Neaf sensed trouble brewing the moment he completed the task for Axtral, but the prospect of Alisa and Alfred being involved was more than he could handle. He knew that their presence would only lead to disaster for everyone involved. His new parents were always so overly dramatic.
Neaf had never gotten himself into trouble that warranted his parents being called before, and he knew they would never have come in the past. But this time was different. Alfred and Alisa were a different breed altogether. Not just because they were a human and AI couple, but because they were completely invested in their son's life.
And Neaf was currently inhabiting the body, so there was no way he wanted to drag them into this mess.
What about the authorities, though? That was the question. Neaf couldn't fathom the school involving the police or any other authorities in this world just for breaking someone's nose. It seemed so trivial.
In his world, the school had a reputation. Even if someone got killed, they rarely involved anyone and tried to cover it up.
"You heard me right. I am sending you to the authorities," Richa said as she picked up her phone and started dialling.
"Ma'am, please don't do this. I am ready to do whatever it takes. I can apologise to the coach. Don't involve the authorities or my parents," Neaf pleaded. There was no way he wanted to get into the hands of the authorities. He might be able to handle Alfred and Alisa, but there was no way he could handle the authorities.
He was ready to crawl on the floor and beg.
Handcuffs didn't look good on him.
He had died at 17 and now, at 19, after being transmigrated into another world, getting arrested was not an option.
"Do you think that offer will help? I think you forgot whatever you did in the past when I gave you an offer and you denied," Richa said as she put her phone down and stood up. She came around the table to Neaf's side, sat on it, and touched Neaf's shoulder.
Neaf shuddered as she touched him. Her aura had changed, and her skirt had ridden up, exposing her thighs, making him uncomfortable.
What was happening? That was the biggest question. Just a second ago, she was all angry, and now she was talking about an offer given to the original owner of this body, which he didn't know about.
Neaf looked away, not wanting to look at the exposed thighs.
"Do teachers or principals behave like this in this world?" The thought crossed Neaf's mind. He felt disgusted by how she touched him without his consent.
"Where are you looking, Neaf? Don't you just offer to do whatever I say to avoid getting your parents or the authorities involved?" Richa leaned in and whispered in Neaf's ear, getting even closer to him.
Goosebumps rose on Neaf's body as she came close to him. He dug his nails into his palm, understanding a little of what she meant by her actions and the way she was forcing him to submit, because he was in no situation to deny.
Wasn't it illegal to harass students? Or the way she mentioned that the original owner of this body had denied her offer before. Clearly, she was taking advantage of the situation.
Neaf's heart raced as he thought hard about what he needed to do. Before, he had denied Steve about having sex with his girlfriend and got killed. Now, if he denied this principal, what would happen to him? That thought alone was enough to make him not do anything that would make things worse for him.
Who was going to save him? Maybe he could try connecting with Axtral with his mind? Wasn't this what Axtral could do, connect with him and even read his thoughts?
"Help me, Axtral! I've already completed your task. Save me! This woman is going to eat me," Neaf screamed in his head, desperately trying to get Axtral involved or at least do whatever he could to save him.
"The choice is yours. Either turn yourself in to the authorities or let me turn you on," Richa said as she lightly licked Neaf's ear, making him look in her direction. Their faces were now close, and Richa's hair brushed against Neaf's cheek.
Turn in or turn on.
Both are equally wrong and terrible in their own way.
"Thinking of dying a virgin again? The second option is not that bad," his conscience spoke.
Never in his life had Neaf entertained any impure thoughts about any woman. It wasn't because no girl had come close to him. Even when Steve offered his girlfriend to him, who was clearly appealing enough to everyone, he didn't entertain any such thoughts.
Were these really his own thoughts, or had this body changed him?
"Time is ticking. What's the plan?" Richa repeated as she raised her head.
"I will decide after getting a trial," Neaf said, his eyes darkening as soon as the words left his mouth.
He felt out of control with his tongue and this body, as if he was not in control of it now. It was as if the body was working on its own, or perhaps it was because the original owner's soul was taking charge, which was surely a scary thought.
Neaf's mind raced with fear and confusion. He felt like a passenger in this body, unsure of who was really in control. The thought of the original owner's soul taking charge was unsettling. It was as if he was being pushed aside, a mere observer in the unfolding drama.
Richa's gaze bore into him, her expression unreadable. Neaf's heart pounded in his chest as he struggled to regain a sense of agency.
"Why not? You may have forgotten how attractive you are to me, but I never can forget. The way you look, I can give thousands of trials without thinking much, right?,"