Despite already being in love with the man for quite some time, she was dazed as if she had been turned into a lovesick young lady.
She looked up to see the professor teaching the subject passionately. Niamh could not help but play along with the man next to her, allowing him to hook his fingers with hers. Their fingers were intertwined until the bell that signified the end of class rang.
Niamh could not imagine how it would be if she and Kendrick had gotten the chance to relive their school days. If the past could be rewritten, she wondered if he would turn into the bossy handsome kid who would surround her every day during and after classes, preventing other boys from coming close to her.
Most likely.
Niamh smiled sweetly. From how bossy he was on the beach yesterday, she would not be surprised if he did anything he could to make her his.
Strolling by the campus where even the atmosphere was filled with youthfulness, Niamh found her mood greatly lifted.
The gloom and worry from moments ago seemed to have been swept away. All she wanted to do now was spend some quiet time with this man.
Kendrick and Niamh spent the entire morning in the university. He even brought her to the canteen for lunch during lunchtime.
There were many couples in the university, but it was the first time the students saw such a pretty and loving pair.
“When did our school have such handsome and pretty students?”
“I’ve never seen them before. They don’t seem like our students.”
“Why would they be wearing our uniform if they’re not our students, then? Are you stupid?”
Niamh and Kendrick shared a knowing smile at the conversation around them.
After lunch, Kendrick brought Niamh and left the university.
The two strolled under the trees where rays of sunlight would shine through the leaves. Niamh could not help but tease the man, saying, “Who would’ve thought that Mr. Waldburg would be so eye- catching? They were right. You’re indeed a handsome student. I’m pretty sure the number of girls who liked you back in Glendale University would be enough to surround the campus!”
The man quirked his lips proudly. “Are you sure it’s just enough to surround the campus? Not the entirety of Glendale?”
“Yeah, yeah, enough to surround the entire Glendale. I’m the luckiest one to be acknowledged by the great Mr. Waldburg.” Niamh played along in mock annoyance before she chided, “You were the one who wanted to get married to me. Yet you just had to pretend to be the victim and made it seem as if Grandfather was the one who forced you. You’re a scheming man, Kendrick Waldburg.”
Kendrick’s smile grew even prouder. “If I wasn’t a little scheming, how else would I be able to marry such a great wife?” He smiled before his gaze turned gentle and his voice grew soft. “You have no idea how popular you were back in school, Nia.”
“I was popular?” Niamh pointed at herself in disbelief. Looking back, the only people who talked to her back in her university days were Nevaeh, Ava, and Daniel.
Forget the boys, but not even girls tried to be friends with her.
Kendrick came to a halt as he stared at Niamh’s confused expression. The man then smiled and told her the truth that he had kept away for a long time.
“There were so many boys who tried to pursue you when you first entered university, Nia. Love at first sight, you know? They tried so many ways to get your contact information and some even wrote love letters for you.”
Niamh was even more confused. “But I didn’t receive any love letters at all, nor did anyone text me their confession. I only remember Dan confessing to me during the graduation ceremony and you ended up thinking that we were together, you doofus.”
“Cough cough.” Kendrick coughed twice as an embarrassed expression spread on his attractive features. He then spoke in a serious tone. “Don’t you know that a jealous man is the pettiest? Daniel completely ignored my presence by confessing to you during the graduation ceremony.”
“Why do people need to acknowledge your presence, though? Nothing was going on between us back then.”
“Wasn’t there?” Kendrick asked back with a smile. “You just didn’t know about it, Nia, but all the men who fancied or tried to pursue you knew very well that you were mine.”
“What? What are you talking about, Kendrick?” Niamh was feeling progressively confused only to see a slight red flush on the man’s handsome features. “Tell me already, Kendrick. Just what did you do behind my back?”
“Cough.” Kendrick cleared his throat to cover up the slight franticness. “I had someone warn the guys who tried to chase after you so that they knew I was watching over you. Everyone kind of knew better than to offend Glendale’s number one bachelor.”
“…”
Niamh was stricken by the news.
She never expected Kendrick to have done something like that behind her back.
Now that she thought about it, she was not surprised at all.
Kendrick was a dominant man. He was now and he was the same back then.
She had merely never dared to think of such things.
During those blooming days, all Niamh knew was that she had a crush on Kendrick but the person Kendrick loved was Nevaeh.
When in truth, he had fallen in love with her at first sight when she knocked into him.
Seeing the shock on Niamh’s pretty face, Kendrick suddenly felt his heart clench.
“I’m sorry, Nia. Forgive your husband for being such a deceitful man.” Kendrick’s warm fingertips fell on Niamh’s cheek. “I’m really blessed that not only are you the woman I fell in love with at first glance, but you’re also the little girl I yearned for since the beginning, Nia.”
He leaned his head down slowly to push his face right before Niamh’s.
Spots of halo were scattered over each other’s faces as their eyes sparkled brightly.
“No matter how time passes, Nia, you’ll always be the angel I want to protect the most in my heart.”
Niamh smiled sweetly. “What if one day your angel grows old? Would you throw me away then?”
“No matter what you look like, you’ll always be my only love.”
Following his promise, he sealed his lips over Niamh’s.
The sun’s scorching radiance was like the love he had for her, burning hotter by the minute.
He had dreamed of kissing her on the streets on a summer day with no one staring at them. At that moment, he realized that as long as they were together, no matter when or where they were or what they were doing, it would all be worth remembering.
Leaving the school grounds, Kendrick then brought Niamh to walk around in a nearby market.
Dusk was approaching, and Kendrick carried an exhausted Niamh on his back as he walked almost an entire mile before he reached the hotel.
It was exhausting, but Kendrick found himself enjoying it.
The two took a soothing bath back in the room before they got ready to eat in a restaurant. Then, the doorbell suddenly rang.
Neither Niamh nor Kendrick knew anyone here. Niamh went to open the door curiously. However, Kendrick held her back and stood in front of her warily to protect her. “I’ll open it.”
After all the accidents and unexpected incidents that had occurred, Kendrick was now exceptionally careful.
Even more so when Niamh was concerned. He simply refused to slack off.
Opening the door, they were met with a smiling server in his uniform.
“Dearest VIP customers, there will be a masquerade party atop our hotel’s terrace in an hour. Our esteemed guests are welcome to join if they wish. Here are your invitations, and I hope that the two of you will leave with unforgettable and happy memories during your stay here.”
It turned out this was what it was. Niamh took the invitations. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” The server smiled politely and turned.
Both Niamh and Kendrick had come here to have fun, so there was no reason for them to miss out on such an activity.
However, Niamh found herself shocked to know that Kendrick knew of such an event and had even prepared their outfits. He even helped Niamh into the impressive black long gown he had specially chosen for her
Watching Niamh standing in front of the full-body mirror, Kendrick went up to hug her from behind. His words were heavily weighted with jealousy. “You look so beautiful, darling. I really don’t want any other man to see such a mesmerizing side of you.”
Niamh met the man’s gaze in the mirror with a smile before she lifted her hand to pat the man’s handsome face lightly. “What are you jealous of? I’m yours anyway, aren’t I?”
“Is that so? I don’t think I believe you. Unless you kiss me.”
Niamh found herself easily giving in to the man’s coquettishness.
She turned without hesitation and pecked Kendrick’s lips thrice. “Muah, muah, muah. Happy now, Your Majesty, King of Jealousy?”
The man immediately broke into a smile. It was one that only ever appeared in front of Niamh.
A cool wind blew that midsummer night.
Niamh linked arms with Kendrick as they made their way to the terrace. The party had not started yet, but the atmosphere was burning with passion.
Men and women who were dressed casually or in weird costumes wore all sorts of masks as they chatted and fooled around on the terrace carefreely.
A server by the door handed Kendrick and Niamh two masks. Niamh took the wolf-shaped one which covered more than half her face, leaving only her twinkling eyes and cherry blossom-pink lips to be seen.
Meanwhile, Kendrick took the cat-shaped mask. For an inexplicable reason, Niamh could not help but laugh at the sight of a company’s aloof president wearing such a mask.
“Is this funny to you?” Kendrick asked seriously, feeling the urge to make her laugh more at the sight of the dimples that appeared next to Niamh’s lips.
He wrapped an arm around Niamh’s waist before taking his phone to snap an intimate picture of the two of them and then posting it on social media.
Soon after, Jackson was the first to like and comment, praising Niamh. [Mom is so beautiful. You can tell she’s a beauty just from her dimples.]
Kendrick looked at the comment, feeling conflicted as he felt a jealous urge surge within him despite how unnecessary it was.
Just then, the host announced that the party was about to start.
Everyone understood the rules of the masquerade party and kept their true identities hidden. Under the fantastical lights, people let loose and enjoyed themselves to the fullest.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.