Chapter 88 - "Connor"

When Xia arrived at the penthouse, she opened the door using the key he gave her and went inside. Standing at the porch, she looked inside and noticed how everything was neat and in order. She changed out of her shoes into the slippers and went inside. Her gaze shifted to one side of the wall a complicated emotion appeared in her eyes as she looked at the giant photo of Conner.

''He hasn't changed much since then'' she muttered as she started to reminisce on the past.

20xx

It was raining heavily that day and Xia had forgotten to bring along her raincoat that she always carried with her every time she left the house. This was due to the fact that she was already late for her University orientation, and also didn't want to be nagged by her mother. Today was her first time of going to the university. She was a freshman and was attending the orientation for the first time.

When she got down from the taxi, she ran into the main building where the orientation was supposed to take place, but luck wasn't on her side. She went inside and was told the orientation was taking place in another building which was a five minutes' walk from where she was.

Standing in front of the building, contemplating on how to get there, she suddenly found an umbrella over her head. she looked up and saw a handsome boy or man, she was sure what to classify him as, he smiled at her saying.

''You can have this one. I am going into that building, I don't need an umbrella''

''Huh?'' Xia looked confused as he forced the umbrella into her hands and turned to go inside the building. ''Wait…'' he was gone by the time she came back to her senses. Xia watched him going further into one of the rooms in the building.

Xia adjusted the umbrella and ran off towards the new building where the orientation was going to take place.

A few days later.

It was a week after the orientation and Xia was now accustomed to the school she was attending. She made sure to carry the brown umbrella with her for the past one week but she didn't see the boy/man who came it to her. She was hoping that she would find him one day and then thank him and returned the umbrella to him.

She had searched for him everywhere but never found him. But she didn't want to give up. She had faith that she would see him one day. Just that she didn't know that day was closer than she thought.

As she turned towards her lecture hall, she bumped into someone and almost fell but the person held her hand, preventing her. The bag fell down from her shoulders in the process.

''I'm sorry'' Xia apologised first and flushed when she looked up and saw him. ''It's him!' she muttered to herself.

''Are you alright? here is your bag'' he said to her as he held the bag that he had picked from the floor. A lot of the students that were going to their classes looked at them.

''Huh?'' Xia looked at the bag and snatched it away quickly. Without saying anything, she ran away.

The man looked at her with an interesting gaze until someone called him from ahead.

''Hey, Conner, what are you doing there''

''It's her' Conner murmured and smiled as he walked away.

''Who is she? Do you know her?'' his friend asked.

''Yes, I gave my umbrella to her the other time because it was raining''

''You gave your umbrella to a lady? That is new. You don't even talk to the ladies in our department and you gave your umbrella to a girl?''

''She seemed different. She doesn't know who I am. Isn't that interesting?'' Conner smiled.

''So, you find her amusing because she doesn't know who you are? Is she a freshman? Wait, even if she is a freshman, every freshman knows who you are''

''That is what is amusing about her. Everyone knows who I am but she doesn't'' Conner smirked and walked away.

''What is he talking about?'' his friend shook his head and followed.

…..

Xia removed her books from her bag and looked at the umbrella. She furrowed her brows when she saw the inscription on it.

''Conner?'' she mumbled the name adding, ''it's that his name?''

''Tonight is the basketball night. I heard senior Conner said he will give his shirt to the first lady he locks eyes with after he wins. I can't wait to wear his shirt''

Xia turned when she heard voices behind her. she found two ladies sitting behind her, chatting excitedly. Xia turned her gaze back to her books but her ears peeked up, when she heard the familiar name.

''A lot of girls will be there to catch a glimpse of him. T,hey​ final year girls are swooning over him. I even heard one lady has declared herself as his girlfriend. She is quite crazy, so anyone who gets the shirt would be harassed by her''

''Men like Conner are for everyone. How dare she try to covert him?''

Xia gasped and muttered, ''is he that popular? I would get killed by these crazy ladies when they find out that his customised umbrella is with me'' Xia looked around and pushed the umbrella back into her bag.

…..

Xia stopped in front of the basketball court and sighed as she sucked a popsicle. ''I am supposed to be going home, what am I doing here? Xia, you've gone crazy for a moment''

Xia turned to go and saw them coming into the court. Because she was also standing at the entrance, she was more close to them as they chatted and went inside the court.

When she saw Conner chatting with his friend as they walked towards the gate, she froze and her face turned red.

Conner looked at her and smiled saying, ''you came?''

Xia blushed, tongue tight as she looked at him. She didn't know what happened to her but at that moment, she couldn't open her mouth to give any sort of reply. She cussed herself internally.

''Are you leaving or staying?'' Conner asked as he looked at Xia with amusement. She still didn't say anything to him so he added, ''did you bring my umbrella? If you brought it, then wait till I finish playing the game'' he tussled her hair and muttered as he walked away. ''Cute''

The ladies who were present and saw their brief encounter were filled with jealousy. They glared at Xia and started gossiping amongst themselves.

Xia came back to her senses after Conner left. She couldn't believe what had happened, but she cussed herself more for not being able to say anything to him. she flushed and turned to look inside the court.

Xia turned, about to go and someone stopped her. ''He said you should wait till the end of the game, where are you going?''

''Huh?'' Xia looked at the girl confused.

''Come with me. I will get us a seat that is closer to where he is. He will be able to see you'' the girl said and held Xia's hand, pulling her into the court to get a seat.

''Wait, who are you?'' Xia asked the girl.

''Me? I am Via, I'm in the same class with Conner. Come with me'' Via said as she walked inside with Xia. ''What is your name?'' Via asked.

''Kim Xia''

''Kim Xia, beautiful name'' Via said, pulling Xia along.

They found a seat close to the court just as Via had said earlier on. Xia looked nervous as she sat down. She placed her bag on her laps and clenched her fingers around it tightly.

''How did you meet Conner? I heard him asking if you brought the umbrella''

''I…'' Xia smiled.

''Let me tell you. Conner is a very mysterious figure in this school. Nobody knows anything about him apart from what he lets us know. He is handsome, popular, smart but ironically, he keeps women at an arm's length. You are the first girl he is openly flirting with''

''Flirting? No, you misunderstood us. he wasn't flirting with him. we don't even know each other''

''Conner values that umbrella so much. Even the campus belle and self-proclaimed girlfriend of Conner has never touched the umbrella. But, he gave it to you. Be careful, if she finds out, she will make your life a living hell''

''We don't have that kind of relationship''

''Don't worry, I support you. I don't like the campus belle either. If you are his type, then I support you''

Xia sighed. She really didn't know what to say to him again. she turned and suddenly found all the girls sitting behind her. But they didn't have a friendly look either. It was like they were here to kill her as their gazes penetrated into her.

Not one to attract attention to herself, Xia suddenly felt self-conscious. She didn't have the courage to deal with all of that, so she did what she thought was the best. Xia stood up and bent down, walking out of the court. She saw a pair of heels blocking her and she looked up to find a beautiful girl who didn't look so pleased staring down at her. Xia nodded her head and was about to move forward when the pair of heels stepped forward and tripped her over.