Chapter 282 - First Hug

That was how their friendship started.

Everyone soon thought there was something between them, but only Belle, Michael and their friends knew that both hadn't gotten to that stage yet.

They visit the library and study, use the same table during break and slowly the enormous amount of girls fan-girling over his beauty reduces.

They started making rumors that they didn't want his girlfriend to misunderstood their intentions.

Michael didn't correct them and Belle doesn't seem like she minded it.

Actually, she was glad they stopped. She had slowly started to like him and she knew his feelings were mutual, but just a little more.

A little more patient for them to graduate from school and enter the university. Even if he didn't take the initiative to ask her out, she would do it.

He's just such a good guy that she didn't want to lose him. A very serious type.

Maybe a little touchy, because once in a while, he will insist on holding her hand, but that's all.

He never passes his boundaries.

She came to know about his background. He was an only child. His parents were old.

They had him late so basically he wanted to make them proud of him. He took his study seriously and exactly one of the reasons he didn't let the attention from females get into his head until Belle came.

It was like love at first for him. He took it that he had met the woman of his dreams. The woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with.

But for now, he didn't want to sway her from her path to make her own parents proud as well, and both were doing a good job

An absolute good job because a year and half has passed and they never even hugged each other, aside from his hand holding.

It was going smoothly until…..

…..

"Hey! Throw the ball over here!" Belle was confused as 5 people from her team wanted her to throw the ball towards them.

She regretted agreeing to be the goalkeeper. 

So annoying.

She didn't really agree but they pushed the post to her.

They were on the school field, with students in blue and yellow jerseys. Belle was putting on black, with yellow used to write her number at the back, while her team had yellow on.

The opponent had blue, while their goalkeeper did the same style as her own, using blue to write name and number.

She felt frustrated and just threw it, but mistakenly threw it at their opponent, who was tackling the defenders and waiting for an opportunity to snatch the ball.

It was like a shock when the person hit the ball immediately, not risking it being snatched from her and Belle could swore that she saw the girl smirk as the ball came at a full speed.

If she moved away, then it's straight inside the net, and…

She couldn't process her thoughts before the ball collided with her forehead. She dropped to the floor immediately and collapsed.

Everyone was shocked.

A huge fight breaks out between the two teams immediately.

Belle's friends were there, being part of the strikers. Nancy walked up to the girl and threw a punch at her face.

She claimed it was intentional, but the opponent said it was expected since she was goalkeeping.

This further irked the three friends and others from their team joined in, taking their reply not as pure coincidence.

They began having a real fight, pulling each other's hair, while they foolishly forget their goal

keeper needed immediate attention.

....

There's another field with a decent space in between. An iron net was used to demarcate the place, but from afar, the boys playing basketball in it could vaguely see the commotion going on on the football field.

Michael was pretty distracted, netting balls as usual, before his friend who had gotten his ears full about Belle being a goal keeper and how he wished to watch her, from Michael, noticed the goalkeeper laying on the floor and it was the spot Belle was keeping.

"Hey! I think your girl was hit with a ball. Isn't that Belle's post?" Frank asked, drawing his attention to it and with full speed without caring to confirm from afar, he ran out of the place towards them.

The fight was still hot among the girls.

While the other party calmed a little, Belle's friends were getting more aggressive.

Detention is guaranteed for them already, and they wanted their offense to be worth getting that punishment to the fullest.

Michael got there with his eyes wide open.

"Oh my god, Belle. Are you alright?" He asked.

Belle had her eyes opened, tears streaming down from it. She remained laying on the floor, looking helpless.

He picked her up in his arms. Her forehead was starting to look swollen. It was already red and he felt his heart twisted.

The noise from the girls was so loud that he felt his head throb.

He rushed away from there, meeting his friend on the way, who asked if Belle was alright.

"I'm taking her for treatment." He said and Frank followed them.

Belle clutched his clothes. "No." She muttered.

"Don't cry please." He pleaded, his eyes getting wet himself.

"Not there infirmary, please. I don't want to go. I'm fine." Belle said.

"You're not fine. Your head is swollen." He said.

"Oh god!" Belle exclaimed. Not out of the injury, but due to the fact that Leo will lose it.

He will come to her school to cause a ruckus. He will never let anyone hurt her and go away with it.

She's so in trouble.

"It's okay, you will be fine." Frank beat Michael to it.

"Please help treat it. My dad, he must not know. The principal knew about him and will surely give him a call if she caught a glimpse of me being hurt. Help me with it please." She pleaded and both boys were confused.

Michael actually sees Leo as his role model. He compared how he wanted to be rich to Leo's wealth.

His photo was even on his phone.

She had always wondered how he would feel once he found out, but now he's about to. She only mentioned his name before both boys froze.

Michael snapped out of it first, thinking she's saying that because she really wanted him to help with the treatment instead.

Giving his friend a few instructions on what to get for him, he continued leaving with her.

After a while, they were seen in one of the school warehouses, which only a few students had access to. Trusted student, to be exact and he's one of them.

They easily sent him to get something from there. If anything went missing, he will answer to it, along with the others.

He had no choice since Belle cried more loudly.

Her body was shivering so badly. She kept assuming Leo's reaction in her head and couldn't stop feeling so scared.

What if he arrested the girl? 

What if he concluded that the school is not fit for her?

Her mind was running wild as Michael massaged her forehead with a pack of ice blocks that Frank had gotten for them.

"So, what's going on?" He asked after massaging a balm to help with the swelling.

Belle looked at Frank and before they told him to excuse, "I will be outside." He said and walked out.

They look more mature than before. Belle is already 17 and Michael is in his late 18. It's their last year in college.

"My dad. He was not cool with me coming to this school. I threatened him before he allowed me here. He might use this as an excuse to put me back among the rich kids who only care about status.

Who's more good looking and superior. I won't be able to see you anymore. He overreacts when we're hurt. He won't take this as something normal.

I could tell he asked the principal to look after me. The woman called me to her office often to ask if I'm fine and no one I'd troubling me.

She will definitely call him if she sees this." She said.

It felt like a joke but the way she's shaking and crying nonstop makes him believe she's telling the truth.

Just wow.

He didn't know what came over him, but he pulled her into his embrace.

Her heart skipped. This is the first time they will hug each other.

He reek of sweat, but instead of giving off a bad odor, it was a manly scent that she had no idea while she snuggled closer to breath more of it.

Her hands sn.a.k.e.d around him as well and that was when he realized they were having their first hug and she felt so perfect in his arms.

Everything that leads to this vulnerable moment vanishes and all that remains is how it takes them so long to hold each other this way.

It felt so perfect like they were meant to be doing this.