Stepping aside to entertain a quick chat doesn't bode well. But even with that insight, I still decided to pay no heed and just carried on with the sudden request.
"I'll cut straight to the point. What's your deal with Emily?"
"Nothing."
"I don't buy it."
"I don't need you to." My arrogance was met with a sudden punch to the face. I crashed down to the ground. "Agh!" I was nursing my cheek. Pretty much expected this outcome. While he may be the shining knight of this college, at the end of the day, he is scum, just like me.
"Hey, Blake!" Someone called out to him. He slowed looking at the fiasco that was going around, first carefully looking at him, and then, at me. "Is something wrong?" The warm and casual tone that lay afloat in this wind was nowhere to be felt, as my presence was met with a harsh and indifferent tone.
"Tch!" I clicked my tongue in respite. This was the last thing I needed. Both seemed to have noted that down, as each gave a look at me. "Call the boys!" said the so-called Knight. "Tell them we have a sparring practice."
"Alright." Without any momentary pause, the bloke just ran away, into the shadows, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, Blake crept down with his knees almost touching the ground, and with his hand on his knees, he was watching me closely, examining me, in fact, for some reason.
"I take it that you want to reprimand."
"Indeed."
"And yet, you want an audience. I take it that it's to humiliate me, and make a mockery out of me, ain't it?"
"You're awfully informed. Is that one of the characteristics you possess, as an esper?"
"I'll let you know that even an idiot can deduce that."
"You're not ruling out the fact that you aren't an esper."
"What I do, doesn't concern you."
"I hope you can hold onto that smug face after what you're about to be put through."
"You're pretty awfully confident."
"Yeah, I am. Why wouldn't I?"
"I wonder, is this what lays the foundation to mortals leaving their humanity and walking down the path of criminals? Just to get the sense of pleasure through sheer dominance?"
"I do have a confession to make."
"You're gay?"
"What the...! Why you! Ew! Disgusting!" This reaction has just raised my suspicions all of a sudden. Now I'm afraid to stay within his vicinity.
"I mean, you don't seem to have hooked up with any girl, besides always being stuck around the White Angel, for lengthy periods of time, every day, at least that's what the fuss is about."
"Well, that is logical, since we're almost together every day, I would see why one would come to that conclusion. But then, let me ask you, how did you arrive at the conclusion that I'm not dating anyone?"
"Ah, that's simple. I don't think any girl would like her boyfriend, especially someone of your caliber and reputation, to be spotted around with me or have to do anything with me, as it would be met with pretty unwelcoming opinions, which would only hinder both your fame and your girlfriend's name, on the long run."
"You do have a weird sense of reasoning. Wouldn't it benefit me, and my hypothetical and illusional girlfriend, if I were to pick bones with you, and beat you up to a pulp?" An interesting perspective indeed. But not that I'm thrilled about.
"True enough. But sometimes, it's better to be safe than sorry."
"Meaning?"
"You'd be more of a bully, and the atmosphere around you may just view upon you like that. And then, whatever you do, neither you nor your girlfriend can escape that. That's what being a man boils down to. What will you do then? How would you embark in that very situation?"
"I must give credit where credit's due. You indeed are an exceptional individual. Makes me wonder about whether you almost hacked 6 dudes to death as a viable story, or not?"
"Pfft!" I chuckled. "I guess we'll find out." I signaled him, to look around, and sure enough, a group of 20-30 boys showed up. The one sad reality about this college is that the management is only responsible for what happens to the student at the college only on the weekdays. In other words, since the weekends are day-offs, there is no personnel from the campus to look after.
Which meant two things. Either I was going to end up beaten to a pulp. Or, I'd channel the inner power that I had recently awoken, wipe them out of existence, and then lay suspicion on me. Haah! I guess option 1 it is.
"I must think you for sharing your wisdom, but sadly this is where we must draw the line. Right now, in this very moment, you are my mortal enemy, so don't expect me to treat you with kindness and pity just because of a few broken bones."
"I didn't assume that there was such an outlandish option. Besides, why are you wasting your time circling around me, and taunting me to make a move on you? If it's just to solidify your alibi later on, should I ever complain to a higher authority, then forget it."
"Looks like we have our hand tied behind our back. We wanted to do this smoothly but I guess a little improvisation wouldn't hurt."
"Just so you know, don't hold back. Because, if I make it out alive today, I'll definitely be coming for you. I'll come right for your heads!" I don't know what kind of face I had, but I was certain that it wasn't a welcoming one, as a few feared for themselves and cowered in the back, while a few knew that I wasn't bluffing and weighing down their options, and the last few, seriously pissed off.
And rightfully so, the beatdown began. Now I know what it's like to be hunted in a pack in broad daylight. But I shouldn't be too excited, as this is just the start.
And there would be things I would come to regret.