Oh no. This is bad. Really bad.
Sure, the lessons had gone smoothly enough. In fact, they'd been the calmest part of my day since this whole "girl" situation began. No one had approached me, and I hadn't needed to talk to anyone. Just focusing on copying notes off the board was blissfully simple.
But after class? That's when I felt it—the unmistakable sensation of someone's gaze on me.
It was Aqua. The school's princess herself. She'd been sneaking glances at me throughout the lesson. Was it something I did? Did I mess up somehow? Before I could figure it out, she leaned in close and whispered.
"Fah, um, you might want to sit with your knees together. The way you're sitting isn't very, well… appropriate."
"Huh? Oh…"
Right. I'd been sitting with my legs spread wide, like I used to as a guy. A rookie mistake in an all-girls school. I snapped my knees together so fast it was like a reflex.
"S-sorry bro, I didn't mean to… uh…"
"Bro?" Aqua asked, raising an eyebrow.
"N-nope! Nothing at all. Haha…"
Despite my best efforts, I'd apparently let a few old habits slip through. From leaning on the desk with my arms sprawled out to accidentally crossing my legs—even throwing in a stray "bro" here and there. My cover was hanging on by a thread.
"You know, Fah, you'd probably get along well with Beam," Aqua said, smiling.
"Beam? Who's that?" I asked, tilting my head in confusion.
"She's in our class too, but she's out competing in sports right now."
Beam, huh? I couldn't help but wonder what kind of person she was if Aqua thought my… let's call them 'guy tendencies'… would mesh with her.
"Anyway, class is over. Want to grab lunch together?" Aqua offered brightly.
"Uh, no, it's fine. I'll just eat by myself. Really, it's no big deal."
"Fah, don't be silly. We're friends now, aren't we? I can't just let you sit alone. Plus, the campus is huge! You might get lost," she said, her tone teasing but kind.
"I mean… well…"
"Come on, please?" Aqua said, lightly grabbing my wrist and giving a small tug. Around us, some of the other students began glancing our way, their curiosity unmistakable. My sanity, meanwhile, was hanging by a thread.
"Alright, fine," I sighed in defeat.
Aqua's face lit up with a bright smile as she gently but firmly led me out of the classroom. The walk to the cafeteria felt like running a gauntlet. Every pair of eyes seemed to follow us. Specifically, me. Of course, people were staring. It wasn't every day the school princess dragged a new student off to lunch.
"Uh, Aqua? I think everyone's staring," I whispered nervously.
"It's probably because you're so cute," Aqua replied with a casual shrug.
Sure, I guess this body could be considered cute. But next to Aqua? She was on a whole other level. If people were staring, it had to be because of her, not me.
"So, fun fact! The cafeteria here is famous for its food. It's a bit pricey, though," Aqua said as we approached the menu.
"Pricey?" I repeated, glancing up at the board. My jaw nearly hit the floor. The prices were easily double what you'd find outside. It was like eating at a five-star restaurant disguised as a school cafeteria.
Still, the company had assured me I'd have enough money for daily expenses, so I wasn't too worried. Or at least, I wasn't… until I reached into my pocket and found nothing.
Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no.
In my rush this morning, I'd forgotten to grab my wallet. My face paled as the realization hit me.
"Fah? Are you okay?" Aqua asked, concern evident in her voice as she studied my expression.
"Uh… well…"
Do I tell her? Admitting I forgot my wallet would be mortifying. But before I could decide, Aqua's eyes lit up with realization.
"Did you forget your money?" she asked, her tone sympathetic.
How did she know?! I avoided her gaze, but that didn't stop her from pulling out a crisp bill and holding it out to me.
"Here, borrow some."
Borrow? That was a thousand baht! Enough to eat like royalty for a week! And she was handing it over like it was pocket change.
"Uh, that's way too much. I can just skip lunch and have water instead…" I began, but Aqua's expression grew unexpectedly stern.
"Absolutely not! Skipping meals isn't healthy. I won't allow it," she said firmly.
"It's just one meal. No big deal."
"No. Take it. Your health is more important than money."
Richer-than-rich people logic, I guess. But even so, I couldn't shake the feeling that accepting it would somehow trap me. What if this was some rich-girl test to see if I was greedy?
"Uh, I'll just drink some water," I mumbled weakly.
"Fah, please. Take it. Otherwise, I'll get upset," she said, pouting slightly.
That was all it took. The word "upset" hit me like a freight train. Upsetting her meant upsetting her family—a family with enough power to crush someone like me without a second thought. Images of being thrown into the Gulf of Thailand flashed through my mind.
"Alright, fine. Thank you," I relented, my pride giving way to survival instincts.
Aqua's smile returned as she pressed the bill into my hand. Despite its lightness, it felt heavier than lead.
"So, what do you want to eat?" she asked.
"Anything is fine," I replied weakly.
We ended up at the priciest stall, naturally. The menu read like it belonged in a luxury hotel: Wagyu steak, lobster bisque, you name it. To keep things simple, I ordered a basic curry rice dish. Of course, even their curry came topped with imported Wagyu beef.
To my surprise, Aqua ordered the same thing. I'd expected her to go all out, but she'd chosen something modest instead. I followed her to a cozy table in the air-conditioned cafeteria, where she gestured for me to sit.
"Go ahead, eat. Don't be shy," she said, her tone as gentle as ever.
Taking a cautious bite, I froze. The curry was incredible. The rich, savory sauce paired perfectly with the tender beef. It was… way better than I expected.
"How is it? Do you like it?" Aqua asked.
"It's… good. Really good," I admitted, trying not to sound too enthusiastic. Aqua's laughter was soft and warm.
"I'm glad you like it."
As we ate, Aqua reached across the table, her fingers brushing my wrist lightly. I jumped at the contact.
"You've got some rice on your cheek," she said, smiling before dabbing it away with her napkin.
"Th-thanks," I mumbled, my face heating up. The casual way she'd done it made it even worse. Or better? I wasn't sure anymore.
"Fah, you're so cute," she said, laughing softly.
Her words made my chest tighten. Cute? Me? That's a compliment I've never been prepared for.
Every moment felt surreal. To any other guy, this would've been a dream come true. But for me, the pressure of trying not to drown in the social equivalent of the Gulf of Thailand was all I could focus on.
"So, Fah, is there anything you want to eat tomorrow?" Aqua asked suddenly, her friendly gaze locking onto mine.
"T-tomorrow?" I stammered, reaching for my glass of water to buy time. The thought of going through this again tomorrow was almost too much.
"Don't worry about money. I'll take care of everything," Aqua said reassuringly.
Resigned to my fate, I managed a weak smile. "Thanks… Aqua."
And so, my first lunch at this all-girls school came to an end. I'd survived—barely. But as the cafeteria buzzed with whispers about the 'new girl and the princess,' I couldn't help but wonder what tomorrow would bring. Whatever it was, I had a sinking feeling I'd need to brace myself.