Amelia's POV
I stomped my hand on the desk, frustration boiling over. "That's enough!" I told myself mentally. The room felt suffocating, all eyes on me.
I stood up, excused myself to the professor, and left the bouquet on the desk. The crumpled note was still in my hand as I stormed out of the room.
Pulling out my phone, I dialed Aiden's number. He was about to pick up when I cut the call and instead sent him a text: "Meet me at the backside of the football field. Now."
I walked briskly to the field, my heart pounding. It was now or never. I had to end this.
When I reached the backside of the field, I paced back and forth, waiting for Aiden. My mind raced with thoughts of what I would say. This had gone too far, and I needed to make it clear that I couldn't be manipulated or intimidated any longer.
After a few tense minutes, I saw Aiden approaching. His usual confident stride seemed a bit slower, perhaps sensing my resolve.
"What's this about?" he asked, his tone casual but with an edge of curiosity. "Don't tell you have decided we will go out on a date right now." He mocked.
"Not funny, try again Aiden," I said, my voice steady but filled with determination. "This needs to stop. Now."
He raised an eyebrow. "What exactly do you mean?"
I took a deep breath. "All of this. The bouquets, the unwanted attention, manipulating my family... It ends here. You can't keep doing this to me."
Aiden's expression hardened. "I've told you, Amelia, I won't stop until you love me back."
I shook my head. "Love isn't something you can force, Aiden. And your actions are only pushing me further away. This obsession of yours is unhealthy and it's hurting everyone around us."
He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "How am I forcing you exactly? I'm being a gentleman even if it's against my personality. I'm doing everything you will like. You think you can just walk away from this? From me?"
"Things don't work like this and you should understand," I replied firmly. "I'm done with your games. You need to leave me and my family alone."
Aiden looked at me for a moment, his face a mixture of anger and something else - maybe hurt. "You don't understand, Amelia. I can't just stop. You think I love chasing a girl around who's trying her best to run away. I didn't just wake up one day and thought that yes now I would chase Amelia and be in love with her. You told me that love is not an emotion we have control over while on the other hand you keep telling me to stop loving you. How unfair! "
"Then you need to find a way to," I said, standing my ground. "Because if you don't, I'll make sure everyone knows what you've been doing. This isn't love, Aiden. It's control. And I won't be a part of it anymore."
He stared at me, his jaw clenched. "You think you can scare me with threats?"
"I'm not threatening you," I said. "I'm telling you the truth. You need to let go. For your sake as much as mine."
For a moment, he looked like he might argue, but then he just shook his head and turned away. "This isn't over, Amelia."
"Yes, it is," I called after him. "It's over."
I watched as he walked away, feeling a mix of relief and lingering fear. This confrontation might not be the end, but it was a start. A start of standing up for myself and reclaiming my life.
With a deep breath, I headed back to the building, ready to face whatever came next.
........................................
I entered the class, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. As I made my way to my seat, my eyes fell on the familiar bouquet. The sight of those flowers filled me with discomfort.
I sighed and sat down, noticing a fresh note tucked among the blooms. With a sinking feeling, I unfolded it. The words "You belong to me" were written in bold letters.
My heart sank. Any hope that Aiden had finally ended his obsession disappeared. Despite our conversation, he had left this note as a reminder of his persistence.
I crumpled the note in my hand, anger and fear bubbling up inside me. This wasn't over. Far from it. And now, more than ever, I had to find a way to make him stop.
I pull out my phone and text him, "Stay in your delusion. The reality won't change: we are poles apart."
After hitting send, I slide my phone back into my pocket, a wave of determination washing over me. I know this isn't over, but I need to draw the line.
My phone buzzes almost immediately. "We'll see," his message reads. His confidence sends a shiver down my spine, but I can't let him intimidate me.
Rose pulls me aside and says, "While you were out, the professor assigned a group project that's due tomorrow. We had to form groups ourselves, so I included you, me, Frances, and Maya. We'll have to work on it after lectures, so we'll be going home late."
I agree and turn to Akira, worried about whether he found a group. "I'm sorry I couldn't add you to ours because of the number restrictions and my absence during the group-making process."
Akira smiles reassuringly. "Don't worry. I've made some good friends and joined their group. We'll work together."
His cheerful attitude lifts my spirits. I think to myself how kind and sweet he is, so unlike Aiden. It baffles me how much this university hypes up Aiden when someone like Akira truly deserves the appreciation.
.............................
We were huddled around a cluttered table in the university library, surrounded by textbooks, laptops, and scattered notes. Our project was centered on analyzing the impact of digital marketing strategies on consumer behavior.
We were deeply immersed in our group project at the university library. The table was a jumble of textbooks, printed articles, and our laptops, which were all open to different sections of our research. Rose was engrossed in drafting the introduction on her laptop, her eyes flicking from her screen to a stack of notes beside her. Frances, sitting next to her, was highlighting and making notes from a research paper, piecing together important points.
I was organizing our collected data into a clear outline that would help structure our presentation. The library was quiet except for the sound of our typing and the occasional low conversation as we discussed and refined our ideas. Even though we were working late, the atmosphere was focused and cooperative, with each of us contributing to a thorough analysis of how digital marketing strategies influence consumer behavior.
As the evening wore on and the sun began to set, Jason approached our table. He said to Rose, "Hey, we need to go now."
Rose looked at us with an apologetic expression. "I'm really sorry, but I have to leave."
I could tell she was reluctant to leave the work unfinished. "It's alright, Rose. We can manage the rest. There are still three of us, and we'll get it done."
She gave a small, appreciative nod. "Thanks, Amelia. I promise I'll catch up with you later."
With that, she packed up her things and left with Jason. I turned back to Frances, determined. "Let's keep going. We've got this."
................................
After wrapping up our work, Maya received a call from her father, who had arrived at the campus gate to pick her up. She quickly said her goodbyes and left, leaving Frances and me to finish tidying up.
The sky, once clear, had turned overcast, and it had begun to rain lightly. The rain, which had been unexpected but welcome, added a refreshing touch to the evening. Frances turned to me and asked, "How are you getting home?"
I answered, "My sister is picking me up. I'll wait at the bus stop since it's right by the road. She'll be able to find me easily."
Frances nodded and we said our farewells. He headed to his car, and I walked towards the bus waiting area. The rain was soothing, and I took a moment to appreciate the peaceful ambiance. The weather was a welcome change, and I found myself lost in the simple pleasure of the rainy evening.
It was 9 p.m., and darkness had settled over the city. The rain had grown heavy, cascading in thick sheets and obscuring the streetlights. I stood under the bus stop shelter, grateful for its coverage as the downpour showed no signs of letting up. The weather had turned colder, and despite my usual fondness for rainy nights, this one felt increasingly daunting.
My sister was still missing, and the wait was beginning to feel unnerving. The cold and relentless rain only heightened my unease as I periodically glanced at my phone, hoping for an update or a message. The relentless patter of rain against the shelter seemed to echo my growing anxiety.
I called my sister repeatedly, growing increasingly anxious with each unanswered ring. Finally, she picked up. "Where are you? Why are you so late? Why haven't you been answering my calls?" I demanded, my voice tight with worry.
"I'm here at the university," she replied, sounding stressed. "But the car broke down. There's something wrong with it. It's raining heavily, it's dark, and there's no one around to help. There's not even a sign of a mechanic. Mom and Dad aren't in the city, and I'm stuck."
Panic surged through me. "Oh my god," I said, feeling helpless.
"But don't worry," she said, trying to calm me. "We're in the city. It's just a car issue. We'll figure it out. I'll wait in the car until the rain eases a bit, then I'll look for a mechanic. In the meantime, stay at the bus stop and don't go anywhere."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"I'm telling you to stay there," she said firmly.
"Okay, fine," I said, feeling resigned. As I was prepared to wait, I spotted a familiar black Bugatti heading my way. My heart skipped a beat.
For the first time I'm so glad to see him.
I extended my hand to signal the car, which slowed and pulled up to the bus stop, stopping right in front of me. I hurried over, and Aiden stepped out, dressed in a grey sweatshirt and sweatpants, looking as if he'd just come from the gym.
He looked at me, clearly surprised. "What are you doing here so late?"
I quickly explained, "My sister was supposed to pick me up, but her car broke down. With our parents out of town, I'm stranded here."
Aiden took in the situation, then nodded. "Alright, let's get you out of here. Hop in."
I walked over to the car as Aiden opened the door for me. I got in, and he shut the door behind me before taking his place behind the wheel. Nervously, I said, "Aiden, my sister's waiting around here. Can we pick her up too?"
He looked at me and replied, "Sure, but it's a two-seater, so..."
I was about to accept that we might have to leave her, but then he added, "Don't worry. I'll call my driver to pick her up. We'll make sure she's not left alone until he gets here."
I felt a surge of relief, as if a wilting flower had been given a much-needed drink. I was so thankful to see him at this moment. I immediately called my sister, got her live location, and we set off to find her.
I walked up to my sister's car, and she looked up in surprise. "What are you doing here?" she asked. Her eyes widened as she noticed Aiden. "Oh my god, Aiden! What's going on?"
She quickly realized the situation and added, "I'm so glad you came. Amelia you did a great job calling him over, and it's really sweet of you to show up like this." I considered correcting her but decided against it. It didn't seem worth the trouble.
At that moment, a sleek black Rolls-Royce arrived. Aiden motioned to his driver, who took the Bugatti away. I started to tell him he should head home, but he interrupted, "Not at all. It's my job to make sure both of you get home safely."
My sister was practically glowing with gratitude, while I internally rolled my eyes. Aiden continued, "I've already called my mechanic. The driver will take your car to be repaired and it'll be ready by tomorrow."
With that, we climbed into the luxurious car, feeling a mix of frustration and relief.