FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Hera's throat constricted, and she bit her lip to keep the sob inside. Her eyes studied every minute detail of the picture sketch while her heart ached as it silently wept. The lines of graphics carved on the white paper showed how much Hera had hurt Hunter unintentionally. It revealed Hunter's emotions hidden behind his art so accurately. 

Hera looked sad in the picture, eyes filled with tears. When she turned another page, it showed how the teardrops slid down her cheeks, leaving the traces behind, wetting her skin. Hunter hadn't seen her crying after their fight. She did it hiding under the blanket in her room. Yet he had felt her pain. 

What touched Hera's heart was the teardrop coloured in red on the paper. Her fingers moved on their accord, the pad of her fingertips tenderly brushing over the imaginary tears Hunter had seen. It wasn't a complicated Math problem that she couldn't decipher the meaning behind his drawing. Hunter loved her so much that her tears were no less than blood for him. 

She knew it hurt Hunter so much whenever she cried in front of him. 

Hera gasped audibly and dropped the book when she turned another page as though it burned her hands. Her jaw dropped in disbelief while her eyes widened in horror. 

Hunter had drawn her with a dagger tightly clutched in her hand, blood dripping from it. Rage replaced the horrified look in her eyes as she tried to search for something she had supposedly killed. 

'The fuck!' 

'Did he imagine me plunging that dagger into his chest or something?'

The scenario playing in her mind made her tremble with fury. 

'How dare he think I would ever hurt him like that?'

Hera now couldn't hold her tears back. Biting her lips harshly, she closed the book and shut her eyes, squeezing the tears out. 

"Oh, please, Piggy, don't cry. I can't stand that emotional drama, and I wouldn't know how to make you feel better," Bianca whined in annoyance while Hera ignored her. She took several deep breaths, trying to soothe her aching heart. "It's more of Evie and Eric's forte, and Ace is not here to console you either. He won't like it if you cried," she added, hoping it would help Hera stop crying. 

Hey, my lovely readers, do you remember, I wrote a few words as a message to the thieves who have published my book on their pirated sites? At first, I laughed because it was silly that they copy-pasted everything in the chapter, including my objection about their immoral theft. Now that I cross-checked it, I noticed how shamelessly they deleted the name of the original source I've mentioned and replaced it with the name of their own site. Anyways, I'm a lawyer myself, and once I get time from my busy daily life, I'll take legal action and sue them for sure. I just hoped they would serve us both the time and energy, but in vain, I guess. 

I love you guys for supporting and loving my work. 

Bianca jumped from the table, and Hera heard the sound of the drawer opening, a few seconds of rustling later, something dropped on Hera's lap. She opened her eyes to find a pack of tissues. Thankful, Hera pulled a few tissues out and wiped her eyes and cheeks clean. 

"As Mike said, you don't deserve him. Why do you hurt him so much?" Bianca asked. Her tone suggested she wasn't expecting the answer to that question. She was directly accusing Hera, passing the final judgement. 

"What were you saying?" Bianca muttered to herself, seeming thoughtful before she looked at Hera. "Oh, right, I was the cause of everything," she answered herself. "I don't like it when you fight with Ace and make him sad in the first place, and you have the nerve to blame it on me. Why do you hate me so much, Hera? Why do you fight with Ace because of me?" Bianca asked, now all the playfulness gone from her demeanour. 

"I could ask you the same, and don't pretend as if you don't whine complaining about me to him every day," Hera retorted, but there was no bite to it. The fight had already left her. 

"I do," Bianca admitted, much to Hera's surprise. "But at least I tell him what bothers me, unlike you," she spat and paused to glare at Hera. The latter scoffed and clicked her tongue. 

"Seriously, Hera, I dislike you because I'm jealous of you. Ever since you met him, you topped the list of his priorities, and I hate the second place," Bianca revealed, shocking Hera once again by her admission. It was hard to believe Bianca could ever feel insecure about her friendship with Hunter because of Hera. 

Hera had the same issues with Hunter and Bianca's rapport, but she kept her mouth shut as it felt ridiculous to voice out what Bianca had already admitted. Hera realised they both envied each other because of Hunter's priorities. Both of them were going through the exact problem and were constantly competing to win Hunter's attention. 

Now that Bianca had openly admitted it, Hera felt foolish that she ever doubted Hunter's love for her. If they both felt insecure about their importance in Hunter's life, it had something to do with their inferiority complex. It was unfair to blame Hunter when he wasn't at fault. He treated and valued them both equally. The thought, no matter how rational, still stung, though. 

'Shouldn't your girlfriend be more special than your friend?'

Hera thought indignantly. 

"Stop zoning out, Piggy. I'm talking to you," Bianca snapped, disturbing Hera's inward debate. Bianca sighed in exasperation. "Never mind, we can come at each other's throat at some other time. For now, tell me what your issue with Ace is," she asked, jumping straight to the point. "You're not talking to him. You avoid crossing paths not to meet him," she added, counting her fingers as if listing Hera's drawbacks. 

Hera absent-mindedly took the sketchbook and hugged it to her chest while listening to Bianca's complaints. 

"Fuck, you're so petty like that. Guess you'll always be a petulant child, immature, stubborn and difficult to handle," Bianca stated, fixing Hera with a look of contempt. Hera didn't seem to lose her temper, though. Bianca's words didn't affect as much as she expected them to, maybe because now she knew why Bianca detested her so much. 

Hera glared at the other girl anyway for the added effect while pretending to be angry. 

"He's the one fighting with me even though he is in the wrong. All he needs to do is say sorry and apologise. It's as simple as that," Hera replied, shrugging her shoulders. 

Bianca looked at her incredulously. A few seconds later, she sighed in annoyance and shook her head as if to clear her mind. "How did you decide that Ace is at fault?" she asked, unimpressed and resentful. Now Hera sighed in frustration. "Bianca, now I know the truth about what Noel did to Evie. But Hunter is still wrong for beating him. I don't appreciate or encourage violence," Hera shared her point of view. 

"Hmm," Bianca said, nodding. She seemed thoughtful for a minute, and Hera didn't feel the need to elaborate her explanation, so she let Bianca ponder whatever ran through her mind. 

"You know, Hera," Bianca started, and Hera looked at her, surprised to hear her name as the former didn't use her given nickname piggy. 

"It sounds unfair and ridiculous even, but the truth is all of us in this school come from wealthy families, and our rich parents would do anything to protect their kids. Andrew is the best example. You remember what happened when you reported him, don't you?" Bianca asked rhetorically. Hera frowned, thinking and almost understanding where Bianca was taking their conversation with this. 

"That scummy douchebag would've walked out unscathed had we reported him because, like Andrew's, his parents would've used their status and power to protect him. So whatever my friends did to him, he deserved it, and it was the only way to punish him," Bianca stated and shrugged her shoulders, unbothered, not at all guilty. 

Hera didn't know how to respond to that. Biting her lips, she looked away, lost in thoughts. 

'Isn't there no other way to get justice for Evie and punish Noel?'

Eyebrows drawn together in an intense frown, Hera was thinking hard.

"So how is Ace at fault when all he did is to protect Evie?" Bianca asked, breaking Hera's chain of thoughts. Hera was about to say something and had just opened her mouth when Bianca held her palm up, stopping her from speaking. "Don't just say you hate his violent side. It's only natural that you get enraged and violent when someone hurts your loved ones," Bianca declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. 

Frowning in displeasure, Hera scrunched her nose. What else could she do? Bianca obviously wouldn't consider Hera's logic as relevant. 

"Look, I'm not telling you to support him when he gets into fights with others, but at least give him the benefit of the doubt when you don't know the real reason behind it. If something bothers you, talk to him about it instead of assuming the worst about him," Bianca said in a calmer tone. Surprisingly, she didn't sound angry or annoyed anymore. If anything, her voice carried concern, and her eyes held sympathy. 

"Communication is the key to resolving all misunderstandings, Hera. You discovered the truth about that fucker Noel only because Evie and Eric spoke to you. So, don't jump to conclusions before addressing the problem. Be a little more mature, a bit more sensible and understanding. Show a little nobility. Otherwise, the misunderstanding between you and Ace would never get settled, and you'll only drive him away," Bianca suggested. 

Hera hated it when Bianca was right. 

How should one react when the person they hated the most tried to guide their walk on the right path? Hera never thought Bianca would talk sense into her. When she proposed they speak in private, Hera assumed she would only create more misunderstandings and problems between her and Hunter. So Hera couldn't help but gawk at her in shock. 

Their hatred for each other was mutual. So how was Hera supposed to know Bianca had good intentions?