"You just spilled coffee all over me air-head, what's wrong with you? are you even listening to me b*tch?"
Slap!
Ivy who had been lost in her own thoughts was finally jolted back to reality as a sharp pain shot across her face. Even then, she didn't react on time, still processing the situation.
Ivy looked at the girl before her who was dressed in an expensive white gown in shock, while trying her best to steady her emotions, however her pent up frustrations couldn't stay bottled up any longer, especially when the girl swung forward again, aiming for another slap.
"You stupid brat, who do you think you are to humiliate me like this?"
Thought Ivy as she sprung forward and fought back, what started as an absent minded accident soon turned into an all out brawl.
Customers occupying sits in the cafeteria all looked on in amusement while others quickly pulled out their phones to record a fight between two of the most popular girls on campus.
Just when the fight was about to get out of hand, a tall bruly man looking to be well over six feet suddenly stood in front of the lady that Ivy was beating up without reservation.
She was so invested in venting out her frustration that she smacked the glasses off the big man's face, in that instant an angered expression appeared on his face and he immediately raised his hand in an attempt to strike her.
But before he could do so, a young man looking to be about five feet eleven quickly stepped in to stop the huge man.
Ivy could only see his back, but his slim build covered in a blue track suit gave her some kind of relief and sense of security she hadn't ever felt before.
"You know, a man isn't supposed to hit a lady."
Uttered the young man with a calm, captivating and manly voice. At least in Ivy's mind.
"So what if I do? Who's going to stop me?"
Said the man with a sneer as he raised his fist again.
"You know what? I'll just take out my frustration on you! meddling kid."
....
Outside the Cafeteria, Ivy helped the badly beaten young man to the parking lot where her car was parked with a guilty expression on her face. If not for her carelessness, the young man wouldn't have been the scape goat for her mess.
"I'm really sorry about what happened in there. Let me make it up to you."
"Don't worry it's fine, I gotta go!" Uttered the young man in a dismissive tone almost as if he was trying to avoid her.
"Wait! At least let me drive you home."
He was just about to decline when Ivy rushed in front of him and held his hand. "I insist, come on get in."
He looked at her with a slight frown and even though he didn't want anything to do with this person, he knew very well that this spoilt girl from a wealthy background was very persistent and he was still wary about rejecting her outright.
It was at this moment of confrontation that Ivy was finally able to take a closer look at the young man before her, he had pale blue eyes, prominent features, and wore simple styled clothes.
Though his appearance looked ordinary at first glance, she could tell he was actually very handsome underneath the humble exterior.
He opened his mouth to speak when Ivy quickly cut him off again.
"Say no more, I'm not taking no for an answer."
With that, he finally agreed to get in the car with her, though still quite unhappy about the decision.
...
Now driving with her unexpected saviour, Ivy looked through her rearview mirror watching the young man stare out the window at the sparkling blue water beneath the bridge they were crossing through, birds flew in the distance and her white land rover stood out on the street.
"I'm Ivy by the way... and you."
The young man didn't even turn to look at her. Still facing the window, he replied in a distant tone, "The name's Adrian."
His reply was flat and detached, Ivy who was usually used to being the centre of attention of boys within her school was left quite surprised, she wasn't used to being the one to take the initiative during a conversation and the whole scenario felt a bit weird to her.
She was just thinking about his attitude when her worries from the cafeteria came flashing back; her eighteenth birthday was coming up soon, and to celebrate, her friends were pressuring her to lose her virginity for an unforgettable first coming of age night.
Her body had been changing in ways that filled her with pent-up desires she didn't know how to express. But she wanted her first time to be special—she didn't want to give it up to just anyone.
In her fantasies, her first time was supposed to be with a six-foot-tall, cut, handsome guy with a big…"D" and a six-figure salary, just like the male leads in the TV shows and web novels she usually read.
Amidst her exciting expectations, her friends strongly suggested Lucian who perfectly fit the bill, they had even begun to make plans on how to get him on board, but Ivy quite frankly didn't like Lucian, even with all his glamour, she just felt he wasn't the right one for her.
However, Fate played a cruel joke on her when her father announced that he planned to marry her off to the very man she disliked the most.
Screech! Honk!
In her trail of lost thoughts Ivy almost hit another car in front of her but quickly swerved to avoid getting into an accident.
"Oh my God! You're crazy! Just drop me off—I'll walk from here!" Adrian yelled with panic clear on his face as he glared at her.
Seeing his panicked expression, Ivy couldn't help but burst out laughing because this was the first emotion she had been able to draw out from Adrian.
"What's so funny?" Adrian snapped, glaring harder.
Ivy only laughed some more and stepped on the accelerator, making Adrian sink back into his seat, trying his best to remain calm.
...
A few minutes passed by and Ivy slowly began to make a turn towards a massive mansion with fountains and grand structures lining the property.
"What is this place? This isn't my stop," Adrian said with a deep frown, regretting ever agreeing to follow Ivy in the first place. Now he felt like he was being kidnapped after being beaten.
"Relax, i just want to grab something from my parents' house, come in."
With that said, Ivy quickly parked her car at the entrance and Adrian calmly followed her inside while silently admiring the decor.
"Just wait here."
Uttered Ivy as she went upstairs leaving Adrian sitting on the coach.
....
Adrian stayed where he was, awkwardly seated on the edge of an expensive white couch, afraid of touching anything.
He was still admiring the interior when a loud voice boomed from upstairs.
"Ivy Don't walk away from me! You WILL marry Lucian, and that is final!"
Hearing those words left Adrian a bit surprised, he wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but the mansion's wide stairwell made every word uttered available to his hearing.
"I refuse to get married to such a man!" Ivy's angry yet desperate voice followed leading to a serious argument. "You can't force me into this! I'm not a bargaining chip!"
"You are my daughter," her father thundered, "and your marriage is the key to securing the partnership between our families. You will do as I say!"
The minute he finished his words, a sharp crash followed which sounded like glass shattering.
Adrian rose instinctively, unsure whether to stay or help, but before he could decide, Ivy came running downstairs with tears streaking down her face.
The moment she saw Adrian, she froze for a heartbeat… as if she'd forgotten he was even there.
She then moved quickly and grabbed his wrist.
"Let's go."
Uttered Ivy in a low tone, her voice burning with a mixture of rage and pain.
Adrian didn't argue and followed her out the door and into her car without a word.
The moment she started the engine, she immediately sped off.
For a long while she said nothing and only drove. Her breathing was shaky, and her knuckles had turned white on the steering wheel.
Adrian watched her from the corner of his eye.
She looked fragile… nothing like the bold, reckless Ivy from earlier.
....
She drove for a couple minutes or so before stopping at a cliffside overlooking the sea and immediately stepped out of the car.
Adrian hesitated before joining her.
She sat on the ground and hugged her arms around her knees as the wind blew through her beautiful blonde hair, there was silence for a brief moment but then she turned to Adrian and spoke in a steady voice.
"I can't marry that man Adrian. I'd rather die."
He didn't know what to say because he barely knew this girl, he just wanted to go home and have some dinner, probably get some rest after what he'd been through, but this lady wouldn't let him rest.
He was just about to respond when Ivy suddenly stood up and walked up to him, and the words that came out of her mouth left him frozen.
"Adrian… will you marry me instead?"