FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Hera felt like an idiot for trying so hard to protect Andrew. It was foolish of her to assume he would regret his wrongdoings. "She's lying," Andrew said with a straight face, not an ounce of guilt or regret discovered in his eyes or his voice as he looked her in the eyes. His parents came with their attorney and threatening the school authorities with a lawsuit for defaming their name and reputation. 

"How dare you accuse of my boy with such heinous crime and jeopardise his future," Andrew's father shouted at every school administrator present in the office. He demanded an urgent meeting with the trustees and asked to expel Hera immediately for lying. Their attorney asked to present evidence or witness to prove her accusation. If not, they would take legal actions against Hera and sue the school for defaming Andrew's name. 

It was the status and money behind their name speaking, and the school authorities felt helpless under their power. "Hera dear, can you prove it?" The principal asked, voice soft and her approach, careful, but still, her words weighed like a hard slap on the face for Hera. She looked piercingly into Andrew's eyes. "Andrew, admit what you did. I'm not lying," she demanded.. Anger burned throughout her form, clenching her fists, she resisted the urge to slap him. 

A satisfied smile played on his lips, eyes filled with hatred, he shook his head in denial. He basked in the way Hera's eyes widened at his response as she breathed heavily trying to control her anger. 

"You fucking bastard, admit it or I'll kill you," Hera heard her brother say threateningly. Danny crossed the distance to hit Andrew, but Hunter immediately grabbed his arm, effectively restricting his attempts. Danny's chest heaved, true to his words, he looked ready to commit murder. 

"Daniel Aiken, manners and mind your language," Mrs Sandra Mathew, their principal said, scolding and warning him to behave. 

Andrew very conveniently turned everything on Hera. According to his story, Hera liked him and couldn't handle his rejection. That's where her accusation came from as a result of her anger and jealousy. Andrew didn't forget to complain about how Danny and Michael injured him to avenge Hera. 

Meanwhile, Hera fell short of words to say anything against Andrew's false accusation. She couldn't believe she tried to protect this two-faced snake of a friend. She took a few steps back until her back hit the wall. Clasping her hands behind her back, she leaned against the hard surface and silently watched, glaring at Andrew. 

'Another ex-best friend to add to the list.'

Hera felt so disappointed for ever trusting him as her friend. 

Andrew's father demanded the principal to call Danny and Michael's parents to this meeting. He wanted the trustees to take action against both of them as well for physically injuring their son. 

Hunter scoffed inwardly. One phone call from him and his father would make the trustees or founders stand in line before Hunter. And he was so tempted to make that phone call whenever Andrew's parents and his attorney demanded to call the trustees. But as Eric said, he didn't need his father to come running every time to his rescue. He would handle it by himself just fine. 

It's what Hunter wanted anyway. Now, neither Eric nor Hera would have any excuse to stop him after all. 

Danny looked furious, but Hunter never let go of his arm. "It's okay, buddy, we'll get him. Just be patient for a little while longer," he said in a low whisper only for Danny to hear and his best friend heeded to his advice. Hunter glanced over his shoulder to check on Hera. She had her head lowered, hands clasped behind her. Rocking back and forth on her feet, she paid no attention to her surroundings anymore. 

"Should I make a call to my father then, Mrs Mathew?" Hunter asked his principal, and she didn't miss the smugness coating his voice. Hunter's parents were Michael's guardians. If they wanted someone from Michael's family to come, they would face none other than Alexander Hunter himself. The school authorities knew very well if that happens it wouldn't be in favour of any of them. 

The principal waved her hand in dismissal, her eyes assuring him she would handle it. 

"Mr Jacob, firstly, stop threatening and scaring my students with the lawsuit. If you've forgotten, let me remind you they are both still adolescent minors," Sandra Mathew said, expressing her displeasure. "Secondly, there is no evidence or witness to prove any of them guilty. So it's unfair on Hera's part if you're declaring her alone as the culprit. My advice is, let's drop this issue with a warning to both the children," she said, reasoning her decision. 

Andrew's parents weren't happy with the criticising tone the principal used against them. But they knew she spoke sensibly and considered her advice. After some explanations and arguments, she managed to convince them. But they demanded punishment for Danny and Michael for their violent approach. 

"They both are one of the best students in our school, Mr Jacob. Don't think that my boys got elected to the student council committee for nothing. If the said violence has happened, then there must be more into the matter, but since we agreed to drop it, let's not dig deeper anymore," she advised and looked at Danny sharply with her disapproving eyes. 

"But I'm not going to ignore their mistakes. If they're at fault, I assure you they'll receive their share of punishment as well," Mrs Mathew said, concluding the issue. 

Hera would clean and arrange the books in the school's library and assist the librarian for two weeks as her punishment. Andrew would help the staff in the school's food court and Mrs Roger's kitchen for two weeks. Danny and Michael would tutor their juniors for one month after their classes. Their punishment was longer because they weren't responsible enough and didn't set a good example being the student council members. 

Hera walked out first, ignoring Andrew's mocking smirk and Danny dashed out next, not trusting his patience for another second in Andrew's presence. Hunter thanked the principal and others before exiting. 

Hands shoved in his uniform pant's pockets, leaning his shoulder against one of the round columns nearby, Hunter waited, watching Andrew bidding goodbye to his parents. 

Hunter pulled himself off the column when he saw Andrew reaching closer and blocked his way. The latter stopped dead in his tracks as his eyes fell on the former. Hunter's lips twitched, pulling up into an uneven smile, meeting the outlines of his eyes. Andrew couldn't label it as sarcastic or mocking because he genuinely appeared to be happy. Despite the charming smile on his lips, Hunter's handsome face terrified him. 

Andrew's steps faltered as Hunter took a step closer. "Count your days, you little cunt and keep your sense organs at alert, you never know when and how death will hunt you down," Hunter said, grinning at him as he walked backwards, snapping his fingers. 

Andrew released the breath he'd been holding and looked away from him. That smile was sinister, menacing and the delight that lit up Hunter's eyes was purely sadistic. He could put every negative character in the stories and movies to shame. He could surpass every evil entity in the universe and the intensity of its evilness. Hunter wasn't the hero, Andrew realised, but it was too late. 

In the next coming days, Hera's life wasn't easy. Andrew's fabricated storey spread like wildfire in the school, and soon Hera had to face her friends' judgement yet again. She told them the truth, but they'd a hard time believing her side of the story. Because ironically, Andrew was known for his best behaviour in the school. He was the caring, gentle, boy-next-door kind of a sweet boy. 

Hera didn't mind the judging eyes anymore, and she didn't need such friends who wouldn't trust her anyway. Her days went quite busy as she'd classes to attend, then she'd to work in the library and assist the librarian in her free time. She would eat her breakfast, lunch and dinner with Hunter and his friends. 

Hunter and Danny made sure one of them would always accompany Hera everywhere after her classes. 

Their principal, Mrs Sandra Mathew, called her to speak to her personally. She'd expressed her apology in person for not being able to provide her with the fair justice. Her excuse was they didn't have evidence or witness, without which she was helpless. "You should've come to me immediately, child," she'd said sympathetically. 

Hera met Andrew several times as they share the same class. She spotted him a few times whenever she visited the luncheon bar. He would glare at her every time they made eye contact. Hera would gladly return his glare with matching intensity without the slightest hesitation. 

Michael spent his free time with Hera in the library, tutoring her. Hera had flunked her tests. Except for Maths and Chemistry, she'd failed in all the other subjects. "Were you sleeping in the class when teachers taught grammar?" Her English teacher had expressed her disappointment in front of the whole class. 

"Elementary school kids know about punctuation marks better than you. How can you fail English?" It hurt when her favourite teacher Mrs Paige Wilkins scolded her. Pursing her lips, with head bent, Hera had swallowed the insult. 

So, life was busy, and Hera didn't have the time to think about the villains in her life.