13 Page 13: Heavy Breathing Intensifies

"Who are you?"

Now, if you think to hear that from a boy you know wearing an off-shoulder top and wash out jeans looking gorgeous in front of you as you silently battle with yourself on whether to expose your real identity or not isn't unfair, IT IS.

All I wanted was for this day to go smoothly and that I could finally get this over with and go back to the life I left in school, but nOoOoOoooOooO. She just had to be a HE. And not just any 'he', but Niko Stepanov, Mr. Popular of LIA, my best friend's dream boy and my worst nightmare.

Panicking is an understatement of what I'm feeling right now. This idiot corners me in my own seat trying to make me spill things I shouldn't be. I'm even worried if my face is showing what my mind has been boggling about since earlier. This is cruel. He's pressuring me and I was not ready for this.

Okay, Hera, you have two options: (1) Tell him who you are so both of you can work together or (2) Not tell him anything and be trapped in this room until Dave and Co. arrives which might be a bad idea since they're awfully taking their sweet time right now.

"Niko...right?" I almost choked saying his name trying pretend I didn't know the doof. He nodded. "As much as I want to tell you everything about me, that's just a breach of contract." YES, ESCAPING THROUGH LEGAL MEASURES.

I see him frown, "Okay fair enough," he stood up with both his hands anchored on his hips, "But I won't let you go until you tell me why you know my twin story."

And we're back to that. Maybe if I tell him the surface of things then he'll let it slide. Cross fingers?

"Okay, you got me." I said raising both my hands, "I'll tell you why I know."

His eyes were glued on me.

"I.....am a student at Langley."

I see his eyes widen, "Really?" his voice in a serious tone, "Then how come I've never seen you?"

Crap. Of course. "Well you see...not many know of this but there's a special class for celebrities and the principal put me there." Please believe me, please.

"Hmmmm" he hummed in disbelief, "How do I know you're telling the truth?"

"I am!"

"If I call the principal now, would he tell me the same thing?"

That's when I got confident. Of all the people in school, I'm the one who knows best of how Niko hates getting reprimanded by academic authority. I folded my arms, grinning at him, "Oh sure. Then he'll find out you skipped school again."

I see him flinch, "Huh. I'm not afraid of a little lecture."

I stared at him, looking all smug, "Oh really? Then you don't mind extending your community service?"

"Y-You knew about that?"

"Oh please, even when I'm not always in school, news travel fast especially when it's about Mr. Popular Honor Student."

I see him grit his teeth, "Okay, fine. I believe you. But I want to clarify that it was that new girl's fault why I got into that mess."

That made me jolt from my seat surprising Niko when I closed in on him.

"W-Why did you suddenly stand up? And your face looks scary." he said his face really close to mine. I immediately took a step back accidentally hitting the wingback behind me. I was too late to realize that I had reacted on something I shouldn't have. I see Niko stare at me with a really suprised face.

"Sorry.." I mumbled, "I'm very bad at dealing with people."

He clears his throat brushing off the situation, "It's okay. I, too, am very bad at speaking my mind so I usually end up making a mistake."

That made me laugh and I caught him staring at me, "Oh sorry, I didn't mean to laugh at you it's just I never imagined you had a side like this."

"Well sorry for ruining your image of me." he grunts.

"Nope. As a matter of fact," I smile, "I like this side of you."

He fell silent. We both fell silent. The room was really big but at that moment it felt so small. It was deafening but I could hear his heart beating. I see him take a step forward making such a gentle face. He reaches out for my hair and I feel my face burn in heat. Wait wait we just met! Technically Hera and Cherry did but still!

"Cherry...?" my voice cracked. I wanted to remind myself that right now that this person is Cherry. But the next thing he said just made my heart skip a beat.

"When we're alone," he whispered, "Just call me Niko." kissing the lock of hair that he took from my hanging ponytail.

How the hell can he say that looking like that? And by 'that' I mean extremely gorgeous and manly at the same time! Okay Hera...speak up...speak up..anytime now...say something....WHY ARE YOU NOT SPEAKING UP?

"Hera!!!!" Dave bursts into the door making both of us jump and turn away. "We finally got rid of the press so we can go home and―Hera? Why do you look so red? Are you having a fever?" my numbskull of a manager runs to me touching all over my face.

I groan pushing his hand away, "It's just the heat! Now let's go, I got a drama to catch." and I stormed out of the room. I heard him mumble "But the AC is on." but I ignored him and just went straight for the door desperately wanting the earth to swallow me whole.

* * * * * *

"That was a perilous way of speaking out there." Dave said to me minding the wheel.

I scoff staring outside the window, "You guys told me to help her. I just spoke my mind."

"But did you have to look so annoyed leaving her like that?"

I cringe remembering what had happened. GOOD LORD! If Dave hadn't barged in on us like that, who knows what the situation could have developed into. Nevertheless, his eyes looked so inviting I couldn't resist...OKAY STOP, WHAT THE HELL! I shouldn't be thinking about that right now! Cherry is Niko and the boy just found out I go to the same school as he is and he'll probably.....OH SHOOT.

"DAVE!" I yell and the car almost went flying.

Dave started sweating terrified of what just happened, "Please don't startle me like that! Thankfully this street doesn't have many cars."

"I know. I'm sorry, but we have to call the principal!"

"What?"

"Just do it!"

（Meanwhile back at the suite）

Lily comes in and sights a dazed Cherry by the window sipping tea.

"Cherry?" she calls out closing the door behind her, "You changed into your casual outfit?"

"I accidentally ripped the dress." she mumbles not even looking at her manager.

Lily sighs, "I know you didn't like the idea of collaborating with Queen's top model but surely you could've controlled your temper with―"

"Lily," she turns to her with a calm look.

"Yeah?"

Then she looks back to the window, "Inform me of our next schedule together."

Lily was taken aback by her eagerness, "I thought you were mad at the idea?"

"Mmm. But then I took a liking to her."

Despite that being a passive response coming from her, Lily felt overjoyed. Cherry had always been the type who rejects people around her. But for her to open up this once, it felt like angels rained down on her and light has started to peek from the clouds.

"I will! I will! I'll keep you updated." she enthusiastically replied.

Cherry waves at her to do just that.

Little did Lily know, Cherry who had been trying to hide her face since earlier has been in conflict with the feeling of wanting to see Hera again. The torn feeling of wanting to find her but also afraid that the girl will run away and that even as Niko, there's no chance for them to be together outside of work's frugality.

The calm sea had finally started to move and the tides come crashing in. Summer is about to arrive.

* * * * * * * *

"Thank you Mr. Principal, sir. I'll leave it to that for now." And I ended the call, catching my breath, slumping to my seat.

"Drowning in guilt aren't we?" Dave said sarcastically.

I scowl, "It's not like I have a choice. You too, whatever you heard just now you have to keep it a secret!"

Dave shrugs, "It's not like I have the energy to tell of her secret. No wait, HIS secret." he chuckles.

"Leave it at that. The person has his own issues."

"But are you sure you'll be fine with that? He might go looking for you in school."

"I don't think he'll go that far.....for now."

"For now?"

"Ah, whatever this is tiring." I groaned but then my phone suddenly buzzed inside my pocket. I seriously am not in the mood for interaction right now. I angrily took it out. I jumped from my seat when I saw the notification being a direct message from Cherry in TeaDiaries.

"Wha―" my fingers moved quick, opening the screen. I slid through my menu and found myself staring at the app's icon with a red mark on top of it. I hesitantly pressed it open and scanned through my DM's seeing Cherry's inbox pane the only one in a different shade. I looked up to the ceiling of the car deciding whether to open it or not.

Ugh why can't these apps develop a way for a message to be seen but not let the sender know the person had read it?!

"Just open it already." Dave complains.

I frown, "Will you just focus on the road Mr. Manager?"

"I can't focus with you fidgeting beside me."

Damn you, Dave. Do you have any idea how complicated this got? I sigh, "Fine." I glance back to my screen. Agh, I want to open it already. Screw it. I pressed the prompted inbox.

This was our first message so the thread was empty with only the received message on a blue message bubble. I wanted to run away the moment I read the message. I wanted to beg the heavens to turn back time and change my decision, but I knew it was too late now that it has come to this.

［❝Let me find you.❞］

The line I've carefully drawn since Day 1 has slowly begun to dissipate because of a careless mistake.