Amelia's POV
It was our sports class, and as we gathered around the swimming pool, I couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety. The water seemed to mock me, its depths a source of endless dread. Rose, oblivious to my unease, stepped confidently into the pool, offering me her hand.
But I couldn't bring myself to accept her offer. With a heavy heart, I explained to Rose that I had a fear of water, a phobia that rendered me helpless in its presence. I watched as understanding dawned in her eyes, and she nodded sympathetically before continuing her swimming exercises.
As Rose glided effortlessly through the water, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. While she embraced the pool with ease, I remained rooted to the spot, a silent observer of her skills. Despite my fear, I refused to let it consume me, opting instead to sit by the poolside, a silent spectator in my own personal battle against the water.
Madison appears out of nowhere, her presence sending a shiver down my spine. I've heard rumors about her, whispers of her ruthless nature and unforgiving demeanor. Now, she stands before me.
"You think you can escape with your disrespectful behavior?" Her words are like a chilling breeze, sending a wave of fear coursing through me. Before I can react, she moves closer, her intentions clear. She wants to push me into the pool, to force me to confront my greatest fear head-on.
My heart races with panic, the familiar grip of terror tightening around me. I feel a surge of adrenaline, my instincts screaming at me to flee. But just as Madison's hand reaches out to shove me, a sudden presence appears beside me.
It's Aiden.
For a moment, I can't believe my eyes. Aiden, the same person who tormented me just moments ago, now stands between me and Madison, his actions a stark contrast to his usual demeanor. Relief floods through me, mingled with shock and disbelief.
I watch in awe as Aiden confronts Madison, his authoritative tone leaving no room for argument. In that moment, I can't help but feel a glimmer of gratitude towards him. Despite everything, he's chosen to help me, to stand up for me when I needed it most.
As Madison backs away, defeated, I find myself feeling a strange sense of gratitude towards Aiden. Maybe, just maybe, he's not as bad as I thought. And in that moment, I can't help but feel a flicker of hope amidst the darkness.
Aiden's expression remains blank as he draws closer to me, his gaze piercing and unreadable. I feel a sense of unease creeping over me, a nagging feeling that something isn't right. But when he speaks, his voice is calm and composed.
"So, you're afraid of water," he observes, his tone devoid of emotion. I hesitate, unsure of how to respond. Despite his recent act of kindness, I can't shake the feeling that there's something sinister beneath the surface.
I nod, confirming his suspicions. Before I can comprehend what's happening, a smirk twists Aiden's lips, sending a chill down my spine. In an instant, the facade of kindness evaporates, replaced by a cruel amusement.
Without warning, Aiden forcefully shoves me into the pool, the shock of the cold water stealing my breath away. Panic grips me as I struggle to resurface, the water closing in around me like a suffocating embrace.
I gasp for air, my lungs burning with the effort. But Aiden shows no mercy, his eyes cold and indifferent as he watches me struggle. With each passing moment, my strength disappearing, my attempts to escape growing weaker by the second.
As I fight against the relentless pull of the water, Aiden's words echo in my mind, a chilling reminder of his cruelty. "Don't die yet," he taunts, his voice laced with malice. "I've got a lot in mind for you."
Fear grips me as I realize the true extent of Aiden's cruelty. Trapped beneath the surface, I can only hope that someone will come to my rescue before it's too late. At this moment I will be disgusted, just let me get out of this water alive and I will kill you Aiden, I swear.
As I thrashed beneath the surface, the weight of the water pressing down on me, I felt my strength leave. Panic surged through me, my lungs burning as I fought desperately for air. With each passing moment, it felt like I was being dragged deeper into the darkness, closing in around me.
Just when I thought I couldn't hold on any longer, a sudden commotion above the water caught my attention. Through the haze of panic, I saw a figure approaching, their movements swift and purposeful. It was the coach.
With a powerful grip, the coach pulled me from the water, hauling me to safety. Gasping for air, I coughed so bad, my chest heaving with the effort. My vision blur, the edges blurring as I struggled to make sense of what was happening around me.
I was dimly aware of voices murmuring nearby, but their words seemed distant and muffled. All I could focus on was the burning sensation in my chest, the lingering taste of chlorine on my lips. Darkness threatened to engulf me, pulling me into its cold embrace.
As consciousness slipped away, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Despite the trauma I had endured, I was safe now, ready to send Aiden to hell.
...........................
As I slowly regained consciousness, my surroundings gradually came into focus. I found myself lying on a hospital bed in the medical center of the university, surrounded by worried faces. My parents, sister, and Rose were all there, their expressions conveying concern.
Feeling disoriented, I struggled to piece together what had happened. Memories of being pushed into the pool by Aiden flooded back, accompanied by a surge of fear and panic. But now, as I looked around at the familiar faces gathered around me, a sense of relief washed over me. I was safe now, surrounded by loved ones who cared about me.
The doctor reassured my family that I was going to be okay, and I echoed those sentiments, insisting that I was fine despite the incident I had just endured. My parents exchanged worried glances with each other before stepping away with the doctor to discuss the situation further, leaving me alone with Rose and my sister.
Rose's eyes were filled with concern as she reached out to take my hand, offering me a reassuring smile. My sister hovered nearby, her brow furrowed with worry. Despite the trauma I had experienced, I felt a sense of gratitude for the support of my family and friends.
As my sister spoke about the courts being informed of my supposed slip into the swimming pool, shock coursed through me. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I quickly interjected, telling her that it wasn't an accident at all-Aiden had intentionally pushed me into the pool. The revelation left my sister visibly stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Turning to Rose, I hoped for her support, but instead, she remained silent, her expression betraying a sense of discomfort. My heart sank as I realized that even she seemed hesitant to speak up against Aiden. Meanwhile, my sister, clearly ashamed, lowered her head and spoke in a hushed tone.
Rose revealed that the coach would never blame Aiden for anything, regardless of what he did. When I pressed her for an explanation,
She hesitated, her eyes darting around nervously before finally whispering, "Um, well, you see... the thing is, the university is under my dad's company."
My heart sank as the words left my Rose's lips, a heavy weight settled in my chest. "So why is the code giving Aiden unnecessary favors?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of shock and confusion a beat. "What? Why would he do something so cruel openly just because his dad is paying their bills?" The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place, but the picture they painted was one I never could have imagined.
"Because Aiden... he's the heir to Dad's company," Rose confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.
My mind raced, trying to comprehend the gravity of her words. "What? Aiden? But... that doesn't make any sense. Why would they protect him like this?" The injustice of it all felt suffocating.
"The coach won't do anything against Aiden, no matter what he does," she explained, her tone resigned.
My frustration boiled inside me, threatening to spill over. "This is insane. So, they're just going to let him get away with pushing me into the pool?" The unfairness of the situation was almost too much to bear.
"It looks that way. It's not fair, but that's how things are," my sister offered, her words a bittersweet comfort in the face of such blatant injustice.
The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, and a sinking feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.
...................
After returning home from school and having dinner with my parents, who were quite worried about me because they thought that I am too clumsy to slip into a swimming pool.
I went to my room, eager to unwind and indulge in my nightly skincare routine, My room felt like a treat after the hard day I had outside.
I start by cleansing my face with a gentle foaming cleanser, massaging it in circular motions to rid my skin of the day's impurities. As I apply a soothing toner infused with rose water, patting it gently onto my skin to hydrate and balance its pH levels I keep thinking of what happened today making me furious and more determined to get back on Aiden.
Moving on to the essence step, I carefully pour a few drops of the lightweight liquid onto my fingertips and press it into my skin, allowing its potent ingredients to penetrate deeply and nourish my complexion.
Once my skincare routine is complete, I sink into my cozy bed, ready to unwind and reflect on the events of the day. But before I can fully relax, I notice my sister already in the room, her expression mirroring my own frustration and anger.
As we discuss what happened at school, I can feel a fire igniting within me, a determination to not let Aiden's actions go unpunished. "I'll come up with a plan," I declare, my voice tinged with resolve. "I won't let him get away with this. I'll make him regret ever crossing me."
My sister nods, her eyes shining with determination. "We'll figure something out together," she assures me. "He won't know what hit him." With her unwavering support, I feel a renewed sense of determination, ready to show him that cannot get away after messing with me.
..........................
I was engrossed in the final pages of "The Art of War" when my phone buzzed, shattering the silence of my room. An unknown number flashed on the screen, and curiosity got the better of me as I opened the message. What I read made my blood boil.
"Check your email, or Assignment's deadline will be upon us. Get over your water phobia and start working. I won't tolerate any academic setbacks due to something as trivial as your inability to handle a little push."
I knew who it was, I could feel his arrogance through the screen and shit I completely forgot about the assignment The teacher gave us unfortunately paired me and Aiden to work on it.
The nerve of him! Aiden's audacity knew no bounds. How dare he presume to dictate my actions, especially after what he had done? There was no remorse, no hint of shame in his words, just cold, unapologetic arrogance.
I felt a surge of anger rise within me. As I glared at my phone, a steely resolve washed over me. I would show him that I was not one to be bossed around, especially by someone as arrogant and callous as him. He may think he had the upper hand, but I was determined to turn the tables and come out on top.
As I hovered over the keyboard, ready to unleash my fury by abusive words, a sudden idea struck me like a lightning. This was not the time to be emotional; this was the perfect opportunity for revenge.
Aiden prided himself on his academics, his status as the top student in the business studies department.With a devilish grin, I realized that I had the power to make him squirm, to chip away at his carefully constructed facade.
The thought of bringing him to his knees, of making him taste the bitter sting of humiliation he had inflicted upon me, fueled a fire of determination within me. This was just the beginning; the first step in a carefully calculated plan to exact my revenge.
With each keystroke, I channeled my anger and frustration into a devious scheme, plotting my next move with precision. Aiden may have treated me like dirt, but now it was my turn to turn the tables and show him just how wrong he was to underestimate me.
"I will check the email, we will start working together: 9:00 am in the library." I typed and tossed the phone on bed, my heart filled with satisfaction already imagining his humiliation and destruction of academic perfection I'm about to make.