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Chapter 1.2: Fire Dustin Callante

I unconsciously bit my lower lip as I realized that he's really handsome. His skin is fairer than mine. Its tan color made him look sexier. His broad shoulders are seductive. His wide chest that is really hard made me drool, especially that it's inches away from me. I imagined that if I buried my face in it, I'd feel so comfortable and secure.

Fire Dustin Callante is a very famous person in our whole campus. Besides being a star player in the college basketball team, his family also owns the university that I'm studying at. Rumor has it that even Fire himself belongs to the major stakeholders. That only means one thing, his family and even him is rich. Because of that, it's only natural for many girls to go after him. He's a nice catch after all— handsome and wealthy.

I quickly removed such thoughts in my head. I don't care how handsome or rich he is. I won't even like him because he's a playboy. This is no news to everyone. He's got different girls hanging around him every week. Sometimes, it only takes a day for him to get tired of a girl and find someone new.

Because of these facts, I questioned our current situation. Why would a Fire Dustin Callante waste his time and effort to save a girl like me? Am I really that pretty? Or has he landed his dart on me and became his new target?

I halted my feet.

"Wait a minute!" I forcefully tried to withdraw my hand from his grip but his

"It's past ten already. Let's go to bed if you don't want your eye bags to grow bigger than your eyes." She said as she headed to the room.

I smiled before standing from the couch and following her inside. Lillian told me earlier that she'll be sleeping over at my apartment tonight. Well, I can't really say that this is my apartment when Fire is the one paying the rent instead of me.

I have gone completely broke since that night that met him. It seemed that I needed to lose almost everything in exchange of meeting Fire.

As I laid on the bed, unable to sleep, memorize of Fire once again consumed my mind.

*"Miss"!

*I heard someone's voice calling but I'm not sure if it was for me so I didn't bother turning back.

*"Miss Bar", the same voice called again and I reluctantly faced the origin of the voice.

*I blinked my eyes a number of times to make sure that I wasn't hallucinating but it's really true that Fire Callante is the one walking towards my direction.

*He brushed his hair and I swallowed. He's really handsome. There's no question to that.

*"What are you doing here?" I asked.

*"Because I saw you. Do you have a problem Miss Bar? You look sad." And without a question, he sat beside me.

*I began feeling uneasy. Someone might see us and think that I'm his new flavor of the week. That won't be good for me. Many girls would be jealous if they misunderstood and they might start attacking me even if I'm innocent!

*"I'm alright." I lied. "And I have a name you know? Solene Ramirez is my full name," I added.

*"Ramirez . . ." he repeated and nodded. After that silence enveloped the atmosphere between us until he started talking again.

*"How's your work?" I don't know if he's fooling around or just curious.

*"I no longer have a job." I simply replied. I have been containing my emotions. If not, I might have had a series of breakdowns already. Nobody asked me if I'm okay or not. No one paid attention to my feelings after that incident. The topic was only opened again right now because of Fire.

*My chest caved in. It's so unfair that I know to myself that I did nothing wrong but was unexpectedly removed from my job.

*"I'm sorry Solene . . . but starting from now on, you're fired." Those were the last words I heard from my manager.

*I can't understand why this is happening to me. I was the one harassed but I'm the one getting punished. Is it because the one who harassed me looked like a wealthy man? I wasn't able to stand up for myself or complain to my manager about my sudden dismissal. I bitterly smiled and hurried home. That's what happens when the poor go against the rich. It's bitter but it's reality, and I have known that.

*"I'm sorry to hear that." He said. "You can lean on me."

*I looked up at him. "Why are you doing this? Why are you helping someone like me? You don't even know me."

*He shrugged his shoulders. "Why is it wrong to help?"

*I averted my gaze. "I don't know."

*Fire was about to talk when someone shouted my name.

*"Ramirez, the dean called you in his office!"

*I turned around and saw one of my classmates at the back. I stood up and brushed away the dust from my skirt.

*Fire followed me. "Let me go with you."

*"No it's fine, I can manage myself." I declined.

*"But I insist", and he gently grabbed my shoulders that brought electricity to my veins.

*"I'm really fine . . ."

*"No, I'm coming with you." He said in an authoritative manner that I knew no means of declining would make him change his mind.

*I let him hold me as we walked beside each other to the Dean's office. I felt many eyes on us. Almost anyone that we encounter can't remove their eyes on us. It took me a lot of effort to ignore and endure their gazes.

*I quickly knocked at the door of the Dean's office as soon as we reached it. I was called inside while Fire stood waiting outside.

*I felt my dreams and my world collapsed about the news the Dean shared to me. Because of this, I left his office bewildered.

*Why is this happening to me? Maybe the saying "When it rains, it pours." is really true because I can feel it now.

*How can I achieve my dreams in life now? How can I continue going to college now that I no longer have a job and the scholarship I'm counting on will be taken away from me?

*"What's wrong Solene?" Fire gently brushed the stream of tears rolling on my cheek. I closed my eyes as I let more tears flow. When I looked up at him, I couldn't read the expression on his face. He was like controlling his anger. His emotions were intense while he's staring at me.

*"Hush now Solene." Fire hugged me tightly and I wholeheartedly accepted it. This is what I need right now. Something to hug me and make me feel that someone is there for me during the hardest of times.

*I can longer remember how I walked away in front of the Dean's office and only found myself sitting across Fire inside a coffee shop.

*"Do you feel better now?" He asked.

*I shook my head. "I wanna go home."

*"Solene," he reached for my hand on top of the table, "you can talk to me, you can tell me what's bothering you."

*His words were like the only trigger I was waiting for before I could pour down all of my resentments. I told him everything and he listened attentively. But I was caught off guard by his reply. I felt my body shake because of it. He's really a playboy—no he's an asshole, and he found me as his new target.

*"I can help you. I can pay for your tuition fee. I can give you money to make your life comfortable."

*I was stilled. He'd do that for me?

*"Thanks for the offer, Fire, but I can't pay you back."

*"Solene, there are many ways to pay me back." His voice became serious. He seemed to be thinking about what he's going to say next. I can see uncertainty in his expression.

*Before continuing, he pulled out something from his pocket and put it in my hand— a calling card.

*He took a deep breath. **"You can pay me with your body. Just let me fuck you and you will live comfortably.”

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