BXBX NOVEL Chapter 93 - DEAL
Chapter 93 - DEAL
Later that afternoon, an hour after a spectacular lunch, I retreated back to the privacy of the library and buried my nose in between a book. The events from this morning still occupy my thoughts but I didn\'t allow it to ruin my mood. Every time it pops into my mind, I just push it away. It wasn\'t that important after all compared to my critical exam tomorrow.
I waited for Ace to materialize from the door so I could talk to him but he failed to appear.?Not even his shadows showed up in the library after nearly an hour of waiting. His books remained smooth, and untouched, waiting only for him to study and flip the pages. An hour turned to two but he never came. I gave up all hopes and forced myself to focus on the task at hand.
Obviously, Ace is not going to show up. Definitely, not if he\'s trying to avoid someone—that someone is me. That makes me wonder why he\'s avoiding me after Marcus appeared to ask for my hand.
Not that I cared too much about him. It\'s just I wouldn\'t want him to fail on his exam. What would Faith Vienne think if she discovers one day that her father failed his very first university exam after he failed to study, that would be extremely embarrassing for him, he\'s a proud man after all.
I flipped the pen around my left fingers, imagining myself the lead majorette skillfully twirling a fancy baton on her dainty hands. The pen slipped out of my hold, it fell to the floor with a soft click. I placed the book face down on the top of the table and peered underneath the swivel chair, the pen wasn\'t there. It was gone, perhaps it rolled under the study table. How I wish losing my feelings towards Ace could be that easy, moving on would be a lot simpler.
Focus Beatrix! Focus! I groaned in frustration after I realized how distracted I became. It happens to me frequently these days, that\'s not a good sign. I need more focus to achieve my goals and that includes having high remarks to make my family proud of me—especially Faith Vienne.
I straightened on the swivel chair and pushed Ace away from my thoughts as I fumbled for the book I\'d been reading from the top of the table and returned to the line where I stopped. No more thinking about Ace, I promise.
Fates it seems have a different plan of their own…. Just as I\'m ready to focus my undivided attention back on the book, the
door suddenly flung open and Ace entered without remembering to knock. I don\'t know where he\'d been before he arrived but I\'m sure as hell he\'d left his manners there.
Great…Just great. The book fell back to the table with a thud. Ace never failed to amuse me, I thought dryly, gingerly picking up the book to arrange it on top of the others.
When I finally lifted my gaze, Ace was looking at me intently, his eyes unblinking.
My cheeks burned. One look is all that it takes to make me lose all my concentration.
Distracted, I cleared my throat. "I\'d been looking for you, Ace. Where have you been?"
He shrugged and thrust his fingers into the pocket of his jeans. I know that gesture all too well. He\'s hiding something.
"I just did something important." He smiled. There was an unusual sparkle on his enchanting blue eyes. I wonder what he\'s up to.
"It will be our entrance exam tomorrow. You didn\'t study."?I said sternly, unable to think of anything to say.
"I don\'t study…. I\'m a genius" He said confidently.
"Don\'t be so overconfident Ace Carter Greyson." I snapped and rolled my eyes heavenward. \'Damn nuisance, not to mention damn irritating.\' I muttered under my breath. It must be my overthinking which summoned him through the library.
"Let\'s make a deal, Beatrix." He said suddenly, my wide, questioning eyes searching his own. I expect him to be joking but his eyes held not the slightest sign of humor. He was serious as hell.
"W-what deal?"
Ace placed both his fingers on both sides of the wooden table and leaned closer.
Dear Lord, there\'s that mysterious smile playing on his lips. He\'s really up to something. I wonder what that would be.
"If I pass the exam you will agree to date me?" He said making the hairs on my arms stand on ends.
I was surprised but I didn\'t make it obvious. It took me almost an eternity before I could respond, when I did I just realize I\'m already standing on my feet.
"What if you don\'t?" I said, folding my arms underneath my breasts.
"You really want me to fail, are you?" His right eyebrow rose, a smug smile made its way to his lips. He was too confident he would pass the exam, I\'m actually doubting if he could.
"No, of course not. You didn\'t study. I don\'t expect you to pass with flying colors except if you cheat."
Ace didn\'t respond. He didn\'t even try to deny cheating. Perhaps he was taking the meaning of \'cheat\' deeper than intended.
"I will pass the exam." He said it in a soft, light tone but it was unmistakably filled with determination.
I took a deep, long breath. Perhaps it wouldn\'t be so bad to agree. After all, it\'s not one hundred percent sure he would actually pass the entrance exam. "Deal," I murmured despite not quite sure if I made the right decision. But then who knows what will come out after I agreed? Maybe it will motivate him more and he will strive to pass the exam.
His face brightened after hearing me say the magic words. He let go a deep breath. He was relieved that I said yes.
"A deal is a deal." He said softly as if telling me to honor my words.
Of course, once I give my promise I keep the end of my bargain. I would not change my mind the way he feared I would.
"Yes, promise," I replied, raising my pinky finger to his.
"Yes, promise." He repeated and took my small pinky finger into his.
I quickly pulled my fingers away, unable to take the fierce current of tickling sensation that burned the moment our fingers touched.
"See you on our date this Monday, Beatrix." He captured my palms for one last time and brought them closer to the soft, warmth of his lips. I shiver went down my spine.
His palms let my fingers go. Without looking back, he made a beeline straight to the door and closed it behind him. He was gone for a while now but I was still there standing where I stood like a motionless marble statue.
___
The exam lasted for two straight hours. It was the longest hours of my life, almost taking forever. I spent the whole week studying as much as I could but no amount of books could have prepared me for the questions that nearly burned the remains of my brain cells.
The questions are too complicated for my poor brain to handle. The thought of failing seems to scare the hell out of me. No! No! I will not fail. I repeated the mantra inside my head over and over again until I was feeling better. I need to pass this. I need to pass this. Failing means plunging into the least favorable section. I can\'t afford that to happen.
When the exam was over, a deep long breath escaped my lips. It felt so good to finish the nerve-wracking exam. May the Lord take pity on my poor soul and let me pass the exam. I did my best after all.
The moment I got out of the room, Ace entered.
"Good luck Ace," I whispered just enough for him to hear. His cheeks turned several shades deeper as he looked away.
"Thank you," He replied, a coy smile on his lips. "I will pass the exam, I promise." He added, determination burned brightly on his exquisite blue eyes.
Before I had the chance to react, he\'s already moving to enter the room. He occupied his seat near the window. There was a keen expression on his face. Never saw him this determined before.
He had a fierce look on his face as if he was a warrior ready to face the battle. He was taking the exam seriously the way he never did before.
The thought of a date with Ace was making me uncomfortable. I couldn\'t describe how I feel since I am torn between excitement, thrill, and unease. I don\'t even know what to feel between the three.
Ace accidentally looked at my way. He caught me looking at him, saw my panic-stricken eyes and smiled broadly, it was a sure and confident smile as if he was telling me "Watch me win this deal."
The professor signaled that the exam started. He turned his face away from mine and focused on the test paper the prof passed to him.
If he passed the exam we will have our first real date after a long long time. I can\'t wait to see the results.