When Love Brings Pain

The structured and carefully designed bedroom is illuminated by a soft, warm light. The extravagance of the room is evident, yet it exudes a stunning beauty. Its immense size can rival that of an entire home. The room's feminine touches, such as its dominant pink hues, are impossible to miss, giving a clear indication of the gender of the owner. As the door opens quietly, an elderly woman clad in white and pink pajamas shuffles towards the bed, where an adult lies covered in blankets.

"Precious, my dear," the old woman called out, her voice gentle yet persistent, hoping to rouse a response.

She leaned over and settled herself on the edge of the bed, a tender hand reaching out to gently tap Precious. "It's time for you to wake up, my dear, or you'll find yourself running late for school," she urged, her words filled with a touch of concern.

Reluctantly, Precious stirred from her slumber, her mind caught between the realms of dreams and wakefulness. "Oh, Nanny... just let me be, please," she murmured, her voice still heavy with drowsiness.

She shifted her body to the far end of the bed, pulling the blanket tightly around her.

Undeterred, the old woman persisted, knowing the importance of the day ahead. She sat there, a gentle presence by the bedside, "Don't be like that, my dear. Your mother has been waiting downstairs for quite some time now. And you know what? There's a surprise awaiting you, just waiting to be discovered," she offered, her voice laced with a hint of anticipation.

At the mention of a surprise, Precious's curiosity was piqued, and she quickly threw off the blankets and sat up, eager to find out what it was. Despite her grogginess, her beauty was undeniable. Her long, straight black hair cascaded down to her well-proportioned nose and full, alluring lips. Her face was oval and undeniably pretty, making her the object of desire for many of her male schoolmates. However, despite her physical appeal, Precious was notoriously picky and seemingly uninterested in any of them.

As the daughter of one of Australia's wealthiest and most famous men, she seemed to believe she was on a level beyond them, exhibiting an undeniable air of conceit.

"What's that again? A surprise?" Precious's eyes lit up with eager anticipation as she turned to the old woman beside her.

There was a childlike curiosity in her gaze, longing to unravel the mystery that awaited her. The old woman couldn't help but chuckle at Precious's reaction.

"Hmm, you should have seen the way your face lit up just now, dear. It was as if all traces of sleep had vanished in an instant," she teased playfully, her finger pointing towards the rumpled blanket that still clung to Precious.

Suppressing her excitement, Precious shot the old woman a pleading look. "Oh, Nanny, please don't keep me in suspense any longer. Just tell me, what is this surprise you're talking about?" Her voice was filled with a mixture of impatience and genuine curiosity.

Realizing she had teased her long enough, the old woman relented. She leaned closer, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Alright, fine... I'll tell you all about it. Actually, it's about your dad," she said, unable to contain her own excitement.

"And?" Precious responded nonchalantly, her voice seemed to have lost the initial excitement and interest that she showed a moment earlier. She averted her gaze, as if the mention of her father's name held no significance to her.

"He's back," the old woman finally disclosed, her voice filled with an undeniable enthusiasm, hoping that her words would ignite a spark of joy within Precious's heart.

But to her surprise, Precious's reaction remained indifferent. There was no elation, no gleeful response. Instead, she simply looked away, her face bearing a stoic expression that revealed her apathy towards her father's return. Ever since she was a child, Precious had longed for her father's attention. Frederick, a busy businessman, was always occupied with his work. His frequent travels took him to different parts of the world, leaving Precious yearning for his presence.

She would cry in the hopes of bringing him back. However, whenever he embarked on one of his frequent business meetings, she knew it would be a considerable amount of time before his return, especially when it involved international travel. These trips often spanned months, and sometimes even a year, before he would finally come back home. But this last journey was exceptionally long. He stayed away from home for 15 years before deciding to return.

Frederick's prolonged absence had a profound impact on Precious. It shaped her into an impulsive and defiant young woman. As she leisurely rose from her bed, she proceeded to the bathroom. By the time she returned, her nanny had already prepared her clothes. She dressed herself and nonchalantly left her room.

.

.

.

.

Frederick, seeing her descend the stairs, couldn't help but beam with pride. "Princess," he called out, his eyes lighting up.

However, Precious paid little attention to him and walked past, making her way to the other end of the expansive dining table where Michelle awaited.

"Good morning, Mommy."

Michelle pulled Precious close and they exchanged a warm kiss on the cheeks-a social gesture that denoted their friendship and family bond, a practice common among foreigners. Frederick momentarily felt a pang of humiliation, but he quickly brushed it off, determined not to let it affect him.

Michelle, attempting to bridge the gap, gestured towards Frederick, "Won't you say Hi to your dad?"

"I have to go, Mom. I don't want to be late for my class," Precious excused herself, giving Michelle a warm hug before making her way out.

"I'm sorry," Michelle pleaded sincerely with Frederick, wearing a sorry expression.

"No, it's fine," Frederick smiled meekly, pulling a chair away from the table and taking a seat. "I understand where Precious is coming from. I can imagine feeling the same way if I were in her shoes," he added.

"Thank you for understanding, Frederick. I feel terrible for our daughter," Michelle expressed her sympathy. "But don't worry. I'll talk to her and try to make her see things from a different perspective. I believe she'll listen to me," she reassured, prompting Frederick to force a smile and nod in agreement.

"

*

*

*

*

Isabella busied herself with setting the table, with her youngest daughter, Claire, assisting her. "Come out, son. What's keeping you waiting anyway? You'll be late for class if you don't get out of that room," Isabella shouted, her voice filled with urgency. The dining room, though not extravagant, exuded a cool and simple charm.

"I'm almost done!" Kayden's voice echoed from the bedroom, his excitement palpable.

"I'm really so happy, mother," Claire beamed, her eyes shining with joy.

"Me too. I can't contain the happiness within me. Finally, Kayden is gradually working towards the achievement of his dream."

Kayden emerged into the living room, arms wide open, sporting his newly bought white and yellow shirt, paired with black jeans and white canvas shoes. Isabella and Claire were left mesmerized by his appearance. His handsomeness was exceptional, and they were completely blown away.

"What?" Kayden laughed, noticing their stunned expressions.

"You look handsome, Kayden," Claire remarked.

"Thanks for the compliment, sister," he appreciatively replied. Then he looked into Isabella's eyes, noticing her mesmerized gaze. "Mother?" he called out in surprise, a mischievous grin forming on his lips.

"You look...you look okay," Isabella stuttered.

"Okay?" he teased, a twinkle in his eyes.

"I mean, you look handsome," she replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"Come on, mother. I was only pulling your leg. I can't believe you fell for it," Kayden said, closing the distance between them and enveloping her in a tight hug.

Claire caught a whiff of his newly worn perfume, lifting her head to savor the fragrance. "You smell good, brother," Claire smiled, her admiration evident.

"You know, I can smell it too. I mean, right from the moment you came out of the room. I just didn't want to get ahead of myself," Isabella added, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Yes, you're both right. I actually just bought a new perfume. Even the dress I'm wearing right now isn't excluded," he revealed.

"Exactly! I was just about to mention that. But why didn't you tell me about it? I could have purchased it for you if you wanted," Isabella expressed, feeling disappointed.

"You see, you don't have to worry about that, mother. It's not an issue, believe me. I got this," Kayden assured her.

"Nevertheless, you shouldn't have kept it from me. You should have informed me about it. I'm your mother, after all. You know these things are my responsibilities. Even if we're not that rich, I still want to give you the kind of life that you deserve," Isabella replied.

"Don't say that, mother. We are a team, remember? And that's what families do. They help each other out. Even if there was a chance to turn back time, I'd still do the same thing. These are minor expenses I can afford. I still have my savings anyway."

"Okay, fine. Seems like there is nothing I can say or do to convince you. You would still go ahead and do what you want in the end," Isabella sighed, her heart touched by Kayden's words.

"Exactly, mother," he grinned, his eyes sparkling with warmth.

"Anyway, come on and eat before the food gets cold. Claire, you should come here too. Have a seat." Isabella gestured for them to join her at the table, the conversation temporarily set aside as they embraced the simple joy of a family meal together.

*

*

*

*

Kayden entered the sprawling premises of Notre Dame, his eyes widening with awe at the grandeur of the prestigious private university. He gripped his luggage bag in his right hand, while his school bag rested on his back.

As he marveled at the surroundings, he realized his shoelace had come loose. He quickly knelt down, one knee on the ground, and began fixing it.

Just as he focused on his task, Precious rushed into the scene, still carrying the intensity from everything that had transpired back at home. She accidentally bumped into Kayden, almost causing him to lose his balance.

"What the heck!" she exclaimed, glaring at Kayden, whose hand was already on the floor.

"I'm sorry," Kayden pleaded.

"Weren't you looking where you were going?" she retorted sharply. "Watch it!" she added, giving him a disdainful look. Then she turned and walked away, leaving Kayden bewildered.

"What's up with her?" he wondered aloud, before continuing to fix his shoelace.

As he bent down, ready to rise, he unexpectedly encountered another girl. Anna stood before him, her mouth agape and hands covering it in disbelief.

"Wow! OMG! Is this a dream?" she whispered to herself.

"Miss, are you okay?" Kayden asked, snapping his fingers twice in front of her face.

Anna startled as she finally regained her composure. "Yes, yes... Oh, please forgive me," she stammered.

"What was that?" Kayden inquired curiously.

"You took my breath away," Anna responded abruptly.

Kayden couldn't believe his ears. "What did you say?" he asked, his surprise evident.

"Nothing. Just forget about it... By the way, what are you doing here?" she asked, attempting to fix her hair to appear more attractive.

"Actually, I've just been admitted to this university, and I've been trying to find my way to the security department. I need to drop off my luggage before heading to the class," Kayden explained.

"Oh, okay. Well, it's not far from here, just a few steps away. So, is that all?" Anna replied, smiling.

"Um, actually, there's one more thing. Since you know your way around here, I would really appreciate it if you could assist me in getting there. Additionally, I need your help in meeting the school Registrar as well. I can't manage all that without your guidance," he requested.

"Sure, of course! I'm more than willing to help you... Okay, listen. This is what we'll do: we'll drop off your luggage first and then go to the Registrar's office afterwards," she suggested.

"Oh, that's great. I hope I'm not causing you any trouble," Kayden asked with concern.

"Trouble? Not at all. With a face like yours, you could never be a burden to me. It's my choice, after all," Anna disagreed, a smile playing on her lips.

"Thanks for the help, really," Kayden expressed his gratitude.

"By the way, you look cute," Anna complimented with a smile.

Kayden couldn't help but feel shy, despite being accustomed to such compliments from his family and neighbors. Hearing it from a person he barely knew made him feel somewhat awkward. "Thank you," he replied, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Guided by Anna, Kayden made his way to the security unit where he introduced himself and filled out a form given to him by a security officer, who promptly signed it after he was done. Afterward, he dropped off his luggage and they embarked on their journey to the Registrar's office.

"Good morning, ma'am," Anna greeted, bowing respectfully as they entered the office.

The woman briefly glanced at Anna through her eyeglasses before returning her attention to the paperwork on her desk. "Good morning, Cruz. How may I assist you?" the Registrar inquired.

"I found this young man wandering around the premises on my way to the classroom," Anna responded.

The woman dropped her pen and fixed her gaze on Kayden, who felt a nervous flutter in his stomach.

"Good morning, ma'am," Kayden greeted politely.

"Good morning," the woman replied, her attention returning to Anna. "It's okay, Cruz. I'll take it from here. You can return to your classroom. Thank you," she dismissed Anna.

"Alright, ma'am," Anna replied, giving Kayden a quick glance accompanied by a smile before leaving the room.

Left alone with the Registrar, Kayden awaited her next words with anticipation.

"So, young man, what can I do for you?" the woman asked.

"My name is Kayden Hechanova. I recently discovered an email notifying me of my admission to this school, which I only checked yesterday," Kayden explained politely.

"Wait a second, please. What was that your name again?" the woman asked curiously.

"Kayden, ma'am. Kayden Hechanova," he replied.

The woman inquired, "Kayden Hechanova? That name rings a bell... Aren't you the one who applied for last month's scholarship examination?"

"Yes, ma'am. That was me," Kayden responded, a smile spreading across his face.

The woman continued, "The student from Saint Vallerie High School?"

"Absolutely, ma'am... And I want to take this opportunity to thank you for selecting me among the other participants," Kayden expressed his gratitude.

"No. In fact, we are happy you chose our school among the prestigious schools in Australia. Did you know? Your name ranked first on the admission list. You scored 100%, surpassing all other applicants despite the challenging questions. No one has achieved such a score since the establishment of this university. You've set a new record. We are thrilled to have someone like you in our school... Welcome, Hechanova," the Registrar declared joyously, extending her hand.

"Thank you, ma'am," Kayden smiled gratefully, leaning closer as he reciprocated the handshake.

"I want to believe all your verifications have been done online as instructed," she said.

"All done, ma'am."

"Good... I hope you have the printed copies with you," she inquired.

"Yes, ma'am," Kayden replied.

"Alright, let me have them."

Kayden placed his bag on the floor, unzipped it, and carefully retrieved a variety of papers, passing them to the woman.

"Excellent. Just hold on for a moment, dear. Let me just finish this up," the woman said, signing each document. Once she had completed her task, she tidied up her desk, and together they left the office.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Anna walked into the classroom, a radiant smile playing on her lips. She made her way to her seat in front of Precious's. The anticipation bubbling within her.

Precious, still haunted by the events of the morning, regarded Anna's cheerful demeanor with annoyance. Unable to contain herself any longer, she tapped Anna on the shoulder, her voice laced with irritation. "Hey, have you lost it? What's the smile all about?"

The smile widened on Anna's face, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "You won't believe what I saw today. He's absolutely charming and adorable!" her happiness overflowed, spilling into her words.

Precious, her patience wearing thin, demanded more details. "What are you even talking about? Can't you be specific?"

"Well, there was this guy I came across earlier. He's incredibly handsome, trust me!"

Precious, feeling unimpressed by Anna's reaction, retorted, "Seriously? Have you lost your mind? What do you know about handsome? You're not exactly a beauty yourself."

"Maybe you're right. I may not be as pretty as you. But my eyesight is perfectly fine. Unfortunately, I don't think he's going to be in our department. And I wasn't able to get his name either. This is actually the first time I'll ever find someone so attractive in that way" she pressed her palm against her chest, relishing the fluttering sensation inside, and closed her eyes, savoring the moment.

Just then, a male lecturer entered the classroom, commanding the attention of the students with his presence. The room fell into silence, awaiting his instruction. He reminded the class about their assignments, his voice resonating with authority.

It was evident that mathematics was his domain, and the students felt a tinge of hesitation as they retrieved their notebooks.

Among the nine courses they had, math proved to be the most challenging. Finding X was a constant source of frustration and confusion. The students harbored a collective dislike for the subject. As the lecturer turned to the board and began writing out two questions, a sense of trepidation filled the room.

Anna turned her face backward to Precious, her voice barely above a whisper. "Oh girl, we're in trouble. We didn't do the assignments."

The weight of the situation pressed upon them, and anxiety knotted their stomachs.

Precious, distancing herself from the predicament, dismissed Anna's statement. "Speak for yourself, okay? I did mine, although I have my doubts about the answers."

Anna, taken aback by Precious's response, her eyes pleading for assistance. "Please, just let me have a look. At least you attempted it. Unlike me, I closed mine as soon as I couldn't make sense of it."

Precious, resigned to the situation, passed her notebook to Anna, catching the attention of Carlos, a fellow student seated nearby.

Surprise flickered across his face as he mumbled to himself, "Wow, Precious did the assignment."

Catching wind of Carlos's words, Precious rolled her eyes in response, looking indifferent. Suddenly, the lecturer's stern gaze swept across the classroom, demanding an end to the murmuring. The students snapped to attention, their eyes forward, awaiting further instruction. The lecturer turned to the board, his eyes fixated on the equations he had written. A palpable tension hung in the air as he asked the class.

"Given the question, who can find the value of X for the first question?"

Precious muttered under her breath, "This man's sight makes me really sick. How does he expect us to find something that doesn't want to be found? I'm just so sick and tired of this repeating question about X."

"Shh, he might hear you," Anna whispered, casting a cautious glance in the man's direction.

Just as Anna finished speaking, their level advisor entered the room accompanied by Kayden. The students were taken aback at the sight of him, their jaws dropping in admiration. Precious couldn't hide her irritation at Kayden's sudden appearance.

"It's him again?" she muttered.

Anna, however, whispered in excitement to herself, "Wow! He is the one. I can't believe he is here." She turned to Precious, smiling, and continued, "That's him, girl. The guy I was telling you about. He is so cute, isn't he?"

Precious, looking irritated, gave her a serious look, "You know what, just hand the book over to me."

Anna's smile faded, "What? But why?" she asked, looking confused.

"Well, it shows you are done copying. Just give it back to me already" Precious replied, extending her hand.

Momentarily, their conversation was interrupted by the stern voice of their advisor, "Bonnevie, Cruz, what's the murmuring about?" he questioned.

Anna hastily turned her face forward, and all the students sat up straight in their seats.

The man pleaded for a few minutes with Dr. Bernard.

"Sure, no problem sir," he agreed.

The advisor stood at the center of the classroom, with Kayden by his side, intending to introduce him to the class, "Well, this is Kayden. He is a new student and will be joining you from now on."

He then turned to Kayden and asked, "Is there anything you would like to say to the class?" Kayden shook his head shyly. "Come on, say something, Hechanova" he encouraged.

Kayden took a step forward, looking timid, and stuttered while clenching his fists out of nervousness, "Um, my... My name is Kayden Hechanova. I went to Saint Vallerie High School. And I..." he said, looking short of words.

The man interrupted, smiling as he stepped closer, "Please don't mind him, everyone. He's just feeling awkward. I understand the feeling of having to be around new people for the first time. However, what he forgot to mention is that he is a scholarship student. I strongly believe you would learn a lot from him, really. Just be lenient with him, clear?"

The students replied in unison, "Crystal, sir."

"I'll leave this up to you, Bonnevie. You should explain to him all he needs to know" he said, entrusting the task to Precious.

"Sure, sir." Precious replied.

"You can go ahead and sit down, Kayden. Don't forget we still have a lot to talk about after your lectures have ended." he said and Kayden replied with a nod. Then he walked slowly past the students, his gaze fixed on the floor, until he found a vacant seat at the back in the third row. The man eventually thanked Dr. Bernard for his time before leaving the classroom.

Dr. Bernard resumed the lesson, catching sight of Kayden, who was looking around the books on each student's table. "That's not necessary, Kayden. You can just follow." he said, prompting Kayden to make a quick nod.

The lecturer continued, "So as I was saying, who can find the value of X in the given equation?"

The silence that followed was deafening. The weight of the question loomed over them, a challenge they were ill-prepared to face. None dared to speak up, their confidence weakening. Frustration tinged the lecturer's voice as he surveyed the sea of silent faces.

He pressed further, "Did anyone even attempt the questions?"

Anna's eyes widened in realization, shifting her gaze to Precious, with her voice filled with urgency. "Oh girl, we're doomed."

Precious, her irritation mounting, snapped at Anna, "Keep your problems to yourself."

The lecturer's gaze shifted, landing on Precious, hopeful for an answer. He waited, but Precious remained resolute in her silence. Meanwhile, in the back of the classroom, Kayden observed the board, his mind racing with a solution.

The lecturer sighed, expressing his disappointment, a sense of resignation coloring his voice. He decided to backtrack, attempting to jog the students' memories. He wrote the word "SOLUTION" on the board and posed a question to the class, "Can anyone give me a quick reminder of what I called X in the previous lecture?"

The room remained still, the students racking their brains for the answer. And then, in a barely audible voice, Kayden mumbled the answer, his words cutting through the heavy silence.

The class turned to him, their expressions shifting from confusion to astonishment.