I am really in a weird situation, aren't I?
A boy caught up between supernatural beings. Not only are they around me, they're more than my friends now.
Yawn.
But no matter what happens, I am not leaving now.
Not like my father, who abandoned his own child to save himself.
But I wonder… is him having a relationship with another woman true?
And who is she?
Sigh.
What am I thinking? That's none of my business anymore.
Noor walked into the classroom.
"Oi. Look who it is."
"I can't really believe it… but why him?"
Some students murmured.
What's with them? Noor frowned.
"Hey bro." Ashraf called softly, stepping forward.
He looked like he hadn't slept for several days—his hair messy, face pale.
"Woah. What happened to you? You look terrible."
"Nothing, bro."
"No—wait. Something happened." Ashraf shook his head.
"Huh? What?" Noor looked confused.
"The students have gone crazy. From morning they won't let us leave the classroom. I needed the washroom two hours ago."
"The hallway is blocked by them."
Ashraf whispered, looking upward.
"They keep asking the same question over and over again."
Saying, 'Is it trueeee—'
Ack—my throat."
Ashraf mocked them, but his voice cracked.
"But why?" Noor looked at the other classmates.
Woosh.
They all looked away.
"Isn't it obvious? Look at this."
Ashraf handed Noor a magazine.
THE LONE WOLF AND SCHOOL PRINCESS ARE AFTER ONE BOY
Under the title was a photo of Noor, Jenne, and Ria walking together.
"Who wrote this shit?" Noor grimaced.
"Who knows. But the effect was worse than the title."
"The whole school is looking for you."
Suvro said, looking outside the window.
"What?"
Swish.
Flash.
Click. Click.
Suddenly, a horde of students stormed through the classroom door, taking pictures.
"Is it true?"
"Both of them are interested in you?"
"What's so special about you?"
"What really happened that day?"
"Why did the biggest rivals in school get along?"
They fired questions nonstop.
"I've had enough of this."
Ashraf walked away, his legs wobbling.
Sigh.
Suvro stayed by the window, staring outside.
Noor stood there, deadpanned.
(What's wrong with them? Stretching a simple thing like rubber. I've had enough too.)
Noor clenched his fist.
"Everyone, stop!"
Noor shouted.
Gasp.
They froze.
"Huh?" Suvro looked over.
"What's wrong with you all?"
"And who wrote this?"
"All of this is fake. We're nothing more than friends."
"Please stop this madness. We're here to study, not to fool around."
"And who took my picture without my permission?"
"This is literally stalking."
"Do you want me to report this to the principal?!"
Noor yelled, losing his cool.
"Fwoo-woo~"
Suvro and Ashraf stared, shocked.
Did he just talk back?
"Yes… he changed."
The students' jaws dropped.
"If it's fake, then let's go."
One of them said flatly.
They walked away.
"Get a life, all of you!"
Noor shouted from behind.
"Humph. Peeping into other people's lives… worse than paparazzi."
"Ashraf, you can go now."
"Really?"
Woosh.
Ashraf ran out.
Sigh.
"Suvro, let's get something to eat—Oi, who—"
Someone covered Noor's eyes from behind.
"Guess who~ hehe."
(That sounds like Ria.)
"Ria, how many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?"
Noor said, annoyed.
"But why?"
"Because you're a girl and I'm a boy."
Ow.
"Come on, we're friends after all."
She tapped Noor's shoulder.
"She's hopeless…"
Noor slapped his forehead.
"Oi Suvro, what are you watching there?"
Noor stepped forward.
"Noor."
"Hmm?"
"I know you're more than a brother to me."
"But seeing beautiful girls clinging to you all the time makes me a little jealous."
…
…
"Want me to throw you out of the window?"
"I was joking!"
Suvro raised his hands.
Sigh.
"I can't believe this. Give me a break."
Noor sat on his chair.
Hmm.
Ria sat close to him, smiling with her eyes closed.
"Why are you sitting so close to me?"
"Why not?"
"Because this is my personal space, and I love it."
Skeech.
Noor moved his chair.
Skeech.
"I also love your personal space."
Ria moved closer.
Sigh.
"She's a wolf after all… only thing missing is a tail and ears."
Noor looked at her.
Pfft.
Noor cracked up.
"What's so funny?"
"You'd look ridiculous with ears and a tail."
Noor tried to hold his laughter.
Wack.
Wack. Ack.
"That's mean!"
Ria hit him with her notebook.
Sigh.
"Seeing you two like this makes me want to jump out the window."
Suvro cringed.
"Suvro, seriously—ouch! Ria, stop hitting me."
"With a notebook—I remembered something."
Ashraf entered the classroom.
"Are you done?" Noor frowned.
"Completely fresh."
Ashraf adjusted his glasses.
He handed Noor a notebook.
"I don't need this. I already did my homework."
"Just look at the sign, man."
"Huh?"
Abir Ajad
There was an autograph on the cover.
"Who's that?" Noor asked.
"The popular psychologist who came to our school."
"He also wrote a book—I gave it to you, remember?"
"Oh… I see."
Noor replied, bored.
"Come on, Noor. This means a lot to me. He's my idol."
"He even sat next to me."
"I talked with him about the Pure Human."
Ashraf said excitedly.
"There he goes again."
Suvro looked away.
Noor flipped through the notebook.
There was a lot written inside.
"The Pure Human?"
Ria looked interested.
"Wait—you didn't know?" Ashraf asked.
"I wasn't in school that day."
"Oh, I see."
"Then listen to this."
"I heard it directly from Dr. Abir Ajad."
"Okay." Ria smiled.
"If a Pure Human goes Bershak, he can take down powerful opponents even bigger than him."
"Dr. Ajad said—may mercy be shown to their enemies."
"That means even if a Pure Human is small, he can beat big and powerful enemies."
Ashraf raised his finger dramatically.
Noor's expression faded.
"What happened, Noor?" Ria asked.
"N… nothing."
"Let me get some fresh air."
Noor stood up.
"Hey, don't disappear today."
"We're visiting a special museum in the city."
Ria said.
"I'll be back."
Noor walked away.
…
…
Sigh.
"I feel uncomfortable again hearing those words."
"I just want to forget what happened with Roy."
Noor walked through the hallway.
He spotted Jenne.
(Is that Jenne? Woah… I'm calling her by her name now.)
(Guess I changed a little.)
But who's with her?
Miss Sophia was talking with Jenne.
She patted Jenne's head and walked away.
"I forgot… she's Jenne's teacher."
"Maybe she cares about her that much."
"But I did beat her brother brutally."
"I wonder how he is now."
Whatever…
"Miss Je—"
Ahem.
"Jenne!"
Noor called loudly.
Jenne glanced at him.
Humph.
She walked away.
…
…
…
"Huh?"
Did she just ignore me?
Noor muttered, standing there confused.