CHAPTER 1: SETTING THE MOOD

Caily's POV

Venus Hughes.

Who doesn’t know her?

If there’s someone who’s literally being adored and worshipped here on earth, it will probably be her. For me, she’s the definition of perfection that you could ever find in a woman. I will bet, her kind is like one in every ten million people living in this world, not exaggerating!

As I look at her, it’s like everything is in slow motion. Her confidence is so intimidating she doesn't need to try so hard. Her simple ways, even on how she flips her hair is adored by a lot of my schoolmates, including guys. Her looks and sense of fashion is a total bomb, she's the queen bee. I can see that a lot of my schoolmates wanted to be near her.

I can't help but smile. I really admire her so much. If there's someone born too "perfect" for a woman, then definitely it is her.

That sight is making me feel that I am just another woman trying to breathe; maybe that's my only purpose why I'm still living in this world full of injustice.

Whenever she walks along the hallway, not less than five guys follow her. Everyone of them wanted her attention so much. Some of the guys that follow her offered to hold her bag for her while others invited her for lunch at the most expensive restaurants outside the school. She awkwardly smiles at them as she slowed down her steps and stopped.

Exaggerated as it may sound, but sad truth it is really happening. I sighed as I followed her with my eyes to where she's heading right now.

“Venus, you’re so beautiful.” Upon hearing it, she smiled and the guys are even dying to draw near her more. Well, to only ask nonsense questions. She looked so pleased as they gaze at their reactions the way she lures them. Most of the girls in the university, including me, always wanted to be in her shoes.

I am just three meters from where she’s standing. It’s a wide hall going to the entrance gate. She's chatting with a lot of people that are swarming around her like they are not getting enough of her presence.

I noticed Venus's charm is simply irresistible. When you look at her beauty, you will not get tired of staring at her over and over again. How much more, if she will waste her precious minutes in answering many questions about herself from her ever-curious fans.

I never noticed how time flies so fast because I am too focused on observing her every move. I am too focused on her when someone suddenly covered both of my eyes with both of his hands from behind me. I am wearing my eyeglasses that’s why it hurt a bit when the frame pressed the corner of my eyes.

“Hey, who’s this?” I asked, irritated. I can hear a soft chuckle. I held the hands that were covering my eyes and my mood suddenly changed.

“Nolan?”

“Why do you always know it’s me?”

“You have the ugliest pair of hands. I am like holding a pair of baseball gloves to be exact.” He removed his hands on my face and he touched my shoulders and gently twisted my body in front of him. I can see him frowning because of what I said.

“You’re too harsh. I’m the only friend that’s left of you and yet you’re being so bad.” His lips pouted as he looked into my eyes. I smiled as I pinched his cheek.

“You might want to consider yourself lucky because even if you’re overly dramatic, I am still staying as your friend,” I replied, trying to turn my back to where Venus is and what she is doing right now. I admit, I was a little distracted because Nolan saw me right away.

“Why does everybody like Venus?” He asked, sounding uninterested and yet looking at the direction to where my eyes are glued at right now.

“You’re too insensitive and boring, you know. I guess you’re the only one in this world who’s never interested in her, are you really that blind?" I retaliated, not missing my gaze on what Venus is doing right now.

“Everyone has their own taste when it comes to women. It so happened that she’s not my type.”

“My goodness, why? Isn't she good enough?” I reacted as I widened my eyes in shock as I faced him. He smiled sweetly at me as if trying to irritate me more.

“I just don’t like someone who is already popular. I don't want to compete just to gain someone's attention. Why do that when I have you?" He replied with a wink. I frowned as I faced him. He was smiling sweetly as she looked at me. I decided to touch his eyeglass because it doesn’t look even as he wears it on his eyes.

“There you go. I can really attest that your eyes are not that good.”

“Yours too.” He said as he chuckled a bit. I can see him blush because of what I did. I find him cute for that.

“Let’s go to the school cafeteria. I guess you’re just hungry. My treat.” He said, smiling as he pulled my hand. I don't know, but sudden actions like that coming from him makes me smile for no apparent reason sometimes.

“Really?” My face lit up as I grinned. He laughed out loud because of my reaction. He suddenly held my hand and I am not understanding why my heart suddenly beats so fast. He gently pulled me closer to his side as we walked away from where Venus is standing.

He ordered a lot for me while he just ordered a clubhouse sandwich and carrot juice for himself. We sit facing each other. The cafeteria’s wall is covered with glass all over. We were sitting on the table next to the wall. Because of it, we can easily observe whoever will pass by. I can see Venus walking on the sidewalk outside the cafeteria, wearing her sunglasses to protect her eyes from the heat of the sun.

Her wavy hair slowly bounced gracefully as she walked. She’s wearing our university uniform and she looked like Sailor Moon because she’s very tall and slim at the same time. Her skirt is above her knee and her blouse is very skimpy which made her chest of cup B noticeable. I can compare her beauty to the grown-up Aurora which played by Elle Fanning, while mine can be compared to that sea witch of the Little Mermaid. Fair-complexioned skin well-taken cared of, about 178 cm tall and she has an hourglass figure, not an exaggeration.

“Caily?”

“Huh?”

“You’re looking at Venus again.” Nolan looked annoyed as he held my hand. I looked at him and met his eyes and then I eventually looked at the food on my table. He noticed that I suddenly stopped eating my favorite foods that he ordered.

“She’s really beautiful, smart, elegant and rich. Did you know that she can even select any hottie in this whole damn University to be his boyfriend. I've never met someone so lucky like her. She's one in a million.”

"That doesn't make her pretty to me at all."

"Why?" I said as I gave him a curious look.

"I'd define someone really pretty if they are confident enough to tell themselves they're unique in their own way."

"Well, that's one thing I can't do for myself."

“That’s why you’re envious of her?”

“Uhm...I guess.”

He gently shook his head as a response. He gulped the remaining content of his juice and wiped his lower lip. He rested both of his elbows on the table and clasped both of his hands as he looked at me. He looked really serious.

“I don’t like that look on your face.”

“I don’t like you looking at her as if she’s everything for you.” He replied, looking really annoyed.

“Why, yes of course! I can trade everything to live the kind of life that she has, Nolan.”

"That's so sick. I think you're the only one who thinks like that."

"I don't care."

“You’re delusional.” He shook his head again, this time, he stood up and sat next to me as he placed his arms around my shoulders. I looked at him as he looked into my eyes. I'm surprised when he planted a kiss on my forehead. I felt the warmth it caused my cheeks. My, did I blush or something?

“Caily, you’re perfect, okay? just the way you are.” He smiled as he tried reassuring me with those words. It somehow made me feel better.

“You know what? You’re just telling me these things because you've been pursuing me and we're friends since kindergarten. I am not even like Venus.”

“You always know that you’re my type. I will never stop pursuing you no matter what happens.”

“Even if I am not beautiful or unique like Venus?”

“Oh c’mon, Caily. I don't like how you compare yourself to her."

"Sorry, I am not someone you can be proud of."

I heard him sigh aloud. He held me on both shoulders and looked at me directly to my eyes. "You’re not Venus, okay? You’re Caily. You’re beautiful and you’re the kind of beautiful that I wanted and no one else.” He smiled. I admit, he always boosted my self-esteem to the fullest. I hugged him tight as we sat next to each other. I noticed many students our age that’s coming our way whispering to each other.

They are laughing as they are looking at us.

“Eww, girl. They are really meant for each other. Look, the guy is okay but the girl is so fat.”

“They’re like nerds made for each other.” The other girl obviously made her voice louder for both of us to hear and it somehow made me shed a tear as I looked at them going past our table.

That is the exact reason why I wanted to be Venus. She’s damned beautiful. It’s like there’s nothing in her life that’s negative to comment about. All I know is, she’s living a perfect life.

“Please don’t mind them. They’re nuts.” Nolan said as he shook his head.

“Yes, I am not affected. Don’t worry.” I smiled at Nolan as I looked at him directly in his eyes. He smiled back and that’s the kind of smile that I would always want to see.

Nolan has been my best friend since primary school. Now that we’re in the same University, he took the chance to finally pursue me after confessing he had a crush on me way back then. Well, I am the type that’s not easily giving in, especially that I also have goals in life to reach. He would often tell me he’ll wait for me no matter how long it is.

I love him, yes. I knew it deep within me. However, it can't be close enough to that kind of love that I wanted to experience. I honestly consider him as a dear friend of mine, no more, no less.

Yes, everyone is also right. I am thinking that he liked me because our personality is almost closer to the way we look. We're like nerds made in heaven. Both of us wear glasses, both boring, both minding our 'thing'. We study all the time. We're always there for each other. We achieve many things, most especially in academics.

Many envied us. Never did they know that I envied more of the kind of life that they have. Since then, all I am ever achieving is always relating to academics. Nobody even appreciates that except for our parents. I always wish that one day, I can also be that popular Caily who is admired by all of the guys around this University. Sometimes, I am getting tired of being the invisible one.

"Caily?" I looked at Nolan who just waved his hand in front of my face as he smiled at me.

"Sorry, what was that again?" I said as I blinked. I carefully touched my eyeglasses as l turned my gaze at him.

He chucked and pinched my cheek again.

"Ouch. You!"

"I just find you beautiful when you blush." He held my hand and kissed it as he gazed at my reaction. I bit my lower lip and smiled as I avoided my gaze on him.

"You're the only one who calls me that."

"That's my opinion and that's the truth." He said, as I tried looking at his face again, I can see that he's really serious.

I feel like crying. I am always touched because of my best friend's gesture. Don't worry, one day you are not the only one who will call me that anymore.