Chapter 2 Childhood Years

He looked less like a student and more like a high-fashion model straight off a runway, or perhaps a prince from a fantasy novel brought to life.

His presence was magnetic. Even when he didn't speak, people moved aside, their gazes filled with awe, envy, or desperation for his attention. Aiden didn't even glance at them as he passed by.

Pearl's breath caught in her throat. Her heart thudded against her chest like a drum.

Her steps unconsciously followed Aiden. Her eyes stared at Aiden as if he were the world to her.

Pearl knew she had a strange obsession with Aiden. It was as if, other than Aiden, there was no one else. She wanted his attention on her so desperately that she remained silent even when others mocked her.

As if sensing her following her, Aiden paused and turned to look at Pearl, who paused and stared at him as well.

Just one look from him was enough, as heat pooled in Pearl's lower body, and a suspicious blush crept on her cheeks.

"Aiden, I..."

"Don't follow me," Aiden stated, his words dripping with irritation.

"I... Can you please go on a coffee date with me?" Pearl asked, gathering all the courage she could.

Aiden closed his eyes as if he had reached his limits and almost stated with gritted teeth,

"How many times do I have to tell you this? I am not interested in you. Even if all the women on this damn planet dies, I won't look in your way!"

"But... I... I like you..." Pearl could only clumsily attempt to calm his anger. "I have liked you for 3 years! Aiden, we used to play as children, and you promised me you would marry me!"

A nerve in Aiden's forehead twitched, and he calmly asked,

"What proof do you have?"

Pearl was a bit excited when she saw that Aiden was finally ready to talk with her and took out a plain silver ring from her pocket.

"See this one..."

Aiden gave a glance at the ring before the corner of his lips turned into a mocking grin,

"Just this? A ring isn't enough to justify anything. It was all a childish talk, forget it. And stop following me. I have much more important matters to look into."

'Just this?' Pearl was stunned to hear Aiden's words. To her, it wasn't a ring.

During her childhood years, she and Aiden were very close; however, everything changed when she turned 10 and Aiden moved away.

For some reason, she doesn't have any memory from age 10 to 15; it was as if someone had erased those parts from her life completely.

However, she was delighted to see Aiden in Moonveil Academy and started to approach him. He was still as handsome as he was when he was 10.

Only... he smiled less and had a cold aura around him.

When Pearl approached him, he claimed he didn't know her. However, Pearl didn't give up.

As time passed, she was attracted to Aiden even more. She pursued him in hopes that one day, he would remember everything and be together with her.

So, she carried the ring with her every day. But now, hearing his cold words, Pearl felt her body turning cold.

From 15 to almost 18, she chased him... and now... all of her efforts seem like a childish play.

"But..."

Aiden didn't let her finish and calmly walked away. His indifference stung Pearl, as she stood there with many mocking gazes directed at her.

"See, I told you the ugly duckling doesn't learns her lesson."

"If I were in her place, I would have died from embarrassment."

Pearl lowered her head and hurriedly walked away. Once in the bathroom, she stared at the mirror and mocked herself with red eyes as tears pooled in her eyes,

"Oh, Pearl... why do you keep on holding this hope? Tomorrow, he will find his true mate and happily mate with her. You... you are going to be discarded, forgotten... just forget about the childhood... please... "

She sobbed softly.

"Pearl? What happened?" A soft voice called out.

Pearl turned toward the door and saw her best friend Kaylee. She had a concerned expression on her face.

"Kaylee... he rejected me... again. He doesn't love me. I don't know what I should do to make him remember me..."

Kaylee, with her black straight hair, soft features, and pale skin, looked like a classic beauty. Seeing Pearl cry, she hugged Pearl and patted her back,

"It's alright. Don't cry."

When Pearl calmed down and stopped crying, Kayle tugged Pearl's hair beside her ears and said softly,

"Pearl, please don't be upset when I say this, but you do really look kind of unfit to be with Aiden. Just look at your hair... It's so loud. Even though I advised you to put it in pony, it looks horrible... and your skin...ugh..."

Pearl felt ashamed hearing Kaylee's words.

"Hear my advice and dye it black. Maybe then you will look more beautiful and put on some more baggy clothes... You look weird in these clothes." Kaylee continued as if she couldn't see Pearl's discomfort.