control other people, well, I will never let him do the same thing to me.

"I need to go now, my class is about to start." I said.

I was about to turn back when he suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him. I stumbled and I almost fell but he caught my waist immediately. I raised my head to look at him and I did not know that his head was bowed. Our lips lightly brushed each other and I moved away from him as soon as I realized it.

What the hell has just happened?!

I shook my head and then I straightened my position. I moved away from him but he did not let go of my waist. I tried to remove his hand on my waist and he let go but he gripped my arm again.

I tried to wriggle free from his grip but he did not let go of my arm. I looked away from Drake and there, I saw Ace with a stern look standing behind him.

I am pretty sure that he saw what has just happened and I do not know why but I feel like I need to explain myself to him.

"Ace-" I started.

"Let go! Drake, let me go!" I exclaimed as I squirmed from his hold.

"Drake, it hurts! Let go of my arm now!" I exclaimed but he did not let go of my arm and he even tightened his grip on it instead.

"Let her go Drake." Ace spoke out but Drake did not let go.

"Why would I, Ace? Don't tell me, you like this woman?" Drake questioned and Ace smirked at him.

"Why would I like her, Drake?" Ace asked as he scowled at Drake.

"I'm glad, you don't, because I won't let you be with a pest." Drake said and then he roughly threw my arm.

Ace's gaze narrowed into a squint and then he eyed me from head to toe as he crinkled his nose.

"You know me, Drake. I don't like naive women. You like them, I don't." Ace said as he chuckled.

"Shut up Ace!" He snarled and then he looked at me menacingly.

"You... I don't want to see your face ever again. If you want a peaceful life-" He paused for a while and then he lowered his head to look at me and I looked into his honey brown eyes.

"Don't show your face to me anymore." He added as he looked at me with piercing eyes and with that, he left us.

"Will you stop peeking at me?" Ace questioned and I instantly turned to see him.

"I-" I started but he immediately cut me off.

"What did I tell you, Louella?" He asked as he ran his hand through his brown hair.

"What part did you not understand from what I told you yesterday?" He added.

"Ace, I just want to see you and-" He cut me off again.

"Well, I don't want to see you!" He growled and then I felt a tearing sensation in my heart.

I can't look at him right now because my heart hurts. The pain when I accidentally cut my finger with a knife is nothing compared to what I am feeling right now.

"Now, you know. Will you still try to see me huh?" He asked but I did not answer and I just bowed my head.

"Just like Drake, I don't want to see you again Louella." He stated and with that, he left.

His words pierced through my heart and in a split second, I was immobilized as I felt warm liquid streaming down my face. I tried to process every word he has said but I can't accept any of those. My mind is telling me to accept his words and move on but my heart refuses to do so.

I was pulled out of trance when I felt someone gripped my arm and I lifted my head to see who it was and there, I saw Andrei and he gave me a scowl before speaking.

"This is what I am telling you Louella! Why can't you just stay away from them?!" He snapped and I just looked at him.

"See? You got hurt and you'll get even more hurt if you'll still continue what you're doing!" He added and I looked away from him as I removed his hand on my arm.

"Drei, can't we just talk about this later? I need to attend my class now." I said and I was about to turn back when he pulled me in a hug.

"Please, stay away from them. You'll just end up hurt. Just give up already, Lou. You don't deserve him because you deserve someone better." He said as he caressed my back.

"I know, I shouldn't be liking him but it just happened, Drei. It just happened and it really hurts." I sobbed.

Andrei tightened his hug as he continued caressing my back and I just sobbed on his chest.

"I know, I know. Hush now. You'll get better." He said as he gently pushed my body away from him and held my shoulders for me to stay in place.

"You'll be fine, Lou. Let's get you to your class now." He said softly as he wiped my tears with his thumb.

"Okay." I mumbled and then he guided me towards our classroom.

As we walk, the scene a while ago keeps on replaying in my head and the more I think about it, the more I get hurt. I am used to being told hurtful words but the pain I felt before is nothing compared to what I am feeling right now. The feeling is way too hurtful when the person who said those words is the man you like. I never thought that heartache can be this excruciating.