Helanie:
"Diamond?" I lowered my head to stare at the beautiful bracelet. But now, it felt so heavy on my wrist.
"Don’t act like you didn’t know," Norman scoffed, making lift my head and look at him in disbelief.
"What? You think I don’t know what you like?" The mockery in his tone, paired with the raised eyebrow, made clench my jaw.
"Please, do tell what I want," I said in a gentle tone, though I gritted my teeth to show him I wasn’t pleased with his taunts.
"Like mother, like daughter. Your mother loves diamonds too. She would do anything—and I an anything—to get her hands on sothing with diamonds in it. And look at you! With your sad face and always being weak and ek, you sohow managed to get one for yourself." He shrugged like he knew inside out.
"Wow!" I said, forcing a smile and nodding my head. "I didn’t know you were paying so much attention to . I’m flattered, sir. Thank you for keeping in your thoughts at all tis." My mocking tone wiped the smirk off his face.
He glanced around, probably checking if anyone was watching him lose his composure, and then hissed, "Don’t you dare disrespect , Helanie. My brothers won’t always be around to protect you from my punishnts. In this academy, you are under . I can punish you any way I want," he snapped, pointing his finger at as his massive figure lood over .
"Okay. Anything else?" I asked politely, though I took a step back. His intimidating size was overwhelming and triggering.
"Huh! I should be the one asking you that. Is there anything else you plan to ask from my brother? Maybe a mansion? A car?" he sneered, clearly trying to get under my skin, before turning to walk away.
I watched him leave, rooted to the spot. Despite my show of confidence in front of him, I felt utterly disrespected.
"Oh, and—" he called over his shoulder, "I hope you’ll work really hard to stay in this academy. Fail even one exam, and you’re out."
After throwing that parting shot, Norman walked past to tornt his next victim, while I stayed behind, staring at the bracelet on my wrist.
"Are these real diamonds?" I felt so bad and guilty for accepting this gift. I wish Emt had told these were diamonds. But then again, why would he flex about what he was gifting .
In that mont, I made up my mind to return the gift. Emt had done a lot for ; he didn’t need to do anything extra. Besides, I did not want his toxic brother’s eyes on . I marched straight to his office, which was on the second floor, and knocked on the door.
"Co in," a voice called from inside. It was his husky voice. I opened the door and found him sitting at his desk with his glasses on and so files in front of him. I could tell he looked a little tired, as he had planned to leave after our hike when he got into the academy. However, he wasn’t alone. His brother sat with his back to , but I didn’t need to see his face to recognize him. It was Kaye. And I swear, he knew I was there because he tilted his head and then leaned back in his chair, moving it sideways.
"Is everything okay? Why aren’t you at the hostel for lunch?" Emt took off his glasses while speaking in a gentle, steady tone, even though he seed a little bothered before my arrival.
"I wanted to have a word with you," I murmured, slowly walking to the side to stand next to Kaye.
He hadn’t looked my way directly, but from his body language, I could tell he wanted to know he had acknowledged my arrival.
"Sure, Kaye—" Emt gestured at his brother to leave us alone, but Kaye shook his head.
"I’m not going anywhere. She can talk in front of ; I’m pretty sure she won’t have trouble," he said, turning his head toward , his voice suggesting he wouldn’t like it if I asked him to leave.
However, I didn’t want to complain to Emt in front of Kaye.
"What is it about?" Emt asked, probably thinking it was related to school.
"About this," I sneaked a glance at my hand and then touched the bracelet with my other hand’s finger.
"Oh, what about it?" Emt asked. Since he hadn’t asked his brother to leave after I ntioned the bracelet, I decided to go ahead with the conversation.
"I can’t take this," I said, taking it off and placing it on the table. Kaye’s head moved toward the bracelet, and I watched him stare at it before raising his head, looking at from the side.
"Why not?" Emt placed his hands on the files, his head tilted as he waited for to answer his question.
"Why didn’t you tell these were real diamonds? I can’t accept sothing so expensive." My voice carried a hint of discomfort. And I was uncomfortable.
Material goods ant nothing to . In fact, I still carried the burden of Emt paying for my fees and other things. I couldn’t let him spoil .
"Helanie, this is your stepfather’s money. You deserve it as much as the rest of us. Now please, don’t insult by returning it." Emt’s voice had turned a little harsh, leaning more toward sadness, and it really made feel bad. He had been nothing but helpful to , and I insulted him?
"No! I didn’t an to insult you. I would never! I’m so sorry—" I had no clue what got over , but I began to repeatedly rub my hands together and apologize.
Tears suddenly filled my eyes. I had never been so weak. Why the heck was I so ssed up these days?
And then it struck .
My hormones.
I was pregnant, with so much stress and so many changes happening to my body now.
"Helanie—" Emt looked shocked, his voice taking aback. I quickly stopped pleading and looked down in confusion. Even Kaye seed to have stopped rolling in his chair.
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