I got mini French pastries and a fresh fruit cup for snack, while she grabbed two plain butter croissants and a cup of brewed coffee. She dropped five sugar cubes in—maybe more, I wasn't sure. Then we tapped our Campus Cards for the payment before finding a seat here at the cafeteria.
She looked satisfied as she took a sip from her cup of coffee, while I winced—just the sight of it already seemed way too sweet. She likes sweets?
"Ah! Are the posts in the Heirarchy real? Did you two really fight?" I asked Michaelis with urgency and excitement.
Because I saw the president of OOD this morning at the entrance with a band-aid on his cheek. And I suddenly remembered a post in Heirarchy about someone accidentally catching a glimpse inside Block 12—and accidentally seeing him and Michaelis in a fight.
"Heirarchy?" she asked, only then looking at me. She had been treating me like I was invisible since she walked into the class earlier. Thank God—looks like she still doesn't know much about Kronen, so I can use this as an opportunity to get closer to her.
"Heirarchy… It's Kronen's anonymous forum—Heir plus Anarchy. Think of it as a digital court for the Heirs. People post anything from tips and school updates to bold takes and rumors." It's elegant but chaotic. Totally Kronen, just... unfiltered.
"Heirs?"
"Yes, Heirs are the students of Kronen," I explained as we continued eating our snacks. "And there's a post in there telling that you two having a fight in Block 12."
"Block 12?" she asked again, brows furrowing.
"Yes, the white holding room. I saw Cedric enter that room yesterday," I whispered. 'Cause people might think I was the one who posted it on Heirarchy if they overhear us.
"Cedric?"
"Yes, the president of OOD."
"OOD?"
"Office of the Ordinance…" and Discipline. I let out a deep sigh. "Are you really here with me? Hello?" I asked, dripping with sarcasm.
"I don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about," she answered before sipping on her cup of coffee.
Obviously.
"I'm glad we're now having a convo," I muttered under my breath. "I mean, did you two really have a fight?"
"Maybe," she replied curtly before turning her attention back to observing the people around us. Was she looking for someone?
"Really? How? I mean, what happened?" I fired off my questions one after another.
But before she could answer, a girl stopped beside our table, making both of us look up at her. Lyra—the Public Relations Officer of the OOD. She was smiling brightly, even though she was usually the bearer of bad news.
Also, she's probably the most approachable officer in the OOD. At least, for me.
She invited Michaelis to their office to talk about the sanction for what happened yesterday at Block 12. 'Probably' about what she did to Vivienne.
Tss. She's bad timing.
xxx
"What's your punishment? Expulsion? Suspension? For how long?" I asked in quick succession the moment Michaelis stepped out of their office. I was even a bit surprised to see her come out because it felt like she had only been inside for a few minutes.
But she didn't answer my questions—she didn't say a word and just walked straight toward the school gate.
"Michaelis—"
"What exactly do you want?" she asked irritably, suddenly stopping in her tracks and turning to face me.
"I want to be your apprentice," I answered directly, even though her sharp gaze made my nerves jolt. I'm scared of her, actually.
"Wow. That's… flattering." I'm about to smile but— "No."
What the! I thought if she didn't need a friend, maybe…
"Please, I want you to train me," I pleaded just before she could take another step away.
"You want me to train you? That's bold."
"I want to be like you!" I shouted as she continued walking quickly toward the school's exit gate.
I want to be like her…
Fears no one. Feared by everyone.
"Get lost!" she shouted back, flipping me off as she did.
Bitch.
I let out another deep sigh of surrender.
I wasn't planning to follow her anymore, but then I spotted Cedric outside the gate, as if he were waiting. So I hurried over to listen to them.
"Happy with your sanction?" Cedric greeted her sarcastically as soon as Michaelis stepped outside the gate.
"Who are you?" Oh God, didn't they just had a fight yesterday?! Does she need a vitamin for her brain?
I could see the irritation on Cedric's face when Michaelis asked.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that?" He took a few steps toward Michaelis and asked again, "Who are you?"
Seriously?!
"I believe you have my insignia?" Michaelis answered him in sarcasm.
Wow. A battle of sarcasm.
"I'll return it to you once your suspension has been lifted."
The moment Cedric's sentence reached its period, Michaelis began walking away. She's always so impatient.
Wait? How long will she be suspended?
"That color really suits you," Cedric added, but she just ignored him. Is he referring to her hair?
Then I found myself standing alone when a car pulled up beside Michaelis and she got in. And Cedric walked past me as he went back through the school gates.
And I'm still curious how the great Majesty Michaelis bends to the President of the OOD. Or maybe I'm just overthinking, maybe she just agree to change her hair color?
xxx
My gaze settled on her face. Her eyes, though closed, were framed by long, graceful lashes that curled perfectly. Her nose was slender and finely sculpted. Her lips were full and softly defined, naturally tinted with a shade that made them look effortlessly perfect. Her skin was smooth and luminous, with not a blemish in sight. Even in stillness, her face carried a quiet elegance that was hard to ignore.
I can't deny that I envy Michaelis for having such a goddess-like face.
"Stop!"
Everyone almost came to a stop and looked over—including me—at our classmate Gail, who had just shouted. The whole classroom fell silent. She slightly lowered her head when she realized she had caught everyone's attention.
It seems that a group of friends is messing with her while we're here at a general academic classroom for our minor subject, waiting for the professor.
But after only a few seconds, the attention shifted to Michaelis, who, in the middle of the quiet classroom, slowly looked up and let out a loud yawn—that seemed to be awakened by Gail's shout. She stretched her arms before glancing at the group of our classmates who looked like bullying Gail.
This is the hard part about the elitist students here—they think they're above everyone else.
But everyone went back to what they were doing when Michaelis buried her face onto her desk to sleep again.
I almost forgot…
She's not that 'kind' of person. She wouldn't just butt in and defend someone just because they're being mistreated. For a moment, I forgot that minding her own business is her expertise. And that she herself is menacing.
I just remembered that moment when I caught a glimpse of the man's face, the one now being beaten in this dark alley.
I covered my mouth and quickly hid behind a wall when I saw Michaelis here in a dark alley with her friends, who were messing with someone. I think it's another victim of theirs. Another "toy".
Her suspension isn't even over yet, and she's already causing trouble again. She's really a troublemaker.
I don't know how they pick a 'toy', but I'm so sure... Their current victim is our classmate who used to lead the bullies against Gail. Kenneth—he's now their target.
I peered once more at the fight, hidden in the dark alley with a single dead streetlight.
I didn't know how bad or how long the fight had been going on, but from Kenneth's expression, it seemed like his cockiness has no effect on them. One of his hands was on his stomach while the other was ready to block a punch, and he was slightly hunched over.
I can't help but smirk. I thought he's strong enough to bully someone?
One man was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, just watching, while another sat on the pavement, smoking, clearly enjoying the show. The man who seemed to be Kenneth's one-on-one opponent moved to his side so that Michaelis, sitting on a pile of tires, could see him directly in front of her. My eyes widened slightly when I saw her. Wearing Kronen's uniform while on suspension?! For real, Michaelis?!
"What the fvck do you want?!—"
My shoulders jumped as Kenneth was sent flying into a pile of trash after receiving a powerful punch from Michaelis, who quickly stood up when he shouted. It's giving don't-you-ever-yell-at-me punch!
I instinctively touched my left cheek. I felt like my jaw would have shattered if I had taken a punch that strong.
"My bad, my fists come before my words," Michaelis said as Kenneth struggled to get up, while the others couldn't help but chuckle at what happened to him.
I closed my mouth, which had fallen open in shock at how fast everything had happened. I know I already saw something like this in Block 12, but I can't help being shocked again. She always leaves me trembling in awe.
I find it odd that a part of me is almost glad—because after all, he's a bully.
I gasped, and only when the streetlight flickered did I finally see Kenneth's companions lying on the ground.
I quickly ducked behind the wall again as Michaelis's eyes swept in my direction. For a moment, I even held my breath in fear.
I think our eyes met for a millisecond.
A faint sheen of cold sweat formed on my forehead, my body going still.
I don't want to be involved in this trouble.