On my way to the faculty room, I bumped into Ericka, one of my classmates back in middle school. "Do you want to join the swimming team for the last time?" She's been asking me that since our high school life began. I was on our middle school's swimming team, winning the championship, and I was invited to the national youth camp. But I wasn't really that interested before. "With your skills, we'll surely win the championship." I even learned diving, and I was good at it.
"I'm sorry, but I'm not really interested." I would probably join the team if I didn't have my obsession with Night. But I have my priorities straight.
Ericka sighed. "Okay, if you change your mind, tell me." She bid me goodbye after that. But why would I change my mind? We're already graduating, and all I think about is chasing after Night. "We can join the swimming team in college, too," Ericka added before she took a turn in the hallway. I don't think so. I'll still be chasing after Night even in college.
As I was about to arrive near the faculty room, I bumped into some of my classmates, I think? "Oh, if it isn't Noelle." I think his name is Ivan. He's friends with Ryzen. That's why I remember his name. "Right, can you give us some money? Ryzen said we can ask you if we really need some. I don't have money right now, and I don't have anything to eat. Please?" His friends from the other section giggled while he showed me his palm, asking for money.
I looked at him while he smiled at me. Oh well, since he's Ryzen's friend, I know he won't be lying. "Sure." I took my wallet out of my pocket and was about to give them some money.
"What are you doing?"
My head turned to my back after I heard Ryzen's voice. He has his forehead creased while walking toward us. "When did I tell you to take money from Noelle?" His voice sounded angry. I thought he's friends with these guys? Why do they look like they're about to fight?
"N-No Ryzen. Ivan's just joking." One of the guys from the other class said. "We'll go now." They said as they pulled Ivan away. What was that for?
Ryzen sighed. "I know you're rich but don't just give anyone money."
"But he said you told me about me giving money—"
"I didn't! What do you take me for?" He sighed again. "I did ask you for money before, but I already paid it. Those guys won't pay your money back, so don't let them borrow any even cents." Ryzen ruffled my hair as he bid me goodbye. What's wrong with helping other people? But since Ryzen said it, I'll follow it. He's wise, after all.
I knocked on the door of the faculty room before entering. "Excuse me." It's quiet; after lunch is really blissful for the teachers unless they have another class. I walked inside the faculty, careful not to make too much noise since one of the teachers was sleeping on her desk. Miss Valencia has class after lunch, making it easier to put the activity on her table while avoiding talking to her.
"Thank you again, Night." My head almost turned 180 hearing that name. "You may go now." It was professor Choi! He was talking to Night, and now Night's leaving the faculty room. I speedily placed my paper on Miss Valencia's table. After putting it without much thought, I ran towards Night. Still, I accidentally bumped into one of the tables near, causing the things on top of it to fall to the ground. 'What great timing!'
"Miss Alcantara? You again?" That was what professor Choi said after seeing the mess I caused. And he said 'again' because he always witnessed it whenever I made mistakes. The books that fell down caused such loud noises; of course, he'll get mad. "Would you please help this girl out, Night?" My eyes widened after hearing that, and professor Choi was already giving me a thumbs up. He also knows how much I like Night, and I thought of him as the nicest teacher ever for helping me get closer to my dream guy.
Night approached me like a good student and started picking up the books and papers on the ground. I felt shy then as I could feel my heart beating faster with the sight of this guy. I feel so lucky whenever I have the opportunity to see Night's face this close. Even though I have liked him for three years, I can't approach him easily because I feel shy whenever he's around.
"Would you hurry it up?"
"H-Huh?" I was too startled to even say something back at him. Night shook his head as he continued picking everything without my help. Wait… is this that kind of moment in dramas? Where we'll be picking up books together, then our hands will accidentally touch, making us look into each other's eyes, then he'll smile at me, and I'll smile back—
"Ah!"
"What's the problem this time?"
I looked at professor Choi. "N-Nothing. I'll excuse myself now."
I rushed out of the faculty room and saw Night walking away. He finished picking up the mess I made, and I wasn't able to thank him, that was the excuse I thought to be able to approach him with confidence. He's genuinely kind for helping me without waiting for something in exchange, although professor Choi made him do it.
I chased him, but he was too quick because of his long legs. Although I didn't stop running after him, I took a deep breath as if I was possessed and didn't want to let him go. That's why I called for his name. My heart was thumping so loud that it felt like my whole body would vibrate with it. Even though I called Night's name, he didn't bother looking at me. Maybe he didn't hear me. I gathered all my courage and once again took a deep breath.
"Night! I like you."
Night stopped walking, and it caused me to flinch as I couldn't stop my legs, resulting in my face bumping into Night's back. The impact was so strong that it made me fall to the ground, and I felt pain in my butt.
'Wait! I know this scene. It's where the male lead would help the female lead by lending her a hand and asking her if she's okay.' I gulped as I looked up at Night's face. Is he going to fall for me now? Even though I was already looking at him, Night stood still, staring at me as if I were a bug. 'Why does this feel so wrong?'
"Aren't you going to help me?"
I couldn't wait anymore and asked that but… "Why?" That was Night's response. He asked me back. I was dumbfounded that it left me speechless. 'B-Because that's how they do it in dramas!' There's no way I could say something like that to him.
"W-Why? I-It's because."
Night stood there and waited for me to answer, but I kept stuttering and flustered. He was staring at me! My crush was literally staring at me! Do I look good? Do I look ugly right now? I was too busy thinking about my appearance that Night turned his back on me and started walking away. "W-Wait!" I tried to stop him, but my voice didn't stop him. I'm such an idiot.
"What are you doing there? On the floor?"
Ace was looking at me with an eyebrow raised. When did she arrive in front of me? I wanted to cry because it was a lifetime chance to talk to Night without anybody else, and I wasted that chance. Everyone's obsessed with Night, and his classmates are all over him. How can I not even try to touch his hand? "I'm such a fool."
"It's okay for me if you want to continue sitting there, but I can see your underwear."
I immediately stood up after hearing Ace say that. 'M-My underwear?' "There's no way—" Night didn't see my underwear, didn't he? Is that the reason why he didn't help me? Because I'm already exposing myself to him? "AH— mmph!" Ace quickly covered my mouth after I screamed at the top of my lungs.
At that moment, I thought I was an embarrassment and wanted to disappear.
"Why are you screaming out of the blue? Did you really lose your sanity?" I looked at Ace with tears in my eyes. She removed her hand from my mouth. "Speak."
I sniffed. "N-Night m-might have seen my underwear."
Ace grimaced as she let out a deep sigh. "Noelle, you." She couldn't even finish her sentence anymore. See? Even Ace is scared of my situation. "You're foolish, you know?" I titled my head as I didn't understand why Ace said that.
Ace grabbed my arm. "Let's go. The next class will start soon." She said, but I was still pouting. "I'll treat you to ice cream later, so stop pouting already."
"Really? Nice! Let's go." I rushed towards the classroom while holding Ace's hand. It was rare for Ace to say that she'll treat me to ice cream, so it really made me happy and excited for dismissal. "Are you trying to comfort me?" Even after the two of us arrived in the classroom, a smile was painted on my face.
"You're really weird."
I looked at Ace with my forehead creased. "Why? What did I do?"
"You can get everything you want, but you became this happy just because I'll treat you to some cheap ice cream? That makes you weird."
I smiled. "Of course, I'll be happy. Everything I receive from my friends makes me the happiest person ever."
"Yeah, right, princess."
I laughed like a naïve girl back then. I've been laughing cheerfully not until I witnessed that gruesome scene. That's when everything started to go down.