Nothing important happened during the lecture. Only some minor racket that sometimes disturbs Runa's concentration, as well as indecent jokes from the male students around her. Runa frowned every time she heard the dirty words that came out of their mouths, even though those jokes were not directed at her.
But from all those commotions, Runa didn't hear Arden's voice at all.
Despite that, Runa could feel Arden's piercing gaze behind her.
Runa wasn't sure, maybe her feelings were just too much, but since then she couldn't relax, as if the two eyes behind her were following her every move.
"Mr. Iverson!" called Mr. Binder, an economics mathematics lecturer who is famous for being assertive and likes to invite students to work on problems on the blackboard.
Runa turned to look at Owen, who was sitting in the front row. He looked up and raised his hand.
"Solve this," said Mr. Binder. He pointed to the blackboard and Runa saw a question that looked simple, but Runa knew Mr. Binder was not a lecturer who will give questions with simple solutions.
Owen waltzed in from his chair, looking so confident. He received the chalk from Mr. Binder and start working on the problems on the board. As soon as he wrote down the formula, Runa knew Owen couldn't solve it.
It took about five minutes for Owen to write and erase his calculations again and again. Mr. Binder clicked his tongue, looking impatient, then snatched the chalk from Owen's hand and let him stand in front of the blackboard like an idiot.
"Ms. Crown!" Mr. Binder called again, and Runa flinched at the mention of her name. She was too fixated on Owen and couldn't concentrate because she thought of Arden who seemed to stare at her mercilessly. Runa looked at the blackboard. Her mind was blank.
If she could not solve it, it would be a disgrace to her perfection. All students will definitely talk about it and start belittling her.
The thought alone made Runa's palms sweat.
Runa raised her hand and Mr. Binder narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. His brows furrowed and a look of astonishment took over his face when he saw where Runa was sitting. Looks like Mr. Binder couldn't believe what he was seeing. He lowered his glasses to his nose.
"Solve this question," he said, after the shock subsides.
Rune nodded. Carefully, she pushed the chair back as she breathed through her mouth. She gripped the table's edge, and she curse in her heart, wanting to end this sprained ankle acting, but she had to endure at least two more days.
Runa deliberately slows down her movement to compose answers in her head. When she grabbed the crutch that was leaning on the edge of the table, someone walked from behind and Runa turn her head. That's Arden. He walked forward, toward Mr. Binder.
"Mr. Whitlock?" Mr. Binder looked so confused that he choked at the mention of Arden's name. "What is it?"
"I'll solve it," Arden said. And before Mr. Binder agreed, Arden took the chalk that was sticking out from Mr. Binder's fingers and then headed to the blackboard.
He worked on the question, not once making a mistake or stopping to think. There is no doubt in his chalk strokes. And the confidence that he radiated made Runa amazed.
It was a question with a fairly complicated solution, but Arden worked it out as if it was a piece of cake and could be done by any student.
After Arden finished and returned the chalk to Mr. Binder, Mr. Binder asked Arden to stand next to Owen, who was now standing on the side of the blackboard so the other students could see the blackboard clearly.
Mr. Binder started correcting Arden's work and as he smiled at Arden, Runa widened her eyes. She couldn't believe what she saw. Mr. Binder rarely smiled, even at Runa.
"Good job, Mr. Whitlock," he said. "Although I don't understand why you suddenly came forward, when I clearly called Ms. Crown."
"My patience was run out when I see Ms. Crown move so slow as if every step she takes could kill her," said Arden. Everybody in the class responded to his answer with laughter. "I thought maybe she was remembering how to do her thing… or maybe she just forgot."
The laughter of the students grew louder, like the rumbling of rain in the distance, and Mr. Binder asked them all to be quiet not long after.
Runa's face turned red when she heard Arden's answer. She clenched her hands on the table and she gritted her teeth. Runa couldn't reply to those words because it would only embarrass her even more.
The bell rang, and Mr. Binder dismissed the class.
Everyone got up from their chairs, and Arden walked back to his chair. When he arrived in front of Runa, he stopped. They stare at each other. Runa opened her mouth, wanting to demand an explanation for Arden's behavior just now, when Arden bent down and aligned his lips with Runa's ear.
"Looks like you don't need a crutch anymore," he whispered. He pulled away and looked back into Runa's eyes with a crooked smile. An annoying, haughty smile with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I don't understand what you're talking about," replied Runa. "And just so you know, I can work on that question, and I remember how to do everything. I didn't forget."
Arden tilted his head, then shrugged. "One o'clock, at the main library. Don't forget," he said, ignoring Runa's protests. After that, he walked away with his friends, leaving the class.
Mandy, who saw all that happened, rushed to sit on the chair next to Runa, who had been left empty by the occupants. "Seriously, what's his problem?!" she hissed in a muffled shriek. "What did the abuser say to you??"
"Nothing to be concerned," replied Runa nonchalantly. She wanted to rebuke Mandy for her baseless accusations against Arden, but she had no obligation to explain, so she simply said, "Let's eat. I have to meet Mrs. Fonard in an hour."
"You're not going to class after this?" Mandy asked. She helped Runa up and carried her bag.
Rune shook her head. "No."
They walked out of the building and headed to the cafeteria, when, out of nowhere, Owen appeared and walked with them.
"That was so annoying," he lamented. "Whitlock humiliated me."
Mandy flinched and jerked her head back when she saw Owen's appearance and his groaning. "Why are you walking with us?? Since when did we become friends?"
Owen ignored Mandy's chatter and continued to complain about himself. "I can work on that! You know right, Runa?? If Mr. Binder gave me more time! Then Whitlock, that jerk, even though Mr. Binder is calling you—"
Runa, who felt uncomfortable with Owen's presence, glanced at him with a sharp gaze. "Get out of my sight," she said in a calm but deadly tone.
"Hey! Are your words not too much? I'm just asking you to talk! Didn't he humiliate you too?!"
Mandy took a deep breath, ready to enraged, when Runa tapped her shoulder and asked her to step aside. Runa stood in front of Owen and lifted her head so she could see his face.
They were now out in the yard, and many students had stopped to see what was going on. Everything about Miss Perfect is always interesting to note.
"Have you forgotten what you did last year?" Runa said every word in the question with a calm and composed tone, but full of emphasis.
"I already told you, it was just a joke! After all, no one believed me when I said that you asked me to be friends with benefits!"
"I don't care if anyone believes it or not," said Runa. "But the fact that you spread such lowly rumors makes me uncomfortable. You should understand that. And this isn't the first time I've said this to you, Owen Iverson."
Runa knows Owen is not only spreading rumors about Runa begging Owen to date him secretly, but there are many other things that make her reluctant to be around him.
Runa let her piercing gaze pause on Owen's face to make him feel intimidated, before she looked away and said, "Stop following me."
Runa frowned when she realized many students were surrounding them to find out what was going on. Some of them even held up their cell phones, recording the incident. Just as Runa and Mandy were walking away and thought this slight commotion was over, Owen suddenly shouted, "You think you have everything, huh?! Miss Perfect, my ass! You're just a spoiled bitch who has privileges! Without your father, you are nothing!"
Many breaths were held at that statement, and Runa stopped walking. This wasn't the first time anyone had talked about her and her father's influence on Sunbrillo, but for some reason, Owen's scream just now sparked anger in her heart.
Runa turned around, almost forgetting her act of sprained ankle. "You-"
But as she turned fully to face Owen, a basketball bounced out of nowhere and hit Owen in the head.
All the students stared, including Runa. Owen screamed and rubbed his head while glaring and looking for who dared to throw the ball at him.
Then Runa found Arden and his friends standing on the basketball court nearby.
"Sorry!" screamed one of them. Runa knew the student's name. Hunter.
Hunter ran past Owen, patting him on the shoulder. "Forgive me, dude. The ball is bouncing." Then he picked up the ball that had fallen not far away and ran back to the court.
Owen clenched his fists, but said nothing. His face was bright red, and Runa was almost sure Owen's head was going to let out steam.
Finally, Owen left, saying nothing.
Runa looked back at the basketball court. Hunter threw the ball at Arden while shouting, "How can you bounce the ball there?! What if Iverson punches me?!"
Arden only responded to Hunter's ramblings with a grin, and for a split second his gaze shifted and met Runa's.
Runa held her breath and Arden blinked slowly once before turning towards the ring and throwing the ball at it.
"Runa, come on." Mandy grabbed Runa's arm, and distracted her attention. She took a deep breath.
"Why are you sighing?" Mandy asked, frowning. "The sound of your breathing just now sounded like someone holding their breath for ten minutes."
Runa couldn't help but laugh at her friend's ramblings. "Hardly anyone can hold their breath that long, Mandy."
Runa glanced once more at the basketball court from the corner of her eye before walking to the cafeteria with Mandy.