Chapter 12: 12

"Ayla", someone called while James and Ayla were talking.

She turned to see who it was when she found Jace coming toward her running at his max speed.

"Woah, here you go with your sister complex", James chuckled.

"Shut up", Jace glared.

"Ok I will shut my lips", James said and tried to show as if he was zipping his lips making Ayla laugh again.

"Hey, why are you coming between me and my sister? Don’t you have any other work?"

"I shouldn’t have let you meet her. I should have arranged for someone who is poker, Who doesn’t smile, Who never talks unless it’s important, unlike you." Jace said.

"Bro, do you hate me so much?" He tried to cling to Jace.

"Ahem ahem," Ayla tried to get their attention.

"Ayla, it’s not what you think", Jace shouted.

"It’s not what I think? How did you know what I’m thinking? Brother, now I’m doubting more than before. Is he your friend or you are not...." she stopped.

"Hey, don’t bring this useless stuff into your head. I’m straight as a rod." he looked proud.

"But brother, the iron rod can be bent too", she chuckled.

Jace glared.

"Glaring won’t make me shut. You sure look suspicious. I never saw you having a girlfriend so I think this might be the case", she said stealing glances from James.

"Who said I didn’t? I had", he said in a loud voice.

"Who?"

"Didn’t you know your class.....

He stopped.

"What class? Am I late for class?" She checked her wristwatch.

"Yeah, brother I’m late. Thanks for reminding me," she said and ran without looking back.

"What the hell am I just about to do?" Jace massaged his temple in frustration.

"What happened now?"

"I was just about to make her remind me of that person who gave her lots of pain," he said.

"Who?"

"No it’s nothing." he ignored and returned to class.

Meanwhile, Ayla was running toward her classroom. She didn’t stop for a second because she was already ten minutes late. She was out of breath but at last, she reached her classroom.

"May I come in ma’am", she is out of breath.

"Oh Ayla, you are late", the teacher replied.

"Sorry ma’am", she said and walked inside while she heard some conversation.

"Did you see that the teacher again didn’t say anything to her?"

"Yeah, I saw. Even in the previous class, the teacher wasn’t hard on her when it’s always the opposite with me."

"Of course, no one will say anything to her or who wants to end up in jail."

Ayla quivered hearing all this. She again started being self-conscious. She kept rubbing her finger together but the sense of everyone looking at her was not leaving her side.

She ended up sitting in her place were two hands covered her ears making her separate from the world.

"Take a deep breath"

"I’m here so nothing will happen to you", his voice kept lingering on her year. Even though she wants to shake his hands she has no strength to do that.

"Don’t take the stress. There is nothing to stress out ." he kept saying while she was hearing his voice.

It took a while for her to calm down but he succeeded.

"Why did you cover my ears?" she asked.

"I thought it would make you feel better,’’ he replied.

"Why did you conclude it will make me feel better? Do you know something?" she asked.

"Something? About what? I didn’t get what you were trying to say." he replied.

"Maybe you don’t know", she said in a low tone.

"Why silent all of sudden? Say what were you trying to say?" he insisted.

"No, it’s nothing."

"Ok, but if you want to share something with me I’m always here. You don’t have to think twice before you ask." he tried to act normal but...

"Didn’t I say not to apply your flirty behaviour with me? I think you don’t get it. I gave you the chance to talk to me and you ended up thinking I’m impressed with you? Did you take me as others who surround you?" she glared.

"Now how did you come to this conclusion? When did I flirt? When did I say you are impressed with me? Can’t I even ask normally? Or whatever I say makes you think like this?" Aaron getting flustered.

"Yeah yeah don’t act all mighty. I saw how everyone surrounded you in a recess so don’t you think whatever makes you close with them will make me close to you too. I’m not like other girls." she pouted.

"Then what kind of girl are you?", he lowered his voice.

"What?"

"No, it’s nothing. It’s all a misunderstanding. They just wanted to know about me as I’m new. That’s all." he replied.

"Know about you?"

"Yeah, didn’t you talk with others?" he asked.

She stayed silent and started writing her notes.

Aaron didn’t ask her again as well. Somehow he is too aware of what’s bothering her but it’s not like he could say it out loud to make her feel better.

Time passed at a fast pace while Ayla was finally able to get through her first day. When the school bell rang everyone ran in a hurry while she was left alone in the room.

"Ayla, you finished?" a voice called out her name.

"Yeah I’m done brother James", she replied while Aaron was still sitting beside her.

"Oh Aaron, you too here? So you did take my advice?" he smirked.

"Nothing like that", he didn’t pay any attention.

"You two know each other ?" Ayla asked.

"Oh yeah, he is my-

Aaron covered his mouth.

"Why did you cover his mouth?", Ayla said and tried to free him.

"Oh it’s nothing, I’m his little cousin so that’s how we know each other", Aaron replied.

"Oh cousin... So you two are close?"

"Yeah we are close enough to beat each other’s shit out of it", Ayla burst into laughter.

"Bro, let me breathe at least", he got himself free.

"Oh, I forgot to say Jace is coming too so he said to come here and look after you until he comes", as he said Aaron left without saying bye.

"Now what happened to him?" Ayla wandered.

"Maybe he has a curfew at home."James covered up for him.

"You two sound suspicious", she said.

"Suspicious?"

"Yeah, suspicious. Just look at you two. If I look at your height then he is taller than you even though he is younger. You two look more similar to call blood-related than cousins. You two don’t look like you have lovable bonding like cousins but more like you two can kill each other if the time comes. I don’t know why I keep thinking weird things nowadays." she said.

"Ayla, why are you trying to figure out the similarities between us?" his voice was cold.

"Ahh no I didn’t think much", she said in a low tone.

"From now on please don’t do it. Maybe others won’t like it", he said.

"Others? What do you mean?"

"I’m telling you in case you say this to others and what if they take it seriously and get hurt?" he again brought that forceful smile to his face.

"Oh thank God, I was scared what if you get hurt."

"Haha how could I get hurt because of you?" he laughed while touching her hair strands.

"You grew up a lot more than before. All I can see is a lady even though you are still little", he said looking deep into her eyes.

Ayla’s face flushed as he said. Her ears were all red even though it was not hot. Her temperature rose even though it was cloudy.

"Don’t say all these weird things", she shook her hand.

"Oh did I embarrass you?"

"No" it was low.

They were talking when Jace entered.

"Sorry, I’m late again."

"Did you come here again running without breathing properly?" she asked.

"Of course, I thought you would be alone."

"I’m not a kid."

"I know but you won’t understand my feelings."

"Your feelings?"

"Yeah, a brother’s feelings can’t be expressed."

"Brother, don’t be sentimental now. It’s awkward."

"Ha ha sorry", he said while scratching his head

Jace picked up her bag and went to the entrance while Mr White was already presented before them. He kept looking through the glass how she came with a bright smile on her face, unlike the time he was late.

He kept comparing the difference between both times. This time he was waiting for her while Jace and James brought her safely. But the previous time when he arrived he found her unconscious. She wasn’t even breathing properly. She didn’t have a smile on her face and that day was the first time she shared her inner thoughts about her inferiority complex.

"I wish you could always smile like this," he said in a low tone.

But his eyes kept looking in her direction.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay