Just a few seconds before the loud slap.
Celeb stood a little distance away, watching Billy walk up towards Amy. It seemed like they are discussing something important so Celeb subtly leaned closer to listen without being noticed. The hallway was bustling with students and staff, creating a perfect cover for his eavesdropping.
"Professor Anderson, do you know who I am?" Billy asked, excitement radiating from him as he pointed to himself. The enthusiasm in his eyes was undeniable.
"You're the idiot who disrupted my introduction," Amy replied bluntly, her tone utterly indifferent.
"That's not it!" Billy protested, his voice almost pleading. "Last year, January 9th, you saved my life in Serenthia City!" he informed her eagerly.
"Oh," Amy paused, clearly trying to recall the incident. "You're the one who fell in the snow that day, right?" she said as recognition dawned.
"Wait… she saved Billy's life? Why didn't this come up in the investigation?" Celeb muttered to himself, now more curious than ever.
"Yes! That was me!" Billy exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement.
Thank god I was there that day," Amy said matter-of-factly. "I even donated blood to you. What's your name again?" She touched her chin, trying to remember.
"Wait… she donated her blood too?" Celeb's eyes widened, utterly stunned by what he was hearing.
"Billy Scott," Billy quickly provided, still riding his excitement.
"Ahh, Billy Scott. I remember now," Amy said, her face relaxing a bit. "I even saw your ID that day. So, are you just coming by to thank me? It's okay; it was just a good deed. For me, it's nothing out of the ordinary. Though, I did have to pay for your admission at the hospital with my card, but that's a different matter—"
"I love you, Miss Anderson!" Billy suddenly blurted out, cutting her off mid-sentence. Amy froze, her words catching in her throat as shock overtook her.
"Excuse me? What did you just say, kid?" she asked, her tone sharp, though her disbelief made her hope she had misheard him amidst the hallway's noise.
Billy stepped back, took a deep breath, and shouted, "Miss Anderson, I love you! Will you marry me?"
In an instant, the entire hallway fell silent. Students and staff stopped dead in their tracks, eyes fixed on Billy and Amy, as the thrum of cafeteria chatter melted into stunned murmurs over the drama that was unspooling before them all.
Amy froze there; her face turned bright red. Shock, embarrassment, and fury all seemed to glide across her face as the truth of what had just been made known to everyone set in. The bold declaration from Billy had not only caught her off guard but dragged her dignity into the arena of public scrutiny.
Your answer, please!" Billy beamed, utterly unconcerned by the commotion surrounding him, as if he hadn't just asked the professor in the midst of a busy corridor to marry him.
Coming back to reality, Amy's hand went flying up, and before Billy had even had time to blink, she brought it down in a sharp slap across his cheek. The crack of the slap resounded down the corridor.
"Idiot!" she hissed, her voice shaken by anger. Her piercing green eyes gazed at Billy, full of frustration and disbelief.
Billy's cheek turned bright red from the slap; it was clear that how much harder Amy had struck him. He held his stinging cheek in shock, unable to process what just happened.
Austin suddenly stepped forward with the pulling of the hoodie cap to Billy's head, taking a couple of steps backward.
"Miss Anderson, forgive me little brother for his impulsive act," Austin said, his voice calmly firm as he pleaded. The request, spoken in the now-silent hallway, echoed clearly for everyone to hear.
Amy let out a sharp sigh, her anger still simmering, but she turned away and started walking off.
Meanwhile, Austin grabbed the back of Billy's hoodie and jerked him backward, irritation etched on his face. "Let's go," he mumbled with frustration dripping from his voice.
But before they could leave, Billy snapped out of his daze. Realizing what was happening, he pulled himself free and called out, "Miss Amy Anderson!"
Amy stopped dead in her tracks, her temper flaring all over again as she turned around to face him. Her piercing green eyes locked into his now annoyed and incredulous stare.
Billy took a deep breath, his decision unbroken. "The day you saved my life, I decided. I knew then and there that I wanted to marry the angel who had rescued me. Fate has tied our lives together like threads, and that's why we've crossed over again. This time, I won't miss my chance," he declared brightly, his voice steady despite the burden of his words.
"Idiot," Amy muttered with anger and disbelief, crossing over to walk away without another word.
Austin was now at his wit's end and turned to slap the back of Billy's head gently. "Stop making things worse, you fool!" he said, pulling him along.
"Ow!" Billy yelped, rubbing his head. But even as they walked off, the determined glint in his eyes hadn't faded.
As the brothers walked out of the hallway, the crowd in the hallway dispersed slowly. The rumors and whispers spread everywhere and were buzzing like loose fire: it would go around as the hottest gossip in the university in hours.
Back in the corner, Celeb is rooted to his spot, forgetting his spilled coffee. His face is contorted into a mix of disbelief and terror. "If Emily ever finds out about this, then the three of us are for it," he mutters half to himself, shaking his head in disgust.
A short time later, Austin and Billy returned to the apartment they shared. Both of them had decided to ditch the remainder of their classes, unable to cope with the fall-out just yet.
Billy swung the door open, nursing his cheek still. "I mean, how hard did she hit me? Who slaps someone like that, man?" He mumbled and walked straight to the fridge, grabbing an ice pack from the freezer. Biting his breath, he pressed it on his burning cheek, wincing from the icy chill. "Come on, what a slap. Completely out of nowhere," he cried while flopping down on the couch.
Austin stood still by the living room entrance, glassy-eyed, staring at his brother. His silence made Billy stop in his tracks. He was turning his head, slipping his ice pack a little as he realized what was going on.
"Oh, Austin?" Billy said weakly, his voice cautious, soft.
Austin's voice was just as gentle but somehow laced with a dark message. "Billy Scott," he spoke slowly and portentously, his voice laced with malice. "Let me get this straight—today the ache from that slap is nothing."
He glued his piercing gaze onto Billy, a sadistic smirk playing on his lips, and began walking toward him with intent. Billy gulped. His eyes darted around the room trying to locate some way out.
Meanwhile, Celeb had returned to his apartment. Still holding onto his unease, he pulled out his phone and immediately made a call.
"Hello," he began, his tone urgent, "this is Celeb Winters. I need an investigation launched on someone immediately."