Chapter Twenty-Five
Angela didn't emerge from her room the rest of the day. She was too upset to go anywhere. She hadn't seen Steffi at the university today and she was worried about her. She needed to go to her house to check up on her but just couldn't. Somehow she was too heartbroken to get out of her room even. She didn't want to explain her condition to anyone.
Her eyes were swollen and red from all the sobbing. She splashed some water to her face and went out to her balcony to get some fresh air. Closing her eyes, she inhaled in the fresh air. Damian's words played with her senses.
So Caitlyn was the owner of the hospital where uncle Ronald worked. That was the reason why he couldn't retaliate against them? Still she was angry. He shouldn't have had sex with them. Or did he? Could they be lying?
From his room, Damian watched Angela as she stood on her balcony. His heart went out to her. He could see that she had been crying. He knew that she was hurting by his behaviour. Then why couldn't she just give up trying to be aloof? Why couldn't she just accept that she loved him?
He wasn't into Virginia at all and he had clearly asked Virginia to help him get his girl and she had obliged. She was indebted to Damian for saving her from being harassed by some boys at the campus on their first day at college. They had talked and Damian had told her about Angela. So, She knew that Damian loved Angela and she just put on a show with him for his Angela. He had promised to buy her a dress in return nevertheless.
He was disappointed when Angela sighed heavily and went back into her room with drooping shoulders. Her window was open and he saw her studying and doing the day's homework and watching the tutorials that the professors had suggested for extra reading. She noted down points and kept studying.
"What have you reduced me to Angel? I'm into architecture instead of agriculture because of you. I'm making out with random girls, something which I hate, only because of you, I'm stalking you and watching you instead of studying. I don't think I can last long this way," he mumbled, placing his head in his hands as a few teardrops fell from his eyes.
His heart ached everytime he remembered Angela's red, swollen face after she had wept because of him. He felt guilty for torturing her. If only she wouldn't be so stubborn.
The next day he had just parked his car at the university's parking lot when Virginia walked up to him. "Have you guys made up yet?" She asked him and he shook his head, disappointedly.
"She's too stubborn to admit that she loves me. I'm gonna go crazy," he said rubbing his face with his palm.
"Don't worry dude. Be patient, everything will be alright. Believe me," said Virginia.
"Thanks Virginia. I might need your help today too," he told her reluctantly.
"Sure no problem as long as my boyfriend doesn't find out dude. I'll be in a soup otherwise, " she said with a grimace.
"We'll be extra careful then. Oh there she comes. Hurry, let's start," said Damian in a panic.
Virginia looked discreetly and found Angela's car approaching them. She quickly placed her arms around Damian's neck and kissed him on his lips.
"Keep it shallow girl. I don't want your tongue inside. Yuk, I'll throw up," said Damian and Virginia rolled her eyes.
"Shut up and kiss, else I'll leave you dumbass," threatened Virginia.
Damian sighed and they kissed while his eyes followed Angela's car. She parked and got out. The moment her eyes fell upon them, she froze. Then composing herself, she walked faster towards their first class.
"She's gone? Can I stop?" Muttered Virginia.
"Yes. Thanks Virginia. I'll go. Remember we'll continue during lunch break," he reminded her.
"Is it working dude?" She asked and he shrugged and left. He was in a hurry, he wanted to see Angela's face, her reaction. He entered the first class and went to sit at his usual place. Xavion hadn't arrived yet and Juliette was also missing.
Angela sat with Molly and they were discussing something. He was upset that she didn't glance in his direction when he entered the class. Why did she have to ignore him? He just wanted to get her alone. He wanted to hold her and tell that she was the only one he wanted to kiss. He rested his head on the desk and lay quietly.
"Are you feeling sick?" Asked Angela's sweet voice. He looked up to find her standing beside him. A look of concern on her face. Her eyes were red and watery. She might have shed tears recently.
"Yes. Please be mine Angel. I'm feeling sick of this life," he whispered. She stared at him wordlessly. Juliette walked in and called out to her. Angela sighed and quietly walked away to her seat, beside Juliette. Damian cursed in his mind. He felt too frustrated to carry on with the class. He just got up and walked out of the class. He sat quietly in the cafeteria sipping coffee. Xavion searched for him everywhere and finally found him at the cafeteria. He dragged him back to class. Their professor arrived and Damian couldn't escape.
The whole morning Angela avoided him. She rushed with Juliette from one class to the other. She was very upset and didn't concentrate much in class too. Even after studying hard last night, she was restless and couldn't answer even the simplest of the questions.
"She's hurting Xav, still she won't admit that she loves me," said Damian , shaking his head.
"I can see that. So what will you do now?" He asked.
"I don't know," admitted Damian with a sigh.
It was lunchtime and Damian and Xavion walked into the cafeteria. They saw Freddie laughing with his friends. Damian strode up to him.
"Hey asshole. I'd been looking for you. Angela and I shall get married soon. Do come and watch the fun," said Freddie with a laugh and his friends too joined him. Damian saw red. His hands formed into tight fists and he punched Freddie's face with all his might.
"No one else gets to marry my Angel. She's mine and I'll ensure that you're dead and gone for good, " yelled Damian. He threw punch after punch before Freddie could recover enough for a comeback. His lips were busted and he was bleeding but Damian didn't stop. His friends cowered with fear. Xavion tried his best to stop him but failed when Angela walked inside the cafeteria.
Juliette had gone to the administrative office for a correction regarding the spelling error of her surname on her I-card.
Angela froze taking in the scene. "Damian, stop," she ran to him. Damian froze mid strike and Freddie took advantage of the situation and punched him back to back.
Angela strode up to Freddie and slapped him across his face. "How dare you hit him, Freddie?" She spoke through gritted teeth.
"But Angela, he hit me first," complained Freddie, puzzled by her behaviour. Damian stood quietly watching her with hooded eyes and erratic breathing.
"I don't want to hear of it," she said and then looked straight at Damian. "Damian stop this please," she said with a pleading look at Damian and left the cafeteria. Damian stood frozen, not able to move an inch. It seemed that he was paralysed.
"What was that dude?" Asked a confused Xavion. Freddie's friends had taken him to the medical room for first aid.
"I don't know. She loves me bro. You saw that?" Said Damian with a grin.
"Yes, I saw. She's crazy about you," agreed Xavion with another shit eating grin on his face. "So do we continue?" He asked and Damian shrugged. He was undecided.
Virginia came up and grinned at Damian. "Shall we?" She asked.
Damian saw Angela returning with Juliette. "We shall, " he confirmed. He allowed Angela and Juliette to settle down and went to occupy the table nearest to them.
Angela avoided looking towards him while Xavion waited for Candice. He hated Candice, she was getting to his nerves. He would soon drop this idea since Juliette didn't seem much affected by it.
Angela was in a foul mood. She sat copying notes and didn't eat anything at all. She was hurting more and more with Damian and Virginia making out with each other just beside her. Tears pricked at her eyes and she just got up, picked up her stuff and walked away.
Juliette packed the lunch that she had bought and after a glare at Xavion and Damian, she stormed out with her stuff. Damian stopped the minute they went out and held his head in his hands.
"This isn't working, bro. She's stopped eating altogether. I can't do this anymore, " he said. Virginia patted his shoulder to comfort him.
"Don't worry dude. Everything will work out. Zach's waiting for me. I've got to go. See you," she said, rushing off.
"I'm off Candice. What about you?" Asked Xavion.
"I'll continue till she screams out in frustration that she loves me. If she's stubborn, so am I, " he said getting up and walking to class.
Xavion sighed and followed. Maybe Damian wasn't doing this right. But nothing would get into his head now. He needed to realize it himself.