C3 CHAPTER 1

I ran the pillow i had picked up over my ear so as not to hear the alarm clock but it was so persistent that i woke up so i violently got up from the bed and stopped it for making that loud noise.

As i sat i hugged the pillow because i was still very sleepy but i felt all my blood rise in my face when i remembered what happened yesterday.

I didn't tell my brother or anyone else the man who stole a kiss from me because it would definitely going to be a war. For them, i'm a princess so they'll do everything for me.

I got up and went straight to the bathroom to get up. After i took a bath i just wore a bathrobe to sit on the chair in front of the mirror where my make up was.

Today is my first day of class in first year college, business management. I'm sure the first day of my class will be miserable again today.

I started combing my hair and blow dry it and also fitted a hair net. I took the loose black wig and wore it, i also fitted a lot of hairclips so it wouldn’t fall out even when i walked by.

I wore black contact lenses then i put a lot of freckles on my cheeks and nose.

I picked up the uniform and put it on. Our uniform is black and gold stripe two inches above the knee skirt but mine is up to a leg long.

Longsleeve white with black and gold lace, there is also a black and gold ribbon on the collar and on the left side of the chest there is MU, the symbol of our school. M is black while U is gold.

I put on my black flat shoes and looked at myself in the full length mirror. I put on the large glass with no grade and looked at myself again but I just frowned.

One word to describe? Ugly. I sighed and took my bag and went out of the small condo unit where I am now.

I decided to separate in mommy's house first and stay here in the condo unit that my older brother gave me. This is what i want. A simple life.

Mom, dad and i agreed that they would allow me to separate from them but they wouldn't give me any money, at first i was hesitant but um-yes i was too.

The older brother still objected but he did nothing. I took the elevator down and waited for the taxi. I waited only a few minutes and one passed by so i stopped.

I only have small bucks of money a day because i agreed to this agreement that i will make a money for my self.

I had to save money and find a job so i wouldn't run out of money. I'm still thinking about what to eat. I don't have to cook anymore because when i come home later, Momma Maria and Poppa paul will be in my condo. They are the driver and nanny with us but now, they will be my guardian or pretend parents.

Formerly beautiful and rich Crystalline Demonise Xai Maixity will be poor and ugly Clare Santos the daughter of the couple Maria Santos and Paul Santos.

It's just like i was someone else. The name on my birth certificate that was handed to the school was forged so i can study freely without them knowing who really i am.

The truth is that i have finished studying in Russia and i am ready to work but because i want to have a simple life it happened.

I stopped the the i was riding in and handed the money to the driver. I went downstairs and sighed again as i watched the gate of the fancy school i was about to enter.

Maixity University. Black and gold is the motif of the school and in front of it you will see the really rich because of the car coming in and out are screaming the sophisticated students who can be seen at the gate.

I went straight to the gate but the guard immediately stopped me and raised an eyebrow. "Miss, maybe the school got you lost? Are you really belong here?"

I closed my eyes wanting to slap him. "Yes mister guard, i'm a scholar here." I just said because our identification card is still in the school.

He nodded as if i was convinced and let me pass. I looked around the school again and i couldn't help but part my lips because it was so beautiful. A lot has changed unlike when i was in grade school here.

As I walk into the room I can feel the judgmental looks they have on me.

"Ugly!"

"Her fat! I wonder if that stinks?"

"Stupid! I just think it stinks, it still smells."

"Shit, bro. Such an eye pain!"

"Yeah. Maybe we'll be separated by the ugliness of that!"

My blood boiled and i felt like i wanted to slap but i restrained myself. This is not the right time to hit such people. They are judging people without even looking at their self in the mirror. Yes, they have a nice clothes and looks but the only thing that they need is manners.

I just shook my head and accelerated my walk. I went through many more buildings but i was relieved to see the building with BA Building written on it.

I walked up the stairs and coincidentally my room which is third floor is on the last floor.

I searched for A-1 and i didn't have a hard time because there were only three rooms on each floor and they were still big.

I took a deep breath before looking out the gold -colored door of the room. The older woman asked me to open it so i smiled but she immediately raised an eyebrow at me.

"Are you part of A-1?" She raised an eyebrow at me so i forced myself to smile and nod.

He let me in but everyone immediately fell silent when they saw me. Eventually everyone laughed as if i was a funny thing. Including the professor in front of me.

"Okay class, stop laughing." The professor calmed everyone who followed but you could still hear them giggling. I just bowed in embarrassment. This only happened to me now. But I still won't give up, i want to be simple. "Introduce yourself, Miss."

I nodded but still didn't take my eyes off the floor. "My name is Crystalline- i mean, Clare Santos. Seventeen years old. My mother is Maria Santos who is a nanny and my father is Paul Santos who is a family driver." I want to scold myself for making a mistake but i also want to applaud because somehow i managed.

"Okay take your seat. I'm prof Drea Misika, by the way"

After the professor said that, i immediately went to the back and sat down because i was sure that no one wanted to be next to me.

I was writing a lesson in my notebook but jumped into the seat as the door violently opened at the same time as my classmates whispered. I didn't bother to look at the one who opened it because maybe it's another nerd like me so that's just what they whispered.

"Take your seat Mr.Monterial." Our professor's voice was soft so i looked up. I immediately sighed when we thought correctly of what he called Mr. Monterial.

I couldn’t help but look into his eyes. It's ocean blue eyes. It's cold. It was as if it was bad to look in his eyes because of how beautiful it was. And his emotion is cold as his eyes. It's scary but it's still nice to look at.

I was touched on my forehead to feel the crumpled paper hit there. My blockmates laughed they're ass out loud at but i just staring at the man with the blue eyes.

I didn't realize that he was the one who threw that crumpled paper at me then. I only found out now because he was holding another crumpled paper and threw it in my direction but i quickly dodged and caught the crumpled paper.

The earlier admiration in my eyes was replaced by annoyance. Damn him. "Why did you hit me?" I asked annoyed and stood up in the seat.

He shrugged without emotion. "It's happened, there's nothing you can do." Everyone was silent as he spoke. Me too. My hair on the nape of my neck rose because of the coldness of his voice.

I raised an eyebrow at him and because of the mixture of annoyance and tension he brought i threw the crumpled paper he threw at me in his face. I just bit my lip when i caught his face. I even heard the sigh of those around me but i just ignored it.

"T-there! It's happened too, i can't do anything now!" I insisted even though i was already trembling because of his cold aura.

I saw the rise of the edge of his lip and slowly approached me. My knees softened so I sat down again but he immediately blamed me for cornering me in the chair.

I was breathing fast because of his closeness to me. There was a playful smile on his lips and he came even closer to me so i closed my eyes.

"He's going to attack nerd!"

"Rest in peace!"

"She's ready! Haha."

I was shocked to hear his small laugh. He was a few steps away from me and laughing looking at me. "Do you just want to kiss me?"

I stood up again and pointed at him. "Hey you're so full of your self! You thought you're handsome? You're ugly!"

He grinned and looked at me. "Oh I forgot, you're a nerd so your eyes are blurred."

This time i smiled. "My eyes aren't blurred when it comes to a man like you. I just looked really smart."

When i said that, I heard the bell so i took my bag and went straight out. I hit him but i was the only one hurt because of the hardness of his arm.

~

The students have been silent lately and have not joined in the conversation as they enter the cafeteria.

I ignored them and went straight to the counter to see what i was going to buy but I was frustrated to see that there were more than a hundred of all the goods except for the water that was for sale.

I only bought water because i had to save money. I still have to find a temporary job because I have nothing to spend.

Now i’m still struggling with what my job will be. I can be a waiter at night or a cafe janitor. It is also not bad to be a student assistant.

I just went straight to the beautiful school garden and took a deep breath because not a single student was here.

Maybe everyone is in the cafeteria. The school has three cafeterias so that is unlikely to happen. I will also walk in the whole school later so that i don't get lost in its size.

I opened the bottled water i had bought and was ready to drink when i heard a woman shout. She seemed to have an enemy and because the whole garden was so quiet, her shout could be heard.

I rolled my eyes and looked for the woman who was screaming but the little on my arm were rising and i was against my thought. Isn't it a white lady asking for help? I shook my head a few times to erase the image playing in my mind right now.

I heard the shouts again and stood up to look for it. Behind the big tree there were two people talking and the anger was obvious on the woman's face, she was also crying.

I immediately hid in the tree so they could not see. Yes, i'm now eavesdropping and my personality as Clare includes being a gossip.

All i can see is the face of the beautiful woman screaming and crying. The big man he was shouting was behind the tree where i was hiding so i couldn't see his face.

"Ashton! How many times have i told you that i really like you and i don't want you to approach anyone else," the woman shouted and slapped the man's chest. "I did everything and u will do everything to make you like me, what else is missing?! What else is missing?!"

"Everything." I froze to my feet to hear that cold voice. It was already playing on my mind who the man was but i just ignored it.

The woman stopped slapping the man and wiped away his tears. "Is it because I'm not a virgin? I'm ready to give myself to you so you can like me!" I covered my mouth when the woman started to take off her longsleeve but the man did nothing.

"Stop. I don't want you and i will never want to be with you."

The woman stopped undressing and started crying again. "Tell me, do you love anyone?"

The man did not answer but it moved to where he is standing so i hid again in the big tree and covered my mouth. My chest throbbed harder because they might have seen me, the man was still scary, even just his cold voice.

"Ahh!" I was stopped by someone who grabbed my arm and quickly dragged me away. I felt three times as sharp as the man with the blue eyes dragged me and introduced me to the woman who had been shouting earlier.

I tried to remove his grip on my arm but I couldn't because of the nervousness and the familiar sensation.

He put his arm around me and immediately removed me because of the electricity that flowed through me. He stared at me so my knees became softer but he quickly touched my waist.

The man with blue eyes turned to the woman and lifted the corner of his lip. "You're asking if i love someone aren't you? She's my love. So back the fuck off." Every word he said was emphatic.

The woman turned to me and glared at me before crying as she ran. I looked at the man who was also looking at me and pushed with full force.

"Hey man! What did you say dear? It just happened-" I stopped what I was going to say when he laughed. A cold laugh.

"Passed? You've been there before so don't make a fool of me."

I opened my mouth to speak but i also closed it immediately because i didn't know what to say, he was right, i was there before.

He raised his eyebrow at me and rolled his eyes. Is he a gay? "First, you threw a piece of paper at me and hit me. Second, you listened to our conversation. You got two and i won't miss it."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Be my pretend girlfriend."

"Hey what do you think of me? No way!"

He winced at the sense and sighed. "I'll pay you."

I was silenced by what he said. So it's like i'm already a co-worker because of being his pretend girlfriend. But i don't want to look like a gold digger.

"No I don't." I said and folded my arms.

"One hundred dollars per day for being my pretend girlfriend."

My lips parted. One hundred dollars? That boy. I was still hesitant to accept his offer. I won't have a hard time working just in case i get hired.

I took a deep breath. "Okay. Deal."

The corner of his lip lifted. "Pretend to be my girlfriend for three months."

I nodded. I will also earn a lot in three months. "But no kiss, no hug and no bed thingy! And just make sure you pay me!"

He laughed. "Of course I'm Ashton Bryle Cyrus Monterial, by the way. And you?"

I was stunned by the name he said. "That's all your name?" He nodded and smiled. "My name is Clare Santos."

He nodded and approached me. "Okay see you later, my dear Clare." He whispered in my ear so i could smell his fragrant breath. Lavender and roses. He turned and walked away but i grabbed his arm.

"Tell me, are you the one who kissed me at the mall?"

He raised an eyebrow at me and glared at my foot up to my head. The corner of his lip rose and later he laughed out loud. I stared at the weeds we were treading in embarrassment.

"I have no intention of getting addicted and doing that. But if you want my kiss, then i'll give it to you." He was about to approach but i blocked my arms.

"I just said, no kiss."

"Yeah i know but i want to say that i love breaking the rules."

When he said that, he quickly walked away and left me stunned and watching his back.