FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Lost in her thoughts, Hera didn't realise she was taking too long to answer his question, and Hunter was waiting for her reply.

Meanwhile, Hunter stared at his phone and scoffed in disbelief. Two more minutes passed, and he tossed the phone aside before storming out of his room.

The boys assembled at their secret hideout for a quick smoke break. Michael was happy that he was going home in a few days. He missed his fairy godmother so much. Ever since their tickets arrived, Michael couldn't wait to fly off. Eric was glad to join because he knew his parents would be delighted to see him as well.

Danny seemed lost in thoughts, and so did Hunter. The latter was troubled by Hera's lack of response which obviously meant she didn't trust him yet, while the former worried about his deadline for fulfilling Jack's demand. Ever the observant one, Eric noticed the faraway look on Danny's face.

"What's bothering you?" Eric asked, lighting his cigarette. Danny frowned, shaking his head and shifted his posture on the makeshift stone bench to look at Eric properly. "Why do you ask? Nothing's wrong," Danny answered, sounding clueless. Pushing his back against the tree trunk, Eric pulled himself off and discarded the cigarette butt.

Hunter listened quietly while his friends spoke. He wasn't in the mood to contribute to their conversation, so he focused more on the smoke invading his lungs and the bitter taste it left in its wake. He ignored Danny's usual nonsense excuses to Eric's queries and zoned out of their conversation.

Blowing smoke rings into the air, he observed how the white fog of the smoke dissolved into the air.

Meanwhile, his smart brain was busy recollecting his interaction with Hera. He remembered everything they said or did with each other since morning. It was clear Hera only wanted to know why he wasn't in the assembly. It seemed it was the only thing that bothered her. Then it clicked why Hera was hell-bent on knowing his whereabouts.

'Fuck!'

Hunter cursed inwardly.

He realised why his Goddess was upset. His so-called fandom in the school monitored his every move, and if he even accidentally looked at any girl other than his friends, it would become news within seconds. Cursing, he remembered the girl he helped this morning.

It shouldn't be a surprise if the news travelled throughout the school, and obviously, Hera had heard it too. He could only imagine what might be the outcome of this gossip. He carried the girl to the infirmary in his arms, after all. 

In her room, Hera kept trying Hunter's phone, but he never answered her call. It dawned on her a bit late that she wasted too much time thinking about Clara, Nathan and Adelaide instead of answering Hunter's simple question.

'Do you trust me?'

His question hovered in her brain, and her heart screamed a yes instantly. However, she had messed up already. Hunter wasn't responding, and she could guess how bad it might have pissed him off.

'Can't my heart and brain be on the same page for once? They had to ruin everything for me.'

Disappointed, Hera cursed and to retaliate, she switched her phone off. If Hunter refused to answer her call, then she would do the same.

'Alright, Hunter, let's see for how long you will ignore me.'

Hera sighed, sliding more of her body inside the blanket.

Hunter searched for his phone as soon as he entered the room. He found it on the floor, lying next to the foot of his bed. He was surprised because he didn't notice it falling off the bed when he tossed it aside. He was relieved that he didn't switch it off in his anger. Otherwise, Mathew would've cancelled his flight by now. Hunter wouldn't want to worry him.

"Uh-oh," he uttered when he saw several missed calls by his Goddess. He scrunched his nose while scratching his forehead above his left eyebrow with the back of his thumbnail. Without wasting another second, he dialled her number and cursed when he heard the voice say, "The number you have dialled is not reachable."

He clicked his tongue, annoyed at himself for abandoning his phone and missing Hera's call. He could guess she had purposely switched it off. He decided to speak to her directly, face to face after dinner. To keep himself busy until then, he opened his books to complete his assignment.

Noel was waiting for Hera when she reached the dining hall and insisted they sit together. Half-heartedly, Hera walked inside with him. Like the opposite poles of a magnet attracting each other, her eyes were drawn to her favourite shade of purple orbs the moment she set her foot in. Hunter sat in the direct line of her sight, and she glared when he rolled his eyes.

She knew Noel's presence irked Hunter, but she didn't care. Joining the line, Hera and Noel filled their plates with food.

"Please spare the poor boy," Clara whispered, startling Hera. She didn't notice she was standing beside her. "We don't want another innocent soul to get hurt because of your boyfriend," she added in warning, and it surprised Hera that she even dared to speak to her when Hunter was in the hall.

Instinctively, Hera glanced over her shoulder. Thankfully, Hunter wasn't looking at her. He was frowning at something Evelyn was saying.

Clara went in the opposite direction while Hera and Noel sat in the far corner. "Ignore her. I'm not afraid of your boyfriend," Noel said, smiling reassuringly at Hera. Someone cleared their throat, and Hera lifted her lashes to meet Bianca. She smiled and placed her plate on the table.

Hera's jaw dropped in surprise. She couldn't resist asking, "Are you going to sit with me?"

"Don't look so surprised, Piggy. I just came to say hi," Bianca said, cutting the rolled pudding filled with layers of fruity jam inside. She placed the slice into Hera's plate and signalled with her eyes to eat. Still speechless, Hera took her fork and ate a bite.

Bianca made an elaborate show of licking her fork clean, and Hera choked on the dessert when the girl dipped it into Noel's glass of apple juice, stirring it. Hera glanced at Hunter again. Bianca was causing trouble as usual, and Hera was afraid of the inevitable fight. She searched Noel's face for any signs of anger, but to her shock, she found him smirking at Bianca.

The girl winked at him and left as if nothing happened. Hera watched with her eyebrows raised while Noel drank the juice. He had his eyes glued to Bianca's swaying hip as she walked away.

'What the fuck!'

Hera was expecting a fight, but much to her shock, it seemed as though Bianca and Noel were flirting. Shaking her head in disapproval, Hera finished her food in a hurry.

"Noel, please don't fall into her trap. She's trouble," Hera warned when they walked out of the dining hall. Before he could say something, someone grabbed Hera's wrist. Rolling her eyes, Hera turned to face her annoying boyfriend. It surprised her that it took him so long to approach her.

Hunter's eyes remained glued to Hera's when he snapped his fingers twice, and his index finger moved, signalling Noel to get lost.