"Deep breaths, Dickens. Deep breaths."
I inhaled and exhaled deeply many more times.
I was calming myself down from the exhausting pressure I was going to face and it was only just the second year of the many years that I was doomed to spend within the four gigantic walls of the Zenith Academy.
I stood outside of the limousine, taking in the view of the front part of the academy. It was still as massive as ever.
I was hoping that some rogue mages or a villain group with weirdly strong mages would have torn it down by the time we returned for this school year.
Tsk, it is still all fantasies until it happens.
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The premises was crammed with a choking surge of energy from the mage scholars. The academy was abuzz like they really wanted to return seeing how many scholars came back on the first day of the school year.
Laughter echoed and excitement filled the air from the vibrance of the scholars that poured into the bustling environs of Zenith Academy For Warlocks & Witches.
"Hello, Dee."
"Hello, Dee."
The greetings continued each time a scholar that recognised me passed by Pegasus.
Wait a minute. Why am I still standing by the car?
Knock, knock.
As you guessed, it was Liz's fault but I'll never say that.
She took her time to adjust the checkered skirt of her uniform, subtly dragging it down to cover more skin on her thighs.
If you knew it was a skimpy skirt, why then did you wear it?
Jeez! Thinking about it makes my head ache.
I had to knock a second time for her to get out. of the car.
"Finally!"
She stared at me with an annoyed look on her face but at this moment I didn't care one bit.
"Let's go, Liz. See ya, Mr. Navas."
"Bye-bye, Mr. Navas."
"Bye, kids."
Mr. Navas veered the car around the huge fountain that was constructed at the centre of the academy's environment and then he sped off.
I sighed as I looked at Pegasus go past the gates of the academy and beyond. I wished I was inside.
The song, Save Me by the band — Remy Zero, had never been more relatable to me till now.
Without any other choice left, he went on to tread my path of sorrows and face my existential doom for the next 365 days.
As if it couldn't get any worse, I saw him.
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James... James freaking Melbourne.
Every time I set my eyes on James, I get an ick and it makes me just want to erase him from existence.
I could do that but he was not worth that amount of magic power.
I couldn't figure out what was more annoying about James.
Was it his overly self-conscious behaviour?
No. He wasn't self-conscious. James was a full-blown narcissist.
Or was it the fact that he saw himself as the cream of the crop when it came to the ladies of the Zenith Academy For Warlocks & Witches?
I think it's the second one.
We walked on the same path but towards each other. He was descending the stairs while I and Elizabeth climbed them.
What the hell, James? Why are you smirking?
At first, I thought he was smirking at me and giving me undue eye contact but in a second that I thought about it, it dawned on me that it was all for Liz.
I glanced at Liz from the corner of my eye but she was indifferent towards James' advances and somehow that made me feel a tad bit good.
Knowing James, he would approach her regardless of whatever signals she gave him.
Knowing Liz as well, it was time for...
The Ultimate Rejection!
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The Ultimate Rejection was the ultimate skill only girls had. It was more powerful than any magic at destroying a man once he is trapped. Strong enough to cage even gods and deal long-lasting damage to the heart.
[ Requirement: For this ability to be effective, the target must feel some level of intimate affection for the user. ]
The only way to escape this deathly feminine skill was to never fall for a user.
James had failed at escaping the trap and Liz had prepared her hammer of rejection to slam down on him with the Ultimate Rejection skill.
"Hello, Liz," James muttered with a feigned seductive voice that made me cringe.
I felt a cold shiver travel through my entire body as he spoke. Argh! I couldn't bear it yet I couldn't do anything about it.
"Hello, James," Liz replied politely and with a smile.
You're faking it, Liz. Isn't that exhausting?
James assumed he had hit the jackpot when Elizabeth smiled at him and decided to tune it up. It was getting interesting.
The fool fell for it.
I waited patiently, knowing that James would flunk this opportunity, very much to my entertainment.
A few minutes later, he actually did.
An exhibition of failed chivalry. James took Liz's hand and rubbed it softly, peering into her eyes like he wanted to see her soul. He subtly took a deep breath and cleared his throat before releasing the chaos that escaped his mouth.
"Are you made of copper and tellurium? Because you're Cu-Te, and I can't resist your magnetic charm."
"What!" I blurted out and shamelessly burst out laughing. Liz could not help it and coupled with the fact that I have a crazy laugh, she burst out laughing as well.
"Really, James. That's it?" I said, mocking him with so much satisfaction.
James shifted his gaze to the floor, avoiding our eyes. He had messed up and he knew it.
His attempt was a failed one at being cheesy.
But really, James... of all the lines to work with, you decided to use chemistry.
I'm quite certain he thought up something cheeky with the word 'chemistry' to use as a follow-up.
It was even more irritating when I remember he had failed the chemistry exam the previous year.
"Catch you later, James," I said to him, patting his shoulder as we walked away.
He tried to hide it but he was consumed with rage and clenched his fist tightly.
But it was no one's fault but his.
Because of James Melbourne, I assumed the school year won't be bad at all if it's starting like this.
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I was wrong.
It was indeed going to be a bad year. I could smell it.
I peeked at the clock that hung in front of the class.
"It's 11 o'clock," I breathed, tapping my nails on my table out of boredom and more accurately, impatience.
"Yet, no teacher is here."
How can people have such a level of disregard for another's time?
It was annoying to endure but I had to control myself to stay calm since anger wouldn't solve anything.
I encouraged myself to get busy with something while we waiting for the teacher. Turning around to get a better view of the class at all corners, I noticed that we were mixed.
I recognised some faces from last year and the rest, I was seeing them for the first time.
New scholars, perhaps.
Whatever the case, I didn't really care.
The whole class was noisy with everyone pairing up with a friend or two to chatter. I found their loud conversations disturbing as I tried hard to get a few lines in from one of my favourite author's newest book.
Forced to concession, I closed the book and sighed, darting a look at the class and almost cursing everyone responsible for the noise.
I turned to my left side and noticed the empty seat.
"Jasmine hadn't shown up today," I thought.
She never misses school. So my guess was sickness.
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The minute hand struck number 6 on the clock and the door to the class opened up.
A figure walked in.
I didn't know her and I hadn't seen her before. Given the surprised countenance on everyone's face, I was safe to assume she was also a new face to them.
She was slim and curvaceous with a small waist and an air of confidence blowing her long brown hair freely as she took measured steps with elegance.
The clip-clopping of her blood-red heels garnered the attention of every scholar in the room.
She ousted an absolutely commanding presence.
Just who was this woman that wreaked necks with every thrust of her tiny waist, curved hips and each step of elegance that she took?
She moved to the front of the class, her bazongas bouncing as she leaned forward to address us.
That was certainly the reason why she didn't button up her red blazer, letting it fly free.
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A glance at the class would instantly show what they were looking at.
The teacher? Maybe, but I could bet the universe that it was not just the teachers.
It was her breasts that drew so much attention that they couldn't help but stare.
They were big and smooth with a sense of oily texture that you could pick just easily and bounced with every movement she made. The fact that she left the first two buttons of her black shirt free means she knew.
She knew we were checking her out. She knew we were measuring her cup size with our eyes only.
She was on the big side, so I'm guessing her cup size is 34 DD.
But damn! A double D.
"Good day everyone, please take your seats. I'm your new teacher for the school year."
She leaned forwards, with a board marker under her right hand. Her eyes gleamed with a strange lustre that will have you burying your gaze in them.
"My name is Dorian Dandelion. But you can call me..."
"My new teacher is a..." my mind thought, lost in its own analysis of her bosoms.
"Double D."