Seven

Xia couldn't even concentrate in class. Everything the teacher taught didn't even enter her brain because her brain was occupied with a lot of thinking. She glanced at the guy again wondering if she could recognise him but she couldn't.

"You know I can tell you're looking at me without me looking at you, right?". He said without glancing at her.

Xia quickly apologized and concentrated on the teacher.

After few hours lecture was over, Xia didn't even wait to be told, she grabbed her bag and left the class. She was surprised to see Damien standing next to the classroom. She pulled his hand and dragged him to follow her.

"Easy, will you?" Damien asked making her stop. "What's going on?"

Xia waited to see if she can see her seatmate. Immediately, the guy appeared and Xia pointed at him. "do you know who that is?" She asked. Damien bent to see who she was pointing at and the person does look like someone he knows.

"Yes. That's my friend Alvin. Why?" Damien asked.

"Your friend?" Xia asked in shock. Damien nodded. "But how long have you guys been friends?"

Damien looked at Xia wondering why she became so inquisitive. "Is everything OK?"

"Just answer me. How long?"

Damien thought for a while then he answered. "Four years?"

"Four??" Asked Xia.

Damien nodded.

Alvin caught sight of Damien so he waved at him. Damien returned the gesture as he held Xia's hand and walked up to Alvin. "Hi Alvin. Meet my distant cousin...Xia and Xia, meet my best friend Alvin." Damien introduced.

"We met in class. Why didn't you tell me you had a distant cousin and a cute one too?" Alvin said almost touching Xia's face but Damien was quick to block him.

Xia noticed that something was different from this Alvin she was meeting now. The one she was in class with was weird and this one here just looks like a natural playboy. What's going on?

"Xia." Damien called. Xia quickly snapped out of her thoughts.

"Uh?" She said.

"Did you hear what I just said?" Damien asked.

"Um..." she shook her head. "What did you say?"

It was Alvin who replied her this time. "I'm hosting a party tonight and I thought it'd be nice if you came. I'm specially inviting you." He told her.

Xia looked at Damien wondering how he could agree to this. "Um...I...um... have things to do..."

"I'll bring her along." Damien cuts in shocking the hell out of Xia.

Alvin bade them goodbye then went his own way. "Seriously?" Xia asked as they walked together.

"What?" Damien asked.

"I ain't going to any party."

"Yes you are and I'm not taking no for an answer."

"You're not the boss of me." Xia said earning a chuckle from Damien.

"Damien." They heard a voice called as they turned to see who it was. Immediately Damien saw it was Theresa, Damien quickly let go of Xia's hand and went to hug his girlfriend.

"Hey baby." Damien said touching her face and hair.

"Why didn't you tell me you have a cousin?" Theresa asked staring at Xia before returning her attention to her boyfriend.

"I recently found out about it too. I was just as shocked as you are. Ok... I'm sorry. I should have told you."

Xia stood there tapping her feet. She was about to say something but she held back, turned and left.

"Is she coming to Alvin's party?" Theresa asked.

"um..."

"Tell me you're not bringing her along."

Damien turned back only to find out Xia was gone. "Um...yeah. I'm not." He lied.

Theresa pecked his lips. "I just want us to spend some time together...alone."

Damien nodded. "I'll pick you up around 7." He pecked her cheek before waving her goodbye.

Immediately she was gone, Damien ran to look for Xia and he was glad when he saw her only that she wasn't alone. She was talking to a guy???

Damien stood still folding his arms as he watched the two of them.

"You're beautiful." The guy told Xia. "I'm Ethan by the way." he introduced stretching his hand for a handshake.

"I'm Xia." She said as she took his hand and shook it.

"So are you coming for the party tonight?" Ethan asked.

How did he know about the party? Maybe that's how the school is...nothing is hidden and words travel fast. she thought. "Yeah". she answered.

"Do you have a date?" He asked.

"What?" Xia asked not understanding what he was saying.

"Well...Do you mind if I come pick you up and we can go together?"

"Um..I'm coming with my cousin so I don't think that'd be necessary."

Ethan nodded. "See you there then."

"Bye."

As soon as Ethan left, Damien came to meet Xia with his arms folded across his chest. "And who was that?" He asked.

"Ethan." Xia answered blatantly.

"And did he say what he wants?"

Xia took a while to observe Damien. "what's with the question? You saw her and immediately you let go of my hand and now you're asking me that?"

"I'm sorry...that was my girlfriend. Ever since you came I haven't spent quality time with her."

"Well, I ain't stopping you, am I?" Xia asked.

"Xia." Damien called as he watched Xia walk away from him. "Eudoxia." He called and this was enough to stop her.

All of a sudden everything froze and it was only Xia who was able to move. She turned to see what had happened. This shouldn't be happening. But why is it? She walked around and to her surprise, she saw someone who was walking too but before she could see who the person was, everything began to move again.

She walked up to meet Damien. "Can you not call me by my real name?"

"But that's the only way to get your attention."

"well you're not just getting my attention but someone else's too. Just don't!" She warned.

Damien was about to call her by her real name the moment she turned to leave but he swallowed back his words when she turned to face him. "And I mean it." She added.

"Sure. Whatever! let's get you prepared for the party." Damien said as he held Xia's hand. "Sorry for letting your hand go the last time. It won't happen again."

"Yeah! I hope so!" She said not believing his words.