❣️LOVE IN THE ELITES’ WORLD❣️
🌏🌏Her new world 🌎 🌏
📖📖CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.3️⃣4️⃣
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❣️❣️What’s meant to be❣️❣️
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*
Paulina has been lost in thought during classes, she kept thinking about Micheal and everything Stanley told her. A messaged beeped in her phone from Sage bringing her out of her thoughts, and she put the phone away. He has been sending a lot of messages, and called her all through the weekend, but she didn’t have the confidence to pick his calls or respond to his messages. She felt devastated, she was lost on how to explain the situation to him.
She exhaled heavily, and glanced at the MASS empty seats. They mostly come late to class at times, and just slack behind in their suite. She couldn’t get many thoughts out of her mind, so she left the class with intention of going to thier suite to confront Micheal, ignoring the teacher in class. She has to confirm the validity of Stanley’s claims from him.
She got to the hallway heading to the elevator, and Jessica, accompanied by one of her friends hurried to join her in the elevator.
“Hi,” Jessica said cheerfully.
“Hi,” she managed to wave with opposite energy.
“I was actually on my way to your class,”
“Then you shouldn’t have entered the elevator,”
“Yeah, I shouldn’t have, but you’re the one I was going to meet,”
“Me?”
“I heard that you broke up with Mike after his engagement was announced. Some people saw you leaving the party with another man, I don’t blame you. I mean… anyone would do same,”
“Why did you want to see me?”
“Oh, yeah,” she sneered, and swing her fingers. “I want to invite you to join my club. I’m aware that clubs aren’t recruiting new members, but I’m the leader, I pull the strings. You can’t possibly be in same club with your unfaithful ex, so accept my proposal,” Jessica said, and stretched her hand for a shake.
“I’ll think about it,” she muttered, and Jessica dropped her hand with a jeer.
“Again? This is the second time you’re rejecting me. You won’t have a third chance. I really belihe that we will make a good team. I mean… on average I score 99.7% in maths, and others in the team are also 90% on average. You fit in perfectly,”
“I told you before, I really have no interest in math. I study to pass my exams, and that’s all,”
“You’ve till school dismisses to think about it. This is the card to get access to our club room, see you after school,” Jessica said, and stopped the elevator at the next floor before leaving.
*
Paulina arrived at the MASS suite, and push the passcode in. She entered inside, and their face fell in disappointment, expect Steven who welcomed her with a smile.
“What are you doing here?!” Austin yelled, aiming at her but Stanley held him back.
“Where is Mike?” She asked.
“What do you care?” Austin blurted.
“He isn’t here, and we can’t reach him. I’m saved he might’ve isolated himself again, like last time. He is always that way when things aren’t going his way,” Stanley said.
“Why are you explaining to her? She left our group, remember?”
“When was he ever that way?” Paulina found herself asking.
“When he broke up with Ava, he was heartbroken m, and isolated himself for several days, I hope that isn’t the case,” Stanley said.
“Why are you explaining to her?”Austin snapped.
“Quit it Austin, we’re all worried about Mike here,” Stanley said, and Austin glared at Paulina.
“But she left our group, and she was with a some guy during the party. Yeah… it was Steven, why were you two together?” Austin blurted.
“Do you think Mike will come to school today? If he would, students will surround him to ask him questions, and history might end up repeating itself,” Stanley said worried.
“What do you mean by history repeating itself?” Paulina asked, already scared.
“I doubt if that will happen, he was heartbroken when Ava broke up with him, but he has no reason to be heartbroken now…”. Austin was saying, but he shook his head. “Yeah, you might be right,”
“What’s going on?” Paulina inquired already restless.
“Mike doesn’t walk alone, he is always nervous whenever he is alone, most especially when he is being asked questions,” Stanley muttered.
*
Paulina left later, and was returning back to class. It’s already recess break, and students so students started exiting their class, wandering around in group.
She received a message from Sophia, and she was took the elevator to the last floor, and met Sage waiting for her by the elevator.
“Did I do something wrong?” He snapped at her, starling her.
She looked at him, and shook her head. He nodded and spread his arms wide for her, she smiled softly, and walked into his embrace.
“I’m sorry, Sage,” she said in a soft whisper.
“It’s fine,” he muttered, patting her back.
“Hey, guys,” Sophia shouted joining them.
They break free from the embrace, and Sophia é embraced Paulina.
“Babe, how’ve you been?” She muttered, patting Paulina’s back gently.
They disengaged later, and Sophia cupped Paulina’s gave in her palm.
“It must’ve been really hard on you, but I’m sure he is going to suffer somehow for leaving you. What am I even saying, he is already suffering. Maby students have surrounded him by the hallway, and he is struggling to find his way. He is literally stranded there,”
“How gan he be stranded?” Sage asked in disbelief.
“I don’t know. They were all bombarding him with questions about his engagement, and he was stranded there like an amateur,”
“How is that possible? What of his squad?” Sage asked.
“He was alone, I…-,” Sophia was saying, but she kept quiet when Paulina ran off. “Where is she running off to?” She exclaimed, and Sage ran after her. “Wait for me,” she should, and followed.
*
Paulina ran down the hallway after Sophia shocking news about Micheal. She remembered what Stanley told her earlier about Micheal. She ran as her legs could carry her ignoring sage and Sophia who were calling her. She got to the crowd, and started forcing her way to where he was until she got to where he was, and held his hand.
He looked at her immediately hand touched his, with yearning eyes, hoping for an escape.
“Let’s go,” she muttered, and intertwined her fingers in his.
He nodded softly, and embraced her, to everyone surprise.
Austin, Stanley, and Steven who just arrived froze on their feet, and the students started taking pictures and videos with their phone.
“Thank you, thank you, you can all return to your class now,” Austin shouted, clapping his hands, and everyone started to dismiss.
Everyone left, and Micheal didn’t disentangled himself from Paulina until Austin tapped him.
“Man, let’s go, they are all gone,” Stanley said patting Micheal’s back.
Michael released Paulina, and nodded his head like a child. Paulina was surprised to see the superior Micheal that way. That was the first time she saw that part in him. He looked just like every other teenager, and once again, he reminded her of her childhood friend. The way he pout his lips, and nodded obediently, reminded her of her bold, yet timid friend.
**
**
Sage stomped off to his car in frustration, the earlier scene replayed in his head, and he hit his car steering wheel angrily.
“Sage, are you leaving already?” Sophia asked, knocking ok the window, and he whined down for her. “Can we talk for a minute?” She asked, and he nodded.
*
She entered the car, and she held his hand staring directly at him.
“Don’t be mad at Lina, at times we can’t control the heart,”
“Are you trying to justify her relationship with Mike?” He asked, and she shook her head.
“I know you have good intentions, I know your feelings for Lina are genuine, and I’m sure she is aware as well, that’s why she is always filled with guilt whenever she was with you. I might not know much, but I believe that what’s meant to be will always be. My parents were childhood friends before they got married, just like me, my mother only wants to associate with more influential people so they dated different people from various classes, but they eventually discovered their feelings for each other, and got married. My maternal grandparents were totally against thier relationship, because they planned to arrange my mother with a more influential man. My father was just starting up then, he was from an humble family and my maternal family were well-off. They managed to be friends because they grew up in same neighborhood, and my maternal family were the wealthiest in the neighborhood. My parents broke up eventually, and my mother was forced to marry her betrothed, with that they both went their separate ways. My mother wasn’t happy in the marriage, so she divorced her first husband. Dad was also doing fine on his own, and they eventually met again and got married afterwards,” she concluded all smiles, and Sage smiled too.
“Your parents has quite the story, I wish to meet them someday,”
“They actually don’t look their story,” she said, and he chuckled.
“Is this your way of telling me to give up on Lina?”
“No, this is my way of encouraging you not to give up. Even though my mother got married to another man, my father encouraged her through the process, he assured her that he will always be her friend, but he left eventually due to personal reasons. You can show affection in maby ways, Sage. You shouldn’t try to separate her from her from Mike whom she already grew fond of all in the name of protecting her,”
“But I already stop. I’m not angry about that anymore,”
“But you’re angry at yourself instead,”
“Why do you sound like my mum?” He asked, and she chuckled.
“Did I sound like an old geezer?”
“Old geezer? You can’t call my mum that.”
“Actually, mums aren’t old geezers anymore, i believe all mums are youngsters like my mum,”
“I fully agree with you. Thanks a lot, Sophie, your words really meant a lot to me,”
“Then set a blind date for me if you’re grateful,”
“I can’t believe we are on this again,” Sage grumbled.
“Come on, Sage,” she whined, tickling him.
“That’s enough, that’s enough! Fine, I will,” he surrendered, and they both laughed.
“You promised, ok,”
“Yeah, I believe what will be will be,” he said, and she pouted her lips again.
“That doesn’t fit here,” she shouted, and started tickling him again.
**
**
The MASS went to thier suite with Paulina in silence, they all remained that way until Austin broke the silence.
“Guys, in for some games?” Austin asked, but no one responded.
“I’ve to go to class,” Paulina said, and stood up to leave but Micheal dragged her back, making her sit next to him.
“Yes, I agree with you, Austin, we shouod go play some games,” Stanley said, dragging Austin to get up,”
“Ok, let’s go, Mike,” Austin said.
“No, leave Mike out. Let’s go. Steve, let’s go,” Stanley said, wrapping his hand around Steven’s shoulder.
“Why? Let’s go with Mike, the game would cheer him up,” Austin object.
“Can’t you read the room?” Stanley grumbled, and grabbed Austin’s hand, dragged him away.
“Hey, why are you dragging me away?” Austin shouted, as Stanley dragged him to the game room.
*
Paulina released her hand gently from Micheal’s grip, and he stared at her emotionless.
“Mike, are you ok?”
“Why? You were mad at me, you even left our club group, so why did you rescue me?” He muttered, his voice soft but audible.
“Because you’ve showed up to my rescue countless times as well,”
“And?”
“Because I believe you,” she said, and his eyes beamed.
“You believe me?” He asked, and she nodded.
“Yes, I do. I believe everything now. Our common goal to get rid of Ava, and I also believed that you didn’t collide with Ava to lure me to the party, I believe everything now, Mike,”
“So you trust me now?” He asked, and she smiled.
“Yes, I trust you,” she muttered, and he embraced her.
“Thank you, Lina,” he muttered, and she patted his back gently.
After they released from the embrace, Paulina summoned the others, and they proceeded to their club activities.
“What’s this? Isn’t this for the math club?” Austin asked, picking up the card that fell from Paulina’s bag.
“Yes, Jessica gave it to me,”
“Why is that girl so persistent?” Austin asked, and Stanley collected the card.
“Are you going to accept it?” Micheal asked, and Paulina shook her head.
“I’ve no interest whatsoever in math. I struggle to pass my exams, so getting in a competition…. Gosh, it gives me the creep,” she grumbled, and they all laughed.
“We’re the same, I also struggle during math,” Austin said.
“That’s rich coming from someone who never made an effort. Zero points in math is nothing to be proud of,”
“Say that again, Stan, Austin really needs to improve,” Micheal said, proudly.
“Shut it, you. You’re so proud of that five points you got,” Stanley blurted, and the others grumbled.
“How did you guys became friends when you are nothing alike?” Paulina asked, and they all chuckled.
“Stanley and Austin tried to bully me in elementary school,” Micheal said, and Paulina gaped.
“You don’t mean it,”
“Come on, I thought we were over it,” Austin grumbled.
“Why did you tried to bully him?” Paulina asked, looking at Stanley.
“It wasn’t me, it was all Austin’s idea,”
“What? Are you trying to put it all on me again?”
“But it’s the truth,” Stanley blurted.
“Hey!” Austin snapped.
“Mike, you ended up being friends with those who wanted to bully you,” Paulina said, in amazement.
“It was a long time ago,” he muttered, and narrated the story to her.
*
*
FLASHBACK to when Micheal was in elementary school.***
*
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Micheal sat alone behind a window at school during recess, his only friend has been forcefully transferred from school so he has be alone with no intention of making new friends, to avoid history repeating itself.
He didn’t see Austin and Stanley walking up his way until Austin busted out.
“Hey, look up!” Austin snapped, and he looked up in fear —they were students from another class who always bullied his friend even before Micheal enrolled in the school. He had intention of confronting them, but they’ve been on a low till his friend transferred.
“What?” He grumbled, and Austin smirked.
“Do you care for new friends? You look bored,” Austin said, intending to hit his head but Micheal held it halfway, startling them.
“How dare you touch me? Who do you think you are?” Austin snapped.
“I’m Micheal… Micheal Russ,” Micheal said, and stood up.
“Who cares?” Austin blurted.
“Micheal Russ? The heir to Russ Group, you’re the only son of chairman Russ who just returned from Australia?” Stanley asked, and Austin looked at him.
“What are you saying, Stan? Do you know him?” Austin asked.
“We’re in trouble, he is the heir of Russ Group,” Stanley said.
“You don’t mean it,” Austin gasped, and Micheal chuckled.
“Do you still wanna be friends with me? Because I’m actually bored,” Micheal sneered, and Austin fall to his feet immediately, dragging Stanley along.
“I’ll do anything for you!” Austin shouted, and bowed.
Micheal was stunned by thier reactions, but he composed himself and act along.
He bent low to thier level, patting Austin’s head.
“Then let’s get along,” he muttered, and they both looked at him.
“Yeah, let’s get along!” Austin hollered, and Stanley exhaled in relief.
*
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FLASHBACK ENDS^^^
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Micheal concluded his story, and Paulina couldn’t control her laughters.
“I can’t believe they really tried to bully you,” she said, still laughing.
“That’s not really called bullying…” Austin shuffled.
“I totally agree!” Paulina teased. “So, how did you and Stanley became friends?”
“You see Austin here is too persistent. It was a new school year, and we happened to be in the same class. He has heard a lot about me being a genius, so he ensured that we were seat mates, he was too clingy. My old friends cut ties with me because of him, he appears everywhere I go. He said it would be a fortune for him to have a genie as a friend, you can’t believe this nutcase called me genie. He always foot me in class, and we work on our assignments together, I mean,I do his assignments for him. He is a lazy a$$!” Stanley rants, and Austin hit his head. “Hey!” He shouted, and hit him back, with that they both started running around together, trying to hit each other.
“Aren’t you curious about Steven?” Micheal asked, and Steven looked at them.
Paulina smiled and shock her head. “I’m not,” she muttered.
“Why?”
“Steven told me,”
“What? Steven did? When did you two became so close?”
“We are closer than you can imagine,” Paulina said, and chopped knuckle with Steven who smiled.
“Oh… I see,” Micheal exclaimed.
**
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IN THE BUS STATION^^^
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Charlotte alighted from the bus when she saw a familiar face, she has been in the city for some days but she was unable to locate Paulina. She went to First Group headquarters, but all efforts of seeing Paul prove abortive as well. The security didn’t her into his estate, and she needs an appointment to meet him at the office. She tried to visit Grace campaign, but thought against it.
The familiar face from the bus looks like her father, but unlike the father she knew, he looked ragged and unkept, but her vision was clear enough for her to recognize him.
She searched everywhere for him but couldn’t find him again, she was already giving up when she saw Paulina alighted from a car.
“Paulina,” she called but before Paulina could see her, a large arm pulled her into a vehicle, and drove off before she could call for help.
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TO BE CONTINUED…
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