Chapter 68 : When The Playboy Gets Played?

Book:Beverly Hills Academy : The Royal Affair Published:2024-6-2

“Why are they staring?” Natalia whispered to Ada whose hands were glued to hers.
“Since the creation of this building, senior students have never walked in here. Plus, your net worth is close to that of Bianca’s. The first in history.” She explained and tugged her further.
Close?? Alexis snickered disdainfully but Natalia kept her peace. She wasn’t smug of wealth she didn’t work for herself.
But a part of her was stunned. How did they know? Her dress was chic but casual…. in a way. Or was it the tummy belt which had a diamond buckle?? She wondered as they walked into a noisy classroom.
“Cassy, Celine, Joanne, kehlah!” Ada called excitedly to a group of girls at the back row, studying. They looked up with a smile at the sound of her voice but gasped simultaneously.
“Um… Hi?” Natalia beamed, feeling amused by their reaction. And five minutes later, they were giggling like besties. Sorry, they were ALL giggling like besties! The other noisy students had quietened down in awe and were gathered around them!
“I love your hair.” Celine, the timid indian smiled, shyly tugging at a lock.
“And I also love your hair.” Natalia smiled back, touching hers too.
“But I really don’t. It’s black and curly while yours is brownish blonde, super long, smooth and glossy!” She turned dreamy.
“If my hair was that perfect, I wouldn’t have curled it up like yours right?” Natalia asked and she reluctantly nodded.
“Celine, you have to absolutely love yourself the beautiful way you are. Trust me, there are about a billion people out there wishing for what you have but dislike. Cherish it. And I’m not only talking about your hair, okay?” Natalia touched her cheek. She beamed and nodded.
“O. M. G!!” A star-struck voice screamed from the back of the crowd.
Natalia flipped to see a group of stylish girls gawking at her.
“You are THE Natalia Kendell??” The one who screamed emphasized, picking the words slowly.
“Um… Hi?” Natalia repeated for the second time that day and smiled. Her eyes bulged twice over!
“She talked to me??” She whispered to no one in particular. By now, Natalia was sure she was giving her the ‘she’s insane’ looks!
“U… uh… um.. H.. Hi my name is Sophia and these are my crew of… erm… whatever. It’s nice to finally meet you!” She shook Natalia’s hand vigorously without permission. The enthusiasm in that handshake almost vibrated Natalia off her seat!
“Um… You too? Sorry, how do you know me?” It was the only thing the princess could ask as she casually tore her hands away.
But she regretted it almost immediately.
“Only a crazy person wouldn’t!” She screeched as her eyes glowed, making her irresistibly cute in the fashionable beret she and her clique matched with their uniforms.
“You’re currently the most popular girl at the academy who overthrew queen Bianca in THREE days! Number two, you’re dating Arian De’ Argent who’s repeatedly voted as the hottest and richest heir in school! You’re also the most fashionable heiress according to our weekly student’s fashion magazine. You’re the girl who every boy in school, both seniors… and these dummies over here… will love to date! You’re EVERYTHING here, FYI!” She breathed out swiftly, counting her fingers.
Natalia gaped in disbelief. Was this really a school?? She wondered and was tempted to look around.
“What I simply don’t get is why a classy, sassy, rich and extremely popular girl like you is doing… hanging around those losers!” She glared at Ada and her friends, pointing a smug finger at them like they were trash.
Natalia took a good look at Sophia. She looked rich and had a sharp sense of fashion as well as her… friends?
“Why would you call them that?” She asked since no one in the crowd offered to talk. Sophia rolled her eyes.
“Because over here, extreme nerds = weirdos = creeps = losers.” She dutifully explained. “And losers aren’t for a girl your class.”
Natalia couldn’t believe she confidently said those words!
And Ada and her friends couldn’t say a word. They simply looked away and remained mute?
“Well, Sophie…” Natalia started.
“Sophia, but anyone is preferable coming from you.” She fangirled. Natalia smiled.
“Well Sophia, these losers you tagged are my friends.” She stated flatly. It was Sophia’s turn to be shocked.
” B.. but! B.. b.. but!!… b.. b.. but!!!..” She stuttered.
“But nothing. And I’ll like it if you see them the same way.”
“But it’s not possible!” She finally yanked.
“It’s possible, Sophia. Were you expecting me to be rude and pompous just because i’m rich?” She asked and the third generation mistress nodded strongly.
“Sophia, imagine, just imagine if you and Ada wakes up one morning to find out you both switched places. And you become the one being mocked daily and laughed at while Ada was the one causing you pain. Would you like it?”
Sophia pursed her lips like a spoilt brat, looking thoughtful. But then the next moment, she lowered her head and muttered a no. Natalia smiled at her.
“You have to be genuinely nice to everyone, no exclusions. Especially if you wanna be my friend.” She looked at Sophia’s somewhat repentant face.
“Well I’ll think about it.” She cockily pouted.
Pride! The princess thought but smiled all the same.
“Can I be your friend too if I’m nice?” Another girl asked and Natalia nodded gleefully.
The next minute, the rest of the class was screaming ‘what about me?’ out their lungs!
Natalia laughed out because they looked so cute.
“Yes! You can all be my friends.” She said and they cheered. Her giggle increased.
“Natalia?” A familiar accent sounded from the doorway. The crowd looked over and Natalia mentally shrieked.
What was he doing here?! She hastily stood up.
Heated whispers erupted and gasps went round the classroom as Arian De’ Argent walked over. Thankfully, the sophomores were distracted else they’ld have caught the princess gawking at her ‘boyfriend’. As if being controlled, they distractedly made way for him like he was royalty!
The surrounding noise dissolved from Natalia’s ears the moment he placed a soft kiss on her lips before pulling away.
The noise tripled!
“Elva told me where you were. What are you doing here?” He looked around uncomfortably.
“Um.. I.. I was…”
“Never mind. Let’s just leave.” He took her hand and she waved her enthusiastic friends goodbye.
The duo walked quietly back to class. As they entered into the room, Arian casually walked ahead to the backseat where Ricky and Jeffrey was. Natalia mentally shook her head at his smug manners and turned to mutter an apology to the teacher for coming late when;
“Por que você está astrasado, Senhorita?” The Portuguese teacher, who’d been on a leave and had earlier been substituted, welcomed her with a stern look.
Natalia’s brain turned upside down…
***
Nicky wept for Natalia.
Sir Barder was a darn strict teacher when it came to Portuguese class and Natalia just fell into the devil’s trap!
“Por que você astrados Senhorita?” He asked again.
Natalia looked like a lost lamb and Jeez!… Nicky almost laughed out with the rest of the class, the B. R. A. T. S overdoing theirs!
A frown marred the young French’s face.
“Huh?” She innocently asked and Sir Barder almost rolled his eyes. He was asking her why she was late to class.
“Do you need a manual? I could lend you mine.” Bianca snorted and the class chuckled again. No one dared to make too much noise because detention was Sir Barder’s favorite word!
Arian parted his lips to say something when;
“Me desculpe senhor. Eu fui pego em algo.” Natalia turned back to the tutor. (I’m sorry sir. But I got caught up with something.)
Everyone looked in shock wondering how she did it! Mr Barder looked more stunned himself. Do not blame him because no one in class could make a complete sentence without stuttering midway.
“Você é de Portugal? Você nâo parece estar por aqui.” (Are you from Portugal? You don’t seem to be from around here.)
Before Natalia could reply, everyone grabbed their manual for translation.
“Ah! Nao. Eu me mudo muito e aprendo muitas linguas, é por isso.” She forced a smile, feeling terrible for the half truth. (Ah! No. I move around a lot and learn many languages that’s why.)
Sir Barder was impressed. “Isso é bom, mas não venha tarde na próxima vez jovem.” (Good. But don’t come late next time young lady.)
Natalia grinned. “Eu não vou. Obrigado Senhor.” (I won’t. Thank you sir.)
She silently breathed out in relief as she slipped away to her seat, grateful for her royal trainings and ignorant of the gaping eyes trailing after her…
***
“Let’s have lunch in the garden today.” Elva persuaded for the one hundredth time that day!
“Fine! Jeez.” Natalia yapped already frustrated.
“So who’s gonna order?” Nicky asked.
“No need!!” Elva gushed immediately. “I brought some butter cookies and juice packs from home.”
“Yay.” Natalia muttered dryly and rolled her eyes. Nicky chuckled as they sat on the grass in one of the school’s most preferred garden instead of the benches.
“Okay spill! What have you been hiding from me?!” She snapped at Elva.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. You two look suspicious as well!” She turned the table.
“And why would you say that?” Nicky became defensive all of a sudden. Elva gave her that familiar look.
“Yeah Nicky, you too.” Natalia accused also.
“Yo! Don’t try to weasel outta this one, Nat! You’re also acting guilty.” Nicky threw back. Natalia blushed and looked away.
“Gosh!” Elva breathed. “When did this start??”
Natalia and Nicky uniformly groaned in subtle agreement.
“Since no one wanna go first, why don’t we say it together?” Nicky offered and opened her juice pack while Natalia laid flat on her tummy.
“I don’t think so.” She disagreed.
“Not happening.” Elva concurred.
“Then the last person to confess will have to wear a tee shirt that says; ‘ I’mma be the world’s biggest whore!’ for the rest of the week.” Nicky wickedly declared.
.
.
.
Thirty seconds passed in silence as the trio gave themselves cowboy looks.
Don’t blame them ’cause B. H. A, the school hosting all manner of successfully idle bloggers, could ruin a person with just a single detail!
“I kissed Jeffrey!”
“I kissed Arian!”
“I hooked up with Ricky!”
They breathed at the same time and held their breaths.
“What??!” They screamed together the next second.
“How come you never told me!” Natalia accused Nicky.
“How come YOU never told me either!” Nicky retorted.
“And how could you keep something this BIG from us!” They turned to accuse Elva. She groaned crazily.
“I didn’t mean to. It just happened and now I feel so terrible.” She confessed.
“So the playboy gets played?” Natalia wondered.
“Terrible about what? That you played with his feelings and just passed time with him or what?” Nicky cautiously asked, holding on to Elva’s statement.
Nicky knew her brother was still in love with Elva, so a selfish but protective side of her was more than ready to tackle the sulking girl down if she said yes!…
Chapter 69