Happiness looks so good on him.

chapter five

"What does Fictional Writing mean to you?" I looked around the lecture room, Professor Miller stood at the front by her desk, waiting for an answer from one of the students. "A way in which we are allowed to explore different worlds, concepts and views?" I raised my hand as I spoke, my ears instantly heated up at how loud my voice projected through the large room. "Thank you, Miss Aubrey" Professor Miller smiled, her hands clasped together.

I nodded before sliding down my seat, Professor Miller repeated my words, elaborating herself. "Fictional Writing isn't just making up a character and writing out a page based on what they did for a day. It's about creating characters and their back story, who they are, what they are, and why they are so vital to the storyline. It's like giving birth to a whole new era, a pristine universe within which you, as a writer, exist. Your emotions, your experiences and your entire mind flows out into a few words scribbled across a page. It's breathtaking" She paced the front of the lecture room, using hand gestures to describe her words.

"With all that been said, I present to you, your next assignment. Ten thousand words, one story" She held up her forefinger, her sharp eyes flicking from one end of the room to another "Take your time but make it original, a good concept always goes a long way. Don't make me fail you, you're now dismissed" Professor Miller ended off, waving her hand towards the door as each student followed her instructions and filed out. I made my way to the cafeteria, the grumbling sound of my stomach continued as I took hasty steps, thankfully no one heard it during the lesson. I placed my order and waited on the side, going through my emails.

I groaned seeing that I have yet another manuscript to read through. Which is odd since Mr Gomez, himself, stated that I would not be assigned any tasks dealing with the publishing house on the days I attend lectures. I shrugged thinking he made a mistake or must've forgotten the day. I took a seat at the far corner of the cafeteria, throwing my carry-on next to me as I devoured the sandwich. If my mother was here, she'd twist my ear for not having breakfast.

A shadow casted over my opened textbook and I heard a voice "Is this seat taken?" I swallowed the last bite of my sandwich and shook my head before looking up at the person standing in front of me "I don't have time for this" I grabbed my coffee and carry-on, briskly walking out the cafeteria. "Gem, wait. Please" He said softly, tugging onto my elbow and I sighed as I turned to face him "Why are you here, Adrian?" I took note of his tousled hair and sharp jawline "I'm here to see you," He took a step forward and his voice lowered ", I wanted to see you"

"Well too bad, neither do I want to see you nor do I want anything to do with you. I'm done" I stated before spinning on my heel and walking away "Can you at least give me a chance to make up for what I did? I know what happened was wrong of me, I shouldn't have done that, but I'm so sorry and I want to give us another chance" I bit my quivering lip as I heard his raised voice, earning the looks of other students "I don't think I have that in me. You hurt me. You broke my adolescent heart in one swift move and I don't think I can go through that again" I spluttered, facing the chiseled man again.

"Then give me the chance of atonement. Let me make things right again" Adrian neared me, his large hand cupped my cheek and I almost caved but I stepped back "Not this time. They say when you go through your first heartbreak it's impossible to recover from it, it doesn't allow you to trust someone again and you know what, I'm still healing. It's been 2 years and I'm still recovering from the image that's etched in my brain of your body tangled with hers in my own fucking bed!" My voice trembled but anger fueled towards the end.

His eyes were cast downwards in shame, his jaw slackened and I spoke again "You disgust me, Adrian and I will never forgive you for what you did" With that being said, I whipped around on my heel and walked away, leaving the despondent boy alone on the sidewalk. I got back to my dorm, the sound of my phone chiming took my attention off of the pile of papers that sat on my desk. Alexa held her hands up in defense, "I don't know where they came from. When I got back, a while ago, it was sitting on your desk"

I nodded, opening my emails only to nearly drop my phone "Woah! What is it?" Alexa exclaimed when my phone almost slipped from my hands, she took a step towards me "It's my boss. Actually my boss's boss" I said and read through the email which stated I have all 6 manuscripts read and approved or rejected by tomorrow morning, not only do I have a writing assignment on the first day back at university but I also have to read through manuscripts, my life is great. "What do you mean?" I sighed, rubbing my temples and flung my bag onto my bed.

My body followed suit and I let out a scream into my pillow, "Remember when I mentioned I was going to interview one of the top notch businessmen in the state?" She nodded "That Mendes guy" She nodded again "Yeah, he owns the publishing house now" I heard her gasp from behind me "Wow! That's extreme but why do you think he bought the company?" I felt the bed dip beside me and I shrugged "I don't know, all I understood from the interview is that he loves spending money lavishly, he can afford literally anything and it sickens me"

I hate show-offs, like why do people boast about their ten thousand dollars worth of jewelry or just a plain (yet expensive) suit when they can use that same money and boast about how they put it into good use by donating it to the orphanages or towards better health care facilities in third world countries. "Or maybe he bought the company after seeing you" I scoffed at Alexa's incredulous thought.

"What bullshit" I sat up and faced her "Think about it, as far as I remember, Mr Mendes only put his focus on textiles and other industrial companies. So why, all of a sudden, did he buy a publishing house which has no benefit to him?" I rolled my eyes at her "Because he got bored with his rich life" I stood to my feet and shrugged off my jacket, following by my boots "What if I'm right?" She raised a brow "Then I owe you my life" I chuckled "Don't be silly, he won't buy a whole company just because of one meager girl like me"

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I love you all x
- Shristhi