01
chapter one | obsession
He is taking laps across the field while she uses her binoculars to observe him. "How many times are you going to look at him like a perv, Kendall?" She flinches back at the term used as perv to describe her tendency to look over her current favorite person on whom she is having a crush for the last three years.
She did everything just to make him acknowledge her presence as a lover in his novella but that damn guy is all over blonde ones and she hates that particular color.
She swats her best friend, Chloe who snickers at how obsessed she is. "Do you think he will ever be more than a friend to me?" Kendall suddenly asks her.
Chloe takes a moment to formulate the correct words. "If and only you get to be the one to confront your feelings to him."
Kendall's shoulders hunch as she watches him stretch his right side while contracting the left one. His muscles ripple the way he arches his back giving a perfect view to her and the miniature throb between her legs.
Kendall has been Grayson's friend since they were in preparatory school but just friend like how their families are, just friend.
Whenever Grayson takes the same route as Kendall, she quickly takes a look in front of the window glass to rectify her haphazard fashion. But all Grayson looked like was a nerdy girl whose surname falls on his family friends list and nothing more or less. He just acknowledges her when she passes by nevertheless with a silly nod that's it.
That's it? Like, I took fucking thirty-five minutes to trim my hair and remove facial hair, also not to forget to add one more period to brush my teeth to shine them, but that's it? A fucking non-existent nod?
Kendall every day tries to grab his attention but how can she when those times are captured by the blonde? Her heart threatens to break yet again whenever he announces his new girlfriend.
A model figure, glossy lips, round eyes, button nose, busty both front and back, slim legs, worthy fashion and not to forget blonde hair.
Whereas, she has a straight body, downturned brown eyes hidden behind square glasses, a snub nose, a small front and big back, baggy clothes to cover her figure, and not forget hidden tattoos, the intricate patterns that Grayson thoroughly hates.
He won't say you directly but the slight grind of jaws will provide enough hint to take the displeasure that courses in the environment but thankfully all those designs are hidden inside her clothes.
As she again takes finite details at her crush, she notices his almond blue eyes shine in face of the sun, his v-triangle face looks rigid and his kurt curtain nose scrunches slightly yet his rich ridges lips curve upward. She swoons in sudden admiration as she finds him performing his task so effortlessly as if the run, jump, and hit in volleyball is quite easy.
Even she thought when she took part in this sport but the next day her wrist got fractured and she deliberately needed help ASAP. From then, she made a thorough decision not to change her tropes or herself. She doesn't want to be fake, she wants him to like her just how she is, in the original version, not a remix one.
How problematic the situation can be when somehow the eyes land directly on the gap of benches where she resides currently? Run.
That's what her earlier plan was but then her body freezes when she finds him, her crush, smiling and waving at her. She awkwardly waves back with a crooked smile.
"Come." He yells from the practice field.
Her heart flutters when she finds him giving warm vibes but just a single step taken, someone pushes her as the body glides across her running to the field. Blond locks hit her face like a broomstick but she can't do anything except gape in shock again a piece of her heart calls for help from her brain but it blocks the beating organ leaving behind a glare of such stupidity.
She staggers back as he offers a full-blown grin at the girl who reaches his arm's length. Kendall's hand is pulled back roughly as she knows her best friend is doing it dragging her to the classroom and all through the journey her heart beats badly, stretching a tune of broken records.
The teacher arrives and after a short, while Grayson too follows bowing slightly to the teacher and walking to the same row he always goes. Just when he is about to pass by Kendall's seat, he gives her a small tug to which she acts oblivious. She looks down scratching her mindless doodles not bothering to look up to the guy and meet for a second rejection.
"Alright students, take your seats, and let's start with the third lesson." Everyone quickly opens the third lesson and listens to the teacher explaining business studies.
"Even if this chapter carries 8 marks, don't let that mark get easily diminished. This time it will come in the exam before summer vacation so, do look into it." Everyone nods their head and starts drawing the pie chart their teacher draws on the blackboard.
After a few minutes, he asks, "Okay, can anybody explain what is liberalization?"
Few students responds but none matched the points the teacher expected. During the study period, Kendall gives her full focus for which Chloe feels a sight of contentment that the mere infatuation doesn't harm her best friend's studies.
Kendall raises her hand and at the same time Grayson too. The teacher raises his brow about whom to choose but gives Grayson the chance so he speaks, "Liberalisation means reduced government controls and restrictions such as licenses."
"Like?"
"Like freedom in fixing the prices of goods services, reduction in tax rates and lifting of unnecessary controls over the economy." This time Kendall interprets.
The teacher squints his eyes yet nods his head. "Good. So, can you tell me what's business environment?"
Kendall nods her head but gets interrupted by Grayson. The whole class finds the interruption kind of amusing but at the same time feels like there is a huge elephant no one wants to include.
"Business environment refers to all the external forces that affect the performance of a business organization. Such forces can be economic, social, political, technological, or legal. Thus, individuals, consumers, government, and legal matters all compose the business environment. For example, change in the political scenario."
"Excellent. Next one, what are its features?"
Before the teacher takes a second to breathe Kendall pumps her full voice. "Business environment is dynamic in that it keeps on changing. Second, Business Environment is the total of external forces."
"One more point from my side too and that is, the Business environment is a relative concept since it differs from country to country and even region to region." Blood rushes on Kendall's neck by missing the most important point that Grayson pointed out.
"I am kind of impressed by how you both are leveling with a firm fist. That's indeed impressive. This summer vacation, I will be putting you both into one project to see how you two make it."
Kendall's eyes widen as she slowly but deliberately turns back to find Grayson's eyes already on her but instead of glaring he gives her a small smile and in return, she does pushing her rim of glasses back.
She then meets the eyes of her best friend who face palms herself.
I am doomed.
