In the locker room after the inter-house competitions months ago.
"Wow, you guys weren't kidding about that freshman. She is a goddess." Henry remarked in the locker room after being impressed with what he saw. "Well, you know me brother, I don't praise just anyone. I must warn you she's a hot cake, a priceless jewel. Right guys? Hahaha." Eric said and they all laughed. "We all thought you'd make the impossible possible. I mean that girl is literally a challenge." Ben said mockingly. "I did actually, and I love challenges. Every jewel, no matter how rare it is, has a price. And fortunately, I happen to be very rich. Eric, you better get me that prize, because I'll buy the jewel before I leave for college. None of you should go near her, you get that? Let me take care of her." Henry remarked, accepting the challenge. No girl has been able to reject him ever...and they were confident in his prowess. "Now we're talking, we trust you captain. But you'll have to prove it to us that you completed the challenge." Benjamin commented and the boys agreed. "You'll get it." Henry said before leaving the locker room. "Great, in the meantime, this recording will be proof of the captain accepting the challenge." Ben said with a smile, bringing out his phone after the prefects left.
***
"Bro how do you plan on purchasing the jewel under Clara's watchful eye?" Eric asked with intrigue when they were in their room. "Simple, I'll fall for her. So bad Clara will have no doubt whatsoever. In purchasing a diamond, you must love the diamond in order to want and attain it. Not just Clara, everyone else must believe without a doubt, that way, our jewel won't doubt it too. " Henry answered. "What if you lose yourself while pretending? That will nullify the challenge bro." Eric said. "I'm Henry, I don't fall in love, I walk over it." Henry replied confidently. "Your ex really did a number on you huh? Making you scorn love altogether." Eric teased with a chuckle. "Naa didn't hurt me, I hurt her because of freaking love. I felt it too much and I don't want to go through that shit again." Henry replied with a solemn look thinking about his first and only love, till he met Eleanora Wilson. "This is going to be fun, I can't wait." Eric said, lighting the mood once again and Henry smirked. "Just make sure your crush does not find out about this." Henry warned, talking about Clara. "The last thing I want is for her to know I'm the perpetrator of this challenge. She'll have our heads bro, and I'd rather she has my heart. Seriously, I've gotta make her mine someday." Eric replied with a smitten look. "Why not now?" Henry asked. "Even I am also taking it slow to admire my diamond before I purchase it. Clara might reject me now if I make a drastic move." Eric explained. "I see. None of your admirers would ever think you are this cunning. We all ship you two though, maybe we'll go on double dates, hahaha." Henry commented with a laugh, before turning in for the night. He had to go to class early and plan how to purchase the jewel in the most believable way. Luckily for him, he met her in his class the next morning.
Ellen's heart clenched and she threw up again, right at the snack square. It was a good thing school had resumed today, and few people were eating, appetites would have been lost. Abby bought a bottle of water, so she could wash her mouth after puking her gut out, which she didn't think was possible after everything she threw out earlier. "Hope this clears all your doubts." Esther said smugly, not feeling a bit sorry about the recording she just played. "How did you get this? How sure are we that this is not a set up?" Abby asked after Ellen calmed down. "Can't you hear Henry's voice when you hear it? I got it from Benjamin, my boyfriend." Esther explained. "I hope you are very proud of yourself." Ellen said finally, before she left. Esther scoffed and left as well, feeling a pang of guilt.
Ellen was having a really bad semester, and it was taking a toll on her health. Within a month, she had been dropped of her quiz team because she got depressed in the quiz room, lost weight, and the respect she had from the staff and her mates. It didn't help that they called her priceless jewel. She was once an asset to the school as the brilliant quiet girl, now everything was ruined. She had mustered courage to tell her friends about Henry's birthday and the intimacy at the beach after some time, as she knew she owed them an explanation amidst weeping. "That clever guy had breakup sex with you, leaving you with his evil seed." Kelly had blurted without thinking about being sensitive. "Are you being serious right now, can't you see her state? Can you be sensitive and not tease for once in your life? She's heartbroken, no need to add up to her woes." Abby had spit fire at Kelly for her choice of words. The headmistress and Mr. Fitz tried to maintain her, consoling her after expressing disappointment, but she still dropped out of the team. She was yet to hear from her parents. Weirdly enough, they had not contacted her or the school after the incident. Tomorrow was visiting, and she dreaded what they would do if they came. She had been feeling sick lately. Sleeping here and there as if she had trypanosomiasis. She got tired easily and it did not help that she feared she could be pregnant. She had taken the pill though, but she was still showing symptoms. The vomiting had stopped, but she had no appetite, making her stomach hurt sometimes. Her friends were extremely worried as her grades were dropping too, and she could lose her scholarship. "Elle, wake up. Let's go to the dorm." Abby woke her up after class. She had slept during the free period, crying halfway through her sleep. She had been having insomnia these days and it was getting worse, as her brain seemed to have planned to torture her with memories of the first half of the year, whenever she closed her eyes. It hurt, it hurt so bad that every corner and room she had been with Henry became a nemesis for her, especially the chemistry lab which was their spot. Her teachers were worried about her as well, and planned on talking to her parents when they came for visiting. Her housemistress had called to talk to her but ended up consoling her instead, as any subject relating to Henry, made her spiral. The video had been brought down though, courtesy of her father's engineering employees, but there had been no word from him, or his wife. That made Ms. Alex more worried. Ellen stood to leave for her house, when she swooned, alarming her classmates who rushed to her.