“You are beautiful.”

''Someone that doesn't know her true feelings is definitely not okay, Calla.''

Calla froze upon hearing Vincent's words. Indeed, someone that did not know their true feelings was definitely not okay.

But....didn't she deserved not to be okay?

''I-I'm going to the hospital today. Kayla and her puppies need to see the vet.'' Calla quickly changed the topic of the conversation when she realized the trail of her thoughts. The end of them was definitely a depressing end, and she did not want that.

Also, how could she just trust a stranger with her thoughts? She and Vincent were not friends yet she felt compelled to share her feelings with him.

How weak of herself.

 ''Kayla?'' Vincent asked confused with appearance of an unfamiliar name. When he repeated Calla's words in mind, realization dawned on him. ''You named her Kayla, what a lovely name, Calla.'' He complimented with a bright smile.

''I..I just thought the name now….'' Calla murmured, her eyes diverting elsewhere almost as if she was shy. This was the first time someone apart Miss Lola had complimented what she did. If it were Miss Lola, she wouldn't have reaction, but the person this time was Vincent, a person who she recently started talking to in the university.

It was just weird for her.

''You must really love dogs to think of such beautiful name this fast. Kayla, Calla…they almost sound similar.'' Vincent was not stingy with his praise. Even if he was acting this way, that did not mean he did not notice how Calla abruptly led him on to another conversation.

''We can take a taxi to the hospital together after we are done with class.'' Vincent suggested, standing up from the grass. He didn't forget to brush the tiny grasses sticking to his butt. Since Calla did not want continue their previous conversation, then he would respect her decision.

Besides, the fact that she talked about visiting a veterinary hospital, meant that she had lowered her guard against him. She didn't avoid him, which was a plus for Vincent.

'It's been a long time since I have spoken without constraints…' Vincent thought with a small melancholy smile. In the society, regardless of the gender, all must speak and behave with conduct as they are representing their family's name.

The last time he ever felt this free this was with his mother. Even if she was proud and elegant woman in the high society, to him, she was just his mother. Always smiling and giving him the best warmth as her child. Unfortunately, she was no more.

If only he had noticed….then she wouldn't have selfishly left him behind so suddenly.

''Really? You wouldn't mind going with me?'' Vincent snapped out his thoughts at the sound of Calla's soft voice.

''I only told you about this because Kayla regarded you as her family. She will be happy if you are around.''

''…..'' Vincent quietly gazed down at Calla who was waiting his reply. For some reason, the image of his mother's face suddenly overlapped Calla's. Now that this happened, he noticed the similarity between their eyes even if they were of different colors.

''Vincent?'' Feeling a little conscious, Calla called out to him in her natural soft tone. She was a bit puzzled as to why he was staring at her so blatantly. At the same time, she couldn't help but wear her hoodie back on her head.

''You are beautiful.'' Vincent suddenly blurted out without thinking. He froze for a moment, and then continued, trying to choose his words carefully. ''You are a beautiful woman. No one, not even anyone in your family should tell you otherwise.''

As someone from the high society, Vincent had a guess of her situation. For her to have left her own family had plainly told everyone about her poor circumstances.

Upon hearing those words, Calla was extremely shocked. When she looked at Vincent, she saw that he was not joking. He was really serious about his words.

''….Oh…'' This was the first someone had told her that she was beautiful. In the past, people only did that out of courtesy for her parents and sister. Now…someone just told her that she was beautiful without her sister and parents present with her.

''...'' Apart from 'oh,' Calla struggled with words to say. This was the first time she received a sincere compliment. Should she say thank you? No, that would seem like he was doing an obligation. Then what should she say?

As though Vincent knew of her dilemma, he laughed softly before stretching his hand towards Calla's hoodie.

His fingers paused when Calla suddenly flinched and quickly avoided them. Without a delay, he withdrew them and rubbed the back of his head, looking embarrassment.

''I just wanted to pull down your hoodie. You are truly a beautiful woman. You don't need hide your face, and I really am sincere with my words. I thought it was best if you were comfortable in my presence without your hoodie on.''

''…..Thank you….but, I'm not used to people's compliment.'' Calla admitted softly. Hopefully, Vincent understood her dilemma from her words. She then stood up from the ground, not forgetting to take bag pack lying on the grass with her.

''My classes end around two pm. You still haven't answered me about coming along with myself, Kayla and her puppies.'' While speaking, Calla did not look at Vincent from beginning to the end. She always flinched when someone intended to touch her. Though, they were exceptions like her husband, and Miss Lola.

''What a coincidence. My class also ends around two pm. I can come to your department right?'' Vincent Immediately gave his reply.

Inwardly, he was cussing himself for not having control.

Because Calla's eyes somewhat resembled his mother's, he wanted to look at them again…but he had scared the weak lady. Vincent felt he wouldn't be surprised if she thought of himself as a pervert who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

''Then see you after class.'' Calla agreed with a nod, then hastened her steps away from Vincent. Once Vincent saw her back no more, he squatted down with his hands over his face, and berated himself with groan.

''Why...Why did you have to do that, Vincent?''

''She must have freaked out.'' He mumbled, sliding his hands down his face until they stopped over his lips.

For a moment, it was quiet in the backyard of the commercial department until Vincent voiced out his true thoughts still in his squatting position.

''Her eyes….looks like mother's…before she died.''

____

''OMG! Is that prince Vincent?''

''Where is he? I can't see him.''

''Over there. He seems to be waiting for someone from our department.''

''Come to think of it, we, third years have no classes for the rest of the day. Perhaps he's waiting for Lacy.''

''Ohhhh…He and lacy might be going on a date.''

Just as the ladies gushed out in excitement, Vincent was leaning on the wall near the entrance in the hallway of lockers. In his simple outfit of only a jean trouser and a top, Vincent was still a prince admired by many females in the university.

''Psst! Lacy, look over there. Prince Vincent seems to be waiting for you.'' A little further away from the gossiping females was a group of three girls in high fashioned and expensive clothes strutting down the hallway lockers in their pointy heels.

The girls were beautiful, but middle one was the most outstanding, especially with her light pink hair like cotton candy.

When her ear caught Vincent's name from the friend on her left, the heel of her black knee-high boots stopped clicking the tiled floor and her dark eyes quickly scanned the hall for him. When her gaze landed, her face displayed a full-blown smile with red hue appearing on her cheeks.

''Oh…I didn't expect him to do this….'' Her voice held bashfulness like a girl in love for the first time. Even though she knew that she didn't ask Vincent to wait for her, she did not bother to correct her friend's misunderstanding.

In her mind, Vincent only came to the department to see her and no one else.

''Our Lacy is the luckiest. Come on, stop behaving shy and go meet your prince.'' The friend on her right teased with a smile. She added with encouragement. ''You look gorgeous for the date, so go on and spill the beans to us later.''

''Yes…'' Lacy still responded in her bashful tone. Her eyes looked down to check her outfit. From her high-waist striped pink skirt to her long-sleeved crop top, everything on her was perfect from head to toe.

She recently applied lip gloss, and her make-up still looked good on her face. There was no need for to add more.

''Okay…''Greatly satisfied with her beautiful appearance, Lacy shut her shiny compact mirror and kept it in her black designer purse.

''Bye girls.'' She bid her friends goodbye, and turned around with a big smile, about start walking to Vincent who she assumed was waiting for her.

But….

To her surprise, her Prince Vincent directed a warm smile to another person that was not her. The smile was different from the polite ones she always received when using her elder brother as opportunity to talk to him.

The big smile on Lacy's glossy pouty lips stiffened when she realized that fact. As if that was not enough, she also realized the identity of the girl that her Prince Vincent patiently waited for.

The masked freak that was in the same year as herself.