Her Grand Plan

Her Grand Plan
NOVA

I got ready and left my house in the morning. I didn't want to leave before my dad came back, so I waited for him after getting dressed. Aiden had said it was okay for me to arrive early in the morning, so that was what I did.

After my dad came in, I hugged him, made small talk with him, found out how his trip went, and then drove out of the house to meet with Aiden. I was so excited because I believed that something was going to happen - something to make us much closer - because I noticed that Aiden rarely took the initiative.

When I arrived at his house, Aiden was incidentally alone. His dad had gone out, and there was no one else, so we had the house all to ourselves. He seemed happy to have me there. He hugged me and welcomed me into his house.

We sat for a while in the living room while he said he wanted to freshen up. When he came out, he said he baked a cake for me. Although I hadn't made any special requests, he had still put in the effort to do something nice for me. I was really impressed.

I asked him how he learned how to bake a cake, and he said that Ella taught him when they were much younger. She had learned from her mom.

I smiled and thought to myself, "Wow! Who knew that something you learned from Ella would someday be of benefit to me?"

"I am very happy that you came around," he said. The cake turned out to be very delicious, and I enjoyed it. However, while I was in the living room, Aiden remained in his bedroom.

After eating the cake and tasting the drink he gave me, I waited for more than an hour, but I did not see him.

I called out his name, but there was no reply, so, I got up and went into the room. I was surprised to see him sleeping.

"Are you serious?" I asked, waking him up instantly.

When his eyes opened and he saw me, he said, "Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't realize when I slept off. I just came in to... What did I even come here to do? I'm really sorry about it."

"It's fine," I said and sat on the bed beside him. I took his hands in mine and intertwined our fingers.

Aiden stared at me, and I looked at him too, and said, "Aiden, I noticed that you keep hesitating... erm... Maybe it's just me that's imagining it. You're very nice to me and you respect me a lot, and I appreciate that, but sometimes I get the feeling that you're not really into me."

"No... no, don't think that way," he said. "I'm sorry if I've disappointed you. To be honest, this is the first time I'm dating.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied. "You must have heard that Ella calls me Charmer. That's because I....umm.... in high school, so many girls fell for me. Even now, girls easily like me, probably because of my personality or something. I don't know, so Ella says I charm girls, and that's how I came by the name.

But to be very honest, I haven't dated anyone before. Being friends with Ella, I've just always been focused on my studies just like Ella, but don't worry, I'm not as competitive as she is as you must have noticed. I'm just all about having good grades, so I'm not really fighting to be the best, that's Ella's thing.

This is all new for me so, I'm very sorry if I'm not acting in the way you expect or if I'm not doing the things you want me to do. I will get better with time."

"It's okay," I said. "As long as you feel the same way about me as I do for you, then I'm content."

He smiled at me, and I kissed him. I was hoping he would take the lead and move further from there, but after the kiss, he said, "Let's go back to the living room."

When we went back to the living room, he turned on the TV and told me about a show he really liked to watch. It wasn't a program I enjoyed or liked.

I didn't even have any favorite programs because I spent most of my time reading. But sitting beside Aiden was worth it, so I stayed by his side and we watched the program together.

When he asked me if I enjoyed it, I said yes. However, what I really enjoyed was being in his company. I realized eventually that nothing was going to happen between us, at least not today.

I felt a little bit disappointed, but then I was also really impressed that Aiden had so much self-control. Considering the fact that we were alone in the house and I had given him all the green lights he needed, it seemed he was taking his time.

After a while, I suggested that we went out. we had been at home for so many hours. So, I told him that I wanted us to go out and have fun. Aiden liked the idea and suggested that we have a few drinks.

Thanks to Aiden, I had recently become more into alcohol. Each time we went out, I drank one or two bottles.

We went to a bar, probably because it was Saturday and it was almost evening, it was bustling, with so many people. We ordered a few drinks and began to drink and talk.

I noticed that Aiden was drinking more than usual. The Aiden I knew in the past always drank just a little and made sure I did the same.

Although I wasn't always willing to drink more unless he insisted. After watching him take more than seven bottles of alcohol, I couldn't take it anymore.

Aiden was no longer really in his senses, and I was glad that I was the one driving. He had left his car at home, and we had gone in mine. This arrangement was to ensure that when I was leaving, I could drop him off at home and drive back to my dad's house.

When I realized that Aiden wasn't in his right mind, I got up, went to the cashier, and paid for the drinks. As I turned my attention back to our table, Aiden was gone.

I tried calling him, but he wasn't answering his calls. I looked all around the bar, but I couldn't find him. I became worried and went outside. To my surprise, I found him sitting on a bench not too far away from the bar. He seemed really sad, and there were tears in his eyes.

I was even more surprised; could something be going wrong with him? I hurried to where he was and sat beside him. I placed my hand on his cheek and felt his tears.

"What's going on, Aiden?" I turned him to face me, but he seemed out of it and called me Ella.

I said, "No, Aiden, it's me, Nova.

He held my hand and said, "Ella, why did you do this to me? Why did you break my heart? You know how much I love you. I can do anything for you.

I can even give my life for you. Yet what did you do? You sent me to Nova. You sent me to get close to Nova when you're the only one my heart beats for.

Now I have to pretend in front of Nova. I have to act as though I'm in love with her when I don't feel anything for her. Why did you break my heart, Ella? Why did you date someone else when I've been waiting for you all my life?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I pulled my hand from his hold and got up. I stared at him in surprise, and it all began to make sense. This was Ella's plan - her grand plan. How could she be so mean?

For the sake of beating me and being top in class, she sent Aiden to distract me? This was the height of it. My hands began to shake, and my whole body felt as though I had been doused with cold water. I ran to my car, closed my eyes, and began to cry

I felt pain - indescribable pain, deep in my heart. I had loved Aiden for so long, ever since I met him, and I thought I finally had him.

"Why Aiden?" I asked. "Why did you lead me on? I had already given up before when you wouldn't look at me. I had told myself that you would never be interested in me.

Why did you make me dream? Why did you make me believe that you loved me, Aiden? How could you be so mean, Ella? You're the most evil person I've ever met, and no matter what, I will never forgive you."

I placed my head on my steering wheel and cried for a long time. After that, I began to blame myself. It was my fault. How could I not see the signs?

Yes, Aiden was nice to me, but I felt it - there was no connection. He was always hesitating. Someone who loved me wouldn't have hesitated. It was my fault. I was desperate because of my love for him, and I gave him the chance to hurt me. I gave him the chance to carry out Ella's plan.

Ella - my enemy. I had been fooled to believe she was a good person. After Aiden deceived me, I believed that Ella and I could actually be friends. I was sincere towards both of them, but they were both playing me for a fool - just for the sake of graduating as the best.

I wiped my eyes. I didn't know if I could drive in my current emotional state, so I took out my phone and tried calling my dad. He didn't pick up, and I concluded that he was probably sleeping. I decided to drive myself despite the difficulty I knew I would face.

I almost crashed into someone's car as I drove, my emotional pain causing me to cry uncontrollably. Finally, I made it to my compound, parked my car, and noticed that the sky was starting to darken. It was going to rain.

I ran into the house, and to my surprise, I saw Ella; the devil who had tried to ruin my life. She was in my house, alone with my father, and she was smiling at me. My dad was also smiling at me.

Suddenly, it all made sense. My dad had told me that he had found love and would introduce me to the person. Ella was that person, and she had planned to destroy me. She knew that my father was the closest person to me and that I had confided in Aiden, so she wanted to separate my dad from me and make Aiden break my heart.

Her plan must have been for Aiden to lead me on until it was time for my final exams, and then he would break my heart. My dad would be too busy with Ella to have time for me and I would be all alone.
This was likely Ella's grand plan, but how could she be so mean?

I stared at her, tears falling from my eyes. My dad became surprised and rushed to my side. Holding my hands he asked, "What happened to you? What is it, darling? Why are you crying?"

I lifted my face and stared at him before throwing myself into his arms and crying in a loud voice.