Chapter 137 - Side Story - Percy & Sophie Part 1

Book 5 Introduction of Love & Friendship Series

Ever since she was born, they considered her a curse, a trash and a nobody.

She was the eldest child of the Anderson Clan, the one who should carry honor and bring fortune to the family by marrying a wealthy heir. Their family strengthened its power and wealth by making ties with a much more powerful clan through arranged marriage. It was the duty of the eldest child of the current generation to be married off to another family.

However, she was born with heterochromia. She had different eye colors. One was blue and the other was green. The elders of her family considered her as bad luck so they tossed her aside like trash.

Her twin sister Selene, who was a few minutes younger than her, was given the duty to fulfill her responsibility as the eldest child. She was also chosen as the next heiress of the Anderson Empire. She looked exactly like her but she was perfect. Her eyes were both sparkling like emeralds. Her hair was straight like gold and her lips red as the rose.

As the one who would be the next heiress, Selene was treated like a princess. She was considered as one of the most important members of the family.

And her? She was nothing. Her parents treated her nicely but she never felt the love they were giving Selene. Her grandfather was the same. But the worst were her aunts, uncles and cousins.

She was kept in the mansion because her parents were ashamed that people would see her imperfection and she would disgrace the whole family.

At 10 years old, Selene's future husband was chosen. His name was Percival Jackson, the one and only heir of the Jackson Empire.

The Jackson's owned the largest media company in the country, Media Tech. They also had strong connections with the Wilson Clan, the richest family in the country.

Today, Selene and him would meet for the first time so she was not allowed to go to the dance hall where they held the party.

Instead, she went to the garden to read some books. She was sitting under a maple tree when someone suddenly jumped and landed in front of her. She was startled and her eyes widened seeing a boy standing in front of her, staring directly into her eyes. He had black hair with a set of deep grey eyes.

She blushed and felt embarrassed. He saw her, he saw her eyes! She didn't know what to say or what to do so she covered her face with her hands and started sobbing.

"Hey why are you crying?" He asked.

He rushed towards her and touched her shoulders.

"You saw! You saw my eyes!" She burst while sobbing.

"So? What's with your eyes? What's wrong in it? They're pretty!" He said without hesitation.

She was still covering her face when the boy sat next to her.

"What are you reading?" He asked while picking one of the books she brought.

She removed her hands from her face but her head was still bowed down, trying not to look at him. It was the first time she has spoken to someone other than her family. It made her nervous and excited at the same time.

"Wow! Iliad and Odyssey by Homer! You like Greek Literature?" He enthusiastically asked.

"Yes." She simply answered.

He started reading the book beside her. She didn't say a word and just sat there listening to him, reading it loudly.

"By the way, why are you here? Shouldn't you be inside like the other kids?" He asked, curiosity piqued.

Still not looking at him, she whispered, "N-No. I wasn't allowed."

To her surprise, he grabbed her chin and tilted it up. His face was so close, his eyes staring into her eyes again.

Her eyes widened and she froze for a moment.

"Why do you talk to me with your head down?" He asked.

"M-My eyes, they're different." She stammered.

"Heterochromia. That's what you have." He commented with a frown.

"Yes. It's a curse." She said softly.

She was shocked when he suddenly laughed. He removed his hand from her chin and crossed his arms. She stared at him, confused.

"Who told you that?" He asked his voice somehow sounded annoyed.

"M-My family." She murmured.

"Then your family is crazy! This is the 21st century. No one believes in curses anymore. It's true, it's an eye defect but it isn't a curse. And it really looks good on you. It's pretty. It's like the color of the sky and the ocean. I like it." He said amused, smiling sweetly at her.

She blushed. He's the first person to tell her that she wasn't cursed or defective. He said she was pretty. She felt her heart skip a beat. She felt so happy for the first time in her life.

"What's your name?" He asked.

"I-I'm So-" She was cut off by the sound of a man's voice shouting near them.

Her body trembled. No one should see her there. Her grandfather would get mad at her if someone found out about her.

She stood up and ran further in the garden. She hid herself in the bushes but she could still see the boy from where she was. He was looking for her when she suddenly took off.

"Master Percy, you're here. Your parents are looking for you. Selene is waiting for you." She heard the man tell him.

She suddenly felt her heart was pierced by something. He's Percy. Her twin sister's betrothed.

She was so curious that she wanted to see for herself their first meeting. So she sneaked inside the hall and just hid from somewhere that no one could see her.

Hiding was her best skill after all. She was hidden from everyone from the first day she was born. Eventually, she got used to it and hiding herself became a habit.

She can see her mother introducing Selene to Percy. She smiled at him and he smiled back at her. Her heart feels like it was crushed. She thought she found a person that belongs only to her. But she was wrong, he was for Selene all this time. It should be her. He should be hers. She thought to herself.

She didn't realize she was crying when suddenly he turned his gaze to her. Did he know where she is? She was not sure. But he was smiling at her. He wasn't looking at Selene. He's looking at her.

That was the first time she wanted something that Selene owns. She wanted him to be hers.

"I wish Selene would disappear so I could get the life she stole from me." She whispered.

She didn't know that those words would come true one day and Percy would become her stolen love.