CHAPTER 2

The next day, my training started. It was three months, and I don't think I need so much time to grasp things. I need to concentrate on their software and a few other details, and that's it. I am good at taking on any task. I was socially hyperactive, and it was not hard to make friends for me. At the training session, I made a lot of friends from other departments too.

Three months of training were finished in a blink of an eye. Now, I am officially an employee of this company.

My colleagues were of a good and friendly nature. I was guided when I needed something. My manager was supportive. Everything about this company was screaming that I made a good choice by attending the interview and getting selected, but there was a major flow. If that bastard was not the CEO, then everything would be better.

While having lunch, a discussion about Raphael was inevitable. Most of the girls in my department have crushes on him, so I think it's kind of inevitable for me, at least to hear. So many times, I held myself from pouring unnecessary things. I knew if I said any bad words against him at the end of the day, I would leave the company with some bruises. Because of him, I had gone through so much before not again. Acting in front of them and just nodding my head with a smile was a much easier task.

Through them, I got to know Raphael also works in the same building on the top floor. Was I expecting that he would be working somewhere else? No employees are allowed on that floor; even top-designated employees need to make an appointment before meeting him. Whatever may be the case, I don't give a dam about anything, especially about him.

It was evening, and by bidding goodbye to everyone, I made my way to the flat. I thought of having dinner, so I made my way to the restaurant, which was nearby. I ordered the food, and I was waiting for my order. The wind was blowing, and after a few minutes, it started raining. Damn, I didn't carry an umbrella today.

My order arrived, and I started having the same. I thought by the time I finished the food, the rain would stop, but it was pouring heavily. By ordering the dessert, I was facing the window. Till the moment I believed I was successful in getting rid of his every thought until dessert was in front of me, and it was his favorite chocolate cake. I don't like dessert; today I ordered it just to pass the time, and I have to blame myself for not being conscious. A chuckle escaped from me. I started taking a bite. It was ok; it was good. Whatever I don't like sweets, and he likes sweets. That's it; I didn't have another bite of it.

I started watching the rain through the window. My mind started wondering on the day we met.

I got admitted to one of the most reputable colleges through a scholarship. It was a usual day. After finishing the classes, everyone waited outside to go back to their houses, but the heavy rain made us glued to our spots. I was watching the rain, and I heard a 'dam' word beside me. I briefly checked who it was, and I was stunned on the spot. He was of my height 5.8, a whitish color, lean body, and brown eyes which were captivating.

He was showing so many emotions on his face, and to my horror, it was followed by an adorable pout. Did I just say adorable? It was fucking adorable. I gulped down and averted my eyes. He was too close to me without his knowledge, and it was making me nervous for no reason. My heart was racing, and I was sweating on that rainy day. Until the rain stopped, we were in the same position. Basically, he was glued to me, and I wanted to set him straight for so many reasons, but I didn't. I was enjoying every second in my own way.

The rain stopped, and everyone dispersed including him. I was still in the same spot and didn't move an inch. I was still inhaling his scent before it evaporated into the air. When I felt normal air, I only made my way to my home. On the way, I was in a daze and concluded something was definitely wrong with me.

He was in the same class, and I didn't fucking notice him even once. It's been a few months since the college started. How come? That screams how much I am aware of my classmates.

I should be socially active from now on, and that is my resolution for this year by swearing I made my way to work.

The next day, I turned into a stalker.

I started following him, like everywhere. He never took notice of me, not even once, but I didn't give up. His friends started noticing me and started giving me death glares. I was harmless; why the hell they were trying to shove me away was beyond me, and I didn't give a dam to anyone. I was keeping my stalking thing within the college premises, as I had my own thing to do after leaving the college.

I was working a part-time job, which was necessary for meeting my expenses and to give a hand to my mom as my dad was bedridden. He was paralyzed when I was just 10 years old, and my mom started taking care of everything. When I turned 15, I started contributing as much as I could. Nothing was easy, definitely not our lives, but we are struggling to survive. My mom was a stronger woman, and I was like her. I don't regret the way I was leading my life. She is making it bearable, and yeah, I was happy.

I played hide-and-seek for a few days and finally decided to approach him. I am worried about his friends, who already have their own opinions about me. But should I give a dam about them like it was a friend request? What problem has anyone had with that? I was a bloody good stalker. Not a psychopath.

He was always surrounded by someone, and I was finding his alone time just to chit-chat and drop my request. Finally, I thought he was alone when someone pulled him over and started thrusting his tongue into Raphael's mouth. I was stunned on the spot. They were enjoying it, so it was not a forceful act. I was staring without blinking my eyes. After a few seconds, they parted to catch the air, and again, their lips were locked. Without uttering a word, I turned back and started walking.

I made my way to work like it was nothing. It was my first time having a crush on someone and daring to approach him. I tried my best to divert my mood, but the scene kept getting repeated.

I didn't stop stalking him. There was an addition in his friend circle, yeah, the kissing guy. He had captured the attention of the whole campus, so digging out information about him was not a hard task.

He was studying abroad and got transferred to our college, and the sole reason was Raphael. They were in a relationship, like when they were 12 or 13. Give me a fucking break. His name was Asher Marshall, a teen top model, which was all I required. They were head over heels for each other, at least from what I heard, so Asher convinced his parents to transfer to our college. Just great. There was much more about him, like his background, achievements, and so on. My classmates were pouring in information, and I was digesting everything. Girls, they are fucking good at this kind of thing. In this discussion, I got to know about Raphael's background too, and yeah, backing off was a good idea rather than getting humiliated, so I chose the other one.

Thank God he was an art student, and I am saved from watching their PDA in class. My eyes were always glued to Raphael. I didn't dare to approach him. Stalking was better than approaching, as it would mess up things. Approaching someone with a hidden agenda would not yield a result, not at least after knowing where their happiness lies.

Asher was more handsome than Raphael and irrespective of his open relationship, he would always be approached by many others. Point to be noted it's been only a few days.

It's been a few months, and Asher was everywhere. I mean, everywhere, talking about him. He was getting way too much attention, and he was enjoying every bit of it.

It was the usual day, and I was in college. After finishing my business in the washroom, I was washing my hands. The weather was hot, so to cool myself, I splashed water on my face. By watching the mirror, I questioned myself, 'Do I have any chance, seriously? Not in this life, for sure.' Once again, I splashed water on my face and was wiping it when the door burst open. I was startled even more when I witnessed the scene. Asher was kissing the hot chick on our campus, Daisy.

They were not aware of my presence. Asher was pinged into the wall, and she was unbuttoning his pants. Was he 'Bi'? After a few seconds, Asher was aware of my presence, and he held her hand from further moving. His stare was intense. Daisy started kissing him, and by keeping eye contact with me, he was kissing her back. I didn't budge from the place. I was in shock, one of the reasons, and the other, I was enjoying the dam scene.

Still, his eyes were on me, and neither he nor I were thinking of averting. He brought his index finger to his lips, yeah, informing me to shut my mouth. After that, his thumb was on his neck, slitting. Was he threatening me? By any chance, has he concluded that I am fragile by seeing my specks? "Get the hell out of here; the show is over." It's not. I wanted to argue, but I chose not to.

I was out of the bathroom, still digesting the scene. He was a bloody playboy. His boyfriend is on the same campus, yet he is fucking dares to do this. Wow, unbelievable. Is it pathetic to think that I was feeling happy as I found some hope? I may get a chance with him. I can't help myself from being happy.

Irrespective of whether we were in the same class, we never talked. Raphael's friends were always clingy to him, or was it vice versa? God knows. But he was always surrounded by someone. After witnessing the scene in the bathroom, I contemplated whether to bring this to Raphael's notice or not. It was none of my business. But how can I ignore this? Do I have any other option than to ignore it? These things cannot be hidden forever; eventually, at some point, he will be exposed. And I don't know whether my words would be valued or effective if I dared to bring this to his attention.