FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

“That day when Ace declared for the whole school to know about your relationship with him, I thought Nate would leave you alone after that,” Bianca voiced. But how wrong was she? Nathan only did the opposite. Once he learned Hera was Hunter’s weakness, he was determined to break them apart.

A few days later, when Nathan met Hera, his face still carried the bruises from their fight. Hera being such a goody-two- shoes, felt guilty because she was partly responsible for his suffering. Nothing would’ve happened if Hera hadn’t agreed to their kissing bargain to help each other. She would spend time with him going against Hunter’s will to compensate for the torture Hunter and Danny put him through.

Nathan would secretly relish his triumph every time Hera and Hunter fought.

“Maybe that was when Ace started cheating on you,” Bianca expressed.

Hera fixed her with a glare, anger taking over her features because of what Bianca implied. As though it was all Hera’s fault, and she had provoked him to cheat on her.

“For your kind information, Bianca, your dear Ace had admitted that he had been cheating on me way before that,” Hera spat indignantly. “So don’t blame it on me,” she said bitingly.

“True, but still, he was heartbroken after you kissed Nate. Agree or not, maybe you did provoke him. You know how possessive and protective Ace is about you,” Bianca argued, much to Hera’s frustration.

Bianca tried to clarify how Hunter couldn’t bear the thought of someone else kissing and touching his Hera. It made him burn with jealousy and blind with anger. Hera scoffed, shaking her head, and a sarcastic laugh followed.

“That’s hardly a reasonable excuse for someone to cheat on their girlfriend, Bianca. Don’t you think that’s so hypocritical of him?” Hera asked. “I only kissed Nate a few times while Hunter fucked other girls behind my back,” Hera couldn’t hide the bitterness in her tone. It never failed to sting that he cheated on her.

Bianca pursed her lips into a thin line and nodded. “I know, I agree, but you know he regretted his mistakes now,” Bianca was quick to defend her best friend.

“Samantha once said that sex is so pleasurable you get addicted to it if you do it with someone who knows how to do it right. Maybe it was one of the reasons for the boys to stray. Back then, Ace was a stupid, immature, adolescent kid and did some nasty things without thinking about the consequences,” she said in Hunter’s defence.

The corners of Hera’s mouth lifted a little as a tiny smile forced its way. “You are all one lucky bunch of best friends, Bianca. Always ready to defend each other no matter what,” Hera said, envying their unbreakable bond. Bianca shrugged, smiling in acknowledgement.

“Ace looked so disturbed every time you fought with him. I wished I could resolve your issues somehow,” Bianca admitted.

Nathan stayed close to Hera only to irk Hunter. Hera refused to see the true face of that cunning fox and argued with Hunter whenever he expressed his displeasure about her friendship with Nathan. Hunter was losing his sanity because of his anger, and Bianca couldn’t bear to see him depressed because of Hera. Luckily for her relief, Nathan had unknowingly shown her a way to help Hunter.

He realised sooner that he would wind up in the friend zone forever because Hera would never leave Hunter. Nathan was ready to do anything to get back at Hunter, and that was when he planned to drag Bianca into his trap. He had fooled Hera earlier by lying that he liked Bianca, and now he decided to turn the lie into truth. Hera or Bianca, it didn’t matter. He only wanted to bring Hunter down somehow.

“That was when he started to pursue me,” Bianca recalled.

He would follow her like a puppy wherever she went, desperate for her attention. He brought her flowers every morning and would give gifts to woo her. He would insist on carrying her bag or books. Bianca knew all along that he was faking every emotion. She never liked the jerk anyway. Yet she agreed to go on a date with him for her best friend’s sake.

She decided to entertain him because she wanted to keep him away from Hera somehow so that Hunter could breathe in peace. She agreed to date him to distract him from Hera and Hunter.

Hera gawked at Bianca in disbelief. She had never even thought that Bianca would do something like that for her. How selflessly she helped Hera and Hunter so that their relationship would stay intact.

“I knew he was only using me, but it didn’t matter. I was going to dump his stinky ass after some time anyway. As you said earlier, I was never interested in him. So it didn’t bother me that all his goodness and charm were just an act,” Bianca admitted with an indifferent shrug. Hera found no remorse or regret in her tone. Neither was there any mortification in her eyes after revealing her intentions regarding Nathan.

“That douche thought he could manipulate me into liking him,” Bianca laughed in derision. She wouldn’t consider falling for the prince charming, let alone for the likes of Nathan. Her heart yearned for someone else. She had eyes for only one boy.

Hera watched while Bianca’s laughter subsided, and she went quiet for a few seconds, engrossed in thoughts. As if contemplating how to carry on with the truth she was determined to reveal. Hera could tell it was something hideous if Bianca seemingly hesitated to disclose it.

‘What else have you done, Nate?’

Hera wished it was all a lie, but she knew everything Bianca said was true.

She silently waited until Bianca gathered her thoughts.

“I never thought his intentions could be so dangerous when I went on that date with him. Indeed I underestimated his evil strategies,” Bianca said more to herself.

Meanwhile, Hera braced herself for the blow she knew the bitter truth would bring along.

Bianca looked preoccupied, oblivious to her surroundings as a faraway look took over her face while she relived the ugliest moment of her life.

<strong>[Flashback] </strong>

On their date night, Bianca deliberately took her time getting ready while Nathan was waiting outside.

She wore an off-shoulder red short dress which reached her mid-thighs while knee-length high-heeled black boots sheathed her long legs. She threw her long blonde hair over her shoulder, revealing the porcelain skin under her neck. With her Smokey-eye makeup and red lipstick, she looked irresistibly hot.

When Bianca stepped out, all her best friends glared at her with a disapproving look and scowled in displeasure. They were upset that she agreed to the date with that scumbag. Ignoring them, she wore the snapshot bag purse across her body and searched for her cell phone.

Hunter was cross-checking the GPS settings on Bianca’s phone. “Don’t turn off your phone,” he warned before handing her the cell phone. Bianca rolled her eyes at his overprotective nature. “Chill, Ace. I know what I’m doing,” she said. When his scowl deepened, she sighed, throwing him a helpless look. “I’ll be careful, okay. I promise to call you if I sense any danger,” she promised.