Chapter 11: Chapter 11

Chapter 10

I felt offended and destroyed. I felt like a newbie. They walked away without even looking back at me. Not even a peek.

I don’t know why he was doing this to me. I did only one mistake. I slapped him and he deserved that. He tried to harass me. Every girl would respond in that situation.

“Why can't he understand what I felt there? "

I thought coming here would make my life sparkle. I could have a better life but fate was not allowing me.

“They are the only friends I got from here. Others are not willing to talk to me. “ I said myself. Seriously I tried smiling and talking with everyone but they avoided me. Mike might have said bad about me.

I called Nancy and told her everything that’s happened. She tried to cheer me up. I wished she was with me.

"Maria, don't mind them. Think about yourself. I know you are suffocating there but you have to think about your parents " he advised me.

“I want to find a part-time job. Classes are really dull. The only thing that excites me is my studies. Sometimes Mike calls me random names and mocks at me. Sometimes he smirks at me or winks at me. He is really mocking me Nancy “ I cried.

“ That bastard. He will pay for hurting you..” Nancy seemed furious.

I was having my lunch at the canteen when Amanda came and poured water on my lunch. Amanda was the girl Mike having an affair with. Seeing my condition Mike and others started laughing at me. I was about to break down but decided not to show my weak point. I held my head high and left from there. I rushed to the washroom and sobbed. They continued torturing me but I never talked back at them. So I decided to stop eating lunch at the canteen. I found a place behind my campus under a huge tree.

“Perfect” I smiled.

I started falling in love with that place. At least Mike or Amanda won't disturb me anymore. Rose used to smile at me when nobody was looking but she never came and talked with me.

I was good with my teachers. I done my projects, took seminars on time. I wanted to give them a good impression of me. Amanda always bullied me. I complained about her but still continued torturing me. So decided not to give a shit to her.

He was the college star. Every girl was impressed with him but not me. He was the captain of the soccer team. Whenever he sees me he calls my name or smirked at me but I ignored him. I ran in the opposite direction every time I found him in front of me. I don't want to get into any trouble with him.

I got a part-time job at the library. Half of my problems were lifted from my head. My shift was from 5 pm to 8 pm. I could continue my classes and work at the library without any inconvenience. My parents were pleased too.

I used to spend my evening break under the tree reading novels before I head to the library.

I was slowly enjoying my life in the library. I borrowed books and studied during my off time. My days in college were starting to get colorful even though I lack fun and friends. I was a brilliant student in my class securing top positions in many exams. I solved doubts and tried to become their favorite student.

As usual, I was enjoying my life when I saw a very familiar face walking towards my counter. It was Mike. I wondered what was his problem. I thought he hated this place.

“Hai “ he spoke “Maria I came here to register for my library card . Would you do the procedure? “ he asked.

“What? Mike in the library. Am I dreaming? I thought he hated coming here.” I mumbled

"Well, I changed my mind. I started to like coming here. Well, the books reminded me of a person I love" he smiled at me.

How did he hear me mumbling? I gulped. I never looked directly at him. He said something about a person he liked, must be Amanda.

I ignored him and started doing the procedures. I don't care what he wants, it's not my problem. He was staring at me the whole time. I could feel his gaze on me. He still has that mysterious look on his face.

“ When did you start working here ? “ he asked.

“ A few days ago," I told without looking at him. Don't tell me his mother owned this library too. It might be easy for him to kick me out.

“ Your card will be issued tomorrow," I said to him still keeping my head down.

He tried to talk with me but I ignored him. He had been acting kind of strange lately. He tried to gain attention from me even during classes or during recess. He came round the big tree I used to sit and kept staring at me. His stares always sent shivers down my spine.

In the evening he came and collected his cards.

“ Would you help me? Do you know where I can find any romance novels? "

I gestured for him to follow me. I don't have a choice left. Work and personal life were entirely different.

“What novel are you looking for ??”

“The notebook by Nicholas Sparks" he answered.

He was too close to me so I tried to keep a distance from him. I don’t like him too close to me. It made me suffocated.

After looking for sometimes I finally found that book. He gave me a charming smile and thanked me and walked out of the library.

I again caught him staring at me during classes. But I ignored him. Amanda was giving me evil stares. She was always clinging to him. In the evening Mike came to the library.

" Mm, Maria. I need to borrow one more book “ he said.

“ Which genre? “ I asked.

“ Romance “ he answered.