Paige's Club

 

 

Tires screeching!

 

A car pulled up in the school's parking lot, and its quirky old sound made the students stared at the car with disgust. 

 

"Who's that?" 

 

"It must be one of the freshmen. What a car!"

 

"That shouldn't be called a car. It's from the nineties, and it should remain there." 

 

They erupt into laughter. Their gazes pierced through the windscreen, and they maliciously stared at Kraig, who was embarrassingly sitting in the driver's seat.

 

Kraig's heart started to tremble. He could feel his heartbeat suddenly increase, and it wasn't just because of the other students but his beautiful fiancee, who was angrily seated on the passenger side.

 

Jade's eyes were reddened, and her head lowered as she squeezed her hands on her long coat. 

 

Kraig couldn't bring himself to say a word.

 

"Turn it off." Jade abruptly lifted her head, and her gaze tensed up for a moment there 

 

The veins on her temples were throbbing as she tried to control the rage flowing through her veins.

 

Jade's eyes trailed Kraig's hands as he turned the engine off. The car gave an exciting sound before the engine shut down, making Jade even more furious. 

 

Her eyes twitched around the windshield. Students stared at them and pointed fingers as they laughed at the car. 

 

Jade bit her lips as tears dripped down from her eyes, and suddenly, she fixed her gaze on Kraig, holding back a million insults.

 

Kraig and his wealthy fiancee Jade were once schoolmates, but now they were both students at the same university. Kraig majored in medicine.

 

It was the first year in college, and Kraig had offered to drive Jade to the university in his fairly new car.

 

Jade hated the idea, but at the time he had offered to give her a ride, there was nothing she could do.

 

"I'm sorry." Kraig apologised. 

 

His gaze wavered as he struggled to meet Jade's gaze, and when he did, he instantly regretted it.

 

There was an imposing distance and iciness in her cold but hazel eyes. Like an everlasting iceberg, no one could ever gain her pity or love.

 

"Don't ever give me a ride again." Her tone was filled with rage and spite.

 

Kraig couldn't describe how he felt when she said those words. His words of apologies hung on his lips as he watched her grab her bag and force the door open, leaving just him in the car. 

 

He got up slowly and made his way out of the car with reddened eyes.

 

The students laughed upon seeing Kraig. It was as if they were waiting for him to get down. 

 

For a moment, there was a sudden silence in the air. Kraig avoided everyone's gaze and kept his eyes mellowed, but then-

 

A clap soon sounded in the air, and momentarily, Kraig's eyes wavered as he stared at the person clapping.

 

It was no other than Julia, one of Jade's vicious friends.

 

"Now that's some car." Julia giggled. She stopped clapping and walked towards the car. She gave it a hard kick, and the car's door shifted with a loud creaking sound.

 

"What a car; it sure knows pain. Can you all hear the car crying?"  

 

The other students erupted into laughter as Julia kept mocking Kraig.

 

"A wretched man like you shouldn't think of dating Jade to think you both are engaged. I'm pissed off." One of Jade's friends mocked Kraig.

 

Jade stood there watching as her friends made a mockery of Kraig. She felt slightly appeased. 

 

Kraig felt the weight of humiliation crushing down on him as the students' laughter echoed in his ears. 

 

He could see the pitying glances and mocking smirks directed at him, fueling his feelings of inadequacy. 

 

It was his first day in college, and he never expected it to be embarrassing.

 

Kraig and Jade's relationship wasn't built on love. Kraig had once saved Jade's grandfather's life in the hospital where he worked part-time, 

 

The heroic act led to a deep bond between Jade's grandfather, old man Kendrick, and Kraig. 

 

Seeing that there were not many people who would risk their lives for another, old man Kendrick decided to betrothed Jade to Kraig. 

 

Despite objections from Jade and the other members of the family, who believed Kraig wasn't suitable for her, the grandfather chose to defy them and got Kraig engaged to Jade against her will. 

 

At first, it was blissful; Jade had pretended to like Kraig as no one dared to go against old man Kendrick's words. But it's been a month now since Kendrick passed away.

 

Kraig knew that Jade was grieving, and he felt that her anger and frustration were likely displaced emotions.

 

Amidst the laughter and taunting, Kraig took a deep breath, straightened his posture, and wiped away the tears that had welled up in his eyes as he walked to class.

 

...

 

 

Kraig walked towards an empty seat; his thoughts were still clouded with the laughter and mockery from the parking lot. 

 

Just as he was about to settle into his seat, a ball came flying toward him, hitting him square in the face. 

 

The classroom erupted in laughter as Juan and his friends walked towards Kraig.

 

Juan was the heir to the Kroger family, one of the wealthiest families in the city of Atlanta.

 

Juan, with a smug expression, approached Kraig, flanked by his group. "Well, well, well, if it isn't the unfortunate fiancé of Jade," Juan sneered, his words dripping with disdain. "Looks like you can't catch a break, can you?"

 

Kraig felt the sting of Juan's taunting. He pondered for a moment and then immediately straightened up as he said, 

 

"It seems you take pleasure in belittling others, Juan. But I'm here to focus on my education, not engage in petty games like you kids."

 

Juan's fist clenched into a ball, as his face immediately swelled up. "What did you say? Did you just call me a kid?" 

 

Kraig pursed for a moment before he responded, "Aren't kids the ones who engage in petty fights." 

 

Juan's eyes twinkled as he stared at Kraig's mockery glare. 

 

There was a sudden silence in the class. Most of the students had gone to the same high school, and they could testify that Kraig was never one who'd fight back verbally or even in action when bullied. 

 

The class stared at Kraig dazedly, the words on their lips hanging on the tip of their tongue. Most wondered how Juan would react, but it didn't take long before Juan threw a punch at Kraig. The class was in chaos, and one of the students started to record the incident.

 

Kraig lost his balance, confused for a moment before he finally snapped back to his senses.

 

His cheek instantly swelled up, and a tooth of his seemed to have detached from its gum. But it was still holding on by a bit of flesh.

 

When Kraig noticed this, his brows furrowed as his gaze fell on Juan's proud face. He curled his fist into a ball, ready to punch Juan on both cheeks. But then-

 

Wynn, one of Jade's friends, dragged Juan by the arm and pulled him backwards. She then turned to Kraig and screamed, "Enough!" 

 

Kraig froze for a moment as he noticed Juan backing off. 

 

Juan wasn't one to yield to anyone's instructions, but for some reason, he seemed somewhat afraid of Wynn and reluctantly allowed himself to be led away.

 

 He shot one last hateful glare at Kraig before leaving the classroom with anger simmering in his eyes.

 

Wynn glared at Kraig for a moment before walking away. 

 

As the chaos settled, the class returned to relative calm. Kraig's classmates glanced at him with murmurs in between their teeth. 

 

Kraig ignored them and walked to the bathroom. 

 

Water dripped out of his mouth. Seeing the mixture of blood with the water, Kraig opened his mouth wide, staring at the mirror as he tried to find his damaged teeth.

 

Suddenly a familiar voice called from behind him, "Are you okay?" 

 

Kraig instantly spun around when he heard Jade's voice. 

 

Kraig stared at Jade dazedly while holding his breath. 

 

Is she here to taunt me further?

 

"Are you hurt?" Jade asked, and instantly Kraig squinted his eyes in disbelief. 

 

Jade closed the distance between them, and slightly touched Kraig's cheeks.

 

"You sustained a bruise. It's not in you to retaliate. You shouldn't have offended him." 

 

On hearing this, Kraig held her hands on his cheek and shoved it off. "What are you here for?" 

 

"It's my birthday today, remember, and I'll be having a party. You will be there, right?" 

 

Jade's sudden request took Kraig aback. Confusion clouded his mind as he tried to comprehend her words. "Your birthday party? But... I thought we were on bad terms. Why would you want me there?"

 

Jade's expression softened for a fleeting moment, "You're my fiance, if you aren't there, it wouldn't make sense." 

 

Kraig breathed a sigh of relief. His lips curved into a smile as he nodded in agreement.