Chapter 52: Chapter 52

Daisy's POV

It's been weeks since we were given the project, yet, I still do not know what we are asked to do, the last day of submission was yesterday and since I didn't do the project, it means I have blown my chance of graduating, I was arranging my books in my locker when the teacher entered, my heart skipped a beat, I wonder what excuse I'll give her for not doing the project she gave to me,

"Daisy, I'm impressed by your work", she said, beaming at me, I blinked a few times in confusion,

"You finished your project right on time and right now, all you have to do is to pass the class test and then, you'll be qualified to graduate".

What is she talking about? I didn't do any project, as a matter of fact, I don't even know the topic of the project, I forced a smile as I murmured, "thank you".

I'll have to see Aires later to get an explanation of what is going on.

*

*

I studied hard for my test and each day, Aires comes into my room through the window and help me study, I was never the brightest student nor was I the dullest either but with him as my guide, I learn faster and understands better, most especially my most hateful subject, mathematics, with him putting me through, it seems like wasn't as difficult as I thought but after each tutorial from him, he demands that I pay him by kissing him, I find myself falling deeper in love with him and I always wait in expectation of him and looks forward to those little thrills of kisses I get from him, for a moment, I totally forgot that he was my bully, I love this side of him and wished he will always be like this.

"Stop staring and do the sums that I have given you", he said gruffly and I quickly averted my gaze, damn, I have been caught staring lustfully at him, like a lovesick puppy.

'get a grip Daisy, or he might just go back to being that awful bully", I chided myself inwardly and fixed my gaze on the book in front of me. I wished it was that easy to concentrate when he is standing so close to me, his gaze never leaving my face,

I licked my lips, "er....will you tell me the topic of our project? I deserve to know that at least, since I didn't get to do it"

"Study because you're not permitted to fail the test" was his curt reply, I sighed, I should as well forget about it since he won't tell me what it is.

Soon, I wrote the test and the results were out, my palm grew sweaty and sweat beads on my upper lips as I slowly walked to the notice board,

"Congratulations Daisy, I just saw your name", Desiree screamed, running to me and hugging me, my anxiety vanished as I quickly ran to the notice board to see with my eyes, sure enough, my name was there, it was just two persons that were qualified to graduate and that's me and Celine, Celine has always been an exceptional student so I was not surprised that she passed it, she would have probably been the only student that was qualified if it wasn't for Aires, I owe my success to him.

I caught sight of him, standing a few feet away, observing me, I smiled, too overwhelmed by my success to think and so, without thinking I ran up to him and jumped on him, not mindful that everyone was staring,

"Thank you, thank you so much, I made it because of you, thank you...", I kept blubbering and he just held me, not saying a word, after a moment, I grew self-conscious and went stiff on him, my gaze slowly moved around to see other students watching us, some watched with surprise while the queen bees watched with jealousy, Celine's face was outrightly green with anger, I blinked severally as I slowly let myself down, I could feel my face flame and I quickly look down, wishing that the ground will open and just swallow me.

"I...I... I'm sorry, I just couldn't contain myself, I only wanted to thank you", I said, moving a step back, he regarded me for a while.

"Don't you just thank me, I didn't help you for free".

My gaze snapped up, "w...what do you mean?"

He lean in a little, my heart raced faster as I stared into his stormy grey eyes, "you'll definitely pay me but I will tell you when and how", he straightened up and stormed away, I stood there for a moment, not moving an inch, his words ringing in my head, "I'll pay him?" I stuttered, just thinking about what he will demand as his payment.

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I finally graduated from high school, my joy knew no bounds, I'm finally free from having to depend on Celine and her dad, I'm going far away into college, our prom night is a few weeks from today but that's none of my business as I have no intention to attend it, I have graduated and that's it, I no longer have business with this town, I'm going to college on a scholarship.

My thoughts went to Aires, I won't ever be seeing him again as I don't plan on ever returning back to this place, the thought of not ever seeing him again left me with a deep hollow, perhaps, with time, I'll get over him, he's just my high school bully anyways but even as the thoughts came to me, I knew that I was lying to myself. I haven't seen him since that day I had jumped on him, it seems like he was carefully avoiding me, well, that should be a relief right?

My phone suddenly beeped, it was a message and it read, "come to the back of school now. Aires".

My heart skipped a beat, talking about the devil, I slowly started walking towards the back of the school, this is the last time he'll bully me or make me to do what I don't want, very soon, the college will call me to give me the news of my admission, I should just indulge him for the time being.

I saw him seated under the tree at the back of the school, his back was turned to me and from my point of view, it seems like there was a lot on his mind, his shoulders were slumped as if he bare the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. Need

"I'm here", I said simply, he didn't turn around at my announcement, instead, he remain seated stiffly, perhaps he didn't hear me, and I move closer, close enough to touch.

"Sit down ", he commanded before I could repeat myself, that means he must have heard me the first time. I quietly sat beside him and we were both quiet for a while, I fretted a little, this is so unlike him.

"Congratulations on your graduation", he said and I frowned, was that why he had called me? He still hasn't looked at me, something is definitely wrong and I couldn't help but worry.

"Are you alright?" That was when he looked at me, his gaze unreadable but it gives off a very hollow feeling, like he was empty inside, being with a monster as a father will make anyone feel that way but I quickly shook off the feeling, of course, he is a monster to me but not to Aires, I had seen how they had hugged and smiled at each other that day at his office, he treats Aires lovingly, he only resents me, I swallowed the bitter bile that threatened to rise.

"Don't think about it, he didn't treat me any better and... I'm not his biological son, I'm just a handout picked up on the road", he was reading my mind again, he seems to always know what I am thinking, his last sentence was said with such bitterness and resentment that I shuddered, he's not my brother after all, the knowledge gave me an unwanted thrill, Aires is not my brother, I did not commit incest by enjoying his touches and kisses, relief swept through me.

He was studying me keenly and I saw the corner of his mouth lift up in a half smile before he stood up,

"Be early on your prom night, I'll be your prom date" his words were curt and I watched him stomp away, what I didn't tell him is that I do not plan on attending any prom night neither do I plan to go there as his date.