Is there such a thing as a squared embarrassment? Oh... There is. That's what Adrianna is feeling right now. She can't even lift her eyes due to the overwhelming shame. Her face must be turning as red as a rotten tomato.
"How long am I supposed to support you like this?"
Oh... Why did Sam have to speak? He might find out that Adrianna is being humiliated! And why is Sam chasing after her anyway? He's like a maniac. What does Samuel want from her? Doesn't he have any activities in his classroom that he has to be at the door of the class where Adrianna is teaching?
"Adrianna?" Sam called once again. "Are you okay?"
Adrianna remained silent.
Sam let out a soft sigh. It's not that he didn't want to hug Adrianna like this. Throughout yesterday, his mind was filled with thoughts of Adrianna. Trying to find a way to have a conversation with her. But... Not like this, right?
What if someone sees them? Oh my god! They could be dragged to the nearest chapel for an immediate wedding!
"You enjoyed hugging me, huh?"
"Ugh!!!" Adrianna immediately let go of the hug. She pushed Samuel with the remaining energy she had. "No, I don't! Not at all!" Adrianna retorted with a glare of disbelief.
"I was helping you, and you pushed me away. If you were far, you could have sprained your foot."
Adrianna cleared her throat nervously.
"As a token of gratitude, let's have a meal together after I finish teaching."
"Huh?" Adrianna widened her eyes. When did Sam become sensible? In his classroom, he seemed like a workaholic. And now?
"Don't give me that expression. I helped you. I'm asking for my payment."
"What are you talking about?!" Adrianna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Seriously! She needed to label Sam as abnormal, her school principal.
"There is. It just happened." Sam patted Adrianna's shoulder gently. He mischievously winked at the still-shocked girl. Finally, Sam found a way to get Adrianna to sit with him. And what was the reason he had been bothering about all night?
****
"Why don't you try to get closer and befriend him? You're coworkers, so you naturally meet every day. Don't you feel awkward or uncomfortable whenever you meet him?" Chloe suggested, trying to persuade Adrianna. "You always argue with each other."
Adrianna scoffed in disagreement. Talking to Chloe when her mind wasn't focused like this only made her more irritated. Especially since Chloe seemed to be supportive of her and Sam getting closer.
Adrianna managed to avoid Sam in the end. She didn't respond to any of Sam's peculiar remarks. Adrianna chose to flee as fast as she could. Not because she didn't want to talk to Sam for too long, but because she was afraid of being seen and alone with Sam. What would people think of her in this school?
It was clear to others that Adrianna despised Sam to the core. She couldn't afford to be caught conversing with him, especially when she remembered the incident that almost caused her foot to be injured.
Damn it!
Damn it!
Damn it!
"Adrianna?" Chloe's voice came again.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I hear you. I don't want to follow any of your suggestions. I don't want to hear anything more about Sam's existence from you," Adrianna replied curtly. "Like there's nothing more important for me to think about!"
On the other end, Chloe chuckled. Chloe had warned Adrianna not to hate too much, as it could turn into affection for Sam. As the saying goes, love and hate go hand in hand. It's not good to go overboard, as it might backfire, and she could end up liking him.
Does that make sense? Well, certainly not to Adrianna! She would not fall in love with someone as annoying as Sam.
Never!
"Well, you should evaluate and think for yourself, Sa. Why should I be friends with that troublemaker? Being friends with him would waste my time. It's not beneficial for me, right?" Adrianna concluded, exhaling harshly. Honestly, she was tired of explaining her feelings to Sam. Because Adrianna, she had no feelings for him other than hate.
"Okay, I can't force you if you're like this. In my opinion, Sam is a good person. Maybe he tries to provoke you, always making you annoyed. That's just one way for him to get closer to you. He wants to be on friendly terms with you. He wants to talk to you more. It's okay to hate, but don't go overboard," Chloe said. Even in their previous conversation, they had discussed this.
Perhaps because Sam's personality is too much for Adrianna to handle, Chloe's words are disregarded.
Ugh!
Once again, those words echoed in her mind, sending shivers down Adrianna's spine. She even distanced herself from her phone to ensure she was calling her friend Chloe.
Hearing Adrianna's silence and lack of response, Chloe immediately chimed in again. "But be careful, and you might end up falling in love. Usually, those who start hating each other end up falling in love getting engaged, and married, hahaha." This time, Chloe's joking couldn't be hidden anymore.
Making Adrianna irritated was quite entertaining for Chloe. No wonder Sam enjoyed teasing and provoking Adrianna; it was more amusing than watching stand-up comedy. Moreover, in Chloe's imagination, she could vividly picture Adrianna's ever-changing facial expressions and eye movements depending on her mood. It was highly entertaining for anyone witnessing it at that moment.
Adrianna's eyes widened. Did she hear correctly? What was Chloe imagining? That she would fall in love with Sam? No way that could happen. Adrianna wouldn't want to be friends with him, let alone anything more. She still considered it an act of kindness not to remain silent when Sam tried to engage in conversation. It was all just a formality, especially at school. And she still saw Sam as a stranger who happened to be the school principal where Adrianna taught and the boss where she earned her money.
She had already thanked him earlier, right? Why bring up falling in love?
"Don't let your words become more absurd. Oh God, protect me from the most ridiculous things in the world, especially regarding Sam! If that were to happen, the world would end, and your discussion might come true."
***
After the final bell rang, Adrianna stopped her teaching activities. She left the classroom and walked along the corridor toward the teachers' room. Ah, remembering the events of the previous day made her feel so embarrassed.
Oh... Sam's invitation? Adrianna managed to avoid it. She dashed out of the teachers' room as fast as lightning. Adrianna didn't care about the work Sam was waiting for her to finish. She felt it was a trap to get her into Sam's office so that he could force her to comply with his request for a meal together.
Adrianna was certain!
On her way to the teacher's office during the school break, Adrianna received a message from her friend, Chloe. In the green conversation bubble of the messaging app, she could read that Chloe was asking Adrianna to come to Beverly Hills because she was trying out a new recipe and discussing a new branch.
"A new branch?" Adrianna exclaimed, unable to hide her excitement. After reading the message, her face lit up with anticipation of what Chloe would cook and whether it would be successful. Chloe asked Adrianna to come to Beverly Hills on Friday.
[What recipe are you making?] Adrianna quickly replied to Chloe's message.
[It's a secret. That's why you have to come here on Friday afternoon.] Chloe replied from the other side.
[Okay, I'll try my best, but I can't promise anything.] Adrianna replied, trying to recall her schedule for the upcoming Friday.
For some reason, Chloe decided to make a phone call.
"Don't you dare not come! There's so much I want to tell you!"
Hearing Chloe's words, Adrianna needed clarification. "Are you... okay?"
"Well, I'm fine. But there's something I want to talk to you about, Adrianna. You're the only one I trust."
Hearing that, Adrianna lost focus on walking. "Okay. I'll come to Beverly Hills on Friday. Could you wait for me? Oh my god!!!"
"Why, Adrianna?" Chloe sounded panicked on the other end. But there was something more urgent now. Adrianna quickly ended their conversation, knowing Chloe would bombard her with many questions.
"Are you okay, sir?" Adrianna asked with a worried expression.
"My butt hurts. Can't you walk and look at the same time?"
Adrianna scoffed. She had intended to reach out and help Sam get up from the fall. But she immediately dismissed the idea when she saw Sam's annoying face. She also remembered how irritating Sam had been all this time.
Sam had intended to intercept Adrianna and ask her why she had been avoiding him. He had also overheard Adrianna's words earlier. But because of that, he ignored his steps. Once again, they came face to face in the corridor, startling them both.
This time, despite Sam's pain from his butt touching the corridor floor, he had a rare opportunity. Sam, who never gave up on getting closer to Adrianna, learned about her plans to go to Beverly Hills. For this time, shamelessly, he would force himself to accompany Adrianna. He would give various excuses, but the most important thing was to attend Adrianna to Beverly Hills.
That was his goal.
"Aren't you going to help me?" Sam asked after organizing all the plans in his head. He didn't want to appear overly eager. But he was anxious to get closer to Adrianna, right?
"No!"
Sam grunted. He only glanced briefly at the girl, who was now looking at him with a displeased expression.
Just wait and see, Adrianna! He muttered to himself.
While Adrianna watched Sam leave with relief, at least for today, she could walk peacefully and return home happily without any strange feelings.
Eh...
"Why didn't Sam ask why I avoided him yesterday? Did he forget?" But shortly after, Adrianna shook her head. "Don't start going crazy. It's good that Sam didn't ask. It's pointless!"
Someone called out to her breathlessly before she could even reach her parked motorcycle.
"Ms. Adrianna!"
Adrianna frowned. "What is it, sir?"
"Mr. Sam is calling you."
God!!! What now?
"Right away, sir. Mr. Sam seems very angry."
Adrianna's mind immediately recalled the tasks Sam had given her. But all the reports were complete.
"Now, Ms. Adrianna."
All Adrianna could do was let out a frustrated sigh. She couldn't refuse or avoid it any longer, especially since Mr. Joko's expression looked grave. Adrianna didn't want others to experience Sam's anger just because of her. But what did she do wrong?
With a heavy heart, she walked towards the principal's office. Her mind was filled with anger and annoyance.
"What's the matter, sir?" Adrianna asked after being invited in. Despite feeling irritated, she still had to maintain politeness.
"Oh, yes. I have a business trip to Beverly Hills this Friday. And you will accompany me during the stay."
WHAT THE FUCK!