FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Hera broke eye contact and glanced down at Hunter's throat. His Adam's apple moved up and down as he gulped nervously. His chest moved along with his rapid breathing, the black V-neck T-shirt clinging to his defined upper body. Hera's eyes slid down further to see his hands clamped into tight fists at his sides. With the firm grip with which he held Nathan's phone, it seemed that the phone would shatter.

By the time Hera looked back into his eyes, he had managed to hide his fears, and anger had started burning back in his eyes. He was now glaring at Hera, and she knew his patience was wearing out. She was taking too long to answer his question. 

Hunter's eyes scrutinised her lips while she flashed him a lopsided grin. It was so unlike her to smile crookedly at him or anyone so meanly. The nerve under his clenched jaw ticked, and Hera could see he was still grinding his teeth. When Hunter shifted his eyes from her mouth to her eyes, strange happiness tickled the inside of her chest. Her eyes shone bright with pride and arrogance. 

It was so hypocritical of Hunter to make a fuss over a kiss when his cheating ass had done more than kissing with another girl. Nonetheless, it gave Hera a little comfort because she had managed to return the hurt to some extent which she had suffered because of him. It felt satisfying to watch him lose his control for once. It wasn't every day that Ace Hunter flaunts his weakness or insecurities so openly. 

Hera was not selfish, nor did she want to be mean to anyone, let alone her Hunter. She thought she would never stoop so low that she would use her friend to her advantage. However, right at the moment when Hunter was seething in anger, his insides were shattering with hurt and jealousy, Hera lost every rational thought. 

Nathan had already lied to Hunter that he was dating Hera, and Hunter had seen the evidence of them kissing. So, what difference would it make if she used the situation to her advantage and lied some more? 

Hera touched Hunter's hand, her fingers delicately grazing over his, only to pry the phone off his hold. She saw the picture, her smile never leaving her lips. "Does it seem like I wasn't willing?" she asked, looking straight into his eyes. Her voice had an edge to it, her eyes mocking him. Hunter inhaled sharply through his nose, and his eyes widened to their fullest as anger in them intensified. 

Hera took pleasure in his distress. 

"Yes, he's my boyfriend. I like him," Hera said, facing him boldly. "What's wrong if I've moved on from my cheating boyfriend after he broke my heart?" Hera asked him. "I meant it when I said I would never take you back. You and I, we're done, Hunter," Hera declared, poking her index finger into his chest harshly. Hunter tilted his head to the side and smiled at her as if she had said something ridiculous. 

Placing her hand on his chest, she gave a hard shove. Hunter's shoulder jerked a bit from the shove, and that was the only result Hera could achieve after pushing him so hard. 

Hera thrust the phone on Hunter's face just like he did earlier and showed him the picture again. "Isn't it enough proof? Do you still want me to prove it to you?" she asked, daring him to say yes. 

"Hera," Hunter called her name in a warning and shook his head. "Don't do anything stupid that you will regret later," he asserted. Hera scoffed in response and crossed him to walk towards Nathan. Hunter didn't follow Hera, nor did he stop her as she expected and stayed rooted on his spot. 

Eric blocked her way, and with a shake of his head, he warned, "Don't do this, pixie." Hera ignored him and walked past him. She noticed how Evelyn looked at her in disappointment and shook her head in disbelief before walking away. Bianca was shooting daggers at her with her eyes while Samantha grinned as though she was enjoying a movie night. 

Hera hated their reactions but thought they all could go and fuck themselves. Why should she give a damn about anyone when no one understood her feelings? She resented Hunter's friends for judging her as if their best friend was a saint. She had never met another sinner like Hunter. He had committed the biggest sin by cheating on her and breaking her heart. 

When she reached Nathan's side, she extended her hand for him to take and pulled him up, helping him sit. Hera brushed her fingers over the bruise forming on Nathan's forehead and instantly retracted her hand when he flinched at the touch. 

Meanwhile, Bianca released Clara's hands, and the latter took hasty steps towards her brother but halted in her tracks when she saw Hera sit beside her brother and cup his face in her hands. 

Hera's heart threatened to burst out of her chest, the drumming of wild beats echoing in her ears. She was nervous and scared too. She was guilty and ashamed of herself for using Nathan only to spite Hunter. Taking a deep breath, she brought her face closer to Nathan's, and he didn't make any move to get away or show any signs of objection. 

She glanced at Hunter and found him in the same position she left him. He hadn't moved from his place. She waited, wanting him to turn and look at her. Hunter had always sensed her eyes on him, and she needed him to see what she was doing. 

Hera counted seconds, desperate for Hunter's attention. 

Hunter's chest rose, and his shoulders moved when he took a deep breath, and Hera knew he would turn around. Sensing her eyes on him, he looked over his shoulder before turning completely to face her. 

Hera smashed her lips into Nathan's at that exact moment. 

She kept her eyes on Hunter and watched while he bit his lip and looked away. Placing his hands on his hips, he scoffed. A second later, his shoulders shook as he let out a quiet laugh. He turned his back to her, and the way his hand moved towards his face, Hera knew he was wiping his tears. 

Hera noticed Evelyn walking away and heard a door slamming shut after a moment. The volume of the already loud music blasting from Hunter's car increased, and Hera knew Evelyn wouldn't come to her rescue if she needed to. No matter what, after all, she was Hunter's best friend in the end and not Hera's. 

Hunter walked towards his car, and Hera's hands shifted from Nathan's face to his shoulders, holding him for support. She closed her eyes, resting her forehead on Nathan's shoulder. She let her tears out and cried silently. 

Despite everything, Hera still felt the invisible string pulling them together, no matter how hard she fought against it. However, she resisted the urge to run back and stop Hunter from leaving her. 

'It's over. Our love, our promises to stay by each other's side and our dreams of building a happy home together, everything is over.' 

Hera cried, mourning her shattered heart. 

If she believed Hunter would leave her alone just because she kissed another boy, she had another thing coming. It seemed she underestimated the depth of his passion for her. 

Hunter pulled open the rear door of his car and grabbed the L-shaped wheel brace (lug wrench) resting beside the toolkit under the seat. The image of Hera kissing Nathan played in a continuous loop in his mind. He felt the urge to claw at his skin. It felt as though hundreds of leeches fastened onto his skin all at once. 

Squeezing his eyes shut, he let the moisture spill out and pressed the heel of his hands to his eyes to stop the salty water. 

When he opened his eyes, he was blinded with rage as he eyed the steel, shiny tool in his hand. 

'Yes, he's my boyfriend.'

'I like him.'

'I meant it when I said I would never take you back.'

'You and I, we're done.'

Hera's voice kept ringing in his ears. Her every declaration hurt his eardrums like thousands of bees stinging at the same time. 

Shutting the door closed, he marched towards his prey with only one goal in his mind. 

Alarmed, Clara yelled Hera's name when she saw Hunter coming back with a steel weapon in his hand. Hera whipped her head in the direction of her best friend, but before she could ask anything, she felt someone's hand on her arm, peeling her away from Nathan's touch. 

Hera stumbled backwards and collided into a chest. She lifted her head to see Hunter's hardened face, but he wasn't looking at her. He was glaring at Nathan, who looked on the verge of peeing in his pants. Hunter's eyes seemed murderous at the moment. Ever ready to stand by his best friend, Danny joined him. 

Michael sat on the ground, leaning against the rear tire. He grabbed a slice of pizza with his right hand and a can of beer with his left hand. He chugged a mouthful from the can before biting into the pizza. He whistled and cheered as if he was ready to watch his favourite team playing soccer. Bianca grabbed another slice of pizza and joined him, taking a seat beside him. 

Hunter gently pushed Hera out of his way.. Perplexed, she looked at Hunter before her eyes caught the sight of the tool in his hand.