PHASE 51 - RE: ENTRANCE

The bell rang from the tenth floor of the school, signaling the start of the classes.

This will be my first time entering a public school, which is Dradecim National High School. So it is only necessary that I have to introduce myself to everyone who will be my classmates for the school year.

I stood up in front of the classroom, just beside my teacher Mister Kent. As I nervously held my hands together and bowed to evade the eyes of my classmates who were staring at me, I felt that my heart was throbbing. I can’t count how many times my heart skipped a beat for doing absolutely nothing. I’m just a sissy in front of so many people, and my stage fright is kicking me. I have lived the majority of my life in the shrine so I never expected this to happen.

“Uh, today we will have our new classmate. She transferred from an alternative learning center from Heightsburg City but from this day forward, she will be a student of this school.”

Mister Kent looked at me, and I glanced back. When our teacher nodded, I immediately knew that it was a sign that I should start introducing myself.

Wait, what should I do in this situation? What should I introduce first? My name? My blood type? My favorite type of burger? How many pounds of fried chicken can I eat in one minute? Auuuu! I don’t know what to say!

My mouth, reluctant to release the voice from my lungs, gives out a weird noise. I don’t know what to do! Asumi-nee, please help me!

Suddenly, my nervousness blinked out of existence the moment the door to the classroom opened like bang!

At the door is a tall man with messy blonde hair, tired emerald eyes, and a mouth that is swallowing for air. Judging from the sweat on his face and neck, he seemed to have a five-hundred-meter sprint from downtown all the way to this room.

“Mister Eisenhower! You're too early for the second period!" Mister Kent yelled at him as soon as he opened the classroom door. The blonde man’s only response was to force a smile and scratch the back of his head in embarrassment. He tried apologizing but it didn't help either. Instead, our teacher yelled at him again. "Stop yanking and get your butt over your seat!"

Fully exhausted in the morning, my tall blonde classmate sat on his seat and slammed his face on the desk. He’s desperately gasping for air as if he needed a nebulizer.

My eyes sparkled the moment I saw that man. I can’t be mistaken! It’s him! He’s the one I’m looking for!

I was immediately interrupted by our homeroom teacher as he reintroduced me. He cleared his throat and repeated his announcement. “A-Ahem! You have a new classmate. Please, continue.”

Once again, the attention of all the students shifted back to me. My nervousness made a comeback, and all I can do is to shyly utter these words: “Please don’t stare at me too much, I’m a shy person..”

I heard some murmurs. It was soft, so I did not pay any attention to it. I need to introduce myself so that this stage fright thing would be over! With determination, I will never give up!

Boom!

I was interrupted again when I heard a speeding bullet tearing down the wind barrier. I was startled, so I looked back at the teacher. That was where I realized that the sound I just heard was not a bullet, but flying chalk that our macho teacher just released.

“Silence, Mister Casterdyne!” When the teacher saw my scared, round, and wide puppy eyes, our teacher immediately shifted to a gentleman’s expression. “Will you please~”

I inhaled softly and mustered all the courage I got in this simple introduction.

"I-I'm Tiara Hikari...N-Nice to meet you all!" I bowed down with a blush. "P-Please take care of me from now on!"

The classroom was in a frozen state. I saw men and women in this room staring at me with an amazed expression, their cheeks red, and their aura full of brightness. I can’t make out their expressions! Do they think I’m weird? Are they surprised by my awkwardness? I don’t know!

“You can sit over there.” Mister Kent pointed to the seat nearest to the window, right beside the blonde guy I had my interest in. I bowed as a polite response as I safely sat on my designated seat.

When I finally settled down, I saw the blonde man glancing at me. His emerald eyes are cold, but I can feel the warmth in it from within. This is the man Asumi-nee told me to watch. He must be Mister Alaric Eisenhower.

"N-N-Nice to meet you~" I smiled at him. It's obvious that I’m trying hard to muster all the courage I got.

However, he ignored me completely and turned his head away.

I sulked. I never would have known that I would embarrass myself on the very first day of my life in this school.

<>

The school day has ended without me being able to talk to anyone. Not even my seatmate Mister Alaric Eisenhower dared to talk or even glance at me for a second. I feel like I’m just a rotten vegetable here in this classroom.

I think this day is enough. Just seeing the man why I’m here is a good indication that I’m still on my mission. It’s time to go home.

When I finished packing up my things, a lot of my classmates gathered around my seatmate to watch this particular event. There was a bowl-cut-hairstyle girl approaching the blonde prince.

"Alaric Eisenhower... Please accept my feelings!" She bowed down as she reached out a pink valentine's card.

"I'm sorry. I don't hit on older girls..." Alaric said coldly...

"B-B-But I'm just three months older than you..." My classmate had her eyes watery.

"Exactly," Alaric said.

"U...Uwaaaaaah! Alaric rejected me!!!" She ran off outside the room and burst into tears.

I can hear a lot of my classmates murmuring and whispering to each other. Words like "Alaric is so mean!" , "That idiot is so arrogant!" and the like as they get back to their respective places.

I felt the girl. I felt the rejection she got even if it was not me confessing my love. Confessing takes a lot of courage and willpower to pull off, but my brutal seatmate just ungratefully shrugged that off like dust.

I could no longer suppress my anger.

Suddenly, I stood up in front of Alaric and pressed my head forward in order to make eye-to-eye contact. My sky-blue eyes which are filled with flaming determination to never give up must have sent chills down on his spine.

"Y-You're so arrogant! C-Can you reject her in a proper manner?!" I am trying hard to draw bravery on my heart again just to show that I’m furious.

Alaric brushed off his blonde hair like an arrogant prince as he made a cold remark.

"Well, it's none of your business- Pwah!"

Out of my control, my fist flew! A right jab went straight to his nose! Because of this, his chair tumbled and he got his head smashed to the floor!

All my classmates now have their attention to both of us, who are having this trivial quarrel!

"Y-You!" I pointed at him, particularly his nose that is on the verge of bleeding. "L-Lessen your arrogance a bit, will you!?"

My common sense struck me immediately. I looked around and saw my classmates watching us both, like a sitcom show on Saturday evenings. Realizing this commotion, my face blushed and I reverted into a shy persona once again.

"I-I'm sorry about that!" I bowed and then left the classroom in a rushed manner.

<>

I am not sure, but this is my first time meeting that man.

This small squabble of us will lead to a more complicated love story with secrets and revelations that will unfold.

To spoil you my secret, I’m a Gate Guardian.

My name is Tiara Hikari and this is the last book of our love story.