The boy who hated me 
The rain poured heavily over Accra as Ruby rushed out of her university lecture hall, desperately trying to protect her books from getting wet.
"Seriously? Why does it always rain when I forget my umbrella?" she complained.
Just as she reached the school gate, a black Mercedes stopped beside her.
The window rolled down.
"Get in."
Ruby turned, confused.
"Excuse me?"
"I said get in. Unless you want to spend the entire evening standing in the rain."
Ruby recognised the voice immediately.
Jerry Anderson.
The richest, most arrogant and annoyingly handsome guy on campus.
"No, thank you. I'd rather walk."
Jerry raised an eyebrow.
"Your pride is going to kill you one day."
"And your attitude is going to make everyone hate you."
He laughed.
"Get in, princess."
"I'm not your princess!"
"Not yet."
Ruby rolled her eyes and continued walking.
Jerry watched her through the window, smiling.
For some strange reason, annoying Ruby had become his favourite hobby.
THE NEXT MORNING
Ruby entered the university cafeteria with her best friend, Angela.
"Girl, I have something to tell you!" Angela whispered excitedly.
"What?"
"Jerry Anderson asked about you yesterday."
Ruby nearly dropped her drink.
"WHAT?"
"Yes! He wanted to know your name, your department and whether you had a boyfriend."
Ruby burst into laughter.
"That arrogant millionaire? Please! He should find another hobby."
Unfortunately, someone standing behind her heard everything.
"Interesting. So I'm your hobby now?"
Ruby slowly turned around.
Jerry stood there wearing a white shirt, black trousers and his usual confident smile.
Angela quietly disappeared.
Ruby folded her arms.
"What do you want?"
Jerry leaned closer.
"Your attention."
"Well, you don't have it."
"Then I'll have to work harder."
He placed a small chocolate bar on her table.
"For you."
Ruby looked at it suspiciously.
"What is this?"
"A peace offering."
"Are you apologising?"
"No. I'm celebrating the fact that I get to see you again."
Ruby tried not to smile.
Jerry noticed.
"There's that smile."
"Get lost, Jerry!"
He laughed and walked away.
But before leaving, he turned around.
"Ruby?"
"What?"
"You're beautiful when you're angry."
She threw a tissue at him.
He laughed all the way out of the cafeteria.
THREE MONTHS LATER
Something had changed.
Jerry and Ruby, who once couldn't spend five minutes together without arguing, had become inseparable.
He waited for her after lectures.
She called him whenever she needed help.
He bought her favourite snacks.
She stole his expensive sunglasses.
They argued over everything, but neither could imagine a day without the other.
One Friday evening, Jerry invited Ruby to his mansion.
When she arrived, the entire garden was decorated with fairy lights and beautiful red roses.
Ruby looked around in amazement.
"Jerry, what's all this?"
He walked towards her, holding a bouquet of white roses.
"I have something to tell you."
Ruby smiled.
"Are you finally admitting that I'm always right?"
He chuckled.
"Unfortunately, yes."
Then his expression became serious.
"Ruby, I've dated beautiful women. I've travelled around the world. I've had almost everything money can buy."
He paused.
"But I've never met anyone who makes me feel the way you do."
Ruby's smile slowly disappeared.
"Jerry..."
"I know I'm stubborn. I know I annoy you. But I don't want to spend another day pretending you're just a friend."
He held her hands.
"Ruby, I think I'm falling in love with you."
Her eyes became watery.
"You're not the easiest person to love, you know?"
"I know."
"You're arrogant."
"I know."
"Annoying."
"Very aware."
She laughed through her tears.
"But somehow, you've become my favourite person."
Jerry smiled.
"Does that mean I have a chance?"
Ruby stepped closer.
"You have more than a chance."
He gently kissed her forehead before pulling her into a warm embrace.
For the first time, Jerry Anderson, the man who never believed in love, had found someone he couldn't imagine losing.
But neither of them knew that someone from Jerry's past was about to return and change everything.
To be continued
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