(Lovely's POV)
.
I woke up with the sun shining on my face.
I stretched my back, yawning as my mind slowly process things. I checked my phone and saw that it's already 6:30am.
...
It's already 6:30am?!
I jumped around my room, taking the stuffs I have to bring to school as I brush my teeth. I wore my uniform and ID as fast as I can.
Noooo! I'm gonna be late--!
Pomfy was still resting and recovering on my bed so I didn't bother waking her up as I leave my room.
I immediately went to the door, wearing my shoes and leaving the house.
On the way to school, I kept checking my phone, keeping track of time.
The train passed through different stations as the time starts getting closer to 8:00am. As soon as I reached my stop, I got off the train and immediately rushed to the bus stop, getting in one as I stood just nearby the bus' door.
"Next Stop: Helliefon High School." The intercom said as I pressed the red button, waiting for the bus to reach the next stop.
As soon as the bus reached the stop, I immediately went out, practically running up the hill as I keep checking the time. It's only 7:30am! I'm not late!
I reached the school, went inside my building and immediately changed my shoes to indoor shoes as I rush to the stairs.
I reached the 3rd floor, and there's-- so many girls? I squeezed myself in, wanting to go to my classroom.
"Hey-- who the fu-- Oh no you don't!" Suddenly someone pulled me.
"E-eh?!"
"What, you think you can just skip the line and get closer to Xavier just like that?" One of the girls told me.
"N-No! I just want to go to my classroom!" I tried telling them but they're eyes are looking at me as if I'm suspicious.
"As if!" They said as they scoff at my explanation.
"I don't really care about that rude guy anyways--!" I said, shrugging off their hand.
"Ho? So I'm the rude guy now?"
Suddenly I heard a guy's voice said as the group of girls make way like how Moses splits the red sea.
I look up and saw Xavier. His black and red hair caught my eyes as his red eyes look at me. He smirked after he saw me.
"I knew it." He said, taking a step down the stairs to get closer.
"There's no way I'd forget your voice, Pinkhead." He continued as I took a step up the stairs.
"Is that so? Then I'll go now." I said, walking past by him.
He snickered, then he suddenly walked beside me as the girls around him gasps.
"I haven't forgotten what you did to me, it was so painful." He said, his deep voice a whisper as he leans closer to my ear.
"How sensitive can you be that you're this hurt with a book hitting your head?" I asked him, annoyed at his voice.
His eyes widened with my response, covering his mouth but his smile was too obvious.
"You're quiet interesting, Pinkhead." He said as he gets closer to me.
"Well, you're not." I told him as his red eyes started looking at me mischievously.
Seriously, this is the worst. I almost got here late and now this rude person is talking to me as if we're close. I saw my classroom as I walked faster.
The moment I reached it, he blocked my way inside.
"Can you please move?" I asked him as he crossed his arms.
"Your name, tell me." He said.
"No."
"Then you're not going in." He said as he leans on the doorway.
The girls inside my classroom were flabbergasted seeing this rude guy infront of the door. I seriously hate this guy!
"Speak up Pinkhead, unless you don't want to get inside your classroom." He smugly said.
"I don't want to share it with a rude person." I told him as I tried to forcefully enters as he just block it with his arm.
"Then too bad, you're not getting in." He said as he look at me, his red eyes look so domineering.
I grit my teeth, this is the first time I ever wanted to hit someone in real life! I don't want to play along with this rude person's stupid game!
But how do I get inside my room--?
"Just let me in." I asked him in an annoyed manner.
"Your. Name." He said, looking down at me with a smile.
"No." I told him.
"Then you're not getting in."
"Wow, what an asshole." Suddenly I heard another voice.
I looked infront of me as I saw Juwan behind Xavier as the anger I was feeling started to disappear.
"Morning." He greeted me.
"What do you think you're doing?" Xavier said, his voice sounds threatening.
Juwan ignored him, swatting his arm out of the doorway as he held my hand, gently pulling me inside the room.
"You dare--!"
"I do." Juwan said, cutting off Xavier's words.
"What're you gonna do about it?" Juwan continued as he smugly looked back at Xavier before looking at me.
Xavier clicked his tongue as he looked at the both of us.
"Fucking simp." Xavier said, as if wanting to have the final words, glaring at Juwan.
I turned around, he just disrespected my friend so I was prepared to throw another book at him... but Juwan just stifled his laugh, putting his hand on my head and rustling it in front of Xavier.
"Yeah, I am."
Huh?!
I looked back at Juwan as I felt my face turn red. His eyes looked incredibly dangerous yet he's smiling ao confidently, as if challenging Xavier.
Xavier's eye twitched, leaving the room. As soon as he wasn't visible anymore, Juwan walked me to my desk. His eyes were gentle again.
"It's rare for you come to school this late." He told me, squatting down and using my desk as his support.
"W-well I woke up late..." I told him as he just smiled at me.
"Pftt you stayed up late, didn't you?"
It's because of you! I couldn't sleep because of your message!... But I couldn't just say that to him.
He covered his mouth, clearly stifling a laugh before patting my head as he stands up.
"You were about to say that it was my fault, didn't you?" He asked me.
"Juwan, can you read minds?"
"Not at all, dumdum."
Then why does it feel like you can?!
"Let's chat more later, okay?" He said, rustling my hair before going to his seat as the bell rings.
Our teacher went inside the classroom, pulling his chalk as the first class of today starts.
.
.
Lunchbreak starts while I was watching Juwan in the front row seats.
He doesn't talk much with our other classmates, looks bored during our classes, yet he recites when called and people are drawn in to him.
His replies are quick, always smiling before going back to his own business. The only person he actually chats with in the front row is Cedric.
"--Vely, Vely!"
"Eh?! Ah! Sonaia!" Suddenly Sonaia grabbed me, shaking me.
"Geez, I kept calling you sinc earlier." She said as she removed her hand and rest them on her waist.
"S-Sorry!" I said as she looked at where I was looking at.
"Hmmm? Have you been staring at him all this time?" Sonaia said with a smug grin on her face.
No wait! She might think that I'm weird for staring at Juwan ever since this morning--!
"I--I umm! That's not--!"
"Don't worry Vely~ I'm sure Cedric didn't notice you staring at him the whole time!"
Eh?
"A-Ah hehe right! Well..."
"So what are you guys up to?" Juwan suddenly asked as I jumped out of my seat.
How did he--?! Fast! He's fast!
"...? Are you a cat? Why did you jumped like that?" Juwan said, stifling his laugh.
"I-I dunno, you suddenly jumpscared me like-- boo!" I replied to him.
"HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA!" His stifled laugh turned into a full blown one as he wiped his tears off his eyes.
Sonaia sighs as she watches the both of us. I sat back down as she smiles at me. She then looked at Juwan and I expected them to fight again.
"You ok now?" She suddenly asked with no signs of hostility in her voice.
"Yeah. Thanks for yesterday, it made up my mind on what I should do." Juwan replied, his voice calm as well.
"Well, good for you." Sonaia replied as she smiles.
W-Why are they so... kind to each other today? Well it's better than the both of them fighting.
"With that said, I'll be on the offensive today." He said as he looked at Sonaia before looking at me.
"...haaa!" Sonaia lets out a heavy sigh as she scrunch the bridge of her nose.
"W-W-W-What's going on?!" I said as he puts a lunchbox in front of me.
"I'm gonna go buy my lunch." Sonaia said as she walked outside the classroom, leaving me and Juwan alone.
I looked at the lunchbox, then at Juwan, to the lunchbox again as he grabs a chair and sat beside me.
"Umm--."
"I made it." He said, opening it as I see food that looks so appetizing that it made me drool.
"B-but why though?" I asked him but my hands are already holding the spoon and fork.
"Well, I wanna say sorry since I feel like I ditched you yesterday." He said as he rests his arm on my desk.
"I-it's fine! And well... I just thought that you had something important to do so you didn't have to do this..." I said as he looked at me.
"You say that but..."
"But?"
Suddenly, I bite in something that's very delish. Ah--! Did I just took a bite of his--! Am I dumb? Yes I am! God this is embarrassing.
"Just keep eating, it's ok." He said as I keep taking bites.
It's delish, like really delish! I kept taking more bites then drink some of my water.
And before I realize it, I emptied it out. I finished it all. It hasn't even been 10 minutes and I finished all of the food inside this lunchbox.
I look at him slowly. God he must think that I'm a pig now, a weird glutton, someone who's--
"You're overthinking again." He said as he gently flick my forehead.
This man is genuinely a mind reader I swear! I looked at him as he just smiled at me before patting me.
"D-Don't you find it like... eww? That I ate that fast?" I asked him.
He giggles, rustling my hair before pinching my cheek.
"Not at all, no." He said, gently tucking my hair behind my ear.
"Rather, I feel happy. A cute girl happily ate all the food I made for them, ofcourse I'd be happy." He continued, his eyes still focused on me.
I felt my face heat up from his words as I giggled. Seriously, he's gonna become a playboy if he keeps doing this to girls. I can't let my friend become a playboy.
"You know it'll be bad if you keep telling girls they're cute even if you don't mean it, right? They might get the wrong Idea." I told him, trying to scold him.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"I meannn...! It's fine if you call me c-cute and stuffs cuz we're friends... but! That doesn't mean that you should call other girls cute just for fun!" I replied to him while poking him on his nose, trying to sound mature.
He went silent, his eyes widened as he tries his best to not laugh. He's not taking me seriously!
"I-I'm serious!" I said, instinctively puffing out my cheeks since he's making fun off me!
"Then, you want me to not call anyone cute except for you?" Juwan said as he wipes the tears off his eye.
"Yes." I replied
"I mean-- No!" Why did I say yes?! Lovely, you idiot!
"HAHAHAHAHHAHAA!" He laughed, holding his stomach as he tries not to fall down from his chair.
"Don't laugh!" I said, grabbing him by his jacket as he coughs from laughing.
"M-My bad! Pftt! Ahhh... it's just--"
"Just?"
He composed himself, his jacket sliding off his shoulder as he leans in closer to me.
"You're the only person I call cute, Lovely."
Badump
I felt my heart skip a beat because of his words. This is bad, really bad, why does he keep saying these stuffs to me...?
"So even if you tell me to not call anyone cute except for you, nothing will change."
...And why am I so affected by it?
.
.
Before I knew it, the last class for today ends. It's the first time I haven't slept through this class.
I put my stuffs inside my bag.
"Vely!" Suddenly, Cedric called out to me.
"Y-Yes?" I asked as he walks toward me. He carried his bag on his shoulder, smiling at me.
"Do you have any plans for today? I was wondering if you want to grab some milktea with me." Cedric said to me.
Hmm? Milktea? With Cedric?! Am I hearing things right? I felt myself smiling like a dumdum.
"I- I would lo--"
Beep! beep!
Suddenly, I felt my card vibrate inside the inventory space. When this happen, it means that an warp opened. Why now, of all times?
"I.."
Can't I just ignore it for today?
Beep! Beep!
Haa.. I can't ignore it.
"I'm sorry, I can't today... But next time! Let's go next time!" I replied to him before dashing outside the room.
.
.
I went down the stairs as fast as I can and went to the shoe lockers as I change my shoes to an outdoor one.
I immediately went outside and to the back of the building, only for someone to trip me. I fell down and looked at the person who tripped me.
"Right, you're the Pinkhead that Xavi mentioned right?" The girl said as she looked at me in disgust.
"Really? This is the person you want us to fuck up?" The guy beside her asked as the other guys snickered.
What's happening? Why did they suddenly tripped me? As much as I want answers, I stood up and ignored them.
"Hey, where do you think you're going?" One of the guys asked as he grabbed me by the hair.
It hurts--!
"W-What are you--?" I tried asking, only to get hit by the smoke they puffed out from their vape.
"Hell, she's pretty cute ain't she?" The guy grabbing my hair said to the girl.
"I don't care what you do to her, just fuck her up right now." She replied as the guy smirked.
I don't have time for this..! B-but I can't just use my powers to get out of this situation.
"Ya hear that? Don't worry, I'll make sure that it doesn't hurt that much." He said, inhaling his vape as he spat the smoke out to my face.
Suddenly, the realization hits. I'm in danger, serious danger. Without using my powers, I'm just a regular girl... and there's 4 guys here telling me that they'll hurt me.
I felt my knees turn weak. I fell down on the ground as the guy kept pulling my hair. I grabbed their arm, trying to stop them from pulling my hair.
"AAHHH!" I screamed from the pain as he pulled my hair even more which made the guys laugh.
"Oh, she has a pretty voice too." The guy said as I grip my nails on his arm.
He lets go, clicking his tongue as I glared at him. He glared back at me, annoyed that I scratched his arm.
"You bitch!" He said, slapping my face.
It hurts but it's not as bad as getting scratched by a Blade-quoinn.
The others laughed as they saw me got hit by the guy. I looked at them, the girl took out her phone as if she's taking pics.
"What are you doing Marco? Hurry up." The girl said.
"Yeah yeah, don't worry I'll make sure that she's--"
"That she's what?"
Suddenly, the guy flopped down on the ground. He was hit by a fast punch that my eyes couldn't even follow. The others froze at what just happened.
"Juwan?"
Juwan looked at me, his eyes focusing on the mark that was left from the guy's face. He stood still, his silence was deafening.
"...You have something to attend to, right?" He said, his voice was gentle but underneath his smile was... different.
"Y-yes." I told him as he helped me stand up.
My eyes darted to the girl who ordered the guys to do this. His eyes followed my gaze as the other guys froze.
"H-ha! Look at you! How does it feel that your knight and shining armor came to--"
"Shut up." Juwan uttered, cutting off the girl's words.
I looked at Juwan as he looks back at me. He pats my hair, before gently touching my cheek that was slapped.
"Don't worry, I'll handle this." He told me.
I want to stop him but I can see that he's already made his decision... and something tells me that he'll be alright. I had the urge to hold his hand that was gently rubbing my cheek.
I let go of his hand, my heart beating like crazy.
"T-thanks." I told to him as I run away.
I searched for a place with no people, I reached the 2nd building and immediately went behind it.
I checked again and made sure that there were no people before pulling my card inside my inventory.
"[Install]!" I casted.
I was enveloped by white light, my clothes turning into something different as I held out my hand, grabbing onto my staff that materializes out of thin air.
As soon as the transformation ended, I casted [Fly] and flew away to reach my destination faster.