After returning from the restroom, Sebastian walked back into the classroom looking completely unbothered, as if nothing had happened.
His expression was neutral, his posture relaxed, his hands casually in his pockets.
In the back of the classroom, Ethan was grinning like he'd won something.
Sebastian slid into his seat next to Isabelle without a word.
Isabelle immediately leaned closer, her voice dropping to a concerned whisper. "Did Ethan do anything to you? He left right after you did. Tell me, I can tal—"
"No," Sebastian interrupted smoothly. "I didn't meet him."
Isabelle frowned slightly, clearly not entirely convinced. "Are you sure? Because he came back looking really—"
"I'm sure." Sebastian's tone was final but not harsh. "Nothing happened."
He had his pride. He couldn't let a woman defend him—that would be even more humiliating than the confrontation itself. Better to act like nothing had happened and deal with Ethan his own way.
On his own terms.
Isabelle studied his face for a moment longer, then seemed to accept his answer, though uncertainty lingered in her eyes.
The rest of the morning classes passed normally, though Sebastian's mind was already working through several plans involving Ethan Cole.
'Physical strength isn't the only way to destroy someone,' Sebastian thought coldly. 'In fact, it's usually the least effective. Especially, when the person in question is a protagonist.'
When the lunch bell finally rang, students began filing out of the classroom.
Ethan was at Isabelle's desk in seconds.
"Isabelle! Want to grab lunch together?" he asked with obvious enthusiasm, shooting a quick glance at Sebastian and that irritating smirk was back on his face.
This time, Sebastian didn't intervene.
He simply gathered his things slowly, watching from the corner of his eye.
Isabelle hesitated, looking between Ethan and Sebastian.
"I… sure, okay," she said finally, although she seemed to be hesitant.
Ethan's grin widened. He shot Sebastian another look, this one clearly triumphant before walking out with Isabelle.
Sebastian watched them leave, his expression unchanged.
Several students nearby whispered to each other, surprised that Sebastian hadn't made a move.
Once they were gone, Sebastian stood and walked across the classroom to where a girl named Alyssa sat with her friends.
Alyssa was pretty in a conventional way—blonde hair, blue eyes, decent figure. Not as beautiful as Isabelle, but attractive enough to be covetted by most in the classroom. If Isabelle was the school beauty, Alyssa was the class beauty.
More importantly, she'd been making eyes at Sebastian for months, constantly trying to hit on him. The current sebastian hadn't given her much, but the old one sure put her in a leash.
He knew that Alyssa would do anything he wanted from her, just to get back their previous, unhinged relationship.
"Hey, I wanted to talk to you." Sebastian said, flashing her a smile that made her entire body jolt.
Alyssa's friends immediately giggled and nudged her.
"S-sure!" Alyssa stammered, her cheeks flushing pink.
Sebastian led her out of the classroom and down the hallway to a quieter area near the music rooms—a section of the school that was empty during lunch.
He positioned himself close to her, one hand on the wall beside her head, effectively cornering her.
Alyssa's breath caught but she grinned shyly, her face turning even redder.
"Y-you want to do it here?" she whispered breathlessly. "What if we get caught?"
Sebastian smirked, leaning in slightly. "Don't worry. Nobody will catch us."
Alyssa's hands immediately went to the top button of her shirt, her fingers trembling with excitement and nervousness.
Finally. He is coming back to me. All those new bags…clothes.
Sebastian caught her wrist gently but firmly.
"Not yet," he said smoothly. "I need you to do something for me first."
Alyssa blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "Something…? What do you mean?"
Sebastian's smile widened slightly—charming, but with an edge to it.
"I need a favor," he said quietly. "And if you do it well… I'll make it worth your while."
Alyssa's eyes widened. "A favor? What kind of favor?"
Sebastian leaned in closer, his lips almost at her ear.
"I need you to…"
-----
Inside the cafeteria, Ethan and Isabelle sat at a table near the windows, eating their lunch together.
Ethan was excited, telling some story to Isabelle, clearly trying to make her laugh.
Isabelle was smiling, enjoying the coversation she was having with Ethan.
Then Alyssa and her friends entered the food hall.
Alyssa's eyes scanned the room before landing directly on Isabelle's table.
She whispered something to her friends, who all giggled and nodded.
Then Alyssa walked straight toward Isabelle and Ethan's table, her friends trailing behind her like an entourage.
Once she arrived at Ethan's table, she directly sat next to him, then grabbed his arm, making it in direct contact with her bossom.
The scene shocked Isabelle entirely, she hadn't expected Ethan to be this close to Alyssa, their classmate.
"W-what are you doing?" Ethan flustered from Alyssa's touch was visibly shaken by everything.
Before his golden finger awakened, Alyssa had been his dream girl. As a poor scholarship student, you sometimes dreamed about having a beautiful girlfriend—not necessarily the most attractive girl in school, but someone attainable.
Alyssa had been his 'realistic option,' unlike Isabelle, who he'd believed was completely out of his league. But after awakening his system, he'd gained a surge of confidence that allowed him to bypass Alyssa entirely and aim for one of the school belles instead.
Now she was here, touching him, and his body was betraying him with its reaction.
Alyssa grinned at his flustered state. "What do you mean, honey? Did you already forget about last night… hehe."
Ethan paused for a moment, his mind racing. Then his eyes widened in shock.
He yanked his arm away forcefully. "What are you saying?! Did Sebastian send you here to defame me?!"
Hearing that, Alyssa's expression darkened immediately. She turned to look at Isabelle, her eyes glistening with manufactured hurt.
"Are you already moving on from me?" she said, her voice trembling just loud enough for Isabelle and nearby students to hear. "After I gave you my first… time? Now that you got what you wanted, you want to leave me?!"
Isabelle's face showed a hint of disgust as she looked at Ethan.
Several students at nearby tables had stopped eating, their attention drawn to the drama unfolding.
Ethan's face cycled through a mixture of emotions—shock, anger, panic, desperation.
"Isabelle, this girl… she's lying!" Ethan turned to her urgently. "Sebastian must've sent her to do this! Can't you see? This is obviously a setup!"
Ethan tried to explain, his words tumbling out rapidly, and Isabelle listened, wanting to understand more deeply. She hadn't fully made up her mind yet.
Unfortunately for Ethan, he could never have prepared for Alyssa's next words.