I could see Sabrina giving me a weird smile.
I'm the one interlocking hands with Dan, and she's smiling?
I didn't get it. I looked up at Dan. He was staring at Sabrina hard.
Jealousy and confusion filled me, twisting in my chest. I didn't think I had ever felt this way before.
I tightened my fingers around his.
Dan notices, coughs awkwardly, then loosen his grip to cover his mouth.
"Helen, I need to speak to her, Give me a few minutes," he said, his eyes still fixed on Sabrina.
Everything in me wanted to ask,
What do you need to say to her?
But when I looked into his brown eyes, I knew I could trust him. He wouldn't hurt me again.
I sighed deeply.
I watched as he walked towards her. Sabrina's lips curled into a triumphant smirk as she sashayed behind him.
A fire ignited inside me. I was about to let this beast inside me loose, about to march up to her and yank out every strand of that fake hair of hers.
'Hasn't she done enough?'.
I took a step forward to teach her a lesson, but a deep, familiar rich voice calls out my name.
"Hey, Helen."
I froze. 'Damn ,
Dom'.
I turned to face him.
"I heard what happened in boxing class. Hope you're good and Anna too?".
His face was filled with concern.
I had totally forgotten about Anna.
'Well, maybe not entirely. Maybe just a little'. Dan had that effect on me.
"Yeah, she's good. She's at the clinic now,".
I said, flashing him a nervous smile and mentally noting to check up on her later.
Dom's deep voice softened.
"Are you really okay, though?"
He stepped closer, closing the space between us. The scent of dark coconut mixed with sweat surrounded me.
I knew what he was really asking.
'Am I okay?'. I ask myself,
I inhaled deeply. "Yeah," I lied, forcing a smile.
Dom studied me for a moment, then nodded, smiling slightly before turning to walk away.
Just as he did, I could almost hear my dad's voice in my head, nagging about my academic struggles.
"Hey—" My voice broke as I called after Dom.
He stopped immediately and turned back, waiting for me to speak.
"How about that group tutorial thingy?" I asked, smiling nervouly.
"I wasn't sure you still wanted to do the tutorial thingy," he teased, raising a dark brow in amusement.
We both laughed, any awkwardness between us melting away.
"Yeah, we should," I said.
Before Dom could respond,
Dan's voice cut through the air.
"What are y'all supposed to be doing?"
I turned to the side and saw Dan, his jaw clenched, his entire body tense with anger. He was looking at Dom like he wanted to rip him apart.
I started to respond, but Dom spoke first.
"Anytime, Helen. You say the word."
His voice was calm, unbothered.
He walked away, but I didn't turn to look at him. My eyes stayed on Dan. I don't want him getting any misunderstanding about this.
"I asked you a question," Dan said again, his anger slipping through.
A small part of me felt giddy. Is he jealous? My insides screamed with excitement.
"It's nothing," I said, feigning innocence. "We were just assigned to the same group tutorial."
Dan's face relaxed slightly.
"I thought he was trying to—" He stopped, knowing I understood what he meant.
I squeezed his hand reassuringly, relishing the idea that he might be jealous.
'Nobody could come between me and him, though,'. I thought to myself.
"But if he tries anything, let me know, okay?" Dan's anger resurfaced. His possessiveness sent a shiver down my spine.
"Sure," I said, my voice slightly shaky.
Dan tightened his grip around my hand and gives me a small smile. It calmed me instantly.
"How did it go with Sabrina?" I asked. I needed to know.
Dan hesitated, then finally spoke.
"We just… ended things between us."
"Really?" I raised a brow, sounding excited.
"Yeah." He held my gaze.
"You know, Helen, I'd do anything for you."
A slow smile spread across my face as I clung to his arm.
'Finally'. I heave out a sigh of relief.
Then, a thought crossed my mind.
So what was all that sashay nonsense about? I roll my eyes, barely holding back a giggle as I remembered her shaking that obviously fake butt.
The moment felt slow, stretched out between us.
"Helen, are you okay? I heard what happened in boxing class."
I turned to see Selena walking toward me, sweating, as she holds a tennis racket in her hand.
I sigh. I don't know what people heard, but I'm not the one in the clinic.
"Are you okay?" she asked again, avoiding Dan's presence.
She never liked him and always made sure he knew it.
I opened my mouth to answer, but Dan leaned in and kissed my cheek.
I turned to him in surprise,
"I'll see you around," he said, smirking at Selena, who rolls her eyes in disgust.
"Honestly, y'all need to start getting along," I told her as I watched Dan walk away.
"You know that's never going to happen," Selena said loudly enough for Dan to hear.
She grabbed her bag from the bench, and I followed her to her locker.
"What happened?" she asked, putting away her tennis gear.
I hesitate, a flash of Dan and Sabrina naked, burning in my memory. I couldn't tell Selena all that, she'd never let me hear half of it.
Selena narrowed her eyes. "Since when do you keep things from me?"
I decided to tell her half the truth.
"I went to boxing class today," I started.
Selena nodded as she takes out her bar soap, towel, and perfume.
We always showered after sports.
"I was hitting the punching bag, and I swear I didn't know I was going that hard. The next thing I knew, Anna was on the floor, in pain."
Selena's eyes widened. "Wait, what? I thought it was the other way around. I was so scared, that I went around looking for you."
I groaned internally. This school and its fake news.
No wonder Dom had come around.
"She's okay?". Selena asked as we reached the washroom entrance.
"Yeah, Dan and I took her to the clinic. She was asleep when I left."
Selena rolled her eyes. Again, everything about Dan pisses her off.
As we approached the washroom, the door to the guys' restroom swung open, and out walked Dom.
His movements were casual, effortless, as if he hadn't just sent a wave of chaos rippling through my mind. His dark eyes flickered toward me, and for the briefest moment, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. It was subtle,
barely there but enough to make my breath hitch slightly.
Selena, who had been talking about something moments ago, immediately stopped mid-sentence.
Like a hawk spotting prey, her head whipped toward me so fast I half-expected her to give herself whiplash. The excitement and curiosity in her eyes were impossible to miss.
She looked at Dom, then back at me. Then at Dom again. Her expression morphed into something dangerously close to amusement.
"What was that?" she asked, her voice dripping with intrigue.
I feigned ignorance, adjusting my bag on my shoulder as if nothing had happened. "What?"
Selena scoffed, folding her arms. "Oh, you know what I'm talking about."
I sighed. My cheeks burned with a warmth I couldn't control, betraying me completely.
I debated whether to tell her, but who was I kidding? There was no escaping Selena's interrogation.
"I may have…hugged Dom spontaneously on my way home," I admitted, groaning as I covered my face with my hands.
Selena's reaction was instant.
"WHAT?!" she squealed, grabbing my arm and yanking me toward her. "How? Why? Tell me everything!"
Her enthusiasm was so overwhelming I had to pull back before she crushed me with excitement.
"Relax," I laughed, gently pushing her away. "Take your shower first. Then walk with me to the clinic to see Anna, and I promise I'll tell you everything."
Selena narrowed her eyes, suspicious. "Oh, don't do this to me. Now I won't be able to focus while washing up!"
Before I could respond, she darted into the bathroom, the sound of rushing water filling the space within seconds.
"You know," she called out, her voice slightly muffled by the sound of the shower, "only a few days ago, you hated him. In fact, you dreaded him."
I rolled my eyes, leaning against the door. "Stop. I never hated him. I just didn't want him to gloat about my grades and how I've been struggling academically lately"
Selena let out a loud laugh. "And now?" she teased. "That changed in a minute! I knew my guy had game."
"Girl, get off your high horse," I shot back. "There's nothing going on."
Selena snorted. "Yet."
And just like that, she started singing in the shower, her voice echoing against the tiled walls.
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "Oh my God, you're unbelievable."
Minutes later, she stepped out, still dancing and humming, a towel wrapped securely around her body. She twirled dramatically, shaking her damp curls.
"He got games, he got games," she sang, flashing me a mischievous grin.
I shook my head, unable to hold back my laughter. "I can't believe you."
Selena smirked, winking at me. "Neither can I, bestie."