"Where are we going now?" I asked as we stepped out of the academy into the city.
This city is called Vytrinae. It's owned by the academy, created so students won't feel caged inside after staying for too long—no one could leave until the end of a semester. The place bustled with activity as buyers, most of whom were students, and sellers battled over the prices of goods. It was a hub of commerce that gave a feeling of freedom. I guess that's why the academy invested so much into this place, but with such freedom came consequences. Students would eventually get carried away and ignore their studies, though from what I could see, the academy didn't really care—those who were serious would always remain serious.
Anyway, this was another form of revenue for the academy, as merchants paid taxes along with the people who actually lived here. The currency used here was points, so every expense came at the student's detriment. There was a fixed amount allocated to everyone on a monthly basis, heavily influenced by rank.
"Allies Seres," she said with a grin, to which I frowned.
"What language is that?" I asked, and she glared at me.
"It's not a language, you big dummy! It's a couples café," she said, and I nodded.
"Wait... how do you even expect me to know that? I literally started school the day before yesterday," I realized and asked with a frown, to which she just laughed it off.
"You don't have to be an ancient student to know it. It's so popular in the academy that you should have at least heard of it once from other students, even on the first day," she said. I shook my head, not wanting to continue with this argument anymore—it was evident we weren't going anywhere with it.
"But you said couples... are single people banned or something?" I couldn't help but ask.
"Well, no... not directly, that is. But the atmosphere in there would chase a lone dog away, so don't ever try going there without me," she said. Though she was smiling, it seemed she was serious with that last part.
"So basically, I have to have a girlfriend before I can go in there freely?" I asked with a blank look, to which she nodded eagerly.
"But you're not—" I didn't even get to finish the sentence when suddenly her smile widened even more, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"I am not what, Ryan?" she purred in my ear. In the blink of an eye, I was pulled and slammed against a wall. Damn, this is so embarrassing! But I can't even do anything about it. She's so much more powerful than me that I don't even want to piss her off. With my many years searching for Renay, I had developed this scumbag sort of attitude where one word from me and a girl would get so irritated that in that second I would become their worst enemy. But whenever I see Selena, that attitude takes a hike. Maybe it's my subconscious already aware she could strangle me in public with how crazy she is, and before anyone could interfere—not that anyone would—I'd be long gone.
"I asked a question, Ryan," she said, placing one knee against my crotch as she leaned against me, staring me in the eyes. "I am not what?" she reiterated.
I looked at her for a while.
Then in that moment, I recalled a method I always used back then to calm Renay down whenever she started going crazy with her suspicions of me cheating on her.
I suddenly leaned forward, and that move caught her off guard. Even if I was weaker, and probably not good looking, that didn't mean I didn't know a few tricks..
Our foreheads touched.
"W-what—?" she tried to ask, but I placed a finger between her lips.
"Shh... you want to know what I think of you, right?" I asked. She wanted to pull away.
I didn't let her.
I touched her cheek, then leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead.
Her breathing increased.
Seems she's just as hopeless.
Then I went down toward her lips, but unlike what she expected, I just bit her lower lip.
"Ouch!" she tried to move back. I then took advantage of her disorientation to change our position.
Now the wall-slam was more appropriate.
"Why did you do that?" she asked, her lip bloodied.
"Shh," I shushed her, then leaned forward. But instead of what she expected, I just moved to her ear and whispered.
"I have somewhere to go... why don't we do this some other time?" My voice was hot against her ear, and she hugged me.
"You bastard... you're just playing with me," she said, then pushed me back, and I chuckled.
"I am serious... some other time... I have to go somewhere now," I said seriously, to which she narrowed her eyes.
"Where...?"
"..." I just smiled.
I have been thinking about it for a while.
Being this weak when I have knowledge of how to get stronger is just plain stupid.
Let's do something about that.