FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

"We're familiar with our own appearance, and seeing people who share similar traits lead to more liking for that reason. According to research experts, that's how people get attracted to each other," Hunter was saying. 

Hera knew he wouldn't appreciate it if she cut him off in the middle when he was speaking about something with so much enthusiasm, especially when he was sharing his knowledge. So she listened. Not that the topic was boring or something, but it irked her every time he mentioned the name of each research expert, coating their exact words about the subject they researched. 

"According to a recent research report, people may get attracted to potential partners who come from similar ancestry. So we are attracted to people who resemble our parents or ourselves. It's not just familiarity. People are more self-centred than they like to admit when it comes to attraction, and they are overwhelmingly more interested in people who are similar to them," Hunter explained. 

Hera licked her fingers noisily, attracting Hunter's attention. It distracted him effectively, and he paused, momentarily forgetting what he was saying. He noticed the discarded fork and grimaced at her in disapproval.. Hera grinned, repeating the action and ran her tongue over her lips, licking it clean. Hunter sighed and looked away. 

"You can kiss me, you know. I don't mind," Hera said, teasing him and wiggling her eyebrows suggestively. She took advantage of his surprised state and kissed him before he could avoid her lips. She smiled against his mouth when he groaned before giving up and returning the kiss. 

Hunter clicked his tongue in disapproval when he broke the kiss. Scolding her for distracting him, he righted his shirt and jacket. Hera giggled, cooing at his flushed face. "Finish it," Hunter said, pointing to the remaining food. "And don't be late," he warned before exiting her room. He heard her giggles behind the door and smiled to himself before walking towards the assembly. 

Hera's lips twitched in tiny as she tried to smile when all her friends waved at her in greeting. At this point, it had become nothing more than a pretended formality. She wondered if this awkwardness would ever go away, and they would return to their previous familiarity with each other. Clara seemed to be very comfortable, though, when she smiled at Hera, bright and welcoming. 

As though she never hated Hera's existence before. 

The more Clara smiled these days, the more Hera's anxiety grew. 

Hera took her seat and placed her bag on the desk, taking out her book and pencil. Her thoughts pulled her back to her conversation with Clara. Hera waited for the right time to speak to Hunter about it, but the moment never came. Three more days and Hunter would leave for New York. Hera didn't want to ruin their happy time by bringing up the topic. 

She also had to take care of Danny's situation. She still hadn't figured out how to decline Hunter's offer. Would it be alright if she kept her mouth shut till Friday and refused to board the flight at the last minute? Then Hunter wouldn't be able to force her, and neither would he have time to fight with her. It seemed to be the best idea in her mind. 

Hera sighed, praying for strength and courage. 

She was thankful when their English teacher walked into the class. She asked about the assignment Hunter gave them in the detention class. Hera had done her homework, and proudly she submitted it to the teacher. 

In the next class, the Physics teacher kept her mind occupied while Hera obediently tried to grasp everything about numerical to her best ability and took notes. 

As the day progressed, she couldn't help but imagine different scenarios about Hunter's reaction to her decision. At lunch, Noel didn't come to bother her. Hera was not in the mood to tolerate him anyway. She was alone in the classroom, lost in her thoughts, toying with the food in her lunchbox. 

Her day was precisely going normal until Clara appeared in front of her again. 

"You're here. I searched the whole school for you," Clara said, forcing the words out, her voice sounding raspy and exhausted. Bending her upper body, she held her knees, and Hera observed her dishevelled appearance. The girl's face was flushed red, her eyes watery, and she was panting heavily, taking short quick breaths through her mouth. Her face, her hair and her uniform top were drenched in sweat. 

It seemed as if she had come running all the way to find Hera. The latter wondered why, though. As if she had something important to convey. As if she carried tragic news that weighed her shoulders down. When she finally straightened her posture and faced Hera, the latter noticed her red-rimmed eyes as if she had been crying. The new set of tears rolled down her cheeks, proving Hera's observation right. 

"Clara, what happened? Are you okay?" Hera asked, moving out of her chair to reach the other girl. Clara wiped her tears, brushing her fingers over her cheeks in frustration. Hera noticed how the sadness in her eyes suddenly changed into cold fury. Hera was taken aback by the anger directed at her. 

'For God's sake, I didn't even do anything.'

Hera clenched her teeth and took a step back, annoyed at Clara's unfair behaviour towards her. 

"I don't need your pity, so don't pretend as if you care," Clara spat the words at Hera. "If you cared, you wouldn't have fought so hard to protect him even after knowing what he did. You would've left him the moment I revealed his true face to you if you cared one bit," Clara accused harshly. 

Clueless, Hera frowned at her and shook her head. ""Then why do you come and bother me in the first place? Enough of the bullshit, Clara. Please leave me alone," Hera snapped and packed her things to leave the room. She couldn't even eat her lunch. She was tired of all the accusations and hatred. Why wouldn't they leave her alone? She wasn't even interfering in their lives anymore. 

'God, please let me have a peaceful day for once.'

Hera turned around, eyes fixed on the door. She couldn't wait to get away from Clara's vicinity. She cursed when Clara held her hand, stopping her against her will. 

"Leave you alone?" Clara asked in disbelief and laughed humourlessly. "Wish I could, Hera. But how can I when everything that happens in our lives directly connects to you?" She asked, jabbing her pointer finger at Hera's chest. "You're the root cause of everything, remember?" she accused again, declaring Hera guilty of the things she didn't do. 

Hera kept quiet as she knew it would serve no purpose. Clara had set her mind, and nothing would change her attitude towards Hera. 

"First, it was Nate, and then me. After me it was Andrew. Now It's Noel. I told you to leave the poor boy alone. But of course, you never listen, do you?" Clara uttered each word with so much venom, Hera flinched. "How many people are going to suffer because of you, Hera? I'm sick and tired of asking the same question because nothing ever changes when you're involved," she lashed out and closed her eyes as if she was the one exhausted. 

Tears poured down her cheeks as she sobbed. Hera had witnessed her break down in the past when she cried for Nathan two years ago. Clara was full-on ugly crying, and it scared Hera. "Please tell me what happened, Clara? Why are you so upset?" Hera dared to ask and touched the girl's shoulder hesitatingly. Clara jerked back as if electrocuted by her touch. She blinked rapidly and looked around as if making sure where she was. 

Hera silently stared while Clara's eyes widened as if she remembered something awful. She hastily wiped her tears and looked out of the door. She cursed herself after realising that she had wasted enough time. "What happened, you ask?" Clara said, gritting her teeth. "Your monster of a boyfriend is what happened," she announced, much to Hera's frustration. Grinding her teeth, Hera glared at the girl. 

"What now, Clara? What else did you forget to add to the list of your accusations?" Hera asked mockingly. Clara smiled, but it didn't hold any warmth in it. Instead, it generated the chill so harsh, Hera felt the cold seeping deep into her bones. She leaned closer, coming face to face with Hera. "That freak attacked Noel and is beating him to death right now," Clara informed, her voice low yet emphasising each word. 

Hera gasped in shock, her eyes widening in disbelief. Scoffing at her reaction, Clara walked to the door. "Come and stop your boyfriend before he kills him too," Clara spoke with so much conviction that her words hit straight home and knocked the air out of Hera's lungs. Hera bit her lip, trying not to panic. 

'Before he kills him too.'

The last word consisting of just three letters weighed so hard on Hera's chest it pierced her heart like a knife. Without using the exact words, Clara had declared Hunter as the murderer. Unshed, hot tears stung the inside of her lashes as Hera tried to breathe. 

"Don't stand there like a useless statue and move. Do something and save that innocent boy before it's too late," Clara yelled, throwing her hands up in anger. Hera eyed her suspiciously and shook her head. "Why would Hunter do that? You're lying," Hera said more to herself, but it sounded unconvincing in her own ears.