"Sara, would you mind assisting Jeshan throughout the day? By that I mean showing him where his classes are, what materials he needs for each class, and other things." Mrs. Patterson asks me.
I give her a bright smile and nod my head. "Yes, of course. I'd be happy to." I quickly move my seat beside Jeshan's and give him a smile as well, but he just looks back at me with that same monotone expression while moving his chair to the side a bit so I'm not too cramped. Maybe he's shy, or he sees my kindness as some kind of facade. Either way, I hope I can make his school life just a little bit more comfortable.
I set my textbook on his desk and open it up to the page we're going to be working on today, every other student in class doing the same. I can hear a few of the other students whispering, "Gosh, I feel so bad for her..." and "Why does such an angel have to work with the literal devil..?" Their words anger me to no end, but I don't let it show.
Instead I just continue to smile at Jeshan. "Feel free to ask me anything if you need help. I'm Sara by the way."
He nods and looks forward. "I know. You're pretty famous around here you know?"
I smile nervously. "Yeah...I know." I stare at him for a moment, admiring his features. Despite his infamous appearance, he's quite handsome. I'm sure if he just had a different hair color or is he was less pale, he'd have as many fangirls as I do admirers.
"Now now class, settle down. Class is in session." Mrs. Patterson says and begins teaching. I quickly look forward as well, though I glance at Jeshan once more. Despite the blank look on his face, his eyes are focused on the lesson being given. Seeing this, my lips unintentionally curve into a smile, a real smile, and I look forward to fully focus on the lesson as well.
After class, I start packing up my things and look at Jeshan who's doing the same. "What's your next class? Do you want help getting there?"
He nods, opening up his interface and looking through it. An interface is something everyone is born with, something that lets you look at your level based on your strength, what you know how to do and how well you know how to do it, and you can also message and call people from afar with it, as well as watch fictional recordings, browse the web, and so much more. "I have sociology next."
"Oh really? What teacher?"
"Miss Bryer."
"Well then, looks like we have the same exact class next." I giggle. "Come on then, I'll take you there." He nods once more and I lead him out of the classroom. As we walk, my admirers actually avoid us rather than surround me, and an overwhelming sense of relief washes over me. "What school did you go to before this one?" I ask Jeshan, who walks at my side.
"I went to Oakleaf before this." He responds without a hint of hesitation or emotion.
"I see. What made you choose Northride?"
"It was the next closest high school." He answers bluntly.
"I-I see..." I look forward, my smile becoming a little less bright and cheery. "Do you...switch schools a lot then..?" I ask nervously, not wanting to bring up bad memories for him or get too personal when we've only just met.
I just can't help but ask with all the stares we're receiving and all the things the other students are whispering. "I can't believe she's not scared of him...", "Do you think she might be putting on a front..? She's so brave..!", and "That's our school's goddess for you, even willing to take on the most terrifying tasks with a smile on her face" are the things I hear a few of the students say, the rest just saying similar things along those lines.
"I don't mind if you ask me anything personal you know. I don't have anything to hide, and I hope someday I can make you feel the same way towards me. To answer your question, yes, I've had to do this a lot." Jeshan tells me, bringing my attention back onto him.
I smile brightly once more for a moment. Even though his expression didn't change, I can tell he really meant the words he said. "I hope I can feel that way towards someone too someday..." My smile fades completely as I ask my next question. "Then...why have you moved schools so much?" I look at him this time as I ask him this.
"I think you know the answer to that question already." He replies bluntly once again. I nod, for I do know the answer to my own question. At the end of the day, he's had to switch schools so much because of the way he looks. "Mind if I ask you a question now?" Jeshan asks.
I tilt my head, but nod. "Sure, shoot."
"What level are you?"
"Huh? Well I'm level one silly. Why do you ask?"
"Well everyone here treats you like a queen, so I assumed you were one of those destined adventurers."
"Ohhhh." I giggle. "No no, the reason for that is because of my family's company. I'm the daughter of a rich family, so everyone here tries to stay on my good side. That and there's also my looks."
Jeshan doesn't say anything for a moment, but when he does speak, his words shock me. "Why are you putting on this weird good girl facade?"
My eyes widen. "What..?"
"Earlier today, I saw you in the halls. You looked so...uncomfortable. Why didn't you just tell them off?"
Not only are his questions shocking me, but I can hear actual curiosity in his voice. "He...saw right through me..?" I pause, just staring at him for a moment before smiling. "Because I don't have any other choice..." I mutter. He doesn't respond, just looks at me with that same blank expression. "It's a relief to have you walk with me though." I put on my cheery facade once more. "It's almost like you're a bodyguard sent by my parents to watch over me and keep the unwanted attention away."
"Then I'll walk to every one of your classes with you." He states.
"N-No no no! That's not necessary." I giggle nervously. "If he did that, I'm sure some people would get the wrong idea eventually..."
"Besides, I'm sure at some point you'll make a friend or two here, and you'll probably wanna spend some time with them, right?"
"...A friend or two, huh..?" He mutters, a hint of darkness flashing in his eyes.
"Eh..?" I mutter, but look forward to see we've arrived at our class. "Oh, we're here." I walk inside and Jeshan follows me. The rest of the day goes virtually the same way; my peers in class being shocked to see Jeshan, and even more shocked to see me being so friendly with him, me sharing a desk with Jeshan in each of our classes and helping him with whatever he needs help with, and surprisingly walking to each class and lunch together because we have the exact same classes and lunch times.
"Are you sure you're not a guard sent by my family?" I nudge him with my elbow and wink, giggling.
"I'm not, promise." He says, but his monotone expression and tone make it hard to believe. I believe him though because if my parents really did hire a guard, I'm pretty sure it would be a high class adventurer.
"Well then, I'm gonna go off to my locker now. I'll see you tomorrow alright?" I give him a smile and he nods. I then walk out of class and start heading to my locker only to be surrounded by my admirers.
"Sara, are you alright?! Did that guy do or say anything bad to you?!"
"Yeah, we saw you looking sad in the hallway after first period!"
"If that guy did anything, anything at all, just let us know and we'll kick his butt!"
"Yeah!" They all carouse one after another.
"U-Um... W-Well...I-I..." I don't know what to say. I'm angered that they would say such things based off of assumptions alone and the fact that if I had been in danger, they all just kept their distance the entire time. Most of all however, if I say something, then my image might break into pieces. "What am I supposed to do..?" I look back into the classroom and Jeshan is looking right at me. Our eyes lock and my anxiety just falls away. I know what I'm supposed to do, what I should've done from the very beginning, and I open my mouth to do just that.