FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Hera sat with her cousin Abby during breakfast and ignored when Hunter and his friends entered the dining hall. Already dressed in his uniform, he seemed grumpy as he walked with his hands resting inside his pants pockets. His hair tied into a ponytail looked messy, the unruly strands falling out of the band here and there. Their eyes met, and Hera rolled her eyes when Hunter glared at her. 

She knew it would take time for Hunter's temper to cool down whenever he got angry. Over the years, she had learnt how to handle him in such situations. The only way it would work was to give him the silent treatment. Hunter hated Hera's silence. He would go crazy whenever she stopped responding to him. 

It was the best punishment to bring him to his senses. 

Hunter clenched his jaw in anger when he saw Hera walking over to Noel and Clara's table to speak to them. Hera watched through her peripheral view, calculating his moves. She could guess he wanted to kick Noel away from her, but thankfully he didn't act on his impulse. Hera knew her threat from yesterday worked. He wouldn't risk his chance of losing her. 

Bianca looked at Noel in disgust, flipping him the middle finger. Hera glared, unimpressed, while Bianca followed Hunter. Samantha seemed too pleased these days, much to Hera's annoyance. It irked Hera more when the girl looked over her shoulder and blew her a kiss. Regardless, Hera smiled in greeting when Evelyn waved at her. 

Michael stopped in his tracks, contemplating whether to hit Noel or not, but Eric grabbed his uniform blazer and dragged him away. Danny glared at Noel murderously and pointed two V-sign fingers at his own eyes before directing them at Noel, a gesture to say, "I'm watching you." 

Noel inclined his head once in acknowledgement and smirked smugly. He was used to their gestures of threat by now. 

Hunter pulled his chair a bit aggressively, and it screeched, making an ugly, harsh sound. Hera's nose scrunched while she winced, squeezing her eyes shut at the sharp noise. 

Noel seemed alright, and surprisingly his face didn't have any bruises or cuts. Hera still asked if he was okay. No matter what Noel's intention was, Hera couldn't help but feel concerned because her boyfriend had hurt the boy physically. She would never appreciate violence. 

Hera greeted and spoke to all her friends, including Jarred and Asher. Hunter needed to get used to her interacting with other boys. It was time to teach him to get over his over-possessive nature. She wouldn't let him dictate her life against her will anymore. She could feel Hunter's eyes on her all the time while she conversed with her friends. Hera purposely asked them all to join her and returned to her table. 

She chanced a glance at Hunter and found him already staring at her. She knew he never took his eyes off her. Hera looked away and ate her food, nodding and smiling at whatever her friends said. It bothered her that Hunter wasn't eating his breakfast, but she resisted the urge to signal him to eat. 

'Remember, Hera, silent treatment.'

She reminded herself. 

Hera had finished eating and was waiting for Abby, who went to get water. Almost everyone had left the dining hall when Hera noticed Hunter making his way towards her table. Jarred and Asher immediately rushed out. Hera couldn't blame them for being afraid of Hunter, though. Her boyfriend had that effect on everyone. 

One look and his cold stare were enough to urge Celine and Brittany to leave as well. They both hustled away as soon as Hunter neared. Hera noticed even Abby had left her alone. 

Dabbing her lips with the tissue, Hera pushed her chair and crossed the table to walk away. Hunter blocked her way while Hera tried to move past him. She moved to the other side only to get stopped by him again. Sighing in annoyance, she went to her left, so did Hunter. Hera glared and shifted to her right but in vain. 

Hera took a step back and another and another for every step he placed forward until her back hit the wall. She found herself trapped between his torso and the wall. Hunter positioned his hands on either side of her head, palms flat against the wall, framing her form. Hera's heartbeats raced against her chest. 

'No, he wouldn't do it here.'

Hera wanted to believe so. 

She knew what he was trying to do. He wanted her to break the silence between them, but Hera kept her mouth shut. She raised her chin in defiance and stared blankly at him. However, she glanced around nervously when Hunter leaned down to her lips. A few of the kitchen staff were still there, but they were busy with their tasks. 

Hera glared in disapproval when Hunter's lips twitched into a knowing smirk. Heat rushed to her cheeks, and her heart missed a beat. Proving her belief wrong, he smashed his lips against hers in the next second. Hera gasped into his mouth in surprise, her hands reaching to push against his chest in reflex. 

She tasted the mint of his mouth freshener he was chewing, but it still couldn't conceal the faint hint of cigarette smell. 

'Uh-oh, he sure is upset if he has been smoking so early in the morning.'

Hunter pulled away, his eyes still glued to her glistening red mouth. He licked his lips before pulling his lower lip between his teeth, and Hera didn't miss how he was struggling to hold back a smile. She fixed him with a dirty look and stomped her foot on one of his. Huffing her anger out, Hera brushed past him while Hunter winced, cursing under his breath. 

Shoving her hands into the pockets of Hunter's black hoodie she wore over her denim jeans and tank top, Hera marched out of the dining hall, Hunter trailing right behind her. 

"What are you trying to prove, Goddess?" Hunter asked, sounding annoyed. Hera ignored him and kept walking. "If you were hurt by my behaviour yesterday, then I'm really sorry for hurting you, but if you're angry because I hit that asshole, then you're not getting any apology for it if you're expecting it," he declared in an indignant tone. 

Hera exhaled through her mouth in frustration and showed him the middle finger over her shoulder before taking a turn. She heard him groan in frustration, and then he muttered, "Bloody hell."

Hunter increased his pace and held her wrist, stopping her. 

"What do you want, Goddess?" He finally asked what she wanted to hear. Hera sighed exasperatedly and yanked her hand away from his hold while Hunter groaned, aggravated by her silent treatment. 

Hera suddenly raised her hand to his face as though to cup his cheek. Hunter frowned in confusion, eyes following her hand, but she didn't touch his face. Instead, she tapped his temple twice with her index finger, gesturing for him to think. 

Hunter glared at her, unimpressed because he understood what she wanted to convey. Hera knew he would. After all, they could read each other like an open book. 

"I said I'm not sorry for hitting him. He deserved it," Hunter said bitingly. Hera shook her head in disapproval before turning around to walk away. "Fine, don't talk to me. Let's see for how long you're going to ignore me," Hunter yelled. Hera still didn't respond. When she couldn't hear his footsteps following her any longer, Hera paused and turned to glance at him. 

She found him where she had left him, hands concealed inside his pants pockets, an icy stare directed at her. Hera was the first one to break their staring contest before they both walked away in different directions. 

Their paths crossed many times throughout the day, but none of them was ready to let go of their pride to make the first move. 

In the evening, 

When Hera was resting in her dorm, preparing to do her homework, someone knocked on the door. Hera looked up from her books and darted her eyes towards Clara from her bed. They were the only ones inside while others went out for fresh air. Brittany had asked Hera to join them for a walk in the garden, but Hera had to refuse since she didn't want to bump into Hunter. 

She was still adamantly avoiding her boyfriend. 

Clara smiled at Hera's lazy ass and nodded to let Hera know she would check the door. Her smile dropped in an instant as soon as she opened the door. 

Eric's handsome face came into view, and his stare turned cold as ice as soon as he saw Clara. He turned his face to the side, not happy to see the girl's face. Evelyn appeared from behind him and walked inside, calling for Hera. 

Hera was surprised to see them, but it was somehow obvious. She knew if not Hunter, one of his friends would come to talk to her. 

"Can you come out for a minute, Hera?" Evelyn asked. 

"We need to talk," Eric added. 

Hera pursed her lips at his choice of words but nodded her agreement anyway. 

'It's never going to be easy talk when someone says we need to talk.'

Hera thought.

Sighing tiredly, she dumped her books on her study table. Evelyn jerked her head to the side, gesturing for Hera to follow as she walked out of her room. Hera grabbed her denim jacket and quickly shoved her hands into the sleeves.. Zipping it up, she pocketed her phone and joined Eric and Evelyn, who waited for her not so patiently, Hera noticed.