Burning Passion

CHAPTER 203: GOING TO ENGLAND

* * * 

Leeroy Collins University, USA

Standing in front of the Dean's table, Harry replied to him, "No, sir."

"Then, what are you doing?" 

Harry kept his silence. He doesn't want to explain anything to anyone about why he failed his exam. 

"I will do it better next time, sir." 

Dean Collins gaped at Harry. He has been watching him since Day one he enrolls at his school. The reason he could tell there is something behind it.

"You can do it already, but you chose not to. I don't believe you take it seriously this time, Mr. Harry." 

Dean Collins emphasizes the words 'this time'. He believes Harry is doing it on purpose. He is being biased, but Harry is his favorite student. That is why he won't let this go off without convincing him to resolve the issue. Besides, he wants Harry to do something for the school.

Dean Collins heaves a furious sigh, he added. "I have high hopes from you." 

Harry tightened his grip on his bag. It was the same words as Nina wrote in her letter. But yes, he deliberately chooses the false answers and makes lazy calculations to fail. 

"Mr. Harry, I looked at your credentials and achievements in High School. I was impressed and since then, I was eyeing on you to lead our next team to compete in any National or International quizzes. But failing your Calculus?"

Harry pressed his mouth. Honestly, it surprised him to learn how the dean was rooted for him. Before enrolling at Collins University, he already aims to be part of the team. He pushed his ass to worked hard and become a top student since his first year in college. And this is the opportunity he most awaited. 

"The team will fly to Oxford after winter. The Spring Competition is important for the school. You have a whole winter to prove yourself, Mr. Harry." 

"Sir? Are you saying the competition would be in England?"

"Yes." 

Harry pondered for a minute, he gave his answer. "Okay, sir."

Dean Collins delighted by Harry's response. "There will be a notice for team meetings. I will reach you out by then."

"Understood, sir." He nodded and prepared to leave.

"Remember, Mr. Harry. You will succeed as a senior next year. It means you will lead the new team. Also, you will be an aspirant for the new school President before the school year ends. It was your chance to prove yourself." 

Harry nodded and thanked the Dean. He was dismissed; Harry went straight to his dormitory. He dropped his body onto the bed and covered his eyes with his right arm. 

It's something he dreams of. He can't just give it up. 

Harry sat on his bed. He fixed his gaze toward Steven's desk, where Nina's pictures were framed and hung on the wall. 

Steven kept several pictures of Nina. A solo of her or together with them, one picture is with Korin. And another one is the three of them, Steven, him, and Nina.

Harry took out the envelope from his bag and held the maple leaf. He peered at it for a longer time.

If it holds the competition in England, he has a chance to see Nina. 

Harry gaped outside the window. He perfectly knew all the solutions to the given problems, but he decided to help Steven to win the favor of their father. 

However, he could not give up his dream, yet. He will go to England to compete and then he will meet Nina. 

In these past two months, Harry worked on reviewing the questions and formulas given during the quiz. The team worked every single day to perfect the solution and help others who had struggled to find the results.

Also, their professors are attentive to giving them special quizzes. Harry made a few mistakes, but it is what makes him work harder.

He already packed up, even though it was a month away. His Spring clothes are now in his luggage. Harry already kept his visa and the extra allowance hidden in his bag. 

"Harry!" 

Steven made a hurried step toward Harry's bed. He jumped and threw his arms around his twin brother. 

"What's wrong?" Harry remains reading the book in his hand, totally ignoring his brother's hug.

"I spoke to Dean Collins!"

Merrily, Steven told Harry about the conversation.

"Oh, do you mean?" Harry couldn't comment about it. Suddenly, his happiness shattered.

"Yes! I will work hard, bro!" 

"That's good then. Our parents will be proud, both of us will join the competition." 

"Not only that! We are going to see Nina together!" 

"Yeah." 

"Hm. I want to tell Nina about it. But it's better to keep it as a surprise." Steven mumbled to himself. "Harry, let's do that!" 

"Okay," Harry responded lazily. 

Steven was daydreaming; lying flat on his bed, he didn't notice sadness flash on Harry's eyes.

~~~~~ 

Cambridge Library, England

Even though she was on winter break, Nina still coming to the library to do her paperwork and study her lessons. She plans on taking advanced subjects to get a degree sooner. 

She was reading a book when someone approached her. 

"Hi! Can I sit here?" 

Nina looked up; she studied the face of the guy seated across her. 

"You are already seated. I cannot say no anymore." In a serious tone, Nina told the guy.

The guy laughs, but the librarian immediately shushes him. 

"I'm sorry, Miss Becker!" The guy shouted, which made the librarian drop her mouth. 

Nina, on the other hand, her face flush from embarrassment. It amazed her how this guy could do that when they were inside the library. Now, everyone's attention is on them. 

Of course, the guy seated across her is from the Royal family. He is on the line to the throne of the Jeneva monarchy.

"What are you doing, your highness?" 

The guy frowned, he complains. "You need not call me that. It's hardly my escape when I came to school, and yet. Everyone won't give me a break." 

"You are a prince. People would address you that way." Nina reminded the guy who remains sulking.

"Aren't we a friend? Can at least my friends call me by my name?" 

Nina gaped at Prince Albert. Although she is avoiding getting close to anyone. She made friends with her Algebra classmate, Sarah. 

Sarah is Prince Albert's younger sister. Sometimes, she gets to hang out with Albert when Sarah drags her around after their class. 

This prince is in his last year with his degree in Law. After this school year, he will graduate and do Royal duties full time. 

"So, what time would you go home?" Albert asked Nina after a minute of silence.

He acted like flipping a page of a novel because he just wanted to chat with Nina.

In these passing months, Albert constantly invites her to have coffee or dinner out before she goes home. But often, she is turning him down, unless Sarah is with them and their other friends she went out to have coffee.

"I'll be home in an hour. Jessica will fetch me to buy something at the store." Nina reasons out.

However, Albert has no plan to give up. "How about, I'll give you a ride?" 

Nina is weighing how to refuse this prince again. She was questioned once about her real relationship with Albert. She was also on the tabloid with headlines, "Is she the Prince's new girlfriend?" 

That made her panic. Since then, she has avoided Albert. However, the guy is persistent; he keeps following her around. She was grateful for the rumors cooled down after Sarah explained to the reporters and they stopped bothering her.

But it leaves a bad impression on her as they labeled Albert as a playboy, and had a new girlfriend every time. Albert had a lot of female friends. Sarah told her they were not Albert's girlfriend, and it was the media making up stories, and those girls love to ride the fame. 

"Thank you, your highness. But you know that I am avoiding another rumor to spread." 

"Why don't you become my girlfriend so that the rumor would become true?" 

Nina was baffled at what Albert said to her. "That is not a pleasant joke!" 

"Come on! You don't have a boyfriend, right? I don't have a girlfriend. You knew that." 

Nina couldn't answer the prince. She wants him to stop, keep asking her. She already rejected him over again, and her response is the same.

"Your highness, I came to England to study, not searching for a boyfriend." 

"Ouch. Why not? You are the first woman to reason with me like that! All of them are eager to become my girlfriend." 

"I'm not like them," Nina replied sharply.

Her voice is indifferent, and Albert senses it. 

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean that way. I'm just curious about what you don't like about me." 

Nina heaves a long sighed. It seemed like this prince wouldn't stop bothering her if she would not give him a valid reason. 

"I want to help my father to manage our company. I don't want to disappoint him, so I don't like any distraction." 

"What's the problem if you have a boyfriend while you are completing your course? Isn't that it would be your inspiration? I want to become your inspiration!" 

Albert smiled handsomely. He was too damn good-looking. Who would not fall in love with this gorgeous prince? However, her heart belongs to someone else already. She couldn't love another, but him alone.

"I like someone already." 

"Oh. Who is he? Where is he? Could it be that he is from a royal family too? A duke?" 

Nina creased her forehead. Their conversation is going nowhere as she feels annoyed by how Albert doubts her affections for someone. 

"It doesn't matter for me if he is not a royal or from a prominent family. I don't base my love in that way." 

After Nina phrases it. She sat up from the chair and gathered her things. 

"Goodbye, Albert."