Raina gulps, wipes her puffy eyes and nervously adjusts her suit trousers "I was speaking on a friend's behalf. Don't think much of what you heard because it's nothing related to my circumstances" she rushed out with a pleading tone, knowing how corny the spoiled brats can be.
Every single mistake from you matters to them.Jude's heart thumps funnily the moment her eyes meet with his. All the time she was sprouting words to cover up her situation, he watched the movement of her lips. It was an inducement at first sight. The cigarette didn't make him feel good from the bad morning which was primarily provoked by a paramount argument with his parents regarding his studies. He was frustrated that nothing seemed to go the way he wanted, but surprisingly, Raina's perfect pouty lips seemed to be the dose he could consume to make him feel good. He doesn't like the feeling but he couldn't deny his wish. Jude groans internally and quickly feigns a nasty expression. Normally, he would have grabbed this opportunity as a means to satisfy his tricky attitude, but he was much more interested in her, not her situation, and of course, whatever he laid his eyes on, belonged to him. He has always had that possessive and arrogant attitude from childhood. His pride soars. It goes beyond the clouds and aside from that, he believes no woman can reject him. Raina gaped at him for his lack of communication. He had been silent for some minutes after her blabbering. She watches the way his jaws thicken and observes his sight on her lips. She recognized him to be Jude Bellingham, the heir to Bellingham corporations and also the young, famous, and influential dancer. He looks more muscular than a normal high schooler but is indeed an epitome of ethereal handsomeness. Slowly, her bad mood was erased and superseded with admiration. She wasn't the type that gets flipped by some dude but….., Raina blinked out of her trance the moment Jude's face moved inches closer. She glared at him immediately after she realized the reality of what was going on and the tension. Her face was as red as a freshly plucked cherry. Embarrassed was an understatement but Jude was rather amused. He moved closer and Raina took a step backward till her back hit the wall. She was mute which was unusual. "What are you…" she was saying but got cut off by Jude slamming his lips on hers after he let out a deep groan. He sucked on her lip in a hard tug, while Raina struggled to get out of his grip. Jude flung her phone and pinned her two hands upward. He pulled out of her mouth and it allowed Raina to spit on his face "This is sexual harassment, Jude!" she screamed, breathing heavily and trembling tremendously. She unclasped her hands from his and aggressively wiped her lips and irritatedly spit on the ground again.Jude grits his teeth hard, wipes off the spit beneath his nose with his handkerchief, and blinks severally. His eyes were bloodshot. Out of guilt, he couldn't dare to meet the beautiful eyes of hers as it was now glowing in fury. Jude gulped and raised his shoulder like he wasn't bothered by her outrage. "I am not sorry," he smirked, proudly tucked his hand in his pockets, and turned around to walk away.A loud unbelievably scoff escaped Raina's lips. She wanted to do so many things to teach the brat a lesson including punching his face but she couldn't. It was an unbearable feeling because she was limited.She couldn't believe her first kiss was snatched by a sexual harasser. "You will regret this" she let out with a shaky voice.Jude stopped in his tracks after taking three steps, "You will be the one regretting sugar baby. The moment you open your mouth in the name of taking legal action is the moment your life will turn worse.""Is this how you behave here? How confident are you? You just touched me without my permission and that same legal action is what I will take" she let out angrily. Her inner body was burning in anger."The only person that can assist you is your sugar daddy," Jude muttered and turned around. His eyes squinted at her daring personality. No one goes against him but she is doing exactly that which prickled his interest. Raina's eyes squinted in ignorance and it made Jude chuckle amusingly "Your Sugar daddy, the man that assisted you " he pointed at her accusingly. "An ordinary high school graduate into an influential school to be an assistant instructor. Oops! Do you even graduate from High school? Your sugar daddy must be extremely wealthy." He nods his head."That is your only chance but yet, it's an iceberg to the influence your story will make on your well-being and that of your lover. I will pay bloggers and will give them your pictures too. Starting from netizens and my die-hard fans naming you an attention seeker to you being a gold digger. You will be alive and wish you were dead the moment you report this." He said, indicating to him kissing her."Try me and I will deal with you." he groans intimidatingly and coldly before walking away. "You think you can manipulate me? You will be the one alive and wishing for death the moment I will deal with you" Raina shakingly calls after him but he has walked too far. "What just happened?" Raina questions herself once Jude is out of sight. She recklessly staggered to pick up her phone. She wipes her mouth again and breathes out heavily."It didn't happen. That was nothing" she repeated continuously and strolled out of the garden dejectedly.*******Two weeks later~~~~~It had been a tough week for Raina. She was reluctant to go to Dream High due to the challenges she was facing with the students, and also terrified to go home because of the nagging from her father who is her only parent as her mother had died from leukaemia several years ago. She was an only child.Raina had graduated from her dancing school two years ago and couldn't move on to college because of their financial status. It was hard for her and her father and it was the reason she couldn't register for any dance competitions.She was known as a glorious dancer during her high school days because of her skills and ability to make the audience crave more of her entertainment. During her special stage on her graduation day was the moment Gerold Bellingham's eyes caught her. He was amazed by the way her father kept giggling in pure happiness when the M.C. continued to shower praises on her for her talent. Gerold was a special guest on that day and it had been easier for the school to invite him because he was a close friend to the principal. Since that day, Gerold Bellingham continued to trace her. He contacted her father and at the same time, changed their life from grass to grace without Raina's notice. She had severally asked her father about the source of their sudden wealth but he kept covering it up by showering her with her wishes. The last surprise her father presented was a job at the most prestigious school in the country which was Dream High. She was beyond happy to be given such an opportunity even though she wasn't a certified dance instructor.It was all good until her father told her the intention and source behind their sudden wealth which was to get married to Gerold Bellingham who is a younger brother to Jude Bellingham's father. She was depressed for days and was under the pressure of her once-sweet father who kept lecturing her on marrying a man for his wealth.Raina's father changed totally and wouldn't stop talking about how much he had spent and that the only solution to her not marrying Gerold was to return the money they had spent. She cried day and night and had since then refused to have anything to do with the material things including the car he bought for her. The only exception Raina made was living under the same roof as her father. But he still kept reminding her about her privileged job.Today Friday, Raina had to wait till evening when all the students had gone home. It had been her normal routine since she dismissed her car. The slightest things are controversial in the school. The staff of their school not having a car is a hot topic of discussion. She wouldn't mind what others have to say but the pressure from them is not good for her mental health, at least for now as her health was at stake talkless of the rumour she heard about a JKING member liking her. Raina huffs and stands up. It was evening already. The perfect time to exit. She stretches and yawns tiredly before she strides to the door. Walking a few miles and almost close to the bus station, a luxurious car suddenly halted at her front and it earned a raised eyebrow from the people waiting also.What is always wrong with rich people?Raina thought.Raina walked away from the spot and the car did the same. It continued like that until the front seat automatically and dramatically opened, indicating for her to go in. She bent low to appreciate whoever it was until her eyes caught Jude. Her lips shut like they were tied and she angrily and hurriedly walked away to the station. Jude put on his big sunshades and alighted from the car. He was in a casual black outfit but even so, the other people at the station were stunned by his charismatic steps towards Raina. They didn't know he was Jude as he also made sure to back them.Jude stood at Raina's front and carried her in his arms. She whimpered and wriggled her legs until he whispered "Don't make a fool out of yourself. People are watching" Raina curls in his arms and tries to hide her face in embarrassment. Jude slightly bowed and groaned out because of the odd stares from mostly the older men "She's my girlfriend, We fought " he mouthed to clear their confusion. It worked as th
"Father" Raina unexpectedly cut in. "No disagreement " he snapped with a strict tone of finality."He has informed his parents about the progress of his relationship. In fact, he gave me your engagement ring since you stubbornly walked out on him the other day he planned to propose to you. So…you can't blame him. It's a great honour that someone that influential is willing to be my in-law, my dear daughter." her father emphasized without any bother of her current situation. She couldn't breathe properly as she was experiencing a mini-panic attack at that moment.It felt like the world became still. She couldn't bear to take in the news. She ain't interested in lovey-dovey but never for once thought her love life would turn out this way. A proposal through her father? Marriage with someone she doesn't love?"This isn't different from a paedophile father" she finally breaks down in a shaky voice. She had been strong but not anymore as it seemed it was getting real each day. "You are b
Raina retained her breath as she was unfit to admit that he had just made such a statement without constraints. "Why would..you…say something like that?" she stammers slightly, feeling embarrassed. "It is what it is" he reacted with a straight face. Blank. "Ok then, even if the younger person does it good" she gorges and looks outside. It was abruptly getting sizzling even when the weather was average. Jude gait off the car again and Raina grinned softly at his childishness. She keeps stealing glances every chance she gets to see that he has a scowl on his face. After some winks of silence, Raina thinks it's better to ask about the situation of things in his house before they get there. A typical parent would question their child about an outsider's visit early in the morning. She thought. "Jude," she calls in her usual melodious tone but he refuses to answer as he wasn't sure he heard her call him. She called him again, and he gazed at her side, not her face as he was still fe
Raina drowned in a deep thought. Gradually, she loosened her grip on Jude's arm. "That won't work" She shakes her head in disapproval. She concedes she was entangled in a more complicated situation by lying about Gerold Bellingham to Jude. She had denied his uncle being her suitor, and she kinda fears Jude's incredulity and mistrust of her. She doesn't want him to doubt her because he had once said he believed her. A few days ago, she wouldn't give a damn about his opinion on her, but everything about him suddenly seemed, to matter and it bothers her. Combined with some constant intense tension between them during the lesson which she had managed to overcome, she discovers her feeling for him was something. Something was blooming as she was beginning to feel sensitive to his touch. What is wrong with me? She wonders frustratedly. And her father? He won't approve of her decision to move from a more mature man to a high schooler even if Jude is an adult. "I need to go then" she a
Raina wasn't surprised that such a statement was coming from Jude. She realizes that he is the type that speaks truthfully. Someone who can't keep what's going on in his mind for long. She took a low breath and chomped on her lips for a while before ascertaining "You have to pass your exams. I mean the mock and entrance exams"Jude's face lit in excitement at the fact that it wasn't something very elaborate. He instantly manoeuvred to a seating position with his medium-sized pillow on his lap " You mean…you will accept to be my girlfriend if I pass my exams?" he gorges in doubt. "Yeah. If you can't do that, forget about it" Raina rolls her eyes and smiles imagining his bleak expression at her statement. "No no!" he exclaimed "It's worth it. But… Do you think I can do it? " he asks worriedly. "I barely passed my other exams. If not because of my influence, I would have been suspended from school. I might end up disappointing you. At least give me another option" he implored hopefull
Jude's shoulder relaxed, and he gazed at a terrified Raina with a reassuring smile "There is nothing to hide. After all, you will be my full-time girlfriend soon"Raina heckled at his remark."Why are you always deeming your decision to be right? I hope you did not mention my lesson tutorials to your friends. I also hope that you will never sprout about our correspondence with them" Raina rasps and covers her head with her two fragile palms and her head slightly bent. "Ok. I will attend to them while you wait here for me" Jude said, after realising how frustrated she was. Raina nodded and Jude went down to meet Jobe and Jacob who were inquisitive and frantic about Jude's imprudence to their scheduled activities. "Am sorry man," Jude apologized sincerely and hopped on the soft divan positioned adjacent to the one where his friends were seated. "Well…at least you agree that you are wrong. What exactly is the problem? I would be sincere with my emotions. I don't care about you skippi
Raina scampered to Jude in panic. She knelt beside him, and gently placed his head on her lap as his eyes were getting shut "Oh God! Why did you drink more than your body could tolerate?" she said as tears were already forming in her eyes. "Everyone left me!!! Nobody wants me. I don't care about these things but it's becoming real" he whimpers quietly and clasps Raina's hand.She was astonished that someone this famous and wealthy could mutter such a pitiful statement.Raina gulps and asks softly "Why wouldn't anyone want to be with you?" She latches her hand on his head and settles in a sitting position on the mosaic tiles. She massaged his soft scalp with her left hand as he wouldn't let go of her right hand.After a while, Raina felt pressed and excused herself to the bathroom. Immediately she took a step out of the bathroom, she came to the sight of Jude's ex-girlfriend. It was a hasty realization and Raina hurried back into the bathroom, but Maica had caught a glimpse of Raina
"We still have a long way to go regarding our future, especially me but I love you, Raina. The last few days I couldn't contact you out of pride, it was like I was tickling myself with a sharp needle. I had to reread our messages. I am crazy for you sugar baby. I comprehended that girls like you love relationships that are forever after or probably the type that ends in marriage. I want to give you this ring as our engagement, Raina, our bond should be unbreakable as we encounter through the years. I want that dreamy forever after with you, sugar baby. Please be mine" Jude confesses and pecks my forehead affectionately. Speechless was an understatement. Raina was shocked to the core as she found it difficult to say a word. She wondered how he came up with such a proposal. Tears welled up in Raina's eyes as she looked at him. She could see the admiration, the passion, the adoration in his eyes. It bothered her that he was ready to give his all.She doesn't know why it bothered her so