||LET ME LOVE YOU||

Listen to: Heartless by The Weeknd.

ETHAN'S POV

Women are trash.

Wait-my mother is a woman, and she's not trash, so yeah...

Girls are trash.

And maybe I'm trash too for making them believe they have a chance with me-luring them in with my charisma, letting them crawl to me, begging, only to drown their useless emotions in deep water.

I don't even care about girls. All they want is money-which I have-or a pretty face-which I also have. So, if those are the only reasons they love me, why should I love them back?

It's not like I make them suffer because of their materialistic nature; I just enjoy watching them beg me to stay, promising to change their behavior. Girl, did I tell you there was something wrong with your behavior? Can't you see this is just for fun? Just let go and stop crying in the bathroom like I killed one of your family members.

No matter how much I talk about this, people always say, "Ethan, chill. These are just feelings."

Feelings? Feelings don't exist. And honestly, I'm starting to think air doesn't either-because if both exist, why can't we see them?

Whatever.

I won't lie-if I were treated the way I treat these girls, I wouldn't like it either. But they don't leave me, so why not enjoy them a little longer before pushing them away like garbage? And before you get the wrong idea, when I say enjoy, I don't totally mean that way.

Suddenly, I get a text from my girlfriend, Chloe, disturbing my life again with her good morning message and twenty emojis. I roll my eyes, shove my phone into my backpack, and head downstairs to the dining room, where I see my mother, father, and older brother, Edwin, having breakfast.

Without me.

"Oh, Ethan," my mother says with a gentle smile. "Come join us."

I pull out a chair, sit down, and serve myself some toast and a cup of coffee. The taste is awful, so I pour in some milk.

"So," my father starts, "how are the elections going?"

"Oh, the results will be announced today. I hope I win the position of Minister of Sport."

It doesn't even take two seconds for Edwin to choke on his coffee, laughing.

"Edwin, be careful!" my mother exclaims.

"You? Minister of Sport?" he asks mockingly. I nod.

"That's ridiculous. Why would you even want to be part of the student government?"

"I'm also surprised," my father chimes in. "I never thought you'd be interested in something like that."

"Well, it is what it is," I say, sipping my coffee, knowing full well they're right-I don't care about student government at all.

I was actually forced into it by my sports teacher since I'm the best basketball player in the school right now. The best athlete, period. He didn't really give me a choice.

But, to be honest, I also thought about all the hotties I might see in the student government. Girls pretending they're untouchable-maybe because some of them are nerds. Though, now that I think about it, most of the people involved in this kind of thing are usually the ugliest.

"Your driver is already waiting for you, Ethan," my mother says, taking a sip of her coffee.

I grab my backpack and head outside, where I see my driver standing next to the black Lamborghini. He opens the door for me, and I slide in before he rushes to take the driver's seat.

"Good morning, Mr. Rivers," he says in his elegant, posh voice.

"Um... please, just call me Ethan," I remind him. I don't feel comfortable having a man older than me call me Mister. And if he calls me that, what does he call my father? Mr. Rivers too?

"Did you sleep well, sir?" he asks as he starts the car. I just nod as we roll out of the mansion gates and the daily struggle begins again.

"Have a nice day, Mr. Rivers," he says as I step out of the car. I nod in response.

As I walk into the school, the usual happens-girls whispering, some screaming, others just staring.

"He's so hot," I hear one of them say.

"Chloe is so lucky to have him," another one adds.

Right. I almost forgot I had a girlfriend.

"Hey, buddy," a deep voice calls from behind me.

It's my best friend, Liam. We've been tight for years, even though he's a troublemaker-the kind of guy who racked up seven suspensions in one academic year and got three dismissal letters. But, of course, his parents bribed the school with an amount no normal person would even consider.

Still, Liam is loyal. The best advisor I've ever had.

"So, how's it going, Mr. Minister?"

"Oh, please, Liam." I roll my eyes-just in time to hear two girls whisper about how sexy I look when I do that.

Are they serious?

"You're going to win. That's a fact," he says with a wink.

"Thanks, Liam."

"Haven't seen your girlfriend today?" He smirks, fully aware that I get annoyed whenever she's mentioned.

"Dude, stop."

"Stop what?" he teases. "You chose to date that spoiled brat even after all my advice. Now you want me to stop mocking you?"

"Oh, Liam, the almighty god of advice, forgive me for my mistake," I say sarcastically in my best poetic tone, rolling my eyes again.

He grins. "That's better."

Suddenly, we hear the sound of approaching footsteps. The entire hallway seems to pause.

"Oh well, there she is."

Chloe walks in with her two best friends trailing behind her like bodyguards. She's wearing a black leather mini-skirt, a white crop top, and the basketball team sweater I gave her-which I deeply regret. Her blonde hair is styled in soft waves, and she has black leather boots on.

She scans the hall, probably looking for me, and the second our eyes lock, she smiles.

I swear, it's terrifying.

"Hey, baby," she purrs, wrapping her arms around my neck and giving me a quick smack on the lips.

"Hey... ba-by," I struggle to reply as Liam barely holds back his laughter.

"The election results are coming out today," she reminds me. "I can't wait for my king to win."

Yeah... and I can't wait to dump you.

"Yeah, I believe I will win."

"You believe? You've already won," she insists, kissing my cheek. "You're winning for both of us, right?"

"Of course, my lady."

Who is 'both of us'?

She finally pulls away, rejoining her friends as they continue down the hall.

"Your girlfriend is really supportive," Liam comments.

"Was that sarcasm?" I ask, as he struggles to hold back laughter.

Just then, a voice echoes through the school speakers.

"Dear students, please proceed to the assembly ground for the election results."

Immediately, students start chanting my name in support.

Well... let's see if I actually win.