Chapter 9

The chubby young man walked slowly down the steps of the bus he was riding to school. From the bus stop, he had to walk 200 meters to get to the school building. 

"Hey, hurry up!" Shouted a young man standing behind him. Because it was quite difficult for him to balance every time he had to go down the stairs, it made him have to be careful not to fall. 

After his feet hit the floor, the young man who had shouted earlier was finally able to pass with an angry face. 

Bruuugg... 

Deliberately, he bumped his shoulder against the chubby teenager's body. 

"You fat pig!" He cursed sarcastically. 

Whether it's because he's used to it or what, he doesn't really care about people's ridicule of his body shape. Instead of making a fuss, he prefers to be silent and succumb. 

"Good morning, Aiden?" A pretty girl call him and walking behind him. 

"Emily, g-good morning?" Seeing this girl's sweet smile, Aiden felt that today would be better than yesterday. 

Tall, slim, beautiful with light brown hair and green eyes. Emily Andersen is truly the embodiment of an almost perfect goddess of beauty. Being a model since childhood, made her accustomed to camera shots and compliments that she always received throughout her life. 

"We walk to school together, okay?" 

"Ah... y-yes, but aren't you ashamed to go out with me?" Aiden asked doubtfully. 

"Why am I shy?" 

"Ehm... t-that's because of me-" Aiden couldn't even say the reason. He was truly ashamed of himself. Letting a girl as beautiful as Emily walk with him, even if it's only 200 meters, is tantamount to making her the talk of the people who see her, especially their friends at school. 

"Don't be inferiority, Aiden! We're friends, right?" Emily smiled, her face even more beautiful than before. 

Deg...deg...deg... 

Aiden's heart pounded, this was the first time he felt such a strange feeling. 

"A-all right." He said. Even though they were walking side by side, Aiden who couldn't lift his face, could only lower his head in embarrassment. 

"Aiden!" 

"Y-yes?" 

"Why do you keep looking down?" 

"Erm... th-that, I-" 

"Are you ashamed to walk with me?" 

"N-no, I-I'm not embarrassed at all." 

"So what? I thought you were uncomfortable with me." 

"No, I'm just a little nervous," 

"Nervous? Why?" 

"B-because you're so pretty." Aiden's face reddened, this was the first time he had complimented a girl directly. 

Emily was silent for a moment, a few seconds later, she laughed seeing Aiden's face turning red like a boiled crab. 

"Hahahaha... Aiden, you're so funny!" She said with a laugh that actually looks very cute. 

"F-forgive me!" 

"Why are you apologizing? You're so funny, Aiden. When I see you, I remember something!" 

"What's that?" 

"Winnie the pooh, when I was little, I really liked watching that movie. So, when I see you, I remember it again!" 

"Oh, I see?" 

"You're so cute, I love it!" 

Deg...deg...deg... 

The pounding in Aiden's chest grew louder. The world seemed to stop spinning, Aiden didn't understand, what kind of feeling was this? 

"Hoi Pig Aiden, what are you doing?" Anthony's terrible voice was heard along with the sound of his footsteps and that of three of his friends. 

Anthony, who had just got out of the car, was forced to stop when he saw the person he really hated walking alone with the most beautiful girl in high school. 

"Emily, is this pig bothering you?" Asked Anthony. The look on his face was so vicious, it made him look like a thug. 

"No! You're the one who came and disturbed us!" 

"Hey pig! What did you do to my girl? Huh? You useless pig!" 

"I-I just-" 

"You bastard! You're not good at talking, don't flirt with girls!" 

Bruuukk... 

Anthony's kick landed on Aiden's body, causing him to lose his balance and fall onto his back on the pavement. 

"Aiden...? Anthony, what are you doing? You madman!" Emily immediately helped Aiden get up, but Aiden looked troubled. 

"Hahaha... look at him! You just need help standing up! You troublesome pig!" 

"That's enough! Don't bother him anymore! You better get going!" 

"You also go with us, just let him!" Anthony pulled Emily who insisted on helping Aiden, this made Anthony even more annoyed. 

"No! Get off me!" 

"Don't be stubborn, Emily! You have to come with me!" 

"I have no business with you, leave us!" 

"What? Leaving you with this rotten pig? Hahaha... are you kidding me? Instead of me leaving you with him, I'd better beat him to death!" 

Braaak... bruuuk... 

Anthony kicked Aiden again, his three friends happily taking part. 

"What are you guys doing? Stop it...! Please...!" Emily screamed hysterically, trying to ask passers-by for help. 

Since they were not far from the school gate, the people passing by in the vicinity immediately noticed. 

"Anthony is throwing a tantrum again!" Said the passing students. 

"Help...! Help me...!" Emily kept screaming until a school guard who heard the screams ran over to them. 

"Hey, what's that?" Seeing the school guard approaching, Anthony and his friends immediately ran away leaving the injured Aiden just like that. 

"Aiden, are you okay? Oh my God, they are so mean!" 

"I-I'm fine, Emily. T-hank you." 

"Oh... thank goodness!" 

*** 

"Ugh..." 

Aiden gasped and woke up from his sleep, this is the umpteenth time he dreamed of his bitter past. It felt very strange, the events that he really wanted to forget became the memories that most often entered his dreams. 

Meow... 

Squishy who was sleeping beside him woke up and immediately said good morning. 

"Good morning, Squishy? Did you sleep well?" Aiden rubbed Squishy's head gently, making the cat purr comfortably. 

After his consciousness was fully recovered, Aiden got up from his bed and went straight to the bathroom to start his day. Because today there is a shooting schedule for one of the very famous sportswear brands. 

After showering and eating breakfast, he drove to the modeling agency to meet Chloe and her assistant. 

Drrrt...drrrt... 

His phone rang, even though he was driving, he had to answer the call because Chloe would definitely keep calling him. 

"Aiden, where are you?" 

"I'm still on the way!" 

"Are you sure you just left?" 

"Yeah, that's it, what's wrong?" 

"It's okay, I'm just making sure, because Mr. Alexander has come!" 

"Darren and Stacy? Have they come yet?" 

"Stacy has, but Darren hasn't. Looks like he's also on the way. Other models haven't arrived yet!" 

"Other model? The four of us? Isn't Nicole joining?" 

"Nicole didn't make it, but she was replaced with the new model I said yesterday. I already know her name!" 

"Oh yeah? Who?" 

"I'll tell you later when you arrive, I met her yesterday. You know what? She's really georgeouse. I think she's going to be a new star in this agency. If you see her, you must know who she is. She's a famous model in London. All right, be careful on the road, bye?" Chloe said before ending the conversation. 

"Huh…" Aiden took a deep breath. For some reason, he had a strange feeling, like something was going to happen that he didn't expect. 

About 7 minutes later, Aiden arrived at the building of the largest modeling agency that houses him in New York City. After parking the car, he stepped in through the back door and immediately took the elevator to the third floor. 

When the elevator arrived at the third floor and the elevator door opened. A woman standing two meters in front of the elevator holding a phone. Aiden and the woman stared at each other. 

"Aiden?" The woman stared at him almost unblinkingly. Aiden who knew who the figure standing in front of him at this time just froze in place. 

There was a recurring pain, making him feel very nauseous. There were many happy memories he had with this woman, but the painful memories were far more. 

"Aiden, how are you? Long time no see."" 

"I'm fine! How about you, Emily?"


***