FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Once again, Hera felt that her feet were sticking to the ground. She couldn't take a single step forward. The sight in front of her pierced like a thorn in her eyes. She blinked a few times to get rid of the image, but it didn't waver. Hera licked her lips and swallowed to get rid of the sudden dryness in her throat.

She couldn't believe the vision she just saw. She thought her eyes were deceiving her. A tall boy with broad shoulders and charcoal black hair that overgrown its length carried Adelaide in his arms. The boy clad in their school uniform had his back turned to Hera, but she would recognise him with just a single glimpse from any angle.

It was her Hunter.

But he was not going towards the assembly. Instead, his long legs guided him in the opposite direction.. He was passing through the empty corridor, walking towards the exit.

'Why is he carrying Adelaide in his arms?'

Adelaide looked over Hunter's shoulder, and as soon as her gaze met Hera's, she widened her eyes, and her eyebrows arched up, touching her fringe as though she was delighted to see Hera. Her little smirk grew into a grin before she mouthed, "Surprise".

That brought Hera out of her shock, and she narrowed her eyes at the girl swaying in Hunter's arms. Adelaide winked and tightened her arms around Hunter's neck. She wiggled her fingers as a farewell to Hera.

'Where is he going with her?'

Hera's hands at her sides closed into tight fists.

She wanted to stop him, but nothing came out of her mouth when she parted her lips to call him. She took a step forward and forced another and another, but she couldn't bring herself to follow him. Hera recognised the feeling as fear. She was afraid of following him. The situation triggered something ugly inside her heart.

It brought back the gut-wrenching memory, the one where Hera's heart got broken. She neither had the courage nor the strength to go through that heartbreak again.

The last time when she followed him without his knowledge, it led her to the harsh reality where she found him cheating on her with another girl.

'Is he cheating on me again?'

Hera couldn't find her voice, nor did her legs have the nerve to move. Like a lifeless object, she stood there shell-shocked and watched while her boyfriend walked farther away from her.

'Is he going to do it with her?'

The thought made her heart skip several beats, and suddenly, Hera felt suffocated only to realise she had been holding her breath. She exhaled and inhaled through her mouth, forcing the oxygen into her lungs. Involuntarily her legs moved, dragging her feet backwards. She couldn't stand the view anymore.

She looked away and walked in the opposite direction.

'What is wrong with this day?'

'Why is every wrong thing from the past finding its way back into my life?'

The agonising pain she was very familiar with returned with full force and constricted her chest. As one would mercilessly twist and compress a wet cloth to remove water from it, similarly, without even trying, Hunter brutally squeezed and crushed Hera's heart.

Even though her legs aimlessly wandered for a while in her absent-minded state, she still somehow managed to reach the assembly. Her eyes roamed all around the place, letting the row of students distract her as she took her place behind someone.

Hera was grateful that, for once, she wasn't crying. Either she had spent all her tears while crying in her room, or the burning fury inside her was so powerful it might have dried her tear glands. Taking another deep breath, she tried to focus when the prayer began. She lifted her gaze, and it accidentally landed on Eric.

Everything Clara had revealed earlier echoed again in Hera's thoughts. The absolute anger and hatred Clara's tone held, the pain and suffering in her voice, Hera could still hear Clara's every accusation ringing in her ears. She shook her head, ridding off the unpleasant bitter feeling.

Subconsciously, Hera smiled while she looked at her friend, the one she considered her guardian angel.

The boy with honey blond hair and aqua blue eyes looked so handsome in his school uniform. Hera would describe him as a pleasant sight to the sore eyes. As the wind blew, his once neatly brushed hair stuck out in places. Frowning in annoyance, Eric jerked his head and tossed hair out of his eyes.

He seemed so harmless and kind that Hera wanted to slap herself for ever doubting his character.

Hera could feel someone's eyes boring into her. Tilting her head slightly to the left, she peered through her lashes only to find Clara staring at her. Hera returned the stare, her gaze empty and emotionless. Clenching her jaw, Hera looked away. She couldn't even look at the girl without feeling any resentment.

Her eyes moved on their own accord and settled on Eric once again. Bianca, who stood beside Eric, whispered something, and he inclined his head, paying full attention to the evil captain of their gang. Hera noticed how he struggled to keep a straight face trying to bite back his laughter after whatever news Bianca shared with him.

Michael's lips moved as he contributed to their conversation as discreetly as he could. Eric responded by showing him the middle finger, and this time he couldn't keep his grin off. The smile stretching on his lips looked so lovely that it brought a child-like innocence to his face.

'Can this angel touch a girl in the wrong way?'

Guilt tugged at Hera's heart, and her chest began to feel heavy.

'How can I doubt or blame Eric even for a moment?'

Eric was her friend, her brother, someone she could count on to hold the light in the darkness for her. Hera lowered her head in shame. She could at least ask Hunter if she wanted answers, but how would she question Eric?

Speaking of Hunter, Hera had yet to see him. She scanned the dais in front of her. Only members of the student council had the privilege of standing with teachers and their principals. She saw Hunter's whole gang on the dais, prim and proper in their uniform. Yet, something felt missing.

Hera sucked in a sharp breath as she realised Hunter was not there. He never made it to the assembly, nor did Adelaide. Her heart raced to touch the skyscraper while tears blurred her vision. She lowered her head and blinked, allowing the teardrops to brush over her shoes.

Heat crawled up her neck, reaching to the shell of her ears before settling on her flushed cheeks. Her hair at the back of her neck stood up, and Hera could feel the goosebumps sprouting all over her skin beneath her clothes. Her shoulders felt heavy, and her vision started spinning. Hera felt dizzy, but she didn't want to faint in front of everyone.

Falling into oblivion would be nice. At least, Hera wouldn't have to bear this heartache. The temptation was too strong, but she decided to be brave and not give up. She bit the inside of her lower lip, hard enough to draw blood. The pain succeeded in chasing away the dizziness, and Hera welcomed the metallic taste of her blood coating her tongue.

The rest of the day went uneventful. No one bothered her, and Hera was grateful. In her absent-mindedness, she couldn't concentrate on anything the teachers taught, and she couldn't care less. 

However, there was one thing that troubled her throughout the day. Adelaide didn't attend any of her classes, and unfortunately, Hera didn't fail to notice her absence. It bothered her more than she could endure. 

Hera spent her time alone in the empty classroom during her snack break. A bottle of water was all she consumed, though her poor stomach kept growling every now and then. Much to her annoyance, somehow, Noel found her at their lunch break. He had bought two plates of buttermilk pancakes with vanilla clotted cream. 

Hera couldn't refuse when he reminded her that her lunchtime belonged to him according to their dating rules. "With your boyfriend's permission, I'm allowed to court you, remember?" he had asked, and Hera faked a smile in reply. He assured her that he wouldn't pry and ask what bothered her. 

He was too persistent for his own good. Hera thought she could use a friend as she felt lonely for real. True to his word, he never asked anything that Hera didn't want to share. 

When school ended, Hera left in a hurry from the back gate like a thief running from the cops. She didn't want to run into Hunter. She knew she was acting like a coward. It was Hunter who was in the wrong, not her. She was desperate to learn the truth, but she wasn't ready to face him yet. 

As Hunter himself admitted, she had all the rights to confront him, and question him and demand answers. It was easier said than done because sometimes, the truth turns out to be so harsh that it becomes hard to bear it. Hera needed time to prepare herself to face him. 

She scoffed at her pathetic self. 

'Why am I so afraid to let him go?' 

She opened the door to her room and rushed to the bathroom. She knew her roommates would come sooner, and she had no other place to hide. Changing into her pyjama sets, Hera found the shelter on her bed, under the covers. She had decided to pretend ill and sleep the rest of the day. 

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