THE NEXT DAY, LARKSPUR*
The lecture was ongoing and the hall was quiet,except the voice of the female lecturer teaching, but Diora's mind was totally somewhere else.
After last night, Kyros attitude towards her and what he said, she has been bothered about them all. Bothered and also worried at the same time.
"Hello" Angela whispered into her ear and she flinched.
"You scared me" Diora half glared.
"Exactly what you needed to wake up and listen to the ongoing lecture, because I wouldn't have any time to explain to you after this class" Angela snapped.
"Calm down, chill" Diora whispered.
"Then listen" Angela said and they both turned their heads to the front.
Some minutes later, the class ended and they both walked out of the class.
"I'm starving" Diora muttered.
"And lost too, are you worried about something?" Angela asked.
Diora shook her head.
"Not something I can't handle" She mumbled.
Angela raised her brows and opened her mouth to talk which she ended up closing back anyway since she found nothing to say.
"Fine" She sighed.
"Hi, the school doll" three girls crossed their path and stood in front of them.
"What'd you mean, by school doll?" Angela raised her brows.
"She" They all tilt their heads toward Diora who said no word.
"The students thinks she has a beauty of a doll"
"So how is that supposed to be our problem? Their opinions" Angela said.
"Watch your mouth, freshman" The one in the middle said.
"Watch your mouth old woman, this isn't a movie. If you think you are allowed to bully her or us,I will slice your ugly ceramic faces and feed them to cockroaches,my cat don't eat plastic" Angela snapped and the girls gasped, they touched their faces.
"Let's go" She grabbed Diora's hand and dragged her away.
"That was iconic" Diora chuckled.
"Thanks" Angela winked and they both laughed until another person stepped in front of them.
"Now what!!" Angela groaned.
Kitra glared at Diora.
"Come with me" She said simply and then walked away.
"You know her?"
"Yeah, I will meet you at the cafeteria, order for me" Diora muttered and went after Kitra.
They entered into an empty locker room and Kitra banged the door closed before facing Diora back with the hateful glare.
"Is there a problem?" Diora asked.
"When are you leaving my brother's house?"
"Oh, I didn't know I was supposed to leave at a particular time" Diora said and Kitra frowned.
"Now you talk back? That's new" She chuckled.
"Is this all you have to say?" Diora asked.
"You are his tenth wife, ever thought of the reasons why his other wives left??" Kitra crossed her arms and moved closer.
"I think about it everyday, but I don't want to hear it from you" Diora replied.
"Oh really? You want to hear it from who? My brother?" Kitra laughed out, loudly.
Diora rolled her eyes and turned to walk out.
"You can't have his heart Diora, nobody can. Don't be delusional" Kitra said.
"I don't think we are close enough for you to be worried about me, whatever happens is not your concern." Diora faced her back.
"And I don't think you would like it if I tell him about you threatening me" She added.
"You wouldn't do that, he doesn't even care about you" Kitra smirked.
"You wish that was true" Diora smiled, then walked out.
Kitra frowned.
"What is she?" She scoffed and roughed her hair.
Maliah and Rona came in with suspicious looks on their faces.
"What were you discussing with her?" Maliah asked.
"I don't think I owe you an explanation, I talk to whoever I want" Kitra snapped and walked away, leaving them alone.
Maliah and Rona exchanged glances.
"What do you think is going on?"
"Sister in law thing?" Rona asked and Maliah glared.
"Are you stupid? You saw it in her eyes, obviously Kitra doesn't like her".
"Yeah I did" Rona muttered.
*
Diora entered the cafeteria and could see eyes on her, but she was only looking for Angela.
"Over here!" Angela waved from where she sat.
Diora smiled and immediately walked over to her.
"You got burgers?"
"Yeah, and pineapple juice" Angela said with her mouth filled with the burger.
"So, what were you both discussing?" She asked.
"She wants me to do something I don't wanna do" Diora answered, also taking a bite from her own burger.
"So you know who she is" Angela licked her lip.
"Yeah, but we are not cool" Diora said.
There was silence after that for few minutes until Angela broke it.
"We should hurry up, our last class starts by 2pm, we have just ten more minutes and I hate rushing my food" she rolled her eyes.
"The project assignment coming next month, I'm concerned about that more" Diora said.
"Why?"
"I don't have a laptop, and I think it's only me in the class who doesn't have one" Diora sighed.
"Are you kidding me right now? You own and iphone 16 and a brand new ipad,but no laptop? I believe that's a minor issue,if you can afford those two, then laptop is nothing to you. You should get a badass MacBook" Angela said.
Diora sighed, the problem is how to ask Kyros or how to even bring it up.
"How about we hang out after school? You don't have anything to do right? It's weekend" Angela grinned.
Diora shook her head, Kyros wouldn't care right? He wouldn't.
Immediately it was 2pm, they left the cafeteria. On their way, Diora saw someone familiar that she had to stop on her track, Angela glanced at her.
"What's wrong?"
Diora said nothing, she only continue staring at Morana who also stared back at her.
"What is she doing here?" Diora asked.
"Are you serious? Oh,you missed the first English class this morning, she's a prof and she's really good. Her name is...Prof Morana" Angela explained.
"Good to see you" Morana came closer.
Angela bowed with a little smile, Diora said nothing and just continue walking.
"That was quite rude, but isn't she pretty?" Angela chuckled and Diora frowned at her.
"Okay, you should at least tell me what's wrong" Angela groaned.
"She's....just someone I know, someone bad" Diora muttered.
"Oh"
*
MORANA'S OFFICE*
"Are you freaking telling me my brother is the one currently sponsoring her education here? Do you know how much our school fees is?!" Kitra snapped.
"I told you, he likes her...."
"Why her? I mean, is there anything in her to like at all? You're prettier and sexier, is my brother kidding me?" Kitra chuckled.
"But I don't care anyway, he doesn't want me but I want him, two different things. I'm not going to stay away just because he wants me to" Morana said.
"I don't like that girl" Kitra rolled her eyes and sat down.
"Me neither, I think she's going to be a whole lot of problem" Morana scoffed.
"I thought she was quiet,but she talked back. I was surprised"
"She's not going to leave Kyros, she won't let go of him" Morana muttered.
"Then get rid of her" Kitra scoffed.
*
"Aren't we supposed to wait for Maliah after school? Why are we here?" Rona asked Sitara whose focus was somewhere else.
"Sshhhh" Sitara placed a finger on her lips and Rona frowned.
"You will see, calm down" Sitara whispered.
They stopped behind one of the cars in the school parking lots.
"I swear if this doesn't make sense,I'm gonna beat the hell out of you" Rona glared but almost immediately they saw Diora walking over to a car.
"That's Diora" Rona frowned.
"You mean, that's her car" Sitara scoffed.
"Who's that guy she's speaking with?" Rona asked.
"Her driver, he brings her to school everyday and waiting until her classes are over. So you really still think she's not in a happy relationship with the duke? With all these?" Sitara asked.
"Does Maliah knows?" Rona asked.
"Ion know"
"Don't say a word to her, you know why" Rona said and Sitara nodded.
"Let's go"
"You don't have to worry about me, I will be fine" Diora told Martins before leaving him to meet Angela.
*
8PM, KYROS' OFFICE*
"It was nice being here with you, Mr Castillio" One of the men Kyros just finished having a meeting with said and shook hands with him.
"Me too" He managed to smile and called on Dilara to walk them out.
He just settled back on his seat when the door opened and Ryker walked in.
"Boss, here are the documents you requested for" He said and placed the file on the table.
"You are late" Kyros looked at him with a dangerous glare.
"I'm sorry boss" Ryker immediately said.
Kyros said nothing and pushed the file aside, the checked the time to see it's past eight.
He stood up and got hold of his jacket and phone, he opened the mesaage he just got and a frown appeared on his face.
"She's not home?" He scoffed and immediately turned on to check for Diora's location on his phone.
"I'm going alone" Kyros said when Ryker tried to follow him.
He walked out of the office, looking quite pissed.
Ryker sighed and looked around the office, turned off the light,then went out.
Dilara showed up that very moment and their eyes met, Dilara rolled her eyes and walked to her desk, she began arranging her bag. Ryker rested his back on the wall while staring at her.
"You know it's easy to go blind right?" Dilara faced him with a frown.
"No I won't, because you are cute" Ryker smirked and she glared even more.
"Are you crazy?"
"No I'm not" Ryker replied.
Dilara scoffed and carried her bag.
"Need a ride?..."
"I hate you" Dilara snapped.
"Why? Because I'm more handsome and hotter than your boyfriend?" Ryker asked.
Dilara glared at him as if she wanted to say something,but just kept quiet.
They went out and entered the elevator together, getting out,they bumped into Eclipse.
"Oh thank God, I thought you left" She smiled.
"Is there a problem?" Ryker asked.
"We need to get to the warehouse, like right now. I didn't know the goods were coming tonight" Eclipse said.
"Holy shit" Ryker mumbled and looked at Dilara.
She rolled her eyes and walked away, and his eyes followed him.
Eclipse frowned and looked at Dilara also.
"Let's go" Ryker said and ran off.
"Wait for me" Eclipse followed.
*
A KARAOKE BAR*
Loud laughters of Angela and Diora filled the air as they walked out of the building hand in hand.
"Hey girlie, blow a kiss" Angela said while taking pictures of them.
"Did you had fun?" She asked after the pictures.
"Of course, I've never done all these before,I love it so much. Let's come here again" Diora said excitedly.
"Let's go somewhere else next time, instead" Angela said and Diora nodded.
"Girls!!" They suddenly heard a loud voice behind them which made them turn together at once.
"She looks familiar" Diora muttered.
"She's in our department" Angela muttered as she watched the girl walked over to them.
"You girls...are in my department right?" She asked.
"Yeah" Angela nodded.
"Hi, I'm Solar" She smiled.
"Angela, and Diora"
"I know" Solar said.
"How?" Diora asked.
"Because you two are always together, and you always call each other's names" Solar winked.
Angela chuckled.
"We are quite popular, but right now I want ice cream badly" She said.
"Let me join you, I don't have any friends yet. I don't know why..."
"You look Asian though" Diora muttered when they started walking toward the ice cream bar.
"Yeah, I'm Chinese" Solar smiled.
"Whoa! Really? I've never really met a Chinese, you look so pretty!" Angela gasped.
Diora scoffed and Solar laughed.
"Thank you" She said.
Suddenly, Diora stopped walking and they glanced at her.
"You okay?" Angela asked.
Diora said nothing, she only stood there staring at the familiar figure leaning on the car and looking directly at her. Even with the face cap which didn't really make his face visible,she recognized him.
"Diora..."
"Goodnight, see you on Monday" Diora said and walked away.
Angela and Solar stood there staring until she entered the car and the male figure also went in with her,then the car drove off.
"Who's that? Her boyfriend?" Solar asked curiously.
"I don't think she has a boyfriend" Angela replied,also confused.
"Then, her brother?" Solar asked.
"I have no idea either" Angela said.
"Either of the two, but that dude is hot, what a height" Solar chuckled.
Angela nodded in agreement and they both walked away.
Maliah came out from where she was hiding and checked the picture she just took, checking to see if that was Kyros or not.
After zooming enough, it became obvious that the guy who came to pick Diora up just now, was the duke..Kyros.
She scoffed and clenched her fists.
*
The first twenty minutes of drive was quiet, Kyros said no word but his expression was so cold that it scares Diora even though he wasn't saying anything. She had to practice alot of lines in her head before she finally got the gut to speak up.
"I'm...sorry. I didn't mean to be late, I just..wanted to have fun with my friend" She mumbled,her face down and snipping on her fingers.
"Curfew is 6pm" Kyros said in a low but deep voice.
"Huh?" She looked up.
"I said your curfew is 6pm, which means,once it's 6, I need to find out you are already in your room" Kyros said in a little more angry voice.
"But..."
"I hate that word" He snapped and she swallowed, then kept quiet.
"When I say something, that's final. No "buts" no fucking objection, do you understand?" He asked.
Diora immediately nodded.
He rolled his eyes and stepped on the speed.
Diora sighed and glanced out of the window, she should have just went home straight,now she's regretting it. How is she supposed to ask him for the laptop now? When he's totally angry with her.
*
NEXT MORNING, KYROS' CASTLE*
"The boss is in his study right now" Timothy said as he opened the suite door for Diora.
"Thanks" Diora muttered and went in, with a tray of coffee and cake.
She needed to do this and apologize before asking for what she want, the laptop is necessary, she doesn't know how to operate it so she have to buy,learn everything before the project comes.
After walking some seconds,she entered his study and met him busy on the desk, he even had a glass on,that's her first time seeing him looking so serious and at the same time insanely hot.
With the look of things on the table, seems he's doing his responsibility as a duke now, not anything else.
She didn't know how long she stood there until Kyros spoke up.
"If you have nothing to say, leave"
Diora swallowed and entered, she placed the tray on the table and Kyros looked up.
Their eyes locked and she gulped.
"I'm, sorry about last night" She mumbled.
"I joined Oceane in baking this cake,you should try it out. Delicious but not too sweet, I made the coffee myself also" She smiled,nervously.
Kyros rest his back properly on his seat,staring straight at her.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"Accept my apology" Diora said.
Kyros removed his glasses and her eyes locked with his beautiful eyes, she swallowed and bit her lip, it was as if her legs became weak just at the sight of them.
'What do you want?" His voice came again.
"Laptop" Diora mumbled without looking up.
Kyros scoffed.
"We have a project coming, and everyone owns one. It's just me...who doesn't have" She said and took her lip in.
"I need it, before the month ends, and I have to learn how to operate it too, please" She added.
Kyros said nothing and took the fork on the tray, he sliced through the vanilla strawberry cake and ate it, Diora raised her brows,waiting for his reaction.
He dropped the fork and sipped from the coffee.
"How is it?" She asked.
"Too sweet" Kyros snapped and she pouted sadly.
Kyros pressed a button on the table and almost immediately Ryker came in
"You called me,boss" He said.
"Tell him what you want" Kyros said and a smile appeared on Diora's face.
She immediately told Ryker everything.
"I will get one right away" Ryker bowed and walked away.
Diora turned back to Kyros.
"What else?" He asked without looking up.
"The cake,you should finish..."
"I don't like sweet things and also...." Diora put in a slice in his mouth and grinned when he stopped talking.
"Once in a while, try them" She smiled brightly.
Kyros said nothing and just stared at her as she kept smiling.
"Coffee" she placed the cup in his mouth too and mistakenly, some dropped on his shirt.
"Oh my gosh!" She gasped and quickly dropped the cup, she took some tissues and rushed over to his side to wipe the liquid but the stain remained there.
"Oh no...what do I do" She mumbled sadly.
All along, Kyros said no word,he just stared.
She looked at him.
"I'm sorry, I can't wash your shirt. Take it off" She said.
Kyros sighed and stood up, Diora stepped backward,feeling guilty.
"I'm sorry" She said.
Kyros kooked down at her and moved closer,she shifted back again.
"Do you know how many times you've said this word today?" He asked.
Diora took her lip in.
That moment, the door opened and they both turned to see.
"Kyros" Morana called softly.
Kyros frowned.
Timothy and Ryker rushed in.
"We are sorry boss, we didn't know when she..."
"Hold it" Kyros snapped and they kept quiet.
"What are you doing here?" He asked Morana.
She made a sad face and started walking closer to him, she almost hugged him when Diora came in front, Covering Kyros up from the hug,even though she was shorter.
Morana frowned, Kyros looked down at her.
"What are you doing?" Morana asked.
"You are not allowed to do that" Diora said.
"And who are you to decide that?!" Morana snapped.
"His wife, so watch your mouth" Diora crossed her arms and rest her back on Kyros chest.
"He's mine" She glared.
Morana was already burning inside.
"Take her away" Diora added.
Without hesitation, Timothy and Ryker came over to drag her out, she yelled till they were out, then it became silent.
Diora faced Kyros gently.
"I'm...I'm sorry..I just" she paused when nothing was making sense.
"You can leave" Kyros said.
She bit her lip and without argument, she took the tray and went out.
Kyros entered the closet room to change his shirt, while doing that,his mind went back to what just happened,how Diora covered Morana's hug.
He didn't even know when he chuckled.
"How cute" He muttered.
"Really cute" He said again.