For almost an hour Austin keeps on back and forth walking side by side while his friends annoyingly watch him. Yangyang constantly glared at him and rolled his eyes and go back to reading a book again. Nana only looks at him when Austin starts to stamp on his feet aggressively but mostly Nana has his own business anyway.
Throughout his friends seems like Mark is the only one worrying about him. "Young master you've been walking almost an hour, I think you should take a rest and worry about everything tomorrow for you still have a jet lag." His butler convinced him politely.
"He cannot rest Mr. Qian, he did something again that he has got to pay off instantly," Yangyang said while sipping his Da-Hong Pao Tea prepared by Butler Qian.
"Hey! If you are here to belittle me take yourself off in my house!" He stubbornly shouts to Yangyang while arrogantly pointing his fingers at him. Yangyang slumped forwardly while putting his two arms down that have been pressed in his open wide legs. He looks fiercely at Austin as he also grips his jaw that makes Mark startled.
"Hey, if you don't want me to strangle you to death make sure you are going to apologize to Asher and Shiro as well." He calmly said to Austin that makes him horrified as he rapidly moved his eyes because of consciousness.
"The headphones seem to be important." Nana rarely speaks up and places his phone in his pocket and looks at Austin with no expression.
"It's pretty obvious for it looks like old stuff she's keeping for so long. Maybe from someone who left or died." Nana said to him and grabs the comic book beside him.
"Left her or someone who died?" Austin nervously screamed in his mind.
"ARRRRRRRRGH!" He is unaware to yell which makes a fictitious echo in his mansion.
"Fine, fine! I will ask forgiveness to Shiro just for Asher's sake!" He said and finally sits down on a sofa.
"Make sure you will do that sincerely! I'm really worried about Ash. I can't reach her contact since she left. She's even absent from her class!" Mark told him while not looking at him for Austin might burst out his unstoppable hardheadedness.
Fortunately, Austin just stares at him and grins at his pinkish soft lips, and chuckles at the same time.
"But don't blame me if Shiro falls in love with me if I did that!"
He sarcastically responds while brushing up his fluffy, symmetrical voluminous black hair.
"Can't believe you still have your courage to joke around." Yangyang asserted as he prepared himself to leave.
"We're going Austin," Nana lazily told him as he swiftly moves towards Yangyang. Mark also pardon himself and taps Austin's shoulder. "Do it properly tomorrow Young master!" Yangyang sarcastically teased him as he is waving his jacket and did not face Austin at the same time.
"Whatever, Xiao Yang of Cháo Yáng!" Austin insists and crossed his arms in disbelief.
"They even bullying me for that Shiro!" he mumbles.
An unexpected image of Shiro falls over his mind as he is about to stand up. He even vividly memorize her facial expression as she expressed her strong death glare to him. His mind makes an abrupt swirl of sensation that tricks his head making him more regretful about the action he exhibited earlier.
"It wasn't my fault! If only she never did that to Asher I— Tsk ARRRRRGH!" He jerks off his head while brushing his hair extensively with his two hands.
The next day, Shiro is preparing herself for the annual orientation of their university. She fixes her white long-sleeve polo tuck in a black pencil-cut skirt that makes her body curvier. She ties her hair and she uses hair iron on her bangs. She looks at herself in the mirror as she is trying to show a little smile on her face.
"Shiro let's go together," her mom insists as she is also going to her office.
"Yes, I'm coming," she answered back while patting a lip tint on her lips.
As they go outside, Lynx is already waiting for Shiro. He is wearing a long-sleeve polo with his black jeans. "You look handsome with that Lynx," Shiro's mom complimented Lynx after she locks their gate.
"Thanks, Auntie Quennie," Lynx quickly responds to her while exhibiting his eye smile. "I'm going now please do take care," She said and rush her hand to say goodbye.
"Let's go Shishi!" Lynx teasing Shiro as he is preparing his bike.
"Tss," Shiro said while rolling her eyes.
They depart as quickly as always going to university. Lynx places his bike and puts his arms to Shiro's shoulder and nudge her a bit.
"Cheer up, Master!" he teasingly uttered to her.
"Shut up ugly!" Shiro responded and push him aggressively that makes them chuckle as they are going inside the Auditorium of Cháo Yáng University.
The auditorium of CYU is one of the most aesthetic auditoriums among all the private universities. It has a wide circular form with geometrical ceilings, a rectangular shape stage at the bottom, and white seats with soft wool fiber. Shiro and Lynx decided to go on the second section near the V.I.P.
"Whatever, I've changed my mind." Lynx suddenly said to Shiro as he looks on his right side furiously and Shiro sees the four gentlemen again. Austin makes a sudden nervous or perhaps an enthusiastic expression as he sees Shiro near to him.
"Oh hey," Austin greeted her like nothing happened yesterday. Lynx eventually holds tightly Shiro's wrist and hastily amble their feet on the stairs and take off themselves going upward section.
"Why are you staying away? Wait... HEY!" Austin loudly tells them but Yangyang makes an aggressive motion holding Austin's neckband, "Not here and not now you moron!" Yangyang said and he forcibly makes Austin sit down.
"Tss." Austin asserted while crossing his arms for he is disappointed.
"Asher said she has her photoshoot today, that's why she cannot attend this year's orientation," Mark clarified to them as he tries to loud his voice against the music and other students uproar.
"As if that's a real reason," Yangyang responds and looks at Austin.
"WHAT?" he stubbornly shouts to them.
"If you do some embarrassing scene again Austin we will never forgive you," Yangyang threatens Austin with his frantic expression but Austin renders his make face as he tries to copy Yangyang's manner.
"Stubborn jerk," Yangyang mumbles, and Mark dreadfully hushing him for he is worried about his friends quarreling a lot these days.
As the Orientation starts, Dr. Gabuat starts the program as the emcee and introduced CYU Glee Club to begin the Doxology, National Anthem, and University Hymn. They also notice the guest from other universities sitting in the VIP section along with Professor Younghyun and Cháo Yáng's CEO Mr. Zhong Edison.
"Oh gosh! That's Francis Jefferson Kim, the newest President of Jefferson University!" A bunch of female peeps expresses a commotion as they see Francis Kim Jefferson in the VIP section.
"Jamie Park is so tall and handsome as a prince!" the girl exclaimed while pointing to a tall guy with large puppy eyes as he also displayed his charming smile.
"So sad that the eight prominent elites of J.U. are not complete but at least Jermaine Do my loves is here!" another fangirling student let out as she's trying hard to take a picture of a guy with large intimidating eyes, along with his pouty rose-colored lips and buzz-cut black hair.
"Hey don't forget Sir Younghyun!" A girl shouted that's already in a senior year already.
Lynx rolls his eyes from what he keeps on hearing from the new and old female students.
"These idiots are that fond from these handsome slash successful men as if they are going to get attention by them." Lynx whispered to Shiro near her ears.
Shiro cracks a smile after what Lynx keeps on fussing, "Just like what they are doing to you for they are blind as hell from your ugliness," Shiro teased him and jokingly slap his cheeks.
"Hey, serious—" Lynx suddenly stops talking as he notices Austin peeking at them with his irritated expression.
"Tss. Bold of him to look at us like that!" He spoke up and lean his back on the chair. Shiro was almost startled as he saw Austin oddly staring at them but she intimately ignores him.
In the middle of the orientation, they completed introducing the new faculty members and staff of the University.
[Buzz] Lynx immediately grabs his phone to check who texted him.
"It's Coach Minghao!" he exclaimed.
"He said we have our practice for the upcoming opening for intrams," He said while scratching the back of his head, "I'm going to leave, we are excused."
Shiro immediately looks at him, "That's okay, let's catch up later," Lynx takes a deep sigh as he did not want to leave his best friend alone. He catches a glimpse of Austin and he is still furious and bothered by him.
"Just make sure to stay away exactly five meters from those nuisance men okay?" He said while settling his backpack and brushing up his hair.
"Yep, you may go, you are more a nagger than my real mom," Lynx move his head in disappointing motion.
"I'm going. Take care," He said it and catches a glimpse again at Austin before he leaves the auditorium.
At the exact moment Lynx turns himself towards the exit, Austin notices the seat was vacant and he immediately stands up to get on beside Shiro. A sudden downward gesture from Yangyang forcibly forges him to sit down again.
"Dude have some patience! The program is almost over!" He whispered angrily to Austin.
"Yeah, Austin calm down, your uncle Edison will be the last speaker so kindly sit down for a while," Mark suggested to him. Austin stubbornly rolls his eyes and looks up again at Shiro.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Our newest and youngest President, our new University owner Dr. Zhong Edison." All the students give a standing ovation for the President and that makes Austin get his chance to sneak out from his friends.
"Seriously, Austin!" Mark exclaimed in disbelief while catching a glimpse of Austin going upward at Shiro's location.
"To our lovely students, faculty and personnel; To our special guest from the alumnus of Jefferson University, I am Zhong Edison Ph.D. a 30-year-old owner of Cháo Yáng University greeting you a pleasant morning." A sudden massive of applause tremors the auditorium as well as Shiro's heart crazily fluttering as Austin walks towards her while his hands are inside of his pocket. He showed his confident but arrogant smile to Shiro and never mind those people he passes by.
As Zhong Edison is speaking, the only words Shiro can be heard is the tagline of the university, "Cháo Yáng University: The best home of the brightest future!" and the rest of what she can hear inside the auditorium is her heartbeat.
It seems like a slow-motion phase surprisingly happening as Austin proceeds himself to walk towards her. A rapid heartbeat gives rise to Shiro to turn her back as she remembers Lynx's last words to him.
"What the hell is this guy doing?" Shiro internally screams on her head and turns her back trying to walk away from him. "Hey, Shiro," Austin's voice is eventually nearer than before.
"I need to talk with you," he said in an authoritative manner and suddenly held her hand tightly.
Shiro widens her eyes and turns herself to Austin and aggressively pushes him away, "Don't touch me you creep!" And she quickly walks away from him and also from the people who notice them. Yangyang, Mark, and Nana hurriedly follow Austin.
"Hey I told you we need to talk don't you dare to disobey me!" Austin uproars his loud voice and he started to run towards Shiro who is not looking at her.
"Hey, Shiro! Come back! Hey!" Austin telling to her continually and he keeps on colliding with the other students. As President Zhong Edison mentioned Francis Kim Jefferson, Jamie Park, and Jermaine Do, an unexpected commotion of fangirls entirely separated them apart from each other.
"Shiro! Wait!" He keeps on shouting and still Shiro doesn't want to look at him anymore. Yangyang and Nana stop as they see Austin is going to burst any second that is why they immediately hold Mark's shoulder to halt him from moving towards Austin.
"We're damn too late," Yangyang annoyingly let out to Mark.
As the cameras are continuing to flicker, President's and students' voices are still surrounding the auditorium. Austin seizes a deep breath as well as clenching his fist tightly while looking at Shiro. Yangyang exhibited a deep sigh of disbelief while taking off himself as he foresees the embarrassment might stimulate because of Austin's reckless behavior.
"SHIROOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Austin screams exactly where the crowd became serene after Zhong Edison gives the certificates to the guest. The flickers of the camera became more hostile that also makes Shiro glued to where she is standing plus her name echoing inside the audible auditorium. Dr. Gabuat and Mr. Younghyun look at each other and Ma'am give a sign to him to check them. People notice that Zhong Edison chuckles a bit as well as his friends on the stage.
"Oh I think we have a drama intermission while giving the certificates, I've never known about it I apologize," Mr. Edison's sarcastic remarks as he tries his best to catch the attention of students again on him.
Fortunately, the crowd gives an uproar of laughter to Mr. Edison's joke and basically, the program gets on its feet again. Mr. Younghyun swiftly moves his feet towards Austin and is obviously furious from the embarrassment they cause.
"What is happening here?" He furiously asks Austin who is stubbornly not looking at his professor.
"If only she follows me, I will probably never do that but she is getting into my nerves!" He stubbornly responds. Mark and Nana run towards them as Yangyang left already.
"S-sir we are very sorry," Mark said stuttering while he feels his hands getting colder. Nana abruptly speaks out his weird mind as he takes Mark beside him, "Sorry sir, It's just a lovers conflict, we promise to talk about this furthermore with Uncle Edison," Nana rationalizes to Mr. Younghyun.
Mr. Younghyun furiously glared at them and talk as calm as possible, "Mark Gonzales and Nathaniel Im of BSBA 2-2 bold of you to use Uncle to our CEO do you think this is your house?" He points his fingers at them, "Never forget that you are still on the premises of the University!" He said to them as he's trying to calm himself while biting his lips.
He eventually turns his attention to Austin as well as Shiro who is slightly far away from them. "Austin of BSBA 2-3," Mr. Younghyun looks in Shiro's direction while turning up his specs, "...and Shiro of BSOA 2-1," Shiro closes her eyes as she heard her name being called by Mr. Younghyun.
"Come to my office, after the program," Shiro exhibited a deep sigh and look at Austin who is rapidly moving his eyes because of Shiro's threatening expression on him and finally, she walks towards Mr. Younghyun which also Austin makes his move to follow them.
"I can't believe this! He embarrassed me to all as in all the people from the University. I want to murder this man right now!" Shiro internally screaming as her hands are shivering not because of nervousness yet because of her urge to beat to death Zhong Austin. As they go through inside the office of Mr. Younghyun, they are seated separately in front of each other in a chair that is made of a Narra tree. Mr. Younghyun sits on his black swivel chair and removes his eyeglasses and touches the bridge of his nose.
"Mr. Austin and Ms. Shiro, how can you approximately predict how can be this gives an effect not just inside of the university?" Mr. Younghyun coldly asks them and turns his specs again.
Austin looks at Shiro who is clenching her fist above her skirt, "Mr. Younghyun I—" Shiro stops as Austin suddenly stamp his feet aggressively.
"Don't worry about it, he's my uncle! No one's going to be harmed by what I have done. Besides that, Mr. Francis, Jamie, and Jermaine are my dad's business partners so that's fine!" Austin stubbornly rationalized to Mr. Younghyun while crossing his arms.
"Huh," Mr. Younghyun exhibits his sinister smile and switches his emotion again, "Mr. Zhong Austin, do you think we are playing with you? Did you know how serious is this? First, all of the students from the first year and so are on the Orientation, secondly, this University wants to make a good reputation to our guests from different universities, professors, doctors, and even the media are here!" Mr. Younghyun furiously tells him.
"Austin, just because you are the President's nephew, your dad is one of the highest shareholders of this university and you even own three important buildings here doesn't mean you can do anything you want. I'm warning you that you cannot defy or disrespect me for your dad and Mr. Edison recommended me to be part of the faculty. That's why stop showing me your bratty, arrogant, and useless behavior. Do you understand?" Mr. Younghyun clarifies to Austin that makes him nervously look anywhere else.
As Mr. Younghyun renders Austin's behavior to be tamed. He finally turns himself to Shiro who looks confidently to justify herself. "And you, who told you to stand up when the program is not yet finished?" He said while raising his eyebrows.
"Sir, first of all, I'm not even close to this idiot, secondly, he scares me from grabbing my hand without my permission!" Mr. Younghyun takes a deep sigh and looks at Austin annoyingly.
"Then what's the real matter here?" He asked them calmly.
"His friends and him want to apologize and I told them yesterday that they never owe an apology to me but they are still persistent!" She stubbornly conceded.
"Then clarify that to them! Stop using your meaningless pride." He said in an authoritative voice, "And you Austin stop holding someone's hand that you are not close to!" He told him and he just nods mumbling his apology.
"I don't want to hear any justification, for both of you were wrong." He looks at them with disappointment as Shiro is one of the best students for him but being eventually dragged by this situation but somehow, this is not much of a surprise for him. He's with a troublesome guy anyway.
"From now, I just need a two pages detention letter, reflect your actions and pass that exactly 6 a.m. on Monday, and we are already done in here. You may go." He gives a get-out motion to them and they take off themselves immediately.
Shiro takes a deep sigh again as they are already in front of Mr. Younghyun's office.
"I can't believe this is happening! I really want to strangle you to death right now!" Shiro indicated whereas she's stamping her feet aggressively. Austin looks at him trying hard not to laugh.
"If only you listen to me then this thing will never happen!" he stubbornly said with his annoying face and that makes Shiro grab his collar belligerently.
"You embarrass me and you still talking like that, you idiot!" and she throws him immediately as the other students look at them. Austin chuckles a bit and teasingly looks at her, that's why Shiro ambles her feet away from him.
"Hey wait!" and eventually follows her. "Hey! Why are you following me?" Shiro hastily asks him.
"Why? I can walk in this building anywhere I want! It's our building!" He boastfully asserted.
"Then I'll go to a different direction!" Austin makes her stop again by swiftly moving in front of her.
"Fine, I'm just fooling around but for now, let me ask you something, just a minute!" He seriously requested.
Shiro looks at him seriously, "What is it?" She asked in a calm manner.
Austin raised both of his eyebrows, "Why do you keep on avoiding Asher?" Austin asserted on her and Shiro suddenly feels something that remorse her a bit.
"I'm not avoiding her, I don't want to resent her either. I am just not fond of this being chased like crazy just because she felt she owes an apology because of what she did on our Research, so are we clear now? Kindly pass that to her if she's around. I'm going," Shiro steps out in front of Austin but he surprisingly holds her shoulder to stop her again.
"Tsk! Hey, did you listen to Mr. Younghyun earlier? Get off!" Shiro immediately takes off his hand.
"You don't understand! Why do you never understand?" Austin stubbornly asked his confusing question and nudge Shiro's shoulders again.
"Hey, you really act like that we are close! We just met like a minute yesterday and an hour now but why are you acting as if you know me for ten years? And what the hell I never understand?" Shiro steadfastly tells to him.
A short stillness to Austin after Shiro's continuous talk makes him stunned but he unexpectedly giggles afterward.
"Wow, ten years? Hahaha! If you want to know more about me I can even give you more than ten years if you insist." He teasingly told her while the other students are looking at them again.
"Seriously you idiot did you understand what I mean?" Then Shiro shoves her feet into Austin's shoes and he still cracks up.
"Oh lovers, the show's still going on?"
Shiro was about to respond annoyingly but as she turns her way she was bewildered to see Mr. Zhong Edison with Francis Kim Jefferson, Jamie Park, and Jermaine Do walking towards them. He breaks a teasing smile to them as well his friends and taps Austin's shoulder.
"I can't believe you are not my little Austin anymore, you even got a girlfriend now!" Mr. Edison let out that makes Austin express his arrogant face.
"No! That stubborn idiot is not my boyfriend!" Shiro widens her eyes as she quickly explains herself but suddenly realizes she's talking with the President.
"S-sorry" she murmured.
The two gentlemen with Mr. Edison surprisingly chuckles because of Shiro's behavior. Jamie charmingly smiles at her, "I've suddenly remembered my first love, It's kind of nostalgic because of you two," Jamie teasingly told them.
"I've remembered mine as well, being impulsive is a part of the journey. I'm quite proud a bit." Francis says to Austin and taps his shoulder.
"Okay, okay, Ms. Shiro, we are getting on to snatch Austin but we promise to take him back again okay?" Mr. Zhong poked fun at her again.
"Sir I'm telling you, you can have him as long as you want!" Shiro hastily declared without hesitation and because of it the man named Jermaine Do that didn't look interested earlier suddenly crack a smile at them.
"Don't be shy Shiro, it's fine to Zhong Family. We are not threatening him to have an elite girlfriend like what you think! Freedom of choice is also okay! Right, Austin?" Austin exhibited an agree-like motion to his Uncle while grinning and turning up his eyebrows boastfully.
"Wait—" Shiro never had a chance to explain herself again as they turn their back and wave goodbye.
"That Austin! Does he still need vaccines? I've taught he is a rich kid!" Shiro makes a punch motion and stamps her feet at the same time.
"ARRGH!" She let out and finally take herself off while the other students are looking at her for being weird.
When the afternoon came, Lynx glimpses on the phone that Shiro texted her. As he grabs his phone from his varsity locker while rubbing a towel on his wet hair, Shiro said that she went home without taking their last class to Professor Lopez for she got a severe migraine. Lynx also never had his last class because Mr. Minghao extended their time. As he prepares himself to leave he ambles his feet towards the Zhong Building to put his things in another locker room. A swarmed number of students coming from different classes as they heard the last bell, as Lynx continually walking, he unexpectedly sees Asher waiting for someone on BSOA 2-1 class.
"She's probably waiting for Shiro... again," He mumbled while rolling his eyes. Lynx is more furious after she still keeps on hearing his other schoolmates gossiping about what had happened on the orientation, that's why he is more angrily walking towards Asher to talk to her.
"She's absent, stop waiting for nothing!" Lynx said to Asher annoyingly and that makes her startle from him, "If you are going to bother her again, just stop now, I mean all of you," Lynx told her before she had a chance to speak out her mind.
"Ahmm, Lynx..." Asher mumbling to him and he notices brand new headphones she's holding. Lynx rolls his eyes, "Follow me," he insists and drags Asher while holding her wrist.
"P-please give this to Shiro, I-I really apologize for it is not exactly like her broken headphones because they said it was already—" Asher bit her lips and try to talk with Lynx but she got instantly interrupted, "How many times do we have to tell you she will not accept anything from all of you," Lynx looks at her as she nods her head and mumbling her apology.
"Besides that, no one can ever replace that headphone even it cost a million for that was Shiro's last gift from her dad when he was still not yet incapacitated from his illness, he gave up after a long battle and died last year," Asher turns her head up again looking at him.
"L-last year?" She stuttered and cannot help herself to tear up.
Lynx takes a deep sigh as he wants to end his frustration for he felt pitying Asher, "So I hope you understand that she is still on her healing process, Shiro never opens up to anyone even to her mom but she's obviously not okay. So, please you have to stop now, and that Austin who made a stupid scenario earlier, you giving her too much difficulty." Asher became dumbfounded after she heard anything from Lynx.
"I-I'm sorry," She said and bow her head.
As she finally departed, Lynx notice her stumbling with her high heels and he sees some blisters and bruises on Asher's foot.