Chapter Twenty-three: EMBARASSMENT

Lesley's POV

Karina entered first in the classroom. Then, Freya. Irithel and I were the last. We heard someone's talking in front. And it sounds so familiar to me. He sound like.. "G-Gusion?" I don't know if there's a voice came out from me. I stopped in my midtrack, right there in the door. Gaping with the brunette man in front. Tall, serious, somber, confident, cold. He wore purple muffler, purple vest, light gray shirt, dark color pants and black shoes. I can see that he did changed a lot. It is only I who did not. Gusion lazily roaming his eyes inside that wide room while talking. Until here gaze went up on me. Our eyes met. Mine with surprise, him in cold stare. I don't know if I'm only imagining things, or I really saw emotions crossed his eyes. Something like sadness and longing. But he gritted his teeth again. Back to his cold stare. I sighed. Yes, maybe I'm only imagining things. Because that's what I wanted him to feel for me.

I shook my head and went to my seat. Both of my sides were empty so probably Claude and Valir skipped the class again. They were my seatmates.

"The perfect combination of might and magic!" I heard Gusion, ending his introduction. When I finally sat down and looked back with Gusion, he's holding two things. On the right hand, dagger. On the left, one stem of red rose that immediately vanished when he closed his fist. There's a certain memory wanted to arose but I shook my head to hinder it.

The whole classes especially the female population cheered for Gusion.

"Thank you, Gusion. You may now take your seat." -Admin.

He sat in front, near the administrator. The women near him immediately clings on him. I felt uncomfortable. I wanted to shoot those women but what the hell, I have no right then. I have no right now.

The administrator cleared his throat to get our attention. "Behave and listen. Tomorrow night is your much awaited ball so be ready. I'll dismiss you early for you to have enough time to prepare. With or without partner, all of you are coming. Okay? See you tomorrow."

The administrator went out. While all of us stayed inside.

"What's the plan, guys? I want an escort." Natalia said. Obviously looking flirtatiously to Gusion.

"Me, too. If possible, I want an assassin/mage escort." -Angela

"Gusion ask me out, please?" -Miya

"He can't. I'm his date in the ball." -Layla

My forehead knotted. These leeches suck.

"Hey, you okay?" Karina asked me. Freya and Irithel came closer, too.

"Gusion is the new hero?"

"Yes." Freya replied. "Why? You know him?"

"Yes." I used to be secretive. I listened to their stories but I never mentioned anything about mine. All they know is Harley's my brother. Aside from that, I told them nothing. But I guess, it wasn't bad if I tell them that I know Gusion way back.

The three of them shrieked. Causing for other heroes looked at our direction.

"That's intriguing, Sistah." Freya teased. "Last time, you said there's nothing interesting in your life's story."

"Yeah. When Gusion have been part of your life. Jeez!" Irithel added. "That's the most interesting part of your life."

"Were you friends? Or lovers?" -Karina.

"Well, uhm.. In between?"

They shrieked more as if they were possesses of some kind of demons.

I was alarmed. Gusion and other heroes are already looking at us. "Sshh! Quiet"

"Gusion!" It was Freya, waving at Gusion. Oh my jeez! I signaled her to shut up but she didn't mind me. She even pointed me using her index finger. This is embarrassing. I wanted to hide under table. "Lesley Vance is here. You know her, right?"

Gusion raised her eyes on me coldly. "No. I don't."

"Really?" The three girls looked at me. "I thought you know him?"

Other women there smirked at me. I wanted to save my pride so I laughed forcely.. nervously. "That's what I thought earlier. Now that I can saw him upclose, I realized, no. It wasn't him. They only have some resemblance."

"Oh. Okay."

How dare him to humiliate me in front of many people!

"Miss Beautiful!!" Comes Claude rushing recklessly from outside. What the heck, he almost bumped me again while the monkey in his shoulder jumping cheerfully. Before I could react, he sat beside me and his arms snaked in my shoulder blades and pulled me closer to him. "Hahaha! I won." He darted his eyes in the door. Looking for Valir obviously. I wanted to roll my eyes heavenward. They're doing it again. Him and Valir were always racing in small doings. And uncannily, I am their finish line. "Lesley Vance, I want to be your escort tomorrow night. Will you let me?"

Another man butted in and harshly remove Claude's hand. "Don't you dare touch my Honey. I'm gonna be her escort. Not you, Dexter." Valir said as he sat at my other side. Then he frowned. "Or Claude? No. You're Dexter.. I think? Man, I'm getting confused. You're now look alike."

Freya, Iri, Karina and I laughed heartily. These men..

"Hoh huh huh!" said the monkey as if he loved what he hear.

Claude doesn't seem annoyed. He just grinned. "Funny. But I'm gonna be Lesley's date."

I about to open my mouth to stop them from arguing when someone grabbed my wrist and made me stood up. "Don't you ever touch her, morons!"

Valir raised his brows. "Who the hell are you?"

Claude whispered to Valir. "He's the new hero."

Gusion's firm lips became firmer with anger. "Someone you wouldn't want to mess up with."

"W-wait." Karina stood up, too. "I thought you don't know Lesley?"

"I know her. She's my---"

"Friend." I abruptly cutted his word. "I'm his friend."

That same reaction when I told I'm his bestfriend in front of that woman and his father etched his face. Frowning and unflinchingly gazing at me. "I hate it when you're saying that. There's no friends who often kisses on the lips. And no male friend who would think to reap his friend's clothes apart and to make love to her senselessly."

Loud gasps heard inside that room. While I, at that moment could feel I'm as red as tomato. I wanted the floor to open and eat me whole. "Gusion please. I'm not your girlfriend." I pleaded in small voice.

"You are."

Seriously? "Since when?"

"Effectively today."

He's not serious, right? But heck, his eyes looked serious. His stare was terrifying.

"I'm your date. And you know me, Babe. I'm a jealous boyfriend."

He held my chin and raised to him. I know that look so my eyes widened. I'm holding my breath. I wish he wouldn't kiss me in front of these people.

He maybe read my thought. He just stared me as if memorizing every angles of my face then, that's it. He let me go. After giving deadly glare to Valir and Claude, who both just shrugged, he went out.

I blinked many times. Wanting to regain my sanity.

When I focused my eyes with Karina, Irithel and Freya. What the heck. Their mouths were wide open. I waved my hand in front of them. "Hey?"

That's then they shriek. "Aaaaaaaahhhhh! Heart heart."

"You often kissed?!"

"And he wanted to reap your clothes to make love with you. Oh my jeez, he's so hot!"

"He's so cool."

I covered my face with my palm shyly. Do they need to remind that?

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