Chapter 4
"Ay… here comes the other bitch."
"What do you think you're doing?" Asha asked firmly.
"Nothing that concerns you. Get lost."
"Angeline, aren't you tired of this? Why do you bully others just to feel better about yourself? Only weak people do that."
"Weak people? Are you calling me weak?"
"Isn't that why you do it? To make others fear you? To feel superior?"
"How dare you? Do you want to die?"
"Kill me then. I don't think the school will let you get away with it anyway."
"Yah! Don't you dare threaten me with school rules. I'm not afraid of any of them."
"Fine then. Kill me."
Asha stepped closer until their faces were almost touching.
"What? Seems like you're afraid after all. You're just human… a weak and feeble human."
"Shut up."
Angeline raised her hand to slap her, but someone caught her wrist.
It was Kai.
The entire café froze.
Students stared in shock.
"Did he just stop her?"
"Omg… Kai is protecting Asha!"
Whispers filled the room before slowly fading.
"What… what are you doing?" Angeline stuttered.
"Don't hit her," Kai said calmly.
More whispers rose.
"Why? Why can't I hit her? Do you have a problem with that?"
Kai looked at Asha briefly, then back at Angeline.
"No. I just don't want you to get into trouble."
The café went silent again.
"Omg… he's worried about Angeline?"
"I thought he was protecting Asha…"
"Wait… what's going on?"
Angeline frowned.
"W…why are you worried about me?"
Kai answered simply.
"Because you're pretty."
The entire café exploded into noise.
Gasps. Shock. Confusion.
Kai grabbed Angeline's wrist and pulled her outside before she could react.
"Let me go! What are you doing?"
They stopped outside.
Angeline yanked her hand away.
"What the heck is wrong with you? I get that you like me but you can't just drag me like that."
"You're wrong."
"What?"
"I don't like you."
Angeline froze.
"But you said I was pretty."
"Oh. I didn't finish my sentence."
She blinked.
"…What were you going to say?"
"Pretty stupid."
"Excuse me?"
"Yes."
"Are you joking right now? You acted like you cared about me, then dragged me out of the café!"
"I don't like you, and I don't find you pretty either. I was just worried."
"Then who were you worried about?"
"The other girl."
Angeline's eyes narrowed.
"Asha?"
"Yes."
"You find Asha pretty but not me?"
Kai sighed.
"I'm not talking about looks. I'm stating facts. Your attitude is the problem."
Angeline's expression tightened.
"Stop acting like you know me."
"I don't need to know you. Your actions already say enough."
He stepped back slightly.
"I won't interfere in your life, but if I see you harassing others again, I won't ignore it."
"Y-you…"
"So let's just coexist peacefully. Okay?"
Without waiting for a response, he walked away.
Angeline stood still, stunned.
"That son of a…"
Back in Class
"I can't believe he's close to someone like Angeline," Aarina said. "And I even had a crush on him."
"A crush? Rina, he's been here half a day," Aeri said in shock.
"He's gorgeous. I don't even know his name properly yet. Asha, how do I get his attention?"
Aarina grabbed Asha's hands.
But Asha didn't respond.
"Asha?" Aeri called softly. "Asha!"
Asha blinked.
"Yes… sorry. Were you talking to me?"
"You've been off since we came back from the café. Did Angeline say something to you?"
"No. I'm fine."
"Really?" Aeri asked again, worried.
"Really."
Aarina leaned in again.
"So do you know any way I can get his attention?"
"I don't," Asha said quickly.
"What? You didn't even think about it properly!"
"I said I don't know."
"Come on, you're good at this kind of thing. Help me."
"I'm not."
"Please, just try!"
Asha's voice suddenly rose.
"I said I don't know! Why are you forcing me?"
The room went quiet.
Aarina blinked.
"Why are you yelling? I was just asking. You could've said no calmly…"
Asha froze slightly.
"I'm sorry… I just need some air."
She stood up.
"I'll go to the bathroom."
She walked out of the classroom.
But she didn't go to the bathroom.
She went up to the rooftop instead.