"Are you going to their wedding?" I asked Peter, walking aimlessly in the hallways.

We both were walking in the hallways pointlessly after what had happened with Asher and Serena, plus the betrayal. The hallways felt deserted, empty—just like my heart. I had recently lived like a zombie, not even nurturing my own hygiene. However, Peter was acting differently. He seemed annoyed by everything, but I received a nerve wrecking atmosphere around him.

"No." He answered firmly, but soon he returned to his temporary antsy self.

"Why?" I questioned him with an eyebrow lifted. "You're his best friend."

"I don't approve of their relationship," He said firmly as I nodded along his words. "No matter how much I wanted for them to match up perfectly."

"What is that supposed to mean?" I questioned him again, widening my eyes.

"Nah, nothing. My mind's a wreck sometimes." He quickly covered up his previous words, talking gibberish.

I sighed deeply at the thought again. The thought of them getting married, but I somehow didn't agree and I was having conflicts within me. I said, "Just wish them a blessing or something. He's still your best friend."

He stopped his footsteps, causing me to follow his actions as well. He whirled around to face me and bounced his chocolate bangs. He asked me, "Haven't you told him?"

"I did." I answered him almost immediately, averting my gaze away afterwards.

"So...why would you say that?" He asked me again, causing me to stiffen. I regretted it, I regretted it so much. But, I had no power to do reverse it. I might as well give them my blessing.

Shrugging off that thought, I told him, "I think they're well suited for each other."

"Wha-why?" He stuttered in shock, widening his eyes.

"No reason," I shrugged off his question. "If you go, please send them my regards."

"I won't, Taylor," He told me. "I heard that you're having a feast with your grandmother on the exact same day as the wedding."

Utterly shocked, I stuttered, "H-How did y-you know t-that?"

"What? Am I not welcomed?" He replied with questions, not answering my question.

"How did you find out?" I asked him, repeating myself.

He chuckled and said, "I have my sources."

It all turned into an awkward silence and I gulped my throat. He broke the silence, "So...can I come?"

"What?"

"Can I come to your annual feast?"

Should I invite him or not? I said, "You've practically invited yourself to another's feast party. Yes, you may."

His lips curved into a warm smile and he said, "Thank you."

***

Therefore I declared, Asher was a cold guy. Even right after that incident we had had, he looked jolly as ever. Wearing a Christmas-themed sweater, a red woolen sweater embroidered with white threads to be exact, he was having a great time receiving positive comments on his wedding. A couple of guys and girls were lingering around him talking about his newly-wed and his bride—the evil serpent.

I was practically staring at him in disbelief, gaping open my mouth and rolling my eyes in disgust. I was in the cafeteria, a cafeteria which had a flood of food going on, flipping the pages of my book. I flipped the pages even though I wasn't reading it. I was staring at Asher with fury in my orbs.

"Jeez...why does he look so happy?" I muttered under my breath. Annoyed, I looked down and started reading the book seriously. But, my eyes would avert their attention to Asher again.

He suddenly received a call from his phone and halted their comments on his marriage, standing up abruptly. He walked away from the crowd, disappearing. Curious, I snatched my book and followed him. He was walking quite fast-paced and I had a hard time catching up to him.

I followed him to the other wing of the university, a lonelier spot. He went out through a back door to the parking lot and I followed him outside. He walked towards a black Mercedes sedan, polished and fancy. An old man got out of the car and it didn't look good.

The man was about in his fifties, but rich times. He was wearing a black coat, fancy-looking. His black pants were also formal, business-oriented. His face expression was scary, sour and vicious—the wrinkles made it even worse. His faded grey hair was neatly done, but it didn't make him look any younger.

I was not supposed to hear their conversation, so I hid behind a car. Asher walked towards him and stood abruptly straight. He said, "Hello father."

The man was his dad?!

"What is this about you liking some other girl?" His father asked him, making him look away in shame.

"Can't you trust me, father? I'm already going for the marriage." He hissed in response. Was he trying to trick me?

Grumbling, his father said, "You are too rebellious, just like your mother."

"Do not speak of her with that filthy mouth of yours." Asher growled angrily.

His father widened his eyes and lifted his hand. He slapped Asher right on the face, causing me to leap slightly from surprise. Asher touched his cheek and glared back at his father.

"There's no need to glare, my son," He said, sputtering out my son bitterly. "I trust you to maintain the reputation of your father's company."

"This is nonsense. You're telling me to marry just for money and I don't even have feelings for her." Asher hissed at his father.

His father once again widened his eyes, quite horrific even from a mile away. He scolded him, "Asher! Disobedience is not allowed in my family."

Flooded with fury and disappointment, Asher whirled around and walked away from his father. He was walking towards the entrance, where I was hiding near. I stumbled, crawling away further from the entrance. I hurriedly crawled, touching some things that I shouldn't touch. Until, I crawled up to a pair of shoes in front of me. The thing was, the shoes had feet in them.

I stopped my crawling and tilted my head up to see. I looked back at Asher's father again, but he disappeared along with the sedan. It was Asher, standing right in front of me with a lifted eyebrow. His cheek was still slightly red with scratches, his hair was disheveled in shades of brunette, and his fists were clenched.

"Princess, what are you doing here?" He asked me, questioning my presence.

"It's been a long time, knight." I said, not answering his question.

It had been a while since he called me princess. It may had just been a few days or a week, but it felt like an eternity.

"What are you doing here?" He hissed, which shocked me. I widened my eyes in response and stay stiffened. He was mad, he was infuriated, and he was going to unleash his anger at him. My lips were trembling without any conscious notice and I was terrified. I was terrified of him for the first time, because he was beyond mad.

He lowered himself, sitting himself on the parking lot floor. I averted my gaze away in fear, looking on the floor right below me. All of a sudden, his fingers reached out to tilt my chin up. I eyed him in shock and fear, my lips were still trembling.

He chuckled slightly and said, "Y'know, you don't have to be afraid like that of me."

"I thought I promised you." I responded in fear, still afraid.

"Well, I don't live up to that promise," He told me, eyeing me with his jade orbs. "I hate it when you're afraid of me."

I adjusted into a sitting posture, backing away from him slightly, releasing my chin from his fingers' touch. Once again, he said, "I told you I hate it when you're afraid of me."

He once again tilted my chin up and leaned in closer. The distance between us began to lessen, only a few inches apart. I could feel his breaths on my face, warm breaths. I wasn't self aware, I was literally frozen by his touch. I subconsciously widened my eyes and reddened my cheeks. His lips were getting nearer, but I didn't stop him. Then, he cupped my face with both of his hands, shocking me for a second. He pulled me to him, landing his lips on mine.

His lips were soft, unlike what I expected it to be. His hands gave warmth in my cheeks, cozy and safe. The tip of my nose would graze his. During the whole time, I was thinking whether this kiss was even real. I closed my eyes, receiving the soft kiss on my lips. It wasn't an aggressive kiss, it was a delicate kiss. It was the perfect kiss, igniting a tingling spark.

I was beginning to question the reality, the kiss.

***

"You're so freakin pink!" Damien exclaimed in shock, eyeing me in disbelief. "You're fabulous!"

I glared back at him, but it didn't stop him. He said, "I guess that's the power of love."

"Shut up." I hissed in annoyance, releasing a deep breath.

My heart was pounding heavily and fast, I was sure that my veins were showing themselves. My eyes stayed widened for a long while, rarely blinking. I couldn't breathe normally, instead I was hyperventilating.

I had consulted Damien for a friend support after the kiss...
Now, we were in the basketball gym where we could find some private time. No one else was in the basketball gym, left empty and glossy for the whole day.

"You don't seem moody today." I said out of wonder. Damien didn't look depressed anymore, he looked happy. I guess it was the christmas joy.

"Duh! It's almost Christmas!" He exclaimed out of joy, grinning goofily.

I laughed at him and said, "If you were a girl, you would still be a jock. But, a drama queen at the same time."

"You wish!" He responded, sticking out his tongue. "Anyways, what's with the kiss?"

"Hmm?" I mumbled out, not really paying attention to him. "Ah...I have no idea."

"You were stalking him, right?" He teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

"No, the word's following. I'm just curious, that's all." I denied his words, even though it may be true.

"Suit yourself, tell me what happened." He said, going back to our topic of conversation.

"So...I followed him," I explained, emphasizing the word followed. "-then it took an unexpected turn."

"What do you mean?" He asked me.

"His wealthy-looking father appeared and talked to him about his fake marriage." I continued explaining.

"Fake?!" He yelled out all of a sudden, his voice echoed throughout the deserted basketball gym.

"Yes, I think it's fake," I told him. "-then, his father slapped him for saying something despicable to him."

He nodded his head, not saying anything. I continued, "Then, he ignored his father and walked away from him. That's...where I came in."

"What?" He murmured.

"I tried to crawl away from the entrance because he was going that direction. But, he suddenly appeared in front of me," I explained, getting to the climax. "-I was afraid because he was so angry. Then, he said I hate it when you're afraid of me—something like that. All of sudden, he leaned in closer and kissed me."

In the corner of my eye, Damien had his eyes widened and his mouth gaped open. He said, "That's odd. You also talk so freely about it."

"Really?" I murmured, sinking into realization.

He nodded his head yes and said, "You're so into it!"

"Am not." I shot back, daggers as well.

"Whatever, I think it's a sign that he likes you back." He told me, grinning goofily.

"Hah, that's nonsense!" I denied his statement, snorting sarcastically.

He rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever you say...princess."

All of a sudden, he laughed heavily. While laughing, he said, "Look! You're all red!"

"Pft, you lunatic." I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes in response.

***

"Oh, it's Asher!" I exclaimed excitedly, in my mind...

He was getting food from the cafeteria's staff, a tray of sandwiches and a can of coke. His expression was emotionless and blank, but I didn't really care. His brunette hair contrasted with the warm colors of the cafeteria counter, his jade orbs reflected warmth, and his body posture was endearing.

My eyes followed his movements, following him from the other end of the room to another. He took a table alone, shoving the tray on the table in front of him. I skittered towards his table, taking a seat in front of him. He widened his eyes in shock and he stiffened.

"It looks yummy..." I mumbled out, my eyes flickering.

"What...are you doing?" He murmured out in confusion.

I smiled at him and said, "Nothing!"

He sighed in response and forced a smile. He said, "Please, just be quiet for today."

"What?" I responded in confusion.

"I'm not in the mood for your acts, princess." He scoffed, eating a sandwich in annoyance.

What was his deal? Why was he being mean? Right after that kiss, he's still infuriated? Sure, I didn't calm him down. Instead, he made my heart flutter.

"Ah, sorry then." I apologised, feeling embarrassment seeping in.

We stayed silent for a while, the awkward atmosphere slowly revealing itself. I sat with my legs stuck together, tucking strands of my hazel hair behind my right ear.

"Why are you doing this?" He asked me, questioning my presence.

"What...do you mean?" I responded.

"You're here because of that kiss, am I right?" He said, making me widen my eyes in response.

"Pardon me?" I said so suddenly, because I had never said pardon me before.

He smirked and said, "So, I'm right."

I eyed him curiously with confusion, shocked with his reaction. He continued, "Haven't I told you already?"

"W-What are you saying?" I asked him, causing him to erase that smirk and draw a frown.

He leaned in closer and stared at me, boring into my eyes. He said, "No matter what I do, just ignore it."

Memories came striking my mind like a lightning bolt, causing me to feel a sudden headache. That day, the day he confessed and he told me to ignore it. So, that kiss meant nothing?

"You should get lost before more harm come to you." He hissed as if he were whispering, but those soft words were sharp and malevolent.

A stab into my heart, you could say. But, it was a grenade placed in my heart waiting for its time to explode.

Getting more dramatic, isn't it? My question is...would you start hating Asher?

Not much author's note today, because I'm awaiting for writing the next few chapters! So, thank you for reading and goodbye!