Age Is Just a Number

Chapter 14 

Zara’s POV: 

My body feels tense as I stand there, staring into William’s room. Tears were dripping downward as he hovered over the same blonde girl In his bed. She pulls him down by the tle and crashes her lips onto his. 

Biting my lips, clothes were thrown to the floor. Instantly, my blinds close, and I glance over to see Nina. “Come on, let’s go for a walk,” she said, taking my hand and leading me out the door, turning off the light to my room. 

When we pass William’s house, my eyes glaze over to see the lights in his bedroom still on. Nina continued walking me towards the park, and we sat on the swings. 

“Pancakes, are you okay?” she whispers. 

And that’s when I crack, shaking my head as I crouch down on the ground, wrapping my arms around my legs and a muffled cry left. 

Nina came down and wrapped her arms around me. “Look, you don’t need him anyway. Pancakes, one day, you’re going to find a guy that cherishes you and loves you with all his heart.” 

I wrap my arms around her and nod. 

I’m so stupid, drowning in my overactive imagination, believing that William may have some feelings for me, but in the end, I’m nothing more than a younger sister to him. 

Hearing an annoying ringing sound, I gather up all my strength to get my cell phone. “Hello,” I replied groggily, still wanting to sleep some more. 

I don’t remember much except crying, blowing my nose, and eating on Nina’s shoulder until I fell asleep. It doesn’t matter. That’s probably what I did the whole night anyway. 

My eyes roam over to see Nina, laying beside me, a blanket covering her face, 

“Good morning, with whom I’m speaking with?” a gentle voice question. 

“Zara Lee,” I reply, stiffening a yawn. 

“Hello Zara, this is Lizzie from Princeton,” she said. 

I jolt right up. “Y–Yes.” 

“I’m calling you to inform you that we have selected someone else for the youth scholarship,” she 

said. 

1/5 

Great, I had to watch the love of my life getting it on with another woman, and now I’m rejected from Princeton. 

I need some pizza. 

“Oh, well, thank you,” I whisper. 

“But, Mr.Davenson was quite impressed with your applications and interview. I’m calling to ask if you would like to join the Princeton Young Genius Summer Program and perhaps join us in the future. We will provide you college credits, living requirements, and many other things if you’re interested,” she said. 

I’m at a loss for words. 

“But there is something I have to inform you. Your app technically considered late, a 

I is we are enrolling you as an exception,” she continues. 

“Yes,” I responded, my leg refusing to stop shaking. 

“And we need you to fly to New Jersey tomorrow morning. Are you able to do that?” 

My eyes lurk towards the window, and I step out of bed. With a shaky hand, I open the blind to see William sitting on his bed, working on his laptop. He glances up, and a smile emerges, waving at me. I lift a palm, waving back. 

“Want to eat breakfast together?” he mouths. 

I tighten my grip on the phone and shake my head, mouthing back. “Busy,” while pointing my finger at my cell phone. 

The smile on his face drops, and he places a finger in the air mouthing. “Wait,” then went back to his laptop to finish what he was doing. 

“Miss Zara, are you still there?” 

“Yes. 

“And your answer?” 

“Yes, I would like to join the summer program,” I responded, eyes still staring at him as he pushed back his hair, rigorously typing on his laptop. 

“Excellent, I’ll send you all the information, but we need your parent’s approval before emailing you the plane ticket,” she said. 

“I understand.” 

“Princeton can’t wait to see you, Miss Zara.” 

“Yes, me too,” I reply Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

O 

2/5 

The call ends. 

William jumped out of bed and slid his window open, grinning at me. “Good morning Angel,” he said in a soft, seductive voice. 

I lean against the frame. “Morning, Muffin.” 

“Anything new going on?” He asks. 

I bit my inner cheek and shake my head. “No, nothing. What about you?” 

“Well, I ask an Angel this morning to have breakfast with me, and she just turns me down. Darn it,” he said, snapping his fingers. 

1 lean my head against the palm of my hand. “Desperate much?” 

Hel 

He leans forward, the smile refusing to leave his face. “Well, I just found out something last night, and I 

wanted to tell it to her.” 

I don’t want to hear about your girlfriend. 

“You can’t tell her now?” I feel like someone ripped my heart right out of my chest. 

He shakes his head. “No, it’s something important, and I want to tell her at the right time, alone.” 

We stand there, staring into each other’s eyes. 

He licks his lips, puckering in slightly. “I hope she doesn’t think I’m a creep when I tell her.” 

My brows furrow together. “What if she already thinks you are a creep,” I tease him. 

He sends out a low chuckle, “She thinks I’m a creep?” 

“Yeah, who still live with their parents at 23.” 

“It’s because I’m a family man,” he said proudly. 

He tilts his head into his palm. “And with the right girl, I don’t mind moving out and starting a family 

with her,” he said. 

He is talking about that blonde girl, isn’t he? Is he planning to propose to her? 

When I saw a car pulling up the driveway, I knew it’s Mrs.Yi. she honks her horn, catching William’s attention. “I got to go, Angel, but I’ll talk to you later? I need to tell you something.” he said urgently, and nod my head. 

“I’ll see you later, Angel,” he said, grinning at me. 

“Bye, Muffin,” I replied, and he gave me a wink before jogging downstairs to greet his mom. 

3/5 

“Are you sure you aren’t going to tell him that you’re leaving for New Jersey tomorrow morning?” a volce behind me yawn out. 

“How long were you awake?” I ask. 

“Since the phone call,” she responds. 

I keep my eyes on William, seeing him hug his mom, helping her bring in the grocery bags. He turns towards me, biting his bottom lips and waves. I lift my hand and wave at him in return. 

“Perhaps, some time away from William can clear my mind,” I turn back towards Nina, who was sitting there, lips tilting downward. 

The next day, Tyler helped me pull the luggage from the back. “Thank you for driving me,” I said, smiling at him while pulling down my cap to hide my puffy 

He closes the trunk and leans against it. “You know William has been asking around for you. Why aren’t you picking up his phone calls?” 

When I heard a buzz, I looked down to see the same person calling. Muffin. 

Tyler lifts a brow at me, “Aren’t you going to pick it up?” 

I stood there, staring at the phone until it revealed a missed call. 

15 missed calls. 23 messages. 

“He is really worried about you,” Tyler said. 

I shove my phone back into my pocket, not responding to his statement. 

Tyler takes off my cap to reveal my face, for the first time in a long time, without makeup. My eyes were puffed up from all the crying; cheeks were stained red, hair hadn’t been combed. 

“Call the guy,” he said in a severe tone, placing my cap back on. “And remember you can come over anytime midget. Our doors are always open for you.” 

I nod, watching him as he drives away. Picking my luggage. I roll it into the airport, checking in, waiting for my flight to be called. Pulling out my cell phone, I scroll through the message, biting my lower lips. “Stop pretending like you care,” I told no one in particular. 

Inhaling a deep breath, I dial the number, hearing it ring once. “Zara?” 

“Hey, William.” I tighten the grip on my shirt. 

He releases a breath. “You’re okay. What happened? You haven’t picked up any of my ph-” he pauses. 

“Where are you right now?” 

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m at the airport,” I replied, sliding down the chair. 

4/5 

There’s a long pause on his side. “W–Why?” 

I clear my throat and wipe off the water on the corner of my eyes. “Guess what, Muffin! I got a phone call yesterday for a summer program at Princeton!” 

“T–That’s great, Angel, but why di 

you tell me?” 

I cleared my throat again and sat up straighter. “It’s kind of last minute.” 

“Are you leaving right now?” he said in a rushy tone. 

“Yeah, I’m-” the loud monitor cuts off 

y voice. “Oh, I got to go, Muffin, that’s my flight,” I said, hoping 

to end this call as soon as possible. 

“Wait, Zara, I have to tell you something,” he said urgently. 

“Wha-” my voice is cut off once again by the loud monitor. “Tell me when I get back, I need to go. Muffin,” I said. 

“I lik-“I cut off the phone call before he finishes and picks up my luggage rumbling through it for my 

paper. 

I look down to see an incoming call but turn off my phone. This is it; this is what I need. I need to grow out of my ridiculous obsession over him. 

Inhaling one last breath, I gave the lady my plane ticket. She checks everything, gives me a nod returning my stuff. I walk into the airplane, flying far away from William Yi. 

5/5