15 Ci-ci and Frae 1 (2/2)

Ci-ci smiled thinking about their first interaction in five years. She had been so angry and her gaze had been so cold, but what she didn't know was that her presence, alone with him in his office, made him feel better than he had in five years.

~

”I have no intention of bringing this matter up with my father, as that would defeat the entire purpose.” Frae spoke coldly, her sharp blue eyes piercing toward Ci-ci.

She wore her hair in a messy bun with a pencil sticking out of it. In fact, she even wore a baggy sweat shirt and pants, matching the auburn and black colors of Grandbell.

Her thick textbooks were held tightly to her chest that had a size so ample that even her baggy clothing couldn't hide them.

It was actually fairly late in the evening. Final classes ended around 10:30pm and it was already 11 now. Honestly speaking, it wasn't Frae's intention to come so late, but this was really the only time she could find Ci-ci free of obligations.

Before today, she had made the mistake of knocking, which allowed Ci-ci to slip away. But, today she lurked and hid before bursting in just as Ci-ci was immersed in some notes he was making.

”But, I'm not the type of person to continue to allow myself to be trampled upon. I need to know now. What have I done to offend you?” Frae glared at Ci-ci.

Ci-ci though, was in a trance. He stood up and walked to Frae, pausing just a half a meter from her.

He was an entire head taller than Frae and yet her cold eyes never waivered for even a single moment. But then, he said words he didn't know whether he'd regret. He couldn't stop himself. He needed her to know and to know now.

”You have such beautiful eyes.” Ci-ci said softly.

Frae froze.

To anyone else, this would have been the most generic compliment imaginable. But, to Frae, it was different.

Frae was a girl who insisted on being publicly educated at Grandbell while other members of such prestigious families were basically gifted their diplomas. She dealt with the scrutiny of being from such a powerful family everyday, all because she wanted to prove them wrong. She didn't need everything handed to her. And yet, no matter how hard she worked and no matter how many hours of sleep she lost, the sneers never stopped.

They continued to think that her good grades were being handed to her. They continued to think that she only got into this school because of her father. But, what always got to Frae was how they spoke about her eyes. As though her cold demeanor was a façade she put on to distance herself from people she saw as commoners. As though her personality was somehow inferior to that of others. As though her very being was being put into question.

And yet, here stood a young man looking at her cold eyes unwaveringly…. Still willing to call them beautiful.