Joseph was so shocked at this sudden turn of events that he was frozen for a while. This only made Laura think he was receptive to her kiss, so she became bolder.

Which only made Jospeh panic upon feeling how aggressive she was being.

At first, it was just two lips pressed together but now, she was actually moving her lips about on his.

He hurriedly got free from her hold and grabbed her shoulders as he took a step back. He was slightly forceful this time, since this was getting out of hand.

Unfortunately, Joseph was too flustered to even escape properly as he stumbled and lost his balance. As he felt himself falling backwards, he instinctively wrapped his hands around Laura to protect her.

He fell spectacularly, with Laura falling right on top of him. He was dazed for a bit as he not only fallen down but he had something fall on him as well - the poor, besotted fool who was feeling fine as her fall had been cushioned by him.

Laura was ecstatic, feeling that Joseph did have feelings for her since he held her like that. She grabbed his face in her hands and started kissing him all over his face (and not just his lips).

"Laura, please, stop …" Joseph said weakly as his head was spinning. She wasn't a delicate flower either as her weight was pressing on his abdomen, making him out of breath.

Damn, she was heavy.

It wasn't that she was overweight but anyone would feel the way he did after a fall.

To his relief, he felt the weight lift off of him and he lifted his head, to see Laura being held up by the scruff of her collar by Zero.

"Are you okay, Sir?" he asked the dazed Joseph.

Joseph shook his head to clear it and slowly got up, "Yeah. Thanks, Zero."

Zero let the girl go and stood between her and Joseph, staring her down. The coldness and fierce demeaour finally made her stop as she stood there nervously.

Joseph got up and brushed the dirt from his clothes and sighed. He licked the side of his lips that had a little bit of a cut, courtesy of Laura's over-enthusiasm. Luckily indeed that it wasn't his father that came to pick them up today.

Hopefully, the cut would not be so noticeable the next day.

Joseph glanced at Zero's sturdy back and then towards Laura that appeared a bit flustered (with a red face) and a slightly guilty look on her face.

"I'm really sorry, Laura, but I really do just want to focus on school. Just have fun with friends but not romance," Joseph said firmly.

With that, he turned without waiting for her response. At least, with Zero there, she wouldn't chase after him anymore, right?

Laura watched him go with an ache in her heart. She touched her lips and smiled.

Well, at least she got something out of it. His lips were really soft indeed. She turned and hummed happily as she left, remembering the moment.

As Joseph walked towards off, Zero maintained a respectable distance behind Joseph. His presence alone certainly made the girls swoon by the side.

All of this was not noticed by Joseph, of course, for his mind was filled with what had just happened. He turned back with a frown to see Zero behind him but he couldn't do anything about it. He had tried once to get Zero to walk beside him (by asking him to walk faster or by him slowing down) but Zero would not budge from that position.

He was their driver-slash-bodyguard for a couple of months, and he was always serious about it.

Joseph wondered just what his sister was thinking when she had requested for Zero to be with them. Although he had to admit, Zero did appear softer a bit around his sister. His mask was not as cold.

Once they reached the car, Joseph noted Lianne was busy on her phone, as usual.

"Everything ok?" she asked, not glancing up from the phone.

"Yeah," Joseph replied with a sigh, "Luckily Zero was there."

"What? You got mobbed, is it?" Lianne asked in disbelief.

"No …" Joseph said with a sigh, "Just a more determined person who confessed."

'Huh' Lianne thought, 'Apple doesn't fall far from the tree then'

She thought about how her mother, as Kyle, got into all sorts of trouble with the ex-es. Just recently, some random woman popped up with their 'son'. To think her mother was such a player … well, even though it had been for some mission.

Lianne had been kept abreast of everything that happened to Kyle. Partly because she knew him as her mother, and partly because they have always shared things. Their relationship was more like friends, though there were times that her mother would act 'mother' and tell her what needs to be done.

However, most of the time, it would be discussions. What Lianne loved best was that her mother always talked *to* her rather than talking down to her. She actually would listen to what was her, Lianne's, views and thoughts, and then explain her own reasoning.

Still, no matter how open-minded Lianne was, to find out her mother had been involved in such activities made her world-view expand even more and have her look at her mother in a completely different manner.

So naturally, her view and impression of her brother also changed.

For some reason, when he told her that he had yet another confession to go and reject, she asked Zero to keep an eye on him. If their mother could get into all sorts of trouble from her female fans, what more her oblivious brother?

Then again, her mother was just as oblivious.

Having an ex come back with a surprise son, and current girlfriend being pregnant … Lianne shook her head.

Her mother and brother are both completely hopeless.

Seeing how things are between them, and how she saw all guys her age (and much older, actually) to be really immature, the idea of falling in love and getting into a relationship was something Lianne vowed not to get involved in right now.

Or even much later in the future.

More trouble than its worth.

She glanced at Zero, who was being as quiet and steady as usual.

It's much better to just sit and admire the guys around at a distance. Far safer.

She liked her simple life and will be under the radar as much as possible.

Get married?

Pah.

Not for her. More trouble than its worth.

Lianne looked out the window for a brief moment, thinking about the possibility of ever finding someone who could truly understand her - and one that didn't annoy her - was really slim. Since she didn't think that such a person actually exist, she never placed much hope in that.

With a sigh, she turned her attention back to the game.

2D guys are just so much better, she thought. They are predictable and can never hurt you in any way.

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿

After that incident with Laura, Joseph became firmer when dealing with girls confessing to him.

Initially, he felt he had to meet the girls personally in order to show some respect to them gathering the courage to confess. Thus, even though there was the risk of his father finding out, he took it.

However, now, if it meant seeing someone after school, he would politely refuse when asked and gave the reason that he had to go back and couldn't let the person who picked him up to wait.

At first, he thought people would start talking bad about him for doing so, but strangely enough, no one said a thing. What he did not know was that the rather embarrassing and awkward situation with Laura helped him in this aspect.

Word got around that Joseph had been 'attacked' by an overly-amorous girl that he got slightly traumatised by it. People had seen how disheveled he had been the other day, while his bodyguard had saved and protected his chastity.

However, Joseph being the nice and kind guy that he was, didn't say a thing. Instead of blaming his attacker, he made simply made up the excuse of not wanting to let his father wait.

This action simply sealed the deal for his fans.

Instead of him being made fun of for being 'afraid' of his father (less manly, so to speak), he was admired for not putting down the person who had 'attacked' him.

Laura was already receiving a lot of criticisms for her action, for she had 'defiled' the innocent Prince. His gentlemanly behaviour towards only sealed the deal for them about the school Prince.

While this was going on, the school Prince, Joseph, was completely oblivious. He didn't think him telling the truth would make his position as school prince soar.