The Somersault

"I thought I could finally have peace from our constant bantering because I was exhausted from arguing with you on any simple things but I didn't notice that it slowly became one of the things I look forward to every day."

Duke's POV

"Chairman Astero, someone wants to talk to you--"

"Not now, Luther. I have to personally tell Brook that he's fired from the position of CEO."

"I know Mr. Chairman but--"

"Just let him have an appointment," I dismissed my secretary after reading the files of how Brook incompetently held his position as the CEO of my company. I've been busy dealing with my other chains of companies abroad that I let this happen.

"You're looking old, Duke. I almost didn't recognize you." I looked up from my pile of paper works to see the man whom everyone was talking about.

"Chairman Kim, what a surprise. What brought you here to my company? Are you here to buy it?" He chuckled and seated in front of me.

"Are you selling it?"

"It's been one of your hobbies lately. I heard you destroy and buy companies of your liking. I almost didn't believe it not until today. I guess the rumors about you are true. I'm not delighted to see you if that's your reason for coming in here today but I have to tell you that you can't do what you please in my company. I own the biggest percentage of oil in this country," I said with a smile but a hint of threat.

"And I own the second one," he smiled back, reading my reactions but I composed myself, trying not to act surprised.

"You're here to declare war against me? I thought you wanted us to be business partners and I was considering your proposal but I don't want to be part of your rivalry with Evan, Arthur. You have to understand that I am neither supporting Evan nor you on anything."

"But aren't you and Evan long-time buddies?" Sarcasm was written all over his face.

"Yes, Evan and I are long-time acquaintances and I consider him a friend but I still do not approve of these childish games. I also have nothing against you and what happened in the past is nothing but a nightmare for all of us."

"That's downright declining my offer I have yet to propose, Duke. But still, I'm here to negotiate business with you and all you have to do is listen and after that, if you will still decline it then I respect your decision and won't hold it against you." He ordered his secretary to show me some documents containing our contract of being business partners. "I'm here to offer you my collected percentage of oil in this country. With all the oil in your company, you're going to be powerful enough to control this country. You'll be the top oil producer."

Not until you'll sabotage me and throw me out of my own company. That's what you've been doing this past few years after Emily died. You crush everyone just to get what you want. I know how you and Evan play this sick game of yours and I won't be a part of it.

"I heard your wife died from cancer." He stood up and walked near my family photos. He looked at the photo of my son and faced me. "Did you and Emily have a son or daughter?"

"He looks like you, Duke. What's his name?" He gestured at Daniel's photo and stopped when he saw me stood up from my seat and hid my son's photo away from him. He just chuckled at me, finding all this amusing for him.

"I don't want you to threaten my family just to get what you want, Arthur. I may be friends with Evan but I didn't do anything to you or to your wife. For god's sake, I didn't even know you had a relationship with her not until Evan told my dad to withdraw all our investments in your company before. I admit you called help to me but I am just the vice chairman at that time. My father had everything before so whether I wanted to help you or not, I still couldn't do anything--"

"That's the point, Duke. You didn't do anything."

"Because you messed up! She was Evan's from the start and you betrayed Evan when you dated her. For fuck's sake, Arthur!" I gritted my teeth and calmed myself. "You stabbed Evan from the back when he did nothing but welcomed you and introduced you to a lot of investors but you have to fuck it up!"

"You know they were not together anymore when he decided to marry Diana--

"But he loved her. She was his most prized possession and you just took it from him." I heaved a sigh and we were both quiet. "If you're here to get even with me--"

"His name is Axcel," he suddenly said making me stop. "He inherited most of the physical features from his mom but he's a lot like me, Duke. He's stubborn and determined but he's wiser just like his mom. He's about the same age as your son and I'm not here to get even with you, Duke. If I did, I'd already slash you off with all your assets leaving you nothing but I'm here to ask for your help. I would beg if I have to because I'm in here not as the Chairman but as a father. I need to have an eye inside the School of Elites to look after my son and your son is in there."

As expected from Arthur. He knows everything just to get what he wants. The School of Elites is out of his bounds because of Evan.

"Why my son? I can't involve my son in your problem--"

"He's already involved, Duke. The moment he befriends my son, he's already involved."

"Befriend? He had a lot of friends and never mentioned to me a boy named Axcel. You're not the only one keeping track of your son, Arthur."

"Of course. How would you know." He sat on a near couch and offered me to sit in front of him. He signaled his secretary again to show me another folder and laid it in front of me. I took it and opened what was inside. I almost couldn't believe what is it all about. I stared longer at the boy's eyes and found the resemblances of Arthur's famous cold black orbs.

"I've known him as Jaden. He went into our house a couple of times with my son--what the fuck is this mess, Arthur? How could you hide him? Does the boy even know you're his father or what? How could you let your son roam around without protection? Once everyone knows who he is, his life will be in danger and every worst enemy you have will do what it takes just to kill your son."

"This is just between you and me, Duke. I'm protecting him from his stubbornness. He's a lot like his mom--"

"He's a lot like you. I've seen him and he's a great kid, knows his potential, and observes things and people a lot. He's meticulous, calculated, and cautious. I won't be surprised if you're having trouble with him."

"He's a better version of me. Stubborn, yes but wiser."

Emerald's POV

My brother keeps on teasing me when Jaden came into my house for our research. Whenever I looked at my brother, he was either smiling devilishly or trying to suppress his laugh in front of me.

"He's the Jaden?" My brother whispered in my ears when our housekeeper let Jaden in and my brother and I were in the receiving area waiting for him.

My dad couldn't be bothered to go down from his office upstairs to meet Jaden and my mom is busy managing her new franchised restaurant. She wanted to see Jaden so bad because she's curious so she will finish up her schedule early this afternoon hoping to meet Jaden. I didn't even force my brother to meet Jaden but he's so persistent about it. He just wanted to tease me.

"Aren't you supposed to be working on something?" I rolled my eyes and he just laughed at me. He should just be in his study room doing those loads of paper works he has.

"My little sister, Jaden looks like an heir to a monarchy family and when you two sit together, you would really look like a nobody—ow!" I slapped his arm and he just laughed again.

Between my brother and Jaden, I'm more used to my brother's annoying behavior than Jaden. Besides Ethan is my brother but Jaden is just my classmate making me more furious with his witty remarks toward me.

"I'm starting to think that maybe Jaden is your long-lost family, brother," I emphasized the word brother to make him realize that his conspiring with Jaden. He just smiled widely at my sarcasm making me want to slap his arm again but Jaden caught our attention who was already standing in front of us.

My brother held out his hand and introduced himself.

"I'm Ethan Sandejas, brother of Emerald. I finally met my little sister's partner—"

"Research. Research partner," I firmly said and my brother was again smiling from ear to ear but Jaden was just, as usual, frigid but nevertheless reached out for my brother's hand and introduced himself.

"I'm Jaden Samaniego, the one who replaced your little sister on the top spot," he said with a stern face and no hint of sarcasm or joke.

What the heck?! Do you wanna be kicked out of this instance you jerk?! You could at least be humble! I thought we agreed to be respectful of each other!

I looked at my brother's reaction and to my surprise, he was smiling—no grinning and I could see the excitement on his face. What?! I don't know what to feel anymore. Should I be thankful because my brother wasn't angry or should I be pissed because he's starting to like Jaden even though he just met this jerk?

"A straightforward introduction huh? I like that. No sugar coating and just honesty but a little blunt. You found a fine young man little—ouch! What was that for?!" My brother held onto his now bruised arm after I just punched him. I glared at him and looked angrily at Jaden but Jaden's attention was elsewhere because he was looking at my house's decorations and his eyes finally landed on the grand piano.

"Now you finished ruining my mood, can we go now to the study room?" I asked my brother with irritation and he just patted my head and sighed.

"You're not my little sister anymore—ouch! Now you've done it!"

He wasn't this annoying when I was just a kid and in fact, he's a loving brother but things changed when Jaden came. He's trying to play cupid! How could he?! I felt like I was being sold to Jaden when my brother said that! This is Jaden's fault! Ever since he came, my pretty life has been turned upside down! He insulted me, made fun of me, beat me to the top spot and—

"You're venting out your anger on the keyboard." I could feel shivers down my spine when Jaden's hot breath fanned my neck. On an impulse, I stood up from my seat and Jaden just looked at me with a knotted forehead. I didn't notice he was looking at my screen behind my back and leaned closer to me to read what I have written for our research. "What? What's happened to you?"

I bit my lower lip, composed myself, and pushed him away from my seat. He scoffed, sat back on his seat, and crossed his arms as if he just didn't stand too close to me earlier. I know we are seatmates in school but Jaden's not the type of guy who lets his guard down, particularly to me, and we've never been close to being civil with each other. Maybe I was just surprised by his sudden invasion of personal space because between us, we have this unspoken agreement of not crossing the personal space of each other.

"What do you think you're doing?" I couldn't stop myself from raising my voice.

"Scrutinizing your work and making sure you're not slowing us down? You're distracted." He seriously looked me in the eyes. His black and cold eyes looked straight at me and for some unknown and illogical reason, I could not look away from him as if his eyes held mine captive. For a brief moment, I saw his eyes soften but it was so short that I wasn't sure if I saw it right.

"What's distracting you, Emerald?" He asked and this time, I looked away from him. "I've never seen you lose focus before. Was it because of your brother? I'll remind you that you're the one who chose the time and venue for our research so don't slow me down because of your selfish mistakes. I won't make adjustments for you again." I snapped my head back at him.

"Selfish?! You called me selfish?! May I remind you then that I was the one who handed you the notes you needed to cope with the lessons--"

"You were forced to do it and now you're rubbing it on my face?" His voice was calm but his face says he had enough of me today and I feel the same towards him. "I thought we're over this? Didn't we clearly agree to be at least civil with each other? Could you stop being such an entitled brat of a minute? Because everything isn't always about you, Emerald. I honestly don't know what else you want me to do for you to just stop cursing me because it's exhausting to deal with it."

Tears fell from my eyes and Jaden was taken aback, surprised to see me cry in front of him. I was even surprised myself because I didn't think I would cry over such pathetic scum like him. I was crying because I was mad and not because I was hurt. I wanted to yell at him but I just clenched my fist and we both sat in silence.

I don't even know why I was so worked up because of his words when he's always been like this from the start. I should not have expected much more from a jerk. I wanted to laugh at myself. Why am I even disappointed when he thought of me as selfish? Since when did I start caring about what other people think of me?

"An entitled selfish brat? Tell me, Jaden. Do you know me enough to say that to me? Who do you think you are telling me such things when for 18 years I worked hard just like anybody else to build who I am today?" He didn't say anything and I was too angry to even stop myself from failing this research subject. "Alright, let's say I am all just a brat then but you're a jerk who thinks all privileged people can have all they want. Yes, I am privileged in so many ways but I was always deprived of having true people around me that you call friends. You don't have every right to speak to me because you don't know the hell I went through just to be here."

He just looked at me again with no hint of regret or emotion on his face. I wiped my tears and stood up from my seat then walk away from him. I cried harder in my room when I remembered my terrible past until I fell asleep and woke up the next morning with our unfinished and probably failing research project.

*..*

Monday came and after that heated argument with Jaden, he didn't try to approach me and I was the same to him. We still respect each other's opinions on other subject areas when we participate in class but after that, nothing.

The tiny space we had before, widened and we're just ignoring each other's existence.

It was lunchtime and I was, as usual, eating alone on a bench near the gymnasium. I don't like eating in a crowded place just like the cafeteria because I might bump into Lucas and he's the last person I want to see right now. Besides, there are a lot of students' eyes watching me, finding anything that they want to talk about me or criticize about me. I want a place where I can just think, relax and be alone—

"E-Emerald?" I looked up at the person calling me and she was only 3 feet apart, standing in front of me. She's my classmate and she sits next to Daniel and I think her name's Olivia. I raised my eyebrows at her. For the past 3 months, she never talked to me because she's shy and distant and I never really liked her.

Why is she gracing me with her attention now?

"What?" I could see her hands shaking when I said that in an annoyed and impatient tone. She gulped and looked down.

As I observed her, she's a wannabe nerd type of student and she doesn't talk too much because she's shy around a lot of people. So, why is she talking to me now? I could really see I'm scaring her. Good, I don't have any intentions of being nice to her or to anybody.

"N-Nothing. I just saw you eating alone." I cleaned up my things and looked at her with utter boredom.

"So? I always eat alone." She lowered her already lowered head and I sighed. "Why are you here Olivia? What do you want?"

"I-I'm sorry if I b-bothered you. You looked mad but—" I scoffed and flipped my hair gaining her attention and she looked at me with fear again. "—sad" she continued.

"It's not your problem anymore—"

"D-Did you fight with Jaden?" I clenched my fist and took a deep breath.

Even in here, I have to bear that jerk's name. Why does she even have to care about it? I don't want to sound like a queen bitch right now but I think she should not interfere with my problem against that jerk. I don't need a pretentious person to talk to right now.

I don't hate Olivia nor like her. I just see her as a person contributing to my anger right now and if she's not gonna stop I might really be the mean Emerald everyone feared and I won't be merciful to her.

"No. This is just our usual selves and we're not really that close to talk with each other. Just mind your own business, Olivia," I said in a warning tone and she just bit her lower lip. If she wants something from me, she should not sugar coat it with other stupid things such as that jerk.

"But you sounded mad r-right now." She stepped away when I stood up. "Right—I'm sorry I will not disturb you again—"

"Is that the only thing why you're here?"

"Y-yes. If you n-need someone to talk to, I'll be here to listen. Jaden is just probably sometimes moody—"

"Will you stop?!" I yelled at her and was not able to control my anger. She looked at me with shocked wide eyes because this is the first time I actually lost control of my anger at someone. I was far away from the well-refined Emerald Sandejas they always knew. "You don't know anything to say that to me. You don't even have the right to talk to me," I said with much spite of hatred.

"W-Why?" She lowered her head again and there was a hint of pain and sadness in her voice but I don't care.

"Because you're a great pretender. Wearing that fake glasses and braces to look like a nerd even though you are not, makes me hate you, Olivia." I know those glasses and braces aren't real. It takes a real nerd to distinguish between fake ones. Is she trying to look innocent and be a good girl to be liked by everybody?

What a pathetic way of gaining attention.

"Stop pretending to be someone you're not." I walked past her and didn't even bother to look back.

She only talked to me because of Jaden? She's a bitch in disguise. She's just like everybody else. They wanted to be friends with me because they wanted to be acknowledged by other people by using me and my name to hook up with guys.

"That's rude." I stopped walking back to the near building when I heard that jerk's voice behind me. I turned around and surely he was standing near a tree with crossed arms and looked at me with his usual cold eyes.

"What?"

"With what you did earlier, it's not like you, Emerald." I knotted my forehead and crossed my arms. "And she's right. You're angry at me and I accept that but didn't you say I don't have the right to tell you who you are? Aren't you eating your words now, Emerald? You took one glance at her and you already hated her without knowing who she is." I scoffed and faked a smile.

"Don't tell me you're actually fooled by her? And here I am thinking you're smart to be worthy of the top spot." He puts his hands in his pockets and walked closer to me but I didn't walk away and just stood still where I was standing.

"If you're mad at me, then pour all your anger at me and not just to someone else." I clenched my fist and looked at him with spite.

I could feel a tight knot in my chest. He's defending that fake girl, isn't he? I never knew he likes that kind of woman. I mentally slapped my face. Why do you even care Emerald if he's dating a bunch of fake women? He has a very disgraceful taste in women but nevertheless, they would make a perfect couple since they both came from a lowly life of commoners.

I composed myself and tried to forget his entire pathetic existence. No, I should not be degrading myself over a scholar boy who did nothing but embarrass me. He's not worth the trouble and I am a woman from an elite family. I should not crumble down in front of this jerk and I will not let him see me be weak again.

"I am not mad at you—"

"Yes you are, Emerald. I'm the only one who could make you mad like this," he firmly said and walked closer again. I attempted to walk away but he held my wrist making me stop. My chest was raging with anger and something else as if his simple touch is burning me and electrifying my skin.

"Let go Jaden or else I'll cut your fingers off—"

"Then cut my fingers off because you're not leaving until we fix this--" I tried to free my wrist from his hold but he's much stronger than I am.

"I'll throw your body in the Bermuda Triangle--"

"Then throw my body after you talk to me--"

"I said let me go! I order you to let me go! You don't have the right to touch me--"

"No, Emerald. I won't let you go not until we settle this because I can't bear another day of you ignoring me." I stopped resisting but I didn't look at him. His words echoed in my mind and I wish he would let me go and just walk away because I didn't like this feeling.

This feeling of being vulnerable like his words soothe something in me and I didn't like it. I didn't like how Jaden could control me with his simple words, changing my emotions in a swift second from anger into being vulnerable.

"I thought I could finally have peace from our constant bantering because I was exhausted from arguing with you on any simple things but I didn't notice that it slowly became one of the things I look forward to every day. My day is not the same without you in it, Emerald. So you have to bear with me because I got used to having you beside me and I'm not giving you an option whether to leave or not because either way, you're staying by my side. Just until school ends." He hesitantly added the last part.

"And you told me I was selfish? Aren't you being selfish right now? I don't want to have anything to do with you, Jaden. You're a constant headache and trouble. You always embarrass me at every opportunity you have and could treat me like I was the worst person you ever met. Words mean nothing when I saw how you acted towards me for the past months."

"Emerald--"

"Stop it, Jaden. I don't want to hear anything from you again. You've said enough." He slowly let me go and I just stood there, lowering my head and him standing so close to me that I could breathe in his masculine scent.

His scent that I familiarize so much that I could tell he was just near. It was lingering on my nostrils and I don't know what type of perfume he was using, but as the days goes by, I didn't know when it started but I began to like it. I began to like it that I caught myself secretly smelling him whenever he was not looking or he was busy with something else.

"I know I made a bad impression on you and if we could just start over, maybe we're not as bad as we thought. Maybe deep down we both just wanted the same thing. We could be friends, Emerald. Not seatmates, research partners, or rivals to the top spot but as friends."

"But I don't want to be friends with you--"

"But I do and once I'm decided, I never back away from my words."

I looked at him, his height towering over me. He was already staring down at me, watching my reactions, and reading my emotions. He gave me that lazy smile and I breathe in when he placed his right hand at the top of my head, patting me like I was a kid. I shove it away and he chuckled.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, irritated but the anger had subsided. It's surprising how Jaden could stir the emotions I never thought I could show to someone else. How he could easily manage to calm my raging anger and turn it into something I have yet to understand.

"I didn't notice you were this short." I gaped at him and he just playfully laughed.

"You're such a JERK!" I attempted to punch his stomach but he easily stopped my hand, grabbed my wrist, and suddenly pulled me closer to him. My mind tried to comprehend what he was doing, but his arms wrapped around me as he hugged me tighter but gentle. I tried to wiggle my way out but he didn't let me go.

"I miss your endearment," he almost whispered in my ear and it sent shivers down my spine like the last time. My heart was beating so fast that I fear he might hear it or was it his that I was hearing, I don't know but I stopped struggling from his tight embrace. My hands dropped to my sides and I fought the urge to wrap my arms around him too.

I never thought being hugged like this is comforting.

"I'm just going to say this once, Emerald. I was never really good at apologies and I'm trying my best in here to apologize but you never make it easy," his chest vibrated when he chuckled. "I should not have snapped at you on that day. You're right, I'm a jerk and I forgot to consider your feelings. I promise not to tease you anymore and I'll try my best to acknowledge more of your good sides that I have yet to see."

We stayed like that for I don't know how long until we heard the bell ring, indicating the end of lunch break and the start of our afternoon classes. He let me go from his tight embrace and we looked into each other's eyes until he broke eye contact first and put his hands inside his pockets but his smile never left his lips.

"Am I forgiven?" He asked and scratched his nape.

I slowly smiled at him, crossed my arms, and gave in to his silly ways of saying sorry. He may never say the exact words but it was way better than just a simple apology.

"Alright, you're forgiven," I said and turned my back from him and started walking anywhere because my crazy heart won't stop beating so fast.

"Really?" He asked and followed me but grabbed my hand when I was walking in the wrong direction for our next class. I thought he would let my hand go but he didn't and my heart somersaulted.

Jaden, what are you doing to me?

"Friends don't hold hands, you know."

"I know." But still, he didn't let go and I couldn't stop myself from smiling.

I stared at our held hands and matched his strides for our next class. He did slow down for me and only let me go when we were almost at our classroom but before he did, he squeezed my hands and walked ahead and entered the class while I was left outside trying to calm my heart that Jaden has just shaken up.