Her Twinkling Eyes

"Dumb!!" He teased as she was all alone, left in the field. There he stood with his boys with his famous smirk. Hazel turned around to give him the most annoyed look. Ignoring him, like always she grabbed her small backpack. As she turned to leave she heard Amber mock her, "ones a topper can't be always a topper!?" She says making her hurt and fresh tears gathered in her eyes. Her green pearls shined differently with tears.

Hazel's heart raced as she spiked the volleyball, her eyes fixed on Lila, Ace's girlfriend, who stood poised on the other side of the net. The gymnasium was a cacophony of noise, with students cheering, shouting, and jeering. Hazel's muscles ached from exertion, but she pushed through, determined to win this match. It wasn't just about volleyball; it was about proving herself.

With one last powerful serve, the game ended. The whistle blew, and Lila's team celebrated their victory, hugging and high-fiving each other. Hazel's heart sank, the sting of defeat settling in. She had given it her all, but it hadn't been enough. She dropped to her knees, panting heavily, her spirit bruised.

As Hazel tried to catch her breath, she noticed a group approaching from the corner of her eye. Ace, the school's notorious bad boy, led the pack. His dark eyes gleamed with mischief, and his signature smirk played on his lips. Behind him, his friends followed, ready to mock and torment.

"Well, well, well, look who's on the ground," Ace said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Lost the match, didn't you, Hazel?"

Hazel stood up slowly, her legs feeling like jelly. She tried to meet his gaze with a steady look, but her heart was pounding too hard. "It was a tough game," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"A tough game?" Ace echoed, laughing coldly. "You were pathetic. Couldn't even beat my girlfriend."

His friends joined in, their laughter echoing in the gymnasium. Hazel felt a lump in her throat and blinked back tears. She clenched her fists, trying to maintain her composure.

"Leave her alone, Ace," Lila said, stepping forward with an uncertain glance at her boyfriend. "She tried her best."

Ace shot Lila a sharp look. "Defending the nerd now, are we?" He turned back to Hazel, his smirk widening. "You know, Hazel, I've been thinking. Your eighteenth birthday is coming up soon, right?"

Hazel's heart skipped a beat. "What's it to you?"

Ace took a step closer, his eyes locking onto hers. "Well, I've got a special present planned for you," he said, his voice low and menacing. "I'm going to take your first kiss."

The blood drained from Hazel's face. "What?"

"You heard me," Ace said, his smirk turning cruel. "Your first kiss, Hazel. On your eighteenth birthday."

Hazel felt a wave of shock and horror wash over her. The gym seemed to spin, Ace's words echoing in her ears. She took a step back, her legs trembling. "You're disgusting," she spat, trying to sound braver than she felt.

Ace's friends laughed louder, clearly enjoying the scene. "Oh, come on, Hazel," Ace said, his tone mockingly sweet. "Don't act like you haven't thought about it."

Hazel's cheeks burned with a mix of anger and humiliation. "Stay away from me, Ace," she said, her voice shaking but louder. "I mean it."

Ace's eyes narrowed, his smirk fading. "Or what?" he challenged, his voice dropping to a threatening whisper.

Hazel swallowed hard, her heart racing. She didn't have a plan, didn't know how to fight back against someone like Ace. But she refused to let him see her fear. "Just stay away," she repeated, her voice stronger this time.

Ace stared at her for a long moment, his gaze piercing. Then, he shrugged, the smirk returning to his lips. "We'll see," he said casually, turning away. "Come on, guys. Let's get out of here."

As they walked away, Hazel felt the tension drain from her body, leaving her weak and shaky. She sank onto a nearby bench, her hands trembling. Lila approached her, a look of concern on her face.

"Hazel, I'm sorry about Ace," Lila said softly. "He's... he's a jerk."

Hazel looked up at Lila, forcing a small smile. "It's not your fault," she said. "Thanks for... for trying to help."

Lila nodded, looking relieved. "If you ever need anything, just let me know," she said before walking away to join her teammates.

Hazel sat there for a long time, the gymnasium emptying around her. She felt a mix of anger, fear, and determination. Ace might think he could intimidate her, but she wasn't going to let him win. Not this time.

As she stood up to leave, she made a silent promise to herself. She would find a way to stand up to Ace, to show him that she wasn't afraid. And when her eighteenth birthday came, she would be ready. Her eighteenth was just in next fifteen days!!

She ran out of the stadium as fast as she could their voices seems to be faded her now her mind reminded her that she was weak! A cursed left her mouth. That made her remember the each bullying of her mother to her. As the darkness consumed the earth, she was found walking alone on the narrow street back to her home.

Fear gripped her heart, as there was no human found here after 7pm. She fastened her speed. Meanwhile here, Ace hoped on his bike with Lila behind him. They wore their helmets. "Ace what were you talking to her?" She asks as she helds his shoulders. Ace paused at her words.

"Nothing special" he smoothly lied to her which she believed. Meanwhile Amber, who was jealous of her own cousin Lila, couldn't help and called out Her, "hey Lila mom was asking about you" she says smiling fakely to her.

"Say hey to aunt Karen" lila says waving a bye. As Ace roared his bike engine on the road. Lila hugs him tightly as he rides his bike, his mind was already full of Hazel and her teary eyes. Her eyes says it all. Her eyes were too beautiful too resist and so was her presence

The next morning arises, declaring the new opportunities, new struggles and new ideas. A loud bang on her wooden door made her flinch in her sleep. Her aunt Sophie banged her room door. To wake her up for the school. It was around 8 and the time was already past 7 : 30 am! Hazel flinched again and groaned. "Wake up Hazel, are not you going to school?" Asked her aunt. Her mother's step sister. Who was a godmother to Hazel. She took care of her when the who world denied to take down her responsibilities as a child.

Sophie looked around for all her expenses, her school fees, her daily expenses and everything. Sophie was a single lady with her own bakery, cafe and a small bookstore owned by her. She was too delicately working hard for her niece. She cared less about the society. Being in her early thirties she managed to look like a model. She had an hour glass figure. Enough to get man down on their knees.

"I am up soph!" She says rubbing her eyes. Being mentally exhausted, Hazel hopes down the bed. As she goes to washroom and does her morning routine. Her aunt grabs some eggs and juice for her breakfast.

Making up her tie, she glances at her reflection in the room. She has a medium sized room with no too much decorations, but has a cozy bed with white furnishings all around. Hazel loved the colour white.

Brushing her hair, getting them into a high pony. She grabs her phone and her school bag, rushing downstairs. "Good morning Soph" she says in a very dull voice. Yesterday's lose was still hangover her. Making her feel like a loser. She was more tired mentally than physically.

"What's wrong Hazel? This is all a phase of life" encouraged her aunt. Hazel passed a small smile making her smile. "Alright, shall I drop you?" She asked to cheer her up. Hazel being Hazel, gave a small nod. Her love language was to get things quietly.

Her aunt smiles and positivity smiles. After done with breakfast. Hazel got her bagpack on her shoulder. As her aunt gets her car from the garage, she bites her lower lip, her eyes falls on a an elderly couple.

Her mind went back to her parents memories. Her chest tightened at the scene, those nostalgic feelings made her inhale a deep breath. Again her eyes turned moist. The loud horn pulled her back to her senses. She flinched and quickly got down into tge passenger seats.

Her aunt thought to give her some privacy. Hazel sniffed and looked out of the tainted window. Within a ride of straight 10 mins. She hoped down the school, mumbling a bye to her aunt.

Walking to the straight corridor. She met various stares that made her, knitted her eyes in confusion. Holding her bag straps tightly.

Hazel unlocked her school locker and was met with an unexpected sight: a black rose, its petals a dark, velvety hue that seemed almost ominous in the stark fluorescent light of the hallway. Attached to the stem was a small sticky note, its bright yellow color standing out against the dark flower. The note read, "15 days left dumbo!" with a winking face drawn next to the words.

Hazel's heart sank as she stared at the note. Around her, the giggles and whispers of her classmates quickly turned into outright laughter. The hall was filled with mocking voices and the clatter of locker doors slamming shut as students hurried to get a look at the spectacle. Hazel's face burned with humiliation, and she could feel the eyes of her peers drilling into her back.

"Did you see what Ace did?" one girl whispered loudly to her friend. "He left a black rose in her locker! Can you believe it?"

"It's all over the school now," another voice chimed in. "Everyone's talking about it. Poor Hazel!"

Trying to maintain her composure, Hazel carefully removed the rose and the note from her locker. Her fingers trembled as she read the message again, trying to make sense of it. Ace had always been the school's golden boy-handsome, charming, and the star of the basketball team. He was the last person she expected to pull a stunt like this.

"Hey, Hazel, looks like your secret admirer is sending you flowers now!" a girl called out, her voice dripping with sarcasm. More laughter erupted around her, and Hazel felt a lump forming in her throat.

She took a deep breath and closed her locker door with a loud clang, trying to drown out the noise of her tormentors. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. With her head held high, she walked down the hall, clutching the black rose and the note tightly in her hand. She needed to find a place where she could think, away from the prying eyes and hurtful comments.

In the school library, Hazel found a quiet corner and sank into a chair. She stared at the rose, its beauty marred by the cruel message it carried. Who would do something like this? And why 15 days? Her mind raced with questions, but no answers came.

As she sat there, lost in thought, Hazel resolved to find out who was behind this cruel prank. She wouldn't let them get the best of her. No matter what happened in the next 15 days, she would face it head-on. She wasn't a "dumbo"-she was stronger than they knew. And she would prove it.

Sweat formed on forehead. She licked her lips.

Hazel took a deep breath, steadying herself as she stood up from the chair in the library. She needed to return to class and try to focus on her studies, despite the cruel joke that had just been played on her. Clutching the black rose and the note in her hand, she turned to leave the library, but she didn't get far. She bumped into something solid-someone's chest.

Stumbling back, she gasped and looked up to find herself face-to-face with Ace. His smirk was unmistakable, and her stomach twisted with a mix of anger and discomfort.

"15 days left for your birthday, dumbo," he teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Hazel's breath hitched, and she could feel her cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. Ace took a step closer, his presence overwhelming in the small space between the bookshelves.

"Why are you doing this?" Hazel managed to ask, her voice trembling slightly.

Ace's smirk widened, and he shrugged casually. "Just having a little fun. Besides, everyone loves a good mystery, right?"

His words were light, but the look in his eyes made Hazel feel anything but at ease. She took a step back, trying to put some distance between them, but Ace closed the gap effortlessly. He leaned in, his face inches from hers, and Hazel could feel the heat radiating from his body.

"You know, Hazel," he murmured, his voice low and almost intimate, "you shouldn't take everything so seriously. It's just a joke."

"A joke?" Hazel repeated, her voice rising with indignation. "You think humiliating me in front of the entire school is a joke?"

Ace raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by her reaction. "Relax, it's not the end of the world. And besides, it's not like it's a big secret that your birthday is in 15 days. Everyone knows."

Hazel felt a surge of anger. "That's not the point! You had no right to do this. If you wanted to talk to me, you could have just-"

"Just what?" Ace interrupted, his tone mocking. "Asked you nicely? Where's the fun in that?"

Hazel opened her mouth to retort, but the words caught in her throat. She was furious, but she also felt a pang of something else-confusion. Why was Ace, of all people, paying so much attention to her? And why in such a twisted way?

"Look, Hazel," Ace said, his voice softening slightly, "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... you caught my eye. You're different from the other girls. And I guess I have a weird way of showing it."

Hazel blinked, taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor. Was this some kind of game? Or was he being sincere?

"Different?" she echoed, her voice uncertain.

Ace nodded, stepping back and giving her some much-needed space. "Yeah, different. You're smart, and you don't try to impress anyone. You just do your own thing. I respect that."

Hazel didn't know what to say. Part of her wanted to believe him, but another part was wary of his intentions. She had seen how he treated other girls-charming them one moment and discarding them the next. Was she just another target for his amusement?

"I don't know what your game is, Ace," she said, her voice steadying, "but I'm not interested in being a part of it. If you want to get to know me, then be honest. Don't play these childish pranks."

Ace's expression shifted, and for a moment, Hazel thought she saw a flicker of genuine regret in his eyes. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual smirk.

"Fair enough, Hazel," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll try to be more straightforward. But you have to admit, the black rose was pretty dramatic."

Hazel couldn't help but roll her eyes, despite the tension. "Just leave me alone, Ace. I have better things to do than deal with your antics."

With that, she brushed past him and made her way out of the library, her heart still pounding from the encounter. As she walked down the hall, she resolved to stay focused on her goals and not let Ace's games distract her. But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't the end of it. The next 15 days were bound to be interesting, whether she liked it or not.

Glaring at his the last time, she walks out back to her class. While Ace, with his permanent smirk. Follows her making her all upset an unsecured. She turned around to find his eyes completely focused on her. She fastened her speed and was about to enter the class when her teacher's sharp gaze made her stood at the entrance.

"Why are you late Ms. Hazel?" Her teacher asked narrowing her eyes for a better excuse. Hazel gulped nervously and looked down. Before she could form any words, "she was with me!" Ace says making the whole class gasp at him.