CHAPTER 84: FATED Night 2

"Why aren't you inside?" Malik startles me from my thoughts as I sit there in the garden just outside the main hall. I look up at him and smile.

"Why aren't you?" I ask back, scooting over so he can sit next to me.

"Miss you," Malik grins and ruffles my hair. That makes me laugh.

"Hey," I greet Keaton who has also come out to join us.

"Why are you hiding here?" He asks me as he stands before me with his handsome smile and cute dimples. What a cheat.

I look between the two of them. With a smile, I tell them, "I'm going to break it off with Mr. Bond tonight. I need strength," I tell them.

Malik and Keaton's smiles vanish and they look at each other with some concern in their faces.

"Well, that's good," Malik says finally, once again patting my head. I hum and nod. I know it's a good thing. But I still feel kind of lost.

"Do you need us to do anything?" Keaton asks. I shake my head and get up, staring up at him, smiling.

"Hugs?" I ask, grinning. Keaton chuckles and opens up his arm and I dive straight in before holding out a hand to Malik telling him to join in. Malik also chuckles before he stands behind me and hugs me. I sigh, content. I'm so very greedy. And very blessed.

"Let's get inside," I tell them after a while, "I think the auction is about to conclude."

"Did you bid on anything?" Malik asks us as we walk back inside.

"Nah," I tell them. "Nothing I can afford," I chuckle.

"What about you?" Malik asks Keaton who looks conflicted.

"I was thinking of bidding on Lee's work… But would that make me seem vain?" he asks.

"Dude, don't think too much!" Malik laughs and slaps Keaton's back.

"I think Maria hates it," I grimace as I see Maria standing before the painting I made of Keaton. We walk towards her and Keaton greets his sister slightly shyly. We say nothing as she studies the painting carefully. I can almost feel sweat dripping ym back from how nervous I am. And when she turns around and stares at me, I can feel my heart jump from fright.

She stares at me for a while before turning back and writing her bid number on the paper and straightens her back once again. She stares at me again. Why does she like to stare at me so much? Can she not throw daggers while she does that, though? So scary.

"Humph," Maria scoffs before slipping past us and goes around the auction items, leaving the three of us dumbfounded.

"She did," Malik says, looking at the paper below the painting, "she bid the highest as of now," he informs us.

I think my eyes are about to pop out when I see how much she bids for it. I turn around to look at Keaton, half questioning, half in fright. Keaton, however, looks positively beaming.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"She likes the painting," Keaton tells me.

"I can see that," I tell him. I somehow get that. Maria wouldn't bid on something she doesn't like. Even if it's a painting of her whole family.

"She's warming up to you." Now Keaton looks as happy as a puppy getting a new toy.

"That's a relief," I smile at him but still feeling somehow unsure.Just because of a painting? I'm not that good, am I? I criticize myself as I stare at the painting, scrutinizing it.

I admit that this is one of my best paintings I have ever done. Having Keaton as the object sure helps tremendously.

"Why are you staring at it so intently? Isn't the real thing better?" Keaton sneaks his arm around my waist, pulling me to him.

I look at him with a grin, "I can take this thing everywhere with me, of course this one's better," I point at the painting and he laughs at that.

"Who says you can't take this one too?" he asks, pointing at himself.

"Your sister," I retort. Keaton rolls his eyes.

"In that case, just take me," Malik sneaks up from my other side. "I don't have an overbearing sister and I'm definitely more handsome than him,'' Malik grins. I roll my eyes at both of them.

"Why would I take anyone anywhere, though? I'm a poor student. I can't afford any of you," I stuck my tongue out at them.

Laughing together with my friends sure is the best thing. At least I'm no longer as nervous as I was when I thought about breaking it off with Allen tonight. Also teh anticipation for the auction also helps.

The night arrives and the auction starts and ends with Maria winning the bid on my painting. She stares at me with some glee and arrogance. I really don't know how to react to that so I just offer her an unsure smile. To which of course she scoffs at. She's so difficult to please but also so cute. I can't help but chuckle internally.

"I'll be leaving in a while," I tell Keaton and Malik just as dinner ends.

"Want us to come with?" Malik asks, worry evident on his face.

I glance around and found that Joy and Allen had also gone. Allen told me that Joy has a prior engagement so he'll drop her off first before coming to my dorm room later. I turn to Malik and Keaton again and shake my head.

"No, thanks," I tell them. "I'll contact you later?" I ask them as I get up.

"We'll be waiting," Malik says, also getting up before pecking my lips.

"I'll see you out," Keaton says and waves to Maria who stares at me in contempt. I smile at her before walking away with Keaton beside me with his hand in mine, squeezing tightly yet gently, giving me strength.

"Here is fine," I stop just before we reach the gate of the campus. I turn to look at Keaton who has this troubled look. "Are you worried that I'm gonna chicken out?" I ask half teasing half inquiring. And by the startled look he gives me, it seems that it's true.

"Not… that…" Keaton says, sighing. "I just don't want you to keep on hurting," he tells me.

"I'm scared. I admit that. But I don't think I'm going to have cold feet. I know what's right," I assure him.

"Call me if anything happens?" he asks. I nod and hug him.

"It'll be fine. We're just gonna talk. He's not unreasonable," I assure myself this time.

Keaton hums and draws me closer before kissing me gently. I lean into him more for comfort. I'm this sly and he still likes me. It makes me feel like I'm a terrible person. No wonder Maria doesn't like me. She probably senses what I'm about, right?

"I'll see you later?" I ask after I catch my breath.

I part ways with Keaton there. He goes back to the main hall to enjoy the rest of the evening while I go on to my dorm room to get ready to break it off with Allen.

I walk slowly towards the dorm and into my building. I take my time calling the elevator because to be honest, I'm extremely nervous right now. I'm also afraid that I will not be able to convince Allen to break it off with me. I know he can be headstrong and quite unreasonable at times.

I'm not blind. I know he's at least infatuated with me. Even if he doesn't love me he's so taken with my body. He's also very possessive. Which is why I'm not sure he's willing to let me go. Which is also why I have taken an extreme measure after this is all over.

I have to get away.

I need to get away. From everything.

"Levi," I open the door and see Allen standing in my room amidst the darkness. My heart fell.

This isn't going to be easy.