[Music Recommendation: "Usui Takumi" theme (Kaichou wa Maid-sama OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

Seeing his face somehow calmed me down—finally. Probably it was relief from seeing someone who I'm familiar with, or it's just his handsomeness healing my heart. Whatever the reason, it made me smile again.

"Kaiden, what are you doing out there?" I asked as I walked towards him. "Did your class finish early?"

He put his phone down the moment he heard me and looked straight to my eyes, smiling. My heart leaped when he smiled. Truly, being that good looking should be a crime. If I had a heart disease, I might have died already.

"Not really. Class was boring so I escaped."

My eyes widened from his answer.

"So basically, you ditched class?" I snorted, holding back my laughter.

He nodded. At least he admitted to ditching classes.

"Why are you even attending college if you're only planning on ditching your classes?"

"I attend those I find interesting."

Right. I almost forgot he was a genius.

"Wait a minute, you already graduated, right?"

"Yeah. I'm taking masteral right now."

"Woah. That's amazing. But if its masteral class, shouldn't the subject be a lot harder?"

"Ideally, yes. But today's the first day so it's mostly an introduction to whatever."

"Ahh, I see."

"How's your first class?" he asked as he stood up, and straightened his back. I froze momentarily at his question. "Crystal said to meet at the cafeteria during break time."

"It's okay," I lied. "Let's go there then. I'm starving." I turned my back to him and walked towards the direction of the cafeteria.

Despite my great acting, my surroundings didn't agree with me. My classmates began to go outside the classroom and stopped at the door as soon as they saw Kaiden—with ME.

Peeking at them over my shoulders, I could already predict another interrogation session on my next classes and probably in my entire college life. Thinking on their shoes, it really seemed like I lied to them. Yes. Now that I was calmer, I began to think logically of everything.

Fact one: I came with Kaiden and Crystal to school and I even sat beside him; Fact two: I told them I lived together with them, even though they didn't let me finish my words; Fact three: Kaiden just fetched me after class—something very "boyfriend-like" to do. And now, we're talking so closely to each other. Anyone could easily mistake this for a really "close" relationship.

'Ughhhh… I just want to study and live my life peacefully. And Crystal, why did you ask your brother to fetch me? I can go by myself, you just needed to send me a message. And Kaiden, why are you suddenly being obedient to your sister? I thought you hated her? Waaa… I wanna cry.'

Kaiden looked around the people who kept staring at us. Was he perhaps, trying to check on what they're saying? Oh no! Please don't!

"And she said they're only friends…"

"Liar…"

"I hate her already…"

'Fu*k. Those words were so audible even from me who was already farther away from them than Kaiden.'

My heart sank and beat loudly in my nervousness. I walked back towards Kaiden to urge him to go.

'Please, just let them be. I don't want any more troubles than this.'

But I should have known by now, that Kaiden was not one to back down on misunderstandings with his blunt personality. He slowly walked towards the crowd with his head held high. His smiling face turned intimidating in a snap, scowling down at them like the usual grumpy person he was known for.

Personally, I never experienced it since he had always been kind to me but seeing him now, I could understand why the crowd suddenly began to tremble. Even I froze in my position and didn't dare come closer. Some of them still managed to squeal though, and sneak a picture or two. The others pulled out their most seductive poses.

"Explain to me what happened in 10 seconds," he said menacingly, "if I'm not satisfied with your answers, you know what will happen."

'Oh my goodness! What did he just say?'

"Ten… Nine…" Kaiden began his countdown.

My classmates immediately panicked and explained everything the best they could. Perhaps it was because of their fear that they honestly said what happened, in the fastest way possible with their speech. From how we introduced ourselves, to the questions they threw at me, and to that sour-looking girl who stared angrily at me.

By the time ten seconds passed, everyone was out of breath.

"Is that so?" Kaiden continued his menacing tone.

"Yes, yes," they chorused.

"I don't understand what it has to do with any of you, though."

Their faces paled up and sweat trickled down their faces, ruining their thick make ups. Deep inside, I agreed with Kaiden.

'Hmf! Yeah! Tell them! So what if we're friends and we're living together? Their house is so big it's like we're neighbours instead! And what does it have to do with them? Now that I think about it, why did I have to endure their judgements when it was all their own thinking that made it as if it concerns them when in fact it really doesn't!'

"A-ahh… Yes, it doesn't have anything to do with us," they all agreed, trembling.

"Since you all have time to gossip and ridicule my friend, I believe you have the energy to run 30 laps in the field, right?"

"Ack! T-thirty?"

"W-we can't even complete one lap…"

"W-were sorry, please have mercy."

"Hmf! Did you have mercy with your stupid comments and words?" Kaiden raised his eyebrows. "No. You enjoyed the liberty of saying things you wanted even if it meant hurting others. If you don't want to run, then I will pass this along to the dean as a case of bullying."

"N-no! Please don't! We're going to run!"

"Good. Before you start, all of you, kneel down and apologize to Senara."

All their eyes widened but they had no choice but to obey. I was even shocked by what Kaiden said.

"N-no, there's no need to—'' I tried to tell him but my classmates began to kneel in front of me, saying they're sorry. Even the sour-looking girl, whose face was now ten times worse than earlier, had no choice but to do the same.

After that, they all ran towards the school field and started their laps. My mouth was left open and my eyes all wide as I watched them all go. I couldn't believe they followed everything he said just like that. No one even dared to complain!

Kaiden walked back to me and tapped my back with his hands covered in black gloves.

"Feeling better?"

I burst out laughing from his question.

"What's funny?"

"Ha-ha-ha! Nothing. It's just… it looked like a scene from a drama. I can't believe you managed to pull that off."

"Hm? I told you, most people are scared of me. You're the weird one who says I'm kind."

"But you are. You took revenge for me, and yes, that felt good. Thank you."

Kaiden smiled again. "You're welcome. Should we go now?"

"Yes!"