Prologue...

She sat in the corner of the darkroom on the cold tiled floor, hugging her knees to her chest as tears kept pouring out of her eyes. She didn't wipe them away. She was in agony. Her heart pained and she just couldn't stop this ache.

Somehow she knew the pain was related to him. It was all because of him.

Why does he have so much effect on her?

She wasn't this weak before.

"Catherine." His deep voice resonated in the coldness of the room causing the hair on her nape to stand up.

She hid her face in her arms and curled more into herself. She didn't want to see him. She didn't even want to hear his voice.

She heard his heavy footsteps approaching as he stopped right in front of her. Her knuckles and nails turned white with the pressure she was grasping her arms.

"Catherine." This time his voice appeared broken and sad. Why was he sounding as if he was in pain? He shouldn't act like that. He should be happy.

"I'm... I'm sorry." His words were a small whisper but she heard them loud and clear.

How ironic it was when you crush something into millions of tiny little pieces and then apologize. Would that heal and bring those broken pieces back? No, sorry won't do anything. It was just a bluff of ointment on your wounds that would only rot more over time.

She used to think she was so strong and calm but he proved her wrong. He made her feel how weak and pathetic she was. 

She felt his hand on her arm and she flinched back badly. Her head snapped up and their eyes met.

Olive green against brown ones.

He takes in a sharp breath looking at her red teary puffy eyes. For the first time, he saw such raw pain behind her always joy-filled eyes and it painfully twisted his heart.

She watched him. He was on his knees right in front of her. His own eyes were misty. Why? Why did he look in pain? Why did he look so sad?

"I... I'm sorry." He said those meaningless words again. But did they mean anything? No.

"You cannot mend what is already broken." She whispered the same words he had said to her once.

Rasmus's shoulders slumped and his head lowered down as a tear fell on his cheek. His heart constricted painfully in his chest.

What has he done!

***

Chapter 1...

The loud blaring of the alarm made her groan in annoyance as she grabbed her phone and turned it off before pushing her head back into the comfort of her pillows. Barely a sigh of relief escaped her lips when there was a loud knocking on her door.

"Go away." She mumbled but she already knew what followed so she covered her face in the quilt when her door opened and light footsteps were heard, followed by the opening of the curtains, so evil rays of sunlight would destroy her peaceful slumber.

"Martha, stop!" Catherine complained groggily as the middle-aged woman started to pull her quilt making her clutch it even more tightly.

"Wake up young lady. You'll be late for University." Martha said as she abruptly yanked the quilt away from her causing Catherine to squeal when cold air caressed her skin. 

God, she hated this.

"You are evil," Catherine complained as she sat up on her bed and rubbed her eyes while yawning and stretching. 

"Of course. I know that honey. Now go take a shower and then wake up your brother, I'm going to make breakfast." Martha said and left the room with a small smile.

Catherine strutted to the restroom, getting rid of her nightgown, she did her business and took a relaxing shower. Coming out draped in her towel,  she wore her clothes, a knee-length skirt, and a button-up shirt tucked in. She blow-dried her hair. 

She walked out and went to Adriel's room and started being evil like Martha as she opened the curtains and started pulling his quilt.

"Honey bunny crunchy Monkey. Wake up." She said in a sing a song manner causing Adriel to groan. Like a sister, like a brother.

"Don't call me that." He groaned as he pulled at the quilt more tightly.

"Okay chipmunk." Catherine giggled when Adriel grumbled in annoyance.

"My name is Adriel." He complained while clutching the sheets oh so tightly. 

"Of course, Sloth." Catherine laughed but it changed into a squeal and then she groaned in pain when Adriel let go of the quilt at once and as she was pulling it with all her might, she went flying on the ground landing safely on her big butt but it freaking hurts.

"You dumbhead!" She growled and before she could charge at him, he already dashed into the restroom closing the door behind and locking it.

"You have five minutes. And don't you forget this. I'll get back to you on it, have my words. I'll settle the score between us."  She grumbled while pounding at his door.

"Yeah blah blah sissy." Adriel the evil, sang from inside as she scrunched her nose up in annoyance and then shook her head with a soft smile playing on her lips.

"Five minutes." She yelled before going out and went downstairs into the hall and then into the large dining room which could accommodate at least twenty people. 

Martha was already setting the breakfast for two. "Pancakes! Martha, I just love you." Catherine said while hopping down on the chair and ogling the food with wide eyes causing Martha to chuckle at the gleefulness of her miss.

"Love you too, sweetie." Martha mused. 

Catherine smiled when Adriel walked in still looking sleepy. Catherine is 19 years old and her little brother Adriel is 10. They both live in this magnificent palace-like mansion alone with their father. Well not her father. 

Amelia was a single mother, Catherine's father abandoned Amelia because he didn't have the balls to be a young father, so Amelia raised Catherine alone. Amelia was 18 years old when she had Catherine. Catherine was 8 when Amelia got the eyes of the wealthy man. Richard Hill, a 30-year-old bachelor. As Richard used to say, he instantly fell in love with Amelia at first sight. Amelia was 26 then with an 8-year-old daughter and Richard accepted them both with open arms. They got married and after a year Adriel was born. Their family was complete. They were so happy but on Catherine's 14th birthday...

Amelia met with an accident. She wasn't alone in the car, Catherine was there with her. But God saved her and took her mother away. Catherine never talked about the accident to anyone. Amelia's death shook their happy home.

But they cope with it. Things changed. Catherine started to take care of her brother and Richard started to drown more in work, distracting himself from the loss of Amelia.

The absence of Amelia became a constant in their lives and heart but they had found a way to live with it and Catherine found happiness in the smallest of the things.

Martha has been working for them since Amelia came into this mansion as a bride. Martha was a second mother to them and they both love her so much.

"Why do you always make her favorite food, this is cheating Martha," Adriel complained and Catherine only let out an evil laugh causing Martha to smack her head playfully, making her pout.

"I'll make chicken steak for dinner." Martha mused, causing a big smile to appear on Adriel's face and Catherine smiled sheepishly looking at her brother.

They eat their food while Catherine banter how she and her squad pranked the university's Janitor by becoming ghosts, wearing a wig and costume. Adriel laughed while hearing his sister.

After breakfast, Martha handed a lunch box to Adriel who ran out of the mansion and left with the driver in his car for the school.

Catherine kissed Martha on the cheek as she too went out. Her driver was waiting for her on the porch. Mr. Steve opened the door for her. "Good morning Mr. Steve." Catherine smiled as Mr. Steve replied with a genuine smile.

The girl was like the only source of light in the whole mansion, who spread smiles and positivity everywhere. Just by looking at her breathtaking smile people felt like smiling back. 

She was a jolly person. The one who spreads kindness, love, and joy. She was full of fun and thrill. Just look at her and you feel like falling for her charms already.

Mr. Steve stopped the car at the main gate of the campus. Catherine said thank you and hopped out before Mr. Steve would come out and open the door for her. She swung her bag back on her shoulder and started to walk in.

The eyes came on her instantly. She was one of the famous ones here. She and her gang. It was her first year in university and already she has a gang of best friends and they already gathered a lot of fame around here with their stupid pranks and fun all the time.

She barely stepped into the corridor when a shrill voice screamed. "CATHERINE!" And Avery jumped on her in a bone-crushing hug as Catherine laughed and hugged her back.

"You scream like-" Catherine was about to say when Avery moved back with wide eyes. "Don't even start," Avery warned as Catherine let out a small chortle. 

Avery aka the melodramatic queen of their group. She's the typical long nails, high heels, red lips, blonde. But she was just so sweet by heart.

"Aww such a pretty reunion. How many years have passed since you last met? Oh yeah, probably 18 hours or so." Samuel joked with an eye roll as he came to stand beside them. 

Samuel was tall and handsome with tan skin and curly hair and his smile, you could say his smile causes the heads to turn in his direction.

"Don't be jealous Sam." Catherine mused, causing him to grin at her. 

"Am I missing some party?" Joseph came running wearing his number. Yeah, Joseph was the typical bad boy, Jock of their campus. Famous, absolutely, but his circle of friends involved  Samuel, Avery, Catherine, and Quinn. These five were inseparable. 

Some think they become friends in uni but none knows they were in the same college, they're family friends as well. Sam, Joseph, and Avery were diaper friends. Quinn and Catherine were the ones who became their friends in college and from then the biggest and fantastically psychotic and the most fun-loving gang was created. It was not that it was fun all the time, they did study hard to get admission to Stanford University. And gladly they all got admission on merit but poor Quinn had to work hard on Joseph cause the bad boy was null in studies.

"Where's Quinn?" Joseph asked as he deliberately ruffled Avery's hair causing her to growl at him. "She's the nerd of our circle. The class starts in two minutes, where do you expect her to be?" Avery asked with a cocked brow causing Joseph to chuckle.

"Alright, let's meet at the cafeteria in recess," Sam said and they all nodded heading to their first class.

Quinn, Catherine, and Joseph were majoring in business so almost all their classes were the same. Sam is doing law whereas Avery is totally and unapologetically lost in the deep love of history so yeah she was majoring in history.

They walked into the class and Joseph went to sit in the back not before pulling Quinn's ponytail in his way of greeting and she glared at him as he smirked and sat at the last seat.

Catherine too sat in the last seat beside Joseph's, whereas Quinn was sitting in the first seat. Catherine and her whole group were a backbencher except only the great Quinn. Though this doesn't mean they get bad grades. Nope, they all are blessed with good brains so they enjoy a lot and get good results too, viola.

Within a minute they heard footsteps approaching so everyone straightened up as the professor walked in. He greeted the class as everyone settled down on their seats.

"Class, there's a new student who joined." The professor said and everyone stared at each other confused. A new student! That too in the middle of the semester. 

The footsteps that followed were heavy. All eyes were set at the door when a tall hunk walked in. Probably 6’2. His head down, the dark black hair finger-combed back as one of the rogue strands adorned his forehead. His skin was tan. She instantly noticed, trimmed beard on his sharp jaw, she could bet he was older than her. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed his pink lips sealed in a thin line. High cheekbones, straight nose, thick brows knitted together, was he angry? His lashes were thick. She lowered her eyes down, he was wearing a black T which was full sleeves and fitted, damn his body. Oh damn! She looked at Joseph who was to her left and he looked at her at the same time and she cocked her brow at Joseph, looks like someone would give Joseph a tough time because this dude was giving out pure bad boy vibes.

The dude was wearing black pants, black boots, and Oh la la. She checked him out thoroughly before looking up at his face again.

She took a sharp breath, her eyes widening slightly when she found his olive eyes staring straight back at her. They were cold. He looked mad and she didn't know why. 

'Look away dude.'

She muttered in her head.

'I know I'm pretty. But stop gawking in front of the class. Jeez, where is your etiquette?' She thought while still matching his gaze.

Her jaw dropped when the handsome dude looked away and she saw him rolling his eyes. 

'Wtf! What do you think of yourself huh? Stupid.' She thought with an eye roll. 

Unfortunately, Joseph saw the whole scene and he was controlling his laughter. Great.

"This is Rasmus Colt." The professor introduced as everyone just gawked. "Take a seat, Rasmus," Professor said and unfortunately, there were only three seats left, two in the front row and one just beside Catherine.

The silent man walked all the way back and hopped on the seat beside her.

Silence.

Catherine blinked and made eye contact with Joseph, he was still smirking at her. To prove him wrong and wipe that smirk off of his face. She turned towards the silent guy aka Rasmus.

His name was unique.

"Hey!" She smiled at him and the big guy didn't even spare her a glance.

‘Did he just ignore my existence?’

She heard a snicker from Joseph and she turned to glare at him.

Idiot Joseph.

Stupid, arrogant Rasmus.

"By the look on Catherine's face, I'm dying to know it." Avery chirped as Quinn cocked a perfect brow at Catherine, completely saying, 'what did I miss?'

"So the professor introduced a new student today." Joseph started as Avery put her spoon down and grasped her hands together giving him her utmost attention.

"I'm all ears." She said,

These two should join a circus. Catherine thought with an eye roll as her eyes landed on someone sitting on the table, two tables away from theirs. He sat alone with his food and didn't bother to spare anyone a single glance. The dude looked as if someone had forced the crap out of him to attend the university.

"Catherine was checking him out when that dude rolled his eyes at her," Joseph said with a low laugh, causing Catherine to scrunch her nose at him in annoyance.

"Woah. He must be something to roll his eyes at such beauty." Avery said dramatically.

"Shut up, Avery," Catherine muttered.

"That's not it." Joseph mused.

"Oh, there's more?" Samuel asked with raised brows as he took a big bite of his burger.

"Professor asked him to take a seat and there were a total of 3 seats available, two at the front and one beside Catherine. Guess what?" Joseph chirped like a girl.

"You don't have to be that specific, Joseph," Catherine muttered, annoyed.

"What?" Avery, Samuel, and even Quinn, the three of them said simultaneously causing Catherine to glare at them with slight shock. Even Quinn was enjoying it. Great.

"That dude walked to the back of the class, sat beside Catherine, and Catherine, being over smart said 'Hey!' To him..." Joseph was snorting a type of laughing while telling the adventurous tale. He deliberately said Hey in a girlish voice as mimicking her.

"Then?" Avery inquired as Joseph tried to control his laughter.

"He ignored her existence, hahaha." Joseph laughed and everyone else busted into laughter as well.

"Not funny," Catherine muttered as she ate her pasta ignoring her laughing friends.

"I would love to see the hunk who ignored her." Avery mused as she ate her salad. She and her love for dieting.

Joseph's ears perked up as he rounded his eyes around the cafeteria until it finally landed on the man of their conversation.

"There to my right two tables away. The lone guy. That is Rasmus Colt." Joseph mused as Avery's jaw dropped and she gaped at Rasmus. Not only her, but Quinn also stared at Rasmus.

"He's f**king hot." Avery sang while eye-r*ping the guy. "I agree." Quinn quipped in and Catherine's eyes widened slightly because Quinn never finds anyone attractive.

Excellent.

"No wonder he ignored your existence. He looks like a Greek God." Avery mumbled.

"He didn't ignore me. He just didn't hear my voice. Yeah." Catherine said as if telling herself, causing the four of them to scoff at her.

"Is that so?" Avery cocked a perfect brow at her as Catherine hummed in response while eating her food.

"Why don't you go and get me his number?" Avery suggested with the waggle of her brows as Catherine let out a low laugh.

"Well, why don't you go get it yourself?" Catherine suggested.

"But that guy ignored you and you said he didn't hear you. Why not check it now?" Joseph joined in with Avery as Catherine narrowed her eyes at him in anger.

"I won't do all this just to prove you guys wrong." She muttered while munching on her food.

"What are you afraid of?" Joseph asked, clearly fuelling her anger.

"I'm not afraid of anything." She growled slowly.

"So why not prove these idiots wrong?" Samuel asked with a tilt of his head.

"I'm not in the mood." She said dryly.

"He ignored her, that's why she's not going, I can bet on it," Quinn said, causing others to titter.

"What will I get if I prove you guys wrong?" She asked calmly while moving back on her seat in a relaxed stance.

When the four of them drowned in thinking, she spoke up herself.

"Funfair." One word and the four of them groaned. "Not that," Joseph said like a scared puppy.

"Funfair or I'm not going." She mused.

She knew her friends hate rides, especially Joseph and Avery. They would run miles away from scary rides which simply means they would take their bet back.

"Fine. If you get his number. We all would go to a funfair and yes we'll sit on all those absurd rides which you would say." Joseph said with a smirk and Catherine's confidence wavered. The jerk knows that Rasmus dude would ignore her again.

But she was Catherine the Great. She would make the silent man talk.

"Fine." She muttered and stood up as her chair creaked and she walked towards him.

"Here goes nothing." She muttered with a deep breath.

"Here goes nothing." She muttered with a deep breath, taking slow and calm steps towards him. She smoothly sat on the chair opposite him.

The man didn't even notice her presence, drowned in his food.

She didn't dare look at her friends because they must be grinning like idiots right now.

Catherine dramatically cleared her throat to get his attention, which did get his attention. He stopped eating for a complete two seconds before he started eating again. Eyes still on his food.

Catherine again cleared her throat a little loudly now. He smoothly grabbed his can of coke and put it in front of her.

Her cheeks tinted a bright shade of red as she heard the booming chortle of her idiotic friends.

"Thank you." She said rather plainly as she opened the can and took a gulp of the drink, his eyes were still on the food so she timidly toasted the drink at her friends who were smiling at her.

"So why did you take admission so late?" She breaks the ice.

No reply.

'God. What was this man? Mute Gorilla or something.'

She thought in her head. "Are you mute? You talk in sign language?" She asked and then she signed a hello. She knows one or two words in sign language, which she learned when she visited the orphanage for special kids.

Her heart jolted when he finally raised his head, and those olive hues met her hazel ones. Her hands became sweaty as she immediately looked down not because she was afraid.

No.

His gaze was so freaking intense, and piercing through her soul.

When she peeked at him again. He focused on his food again as she let out a small inaudible sigh.

"So Mr. Mute. I was here to ask if you would like to be my friend? It's not that I go around the university asking guys to be my friend. To be honest, you're the first. You should consider yourself lucky seriously. You'll become friends with great Catherine.... oh wait, stupid of me, I didn't even introduce myself. I'm Catherine, 19 years old, doing a major in business which you might've already figured out I guess." She blabbered on. Her habit. She could talk nonstop without a pause. She called it her talent.

"Oh please, don't bother to introduce yourself. I know you won't speak. I'm fine with it. Well, I know a little about you. You're majoring in business. Prolly failed a couple of times to still be in the first year when you look like you are in your final year. I could guess your age too, I'm excellent at guessing so let me guess, you might be 22 to 25. You can't be more than that. You don't have wrinkles or anything. By the way, my friend is already head over heels for you. Her name is Avery. She was asking me if I could get her your number..." She blabbered and let the sentence hang when he still didn't reply. Not even a twitch in his expression she continued.

"She's very hot you know. She's blond, has pretty nails, and has red lips. Well, I don't go around doing matchmaking but trust me you'll like her. I have a whole gang of friends. Two boys and three girls, if you want to join then it would be awesome. Well again I don't go around talking to strangers to join my gang but Mr. Colt you're no stranger. We've already established a relationship where you ignore me all the time and I've to keep bantering because I need your number just so I could prove to my friends that you didn't ignore me, now what do you say-'' She stopped speaking when he casually stood up, not sparing her a glance.

Walking to the dustbin he threw the leftovers as he placed the tray on the counter and strolled out of the cafeteria. She couldn't stop but noticed his stance. He gave out dominating and intimidating dark vibes. She noticed how the girls gawked at him. She knows he was handsome but girls need to control their horny selves. Gosh.

She jumped in surprise when Avery patted her on the shoulder lightly and hopped down on the seat beside her. Joseph, Samuel, and Quinn followed, joining the table along with their food.

"So?" Avery chirped as Joseph tried to hold in his chortle but ended up barking huge laughter out within seconds her idiot friends were laughing hysterically.

She scrunched her nose up, folding her arms on her chest, she rested back on her chair while glaring at the door from where Mr. Mute left.

Great.

"You were blabbering nonstop. You blabber when you're nervous and damn. That man didn't even say a word." Joseph laughed while slapping the table in a clapping manner as she glared at him.

"He offered me his drink," Catherine said as she showed them the can which was still in her hand.

"Babe he thought you've got a sore throat with all that throat clearing. He was just being kind." Avery mused and Quinn giggled while cupping her mouth and shaking her head in negative as if she wasn't laughing.

"Whatever," Catherine muttered, annoyed.

"So we aren't going to the funfair. This means we need to give a punishment to you for losing the bet." Samuel grinned evilly.

"Wait a second. I still didn't give up." Catherine gave them her pearly white smile.

"And you all never mention the time. So for now I'm already in the bet." She smiled innocently.

"Fine. You've got a week." Avery started.

"No. At least two weeks." She debated.

"You can take two years if you want," Joseph grumbled.

"Two weeks I vote." Quinn voted in her favor.

"One week I vote." Both Avery and Joseph said simultaneously.

Now all eyes were on Samuel to decide the fate of the bet.

"Two weeks." Samuel smiled and high-fived Catherine.

"So two weeks for Mr. Mute to start speaking again." She smiled with a new mission brewing in her head.

"Horror," Adriel said.

"Action." Catherine chirped.

"Horror."

"Action."

"Horror."

"Action."

"Horror."

"Fine then watch it alone I'm leaving," Catherine muttered as she tried to jump off the bed when Adriel immediately held her hand, stopping her.

"Fine! You're a blackmailer you know." Adriel grumbled as he searched for an action movie on Netflix.

"Aww thank you." She smiled while shuffling his hair as he grumbled and both the siblings watched the movie while eating popcorn.

Half of the movie passed and Adriel was already snoring on her shoulder making her roll her eyes at his enthusiasm of watching a movie but ending up asleep in the middle.

She moved carefully and laid him properly on the bed as she covered him up with the blanket. Turning the LED off, she kissed his forehead. She wasn't the one to show affection a lot but she loved Adriel dearly. He was her only family. She cherished him a lot.

Closing the door she walked out only to halt in her steps when she found Mr. Richard standing beside the door. He smiled at her and went in to check on the sleeping Adriel. 

The next morning Catherine woke up tired and exactly on time. She felt like taking off but the new mission she had to accomplish made her go through her routine as she hurriedly took a shower and got ready for university. 

She went into Adriel's room and woke him up. This time she didn't pull his blanket, she opened his game and started playing on his Xbox.

"I'm dying. Oh, damn, I died again. Gosh, I'm wasting Adriel's coins and all the lives he has left." She said loud enough for Adriel to grumble as he checked on her only to scream horrified. "STOP CATHERINE!" The way Adriel jumped on her had her laughing out loud as he grumbled taking the joystick from her, he paused the game and turned to glare at her.

"You ruined two of my lives!" He yelled and the next thing he was running after her. Catherine giggled as she ran out of the room and closed the door while holding the knob tightly so he wouldn't come out.

"You made me fall yesterday. It's a payback baby." She sang as Adriel growled trying to open the door but he couldn't, Catherine was slightly stronger in this case. Because she was older.

"Get ready. We are already getting late." She yelled as Adriel grumbled and left the door before padding into the en-suite bathroom.

She giggled at her doings and went down into the hall then to the dining table where freshly made breakfast was waiting.

Richard has already left for work. "Thank you, Martha." Catherine smiled as Martha served her. Adriel came as they both had their breakfast.

They both left in their respective cars.

Mr. Steve stopped the car at the parking lot of the university as Catherine hopped out after thanking him only to pause when a Porsche 911 GT3, jet black rolled in, that almost every set of eyes set on it.

Whoever it was, must be filthy rich but she cared, Nah. She shut the door and started to walk in when the person came out of the car causing her to pause on her parade to go in.

She watched as Mr. Mute opened the back door, grabbed his bag. Ever so elegantly he shut the door, locked the car with the remote control. Took out his ray-ban and wore it.

Damn! He looked hot as he walked in and all the girls went horny on him.

There was something in his walk. The way he walked like he was the King of some sort. His stance attracted her, no doubt he was handsome. The aura, the vibe, his stance. These were the things attracting her. She never gets impressed by the looks cause they could be deceiving but the personality and aura of a person speak a lot about him.

She blinked coming out of her trance and as if something kicked in, she jogged after him and in a minute she was walking beside him.

His hands were in his pants pocket. Catherine smirked as she took her ray-ban and wore them and just like him she placed her hands in her pants pockets and mimicked his style of walking just to annoy him so he would talk first. He surely noticed her but he literally...

Ignored her existence.

She scrunched her nose up and stopped marching. He kept sauntering, not giving a flying ‘f’ about it. 

'The freaking bet!' She growled in her head and again ran after him. 

"Hi." She chirped and turned around so now she was ambling backward while facing him. He kept his face lowered and ignored her.

"I'm starting to think you're deaf as well." She blurted out and then bit her tongue. Always. Like always she blurts out absurd sh*t and regrets later.

The man didn't even bother to raise his head. 

'He seriously can't hear. So sad.' She thought ruefully.

"I know it's difficult for you to be deaf and mute. It must be hard but on a serious note if you need help or anything regarding notes and stuff I'm always here. Oh, you can't hear... wait let me write it down." She took out her notebook and wrote it down as she tore the paper and held it in front of him.

Ignored.

Her jaw dropped down. "Don't tell me you can't even read." She blurted while tearing the paper she pushed the torn pieces in her bag.

"I should tell my friends you are a very nice guy. We should not disturb you." She smiled at him yet he kept looking ahead.

"Slow down Mr. Mute. Are you jogging? You see I can't keep up ooh-ahhh.`` She squealed as her heel bumped into something and she was falling back when a strong calloused hand grabbed her arm and she was pulled against a hard chest making her gasp loudly.

"Careful!" Mr. Mute said in his thick, rich, deep, damn, hot voice.

"He said what?" Avery asked with wide eyes.

"I was about to fall, he grabbed my arm to save me and said, '' Careful!" Catherine said the last words in the same manner as he said it.

"Wow, he ain't mute," Quinn said as Catherine nodded feeling stupid of all the things she has said to him. Gosh, he wasn't even mute which meant he's not deaf also. Why does she always embarrass herself? 

"You won't believe half of the things I said to him in my blabbering," Catherine muttered as she took out the books of her next class from the locker.

"Awesome. Then what happened after that?" Avery muttered as she checked her nails.

"He steadied me, stepped away from me as if I'm cactus, and then strolled away," Catherine said with a sigh.

"I don't know how to approach him. He's just too weird." Catherine mumbled.

"Leave it, Catherine. Admit your defeat." Joseph mused with the waggle of his brows, causing her to scoff at him.

"In your dreams." She muttered.

"It's getting boring," Avery muttered.

All of a sudden they were approached by a group of jocks. "What's up Joseph?" Ezekiel said he was the captain of their team. And unfortunately, he was interested in Catherine. 

No doubt he was handsome, with looks and physique. Tall and charming. Many girls were already after him as he was their senior and very well known around the university. 

"Hey, Catherine." Ezekiel greeted her with his charming smile as she smiled back at him and waved her hand slightly. "Hi." She said in her happy tone.

"How have you been?" He asked with a raised brow. He had asked her this same question a day before yesterday.

"I'm good. What about you?" She, being polite, asked him the same question. 

"I'm good. Are you free tonight?" He asked out of the blue as Avery nudged her elbow making her nervous. 

"I and Adriel have to attend a party of dad's close friend tonight." She blurted out the first thing that came to her mind.

"Oh." He said while nervously rubbing the nape of his neck. He's cute.

"Maybe some other time," Ezekiel said as Catherine gave him her pearly white smile. 

"Yeah for sure." She said with a slight blush on her cheeks as Ezekiel with his gang left and now her friends were gaping at her as if she had committed a crime.

"Don't tell me you're into him?" Joseph asked with a yuck face.

"Shut up, Joseph." She said with an eye roll.

"You're single. Why don't you date the poor guy? He's so into you and I don't see any problem babe." Avery said with a raised brow.

"Yeah says who, the one who is single herself," Catherine muttered.

"Shut up. If a handsome guy like Ezekiel would be head over heels for me then babe, I would date him." Avery said as Samuel came and joined them.

"So what's the status?" Samuel asked while looking at Catherine. 

"Seriously guys, y'all have nothing to do other than that bet?" Catherine asked, annoyed.

"It's getting boring. Where's the fun-loving Catherine? Do something babe. Pull a stunt on him. Make him react. Make him talk." Avery mused with a mischievous face as an idea popped in Catherine's head and she smirked evilly. 

"Of Course, honey, wait and watch." Catherine grinned.

She sat on her usual seat. A moment later Mr. Mute walked in and sat on the seat beside hers while ignoring her smoothly.

'What are you? A God or something? So much attitude, jeez.' She thought with an eye roll.

The professor came after a minute as everyone took their seats.

It was during the lecture when Catherine stood up on her seat. "Stop or I'm telling Professor," Catherine said while glaring at Rasmus.

Professor paused as he turned to face her and every student turned back to look at the scene. Enough audience for the show.

Mr. Mute still didn't look at her.

'This is a crazy level of ignorance, man.' She muttered in her head. 

"What happened, Miss. Catherine?" Professor asked calmly.

"Sir, Mr. Rasmus has been continuously bothering me to give him my marketing assignment. How can I do that? I've worked so hard on it." Catherine said in a sad broken voice looking like a victim.

Joseph's jaw dropped as he tried to hold in his laughter and Quinn slapped her forehead and then shook her head at her stunt.

"What is this behavior, Mr. Colt?" The professor asked while putting his sole attention on Rasmus as he crossed his arms on his chest in a strict stance.

Rasmus finally looked up from the book and his olive eyes met straight with her hazel-brown ones making her breath hitch.

He shoveled through his bag and then put a file on his desk rather disrespectfully. "My assignment." His voice was deep and cold as he glared at the professor who looked taken aback by his fierceness.

Catherine was stunned, to say the least.

"Where is your assignment which he wanted to copy? Can you show me?" Professor asked and she bit her lower lip. She hadn't even made her assignment. 

Superb.

She stayed quiet. 

"Miss. Catherine. Detention for you now!" Professor growled at her.

'Oh crap!' 

She glared at him who was already looking at her with a slightly raised brow as she strode out.

Bloody hell!

She sat in the empty classroom whereas her friends must be laughing at her situation and would be having lunch in the cafeteria. 

She felt angry and stupid at the same time.

She was about to make him speak. Though he spoke which ended her in detention. It was far better when he kept his mouth shut.

Mr. Mute one and Catherine zero. No worries. She knows how to level the score. He thinks he could mess with her. Well, he didn't know what Catherine was. Now she would show him what she could do to him.

Heck, she felt angry.

"Who will save you from my pranks? Mr. Mute." She smirked.

The next day passed in complete silence. Catherine didn't bother him. Nor did she pay him any attention. She made him want to believe that she had finally left him alone.

She was sitting with her friends in the cafeteria as Avery brought the topic of Rasmus up gazillions of times, so Joseph spoke up.

"I've heard from the coach that Rasmus will be joining us in the practice match tomorrow for player selection for the finals," Joseph informed which got her attention.

"Wow. I didn't know that he was a player." Avery mused saying double-meaning words, causing Joseph to roll his eyes as Quinn munched on her food quite elegantly. Samuel too sat quietly eating and watching.

"13 days left babe." Avery reminded her, making her sigh. "I know that already." She muttered as she noticed Rasmus walking in. He walked to his usual table and sat on it alone.

The rest of the day followed smoothly.

The next day Catherine left the home a bit early. She couldn't sleep the whole night. She wasn't feeling kinda excited or nice at home so she decided to have breakfast at her favorite cafe.

She walked in as she waited in line to place her order. When it was her turn she ordered some chocolate waffles and hot chocolate coffee. Her love for chocolate was otherworldly.

She sat down on her favorite spot. Just near the window as she gazed outside the window while devouring her food.

Fate was so complicated. It gives you everything and yet it takes your everything. Often she couldn't help but blame herself for the death of her mother. The more she drowns in such thoughts, the more difficult it becomes for her.

She was sipping on her hot chocolate coffee when her eyes zeroed in on something out on the street.

It wasn't something. It was Mr. Rasmus Colt sitting in the outdoor cafe across the road.

He was eating pancakes while his eyes were looking at the passing cars.

She narrowed her eyes. He wasn't so far away. She could easily see the expressions on his face. His eyes. Those olive orbs looked lost and sad.

His face was void of any emotions but his eyes were speaking volumes. Before she could even look more properly, his eyes snapped straight in her direction with such speed, making her gasp out loud as she jumped back in her seat.

She placed her hands on her chest to calm her rapidly beating heart down and looked down pretending that she wasn't just watching him.

She decided to peek at him if he was still looking or not. She closed her eyes shut tightly and grind her teeth in annoyance. He was still looking.

Mr. Mute kept looking straight at her, making her a lot more nervous. It wasn't that she was committing a crime here that he was scrutinizing her under his gaze.

She drank her coffee silently this time looking at the interior of the cafe. She felt it before she even saw it. He was gone. She couldn't feel his heated gaze on her.

She slowly turned around and again peaked in his direction to find the chair empty. A sigh left her lips. She didn't know why she was holding her breath.

Catherine finished her food and came out of the cafe only to halt dead in her steps when she saw her reflection in the window.

Her jaw dropped. The window was tinted black from outside. Only the insider could see outside while the outsider would only see his or her reflection.

Then what in the world was that? She seriously felt him drilling holes in her head with his heated gaze. The way he looked exactly in her direction. The way he kept looking as if he knew she was sitting there. 

'Scary....' 

She muttered in her head and tried to toss it off. She took the cab to the university and luckily she reached there on time.

Mr. Steve won't let her out without the car and him. She had to request him a lot to let her go as she wanted to have some time alone and then he finally agreed to let her go only on one condition that he would be at university to pick her up after classes. She didn't argue on it.

Catherine went straight to her first class which was luckily not with Mr. Mute. The class went smoothly. She went to the lockers to change her books for the next class when Joseph scared the crap out of her by blowing a whistle right near her ear, causing her to shriek as the books fell on the floor.

"Dumb ass!" She grumbled as she crouched down to gather her books, and Joseph only laughed while wrapping his arms around his stomach.

"You should've seen your face." He wheezed while laughing, making her grumble under her breath.

Her eyes landed on his shoes and she smirked. 

Catherine gathered her books and stood up as she shut the locker and turned to walk away completely ignoring his existence. 

"Hey!" He yelled ready to run after her when she heard a loud thud followed by a loud unstoppable string of profanities and curses.

Catherine turned around to find him on the floor as she let out a booming chortle and he only glared daggers at her.

Sitting up properly he glared at his shoelaces which she had cleverly tied together. 

He opened them and stood up while glaring at her. She could see smoke coming out of his nose like a bull.

'Uh oh.'

And she ran, Joseph, running right behind her. "You're so deadddd." Joseph was going all bull on her as she took a sharp right turn to save her ass only to end up colliding against a wall.

She stumbled back ready to fall on her butt when Joseph came crashing behind her, he ended up pushing her forward to apply brakes making her crash into the wall again.

And apparently, the wall was...

Mr. Rasmus Colt.

She inhaled sharply only for his rich cologne mixed with his earthy scent to fill her lungs. She tried to move back but she was frozen feeling his hard muscular body against hers.

Her heart stuttered when his hot breath hit the crown of her head. A loud gasp left her lips when he grabbed her arms rather roughly in his calloused hand and pushed her away as if she had burned him.

Luckily Joseph was right behind her as he held her arms to steady her. Her eyes barely raised as they met with his glaring ones.

"Dude, it was an accident," Joseph said seriously as he came to stand beside her.

Mr. Mute only glared daggers at her before he walked past Joseph.

"He's weird," Joseph said.

"He's terrifying." She muttered slowly. She didn't know why she found him scary and cold.

"Let's go or we'll get late for class," Joseph said as she nodded her head and they went in his direction because Mr. Mute has the same class with them.

She ignored him not because she was scared of him or anything. He already looked pissed and also she wanted to give him the impression that she wasn't going to irritate him so he could rest assured.

Quinn had already left for the cafeteria while Joseph and Catherine were sauntering towards it when she stopped all of a sudden.

"When is your practice?" She asked to which he cocked his brow at her.

"Since when did you get interested in my games? Last time I remember you didn't even know the 'g' of the game." Joseph said rather curiously, making her roll her eyes.

"Rasmus is going to play today right?" She asked to which Joseph only narrowed his eyes more.

"So?" He asked in a plain voice.

"I've got a plan." She grinned, only for him to let out a groan.

"Oh, please don't make me a part of it." He grumbled as she dragged him along to the male change room.

She stopped at the corner and motioned him to check inside if it was empty. He glared at her before walking in as he checked and found the whole place empty.

"Clear." He yelled as she immediately dashed in only to smack him in the arm. "Shut up, idiot. Keep your volume down." She muttered as Joseph rolled his eyes.

"Everyone is at the cafeteria. Only ghosts could hear us here." He muttered in a duh tone.

Catherine rolled her eyes at him as she immediately started looking for Mr. Mute's locker.

"Why the hell are you standing there? Help me find his locker will ya?" She growled at him, making him scoff as he started to look for it.

"Here it is." He said and she immediately jogged towards him and tried to open the locker which was locked.

"It's locked." She grumbled, irritatedly.

"Would you enlighten me with your plan?" He asked.

"This here is..." She smiled evilly as she took out an itching powder from the bag.

Joseph's eyes widened as he shook his head in disbelief. 

"You're evil." He muttered while shaking his head in disbelief, yet he couldn't stop smiling. He remembered how she put that same shit in his clothes before the practice which made him a fool in front of the whole crowd and not to forget the torturing lecture that the coach gave in front of all the members and he has to control his itch in front of them.

"Look who's talking." She muttered while winking at him as she started to unlock the locker while using all types of codes.

"His jersey number is 7," Joseph said as he leaned against the lockers.

"So?" She asked, drowned in the task at hand.

"His uniform is there." Joseph pointed behind her where the uniforms of all the players were hanging.

A wide grin appears on her face as she gives him a cheeky grin.

"Thank you, Josi." She mused while jogging there.

"Don't call me that." He grumbled as he walked to the door to check if the coast was still clear.

Catherine caressed his shirt before she smiled evilly and put that powder all over the insides of his clothes.

Smirking she moved out and poked Joseph's shoulder who squealed like a girl before he turned to glare at her.

"You f**king scared me." He grumbled as she just poked her tongue out at him and they both sauntered out of there and went to the cafeteria. 

They hurriedly took their food and sat on the table with their gang who were giving them curious looks.

"Where were you both?" Samuel asked.

"If I don't know you guys better I thought yall be doing dirty somewhere," Avery muttered, making both Joseph and Catherine make a yuck face as Catherine smacked Avery on the head.

Quinn giggled which got Joseph to tense for a brief second which didn't go unnoticed by Catherine.

Joseph saw her and Catherine evilly smirked at him which only made him cough awkwardly.

"Let's bunk the last two classes and watch Joseph's practice," Catherine said, making Quinn let out a horrified gasp as she shook her head in negative while Avery only grinned and Samuel looked disinterested.

So just like they planned. They bunked the last classes and went towards the field. They took their seats. Quinn didn't come, because for her, bunking two classes meant giving her two kidneys, so she didn't come. It was just Avery and Samuel with her.

Catherine was fast to notice number 7 on the field. Rasmus looked like a hulk in that uniform with shoulder pads and all.

She waited patiently for him to start dancing up and down and itch himself to oblivion but he did nothing and kept on tossing guys away. He was like a beast there.

She was supposed to settle the score between them, her revenge for that detention but it looked like the powder wasn't affecting him.

The practice ended and they all left. She was waiting in the parking lot for Mr. Steve when she noticed Mr. Mute walking out in his leather jacket, black shirt, black pants, and black boots. 

He noticed her and stopped.

And then he changed his direction and was prowling straight towards her and intimidation oozed out of his whole being.

Uh oh.