1.8 – Be happy – Crimson Academy

One year passed by fast, and subsequently, a rumor spread around; something about Xavier's ex-fiance Grace, dating his best friend, Mark.

░Why is everyone taking such a long time in asking each other out?░

Within a toilet cubicle, Bing Shi began to chant in her mind like a cheerleader, in an attempt to motivate the imaginary gods of love.

░Gimme! ░

░Flash love! ░

░Gimme! ░

░Insta love!░

░Gimme! ░

░Whatever love, just no slow-burn love!░

░Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry.░

Oh, the impatience and nervousness showed up in her chanting slogans. It was taking them longer compared to the original story. Where was the miraculous love at first sight? At this rate, she wouldn't be able to complete it within the time limit she gave herself.

· · ─── · ⊱❈⊰· ─── · ·

One month later...

As always, the teacher had enough and punished Grace and Mark with a detention. Right now, they were alone in the class.

Mark turned around from his seat, asking her seriously, "Grace, should we make the rumor reality?"

"Shut up, who wants to date a creepy stalker!" Grace screeched in overreaction. When she saw how he turned in his seat, she quickly hid her expression, laying down her face on the desk. She started blushing, her heart skipping a beat.

When he saw her shy reaction his beat skipped too. After knowing her more he started to like how she tried to act strong even though she was not. She truly hid her weak self well, behind that foxy face.

He took her hand in his, she tried to push him away, but he didn't let go. He interlocked his fingers with hers; this time, she didn't avoid him. "Let's date," he made a statement. Their faces still lying down, too shy to look at each other.

"Don't cheat on me, or I'll kill her," she agreed.

"I won't, I'm well aware of what you're capable of doing," he chuckled.

· · ─── · ⊱❈⊰· ─── · ·

Before the midterm and final exams, an important event would occur — a masquerade ball. It'd be a great opportunity for the students to expand their connections. They'd have a chance to meet students from all grades. Previously, it was an event where Xavier broke his engagement with Grace.

Inside the council room, Alisa studied her notes, trying to find an answer to her math question, "I didn't agree nor disagree."

"Don't try my patience. Didn't you say you like me?!"

She lifted her gaze and looked at Xavier in anger. Some students tried to invite her to a masquerade ball, but this ice man chased every off with his cold stares, "So every girl who likes you have to be forever alone?!"

"Alone?" Xavier went silent, "Don't you have me?"

"I do." Looking down at her notes, a victory smile appeared on her face, "So...Would you like to go with me to the masquerade ball?"

· · ─── · ⊱❈⊰· ─── · ·

❝System just report to me when something important happens. I'm overstuffed with dog food.❞

❰Yes. Host, you're crying.❱

❝Hm? Yeah, I miss my home. Could you leave me alone for a bit?❞

❰Yes, Host.❱

"Miss Olivia Bacchus, are you alright?" asked Olivia's teacher.

Bing Shi blinked her blurry eyes, "My stomach hurts. Can I go to the infirmary?"

"Yes, Do you need someone to go with you?" asked the teacher with worry.

"I am good, thank you," Bing Shi stood up and walked out of the classroom while trying to hold in her tears from falling more.

Victor couldn't hold it and stood up. "Can I go with her? I am her fiance," he asked the teacher with impatience.

"Go, go, she didn't look good," the teacher agreed.

Right after her approval, he ran out of the classroom, chasing after Olivia, "Olivia!"

░This is the last thing I needed! So bothersome!░

Bing Shi kept going to the infirmary without stopping, holding in her composure, "Stay away from me! We agreed not to talk to each other!"

"But..." He tried to reach out to her, but she reacted faster!

She pulled out a pepper spray from her sleeve and pointed it in his direction, her hands shaking, "Don't. Touch. Me," she hissed, "Without my consent ever again."

"Olivia, calm down..." He tried to reason with both his hands raised.

"Turn around and let me be," Olivia muttered through gritted teeth.

"Fine, I'll go... " He helplessly turned around and walked back to class, occasionally looking back at her direction, but she was nowhere to be seen.

She used a speed pill to run home.

Inside a bathroom, a girl was washing her hands over a scalding hot water, trying to scratch the place Victor touched off, she wept and shook anguishedly to herself. Her weeping became a cry, and it was growing louder and louder. Everyone could tell that her cry was full of pain and sorrow.

░I miss you so much.░

░I don't want to be here without you.░

░What do I do? I think I'm going crazy.░

· · ─── · ⊱❈⊰· ─── · ·

After Bing Shi cried her heart out, she went inside a shower to freshen up, making sure she was alright to meet people. It was too late to go to school. She should at least make use of it. After the shower, she went to the kitchen to grab some chocolate and potato chips as she wasn't in the mood to eat anything healthy.

Back inside her bedroom, she switched on her computer, and during the booting time, she opened her chips, munching on them.

❰I'm back, Host, what are you doing?❱

❝Welcome back system, thinking about how to finish this world fast.❞

❰By playing first-person shooting games?❱

❝Why not? I need some adrenaline rush.❞

❰I see.❱

After she was tired of killing aliens, she switched to MMORPG, her favorite. Because that's where she first met Mr. Jelly.

░Am I out of my mind?░

If there weren't someone knocking on her door for dinner, she would continue playing without rest. She slowly went down to greet her family and apologized for not having an appetite. Well, she had tons of junk food a moment ago, but they didn't have to know such a detail. After assuring them that she was all good and healthy, she went up to her room, continuing to play games and being delusional that she would stumble upon Mr. Jelly.

"Olivia, I'm coming in," said Grace while knocking and opening the door.

"Sure," Olivia said in a low voice. She couldn't turn away from her monitor; she was at the dungeon right now.

"Are you going to the masquerade ball?" Grace sat down at the couch and looked at Olivia, who usually was into manga and novels, now switched to computer games. Her sister was becoming stranger and stranger.

"Yes?" said Olivia while looking at her monitor.

"Are you going with Victor?" asked Grace.

"Who is Victor?" Olivia tilted her head.

"Your fiance..." Grace's mouth twitched. 'She is joking, right?'

"Oh...Not going with him," said Olivia with a poker face.

"He likes you. Why are you avoiding him?" Grace felt like a living messenger between them. No, more like a messenger for Victor.

"If you came to me only because of this, then you can leave," Olivia rushed Grace out, disinterestedly.

"Alright, I won't probe anymore. What about a gown? Do you have one?" Grace changed the subject.

░Time to put "I'm fine" on my forehead ♪♬░

"Of course! Let me show you after I finish this last Boss." After Bing Shi killed the Boss, she ran to her walk-in closet and returned with a big box in her hands.

Grace became curious, but when she saw the gown, her mouth twitched, "Its a ball, not a funeral. It doesn't even show your neck!" Imagine a black chipao with long sleeves and a long A-line skirt.

"It hugs my body perfectly, hmpf! And black is the coolest color ever," said Bing Shi proudly. A great dress for her mood! "What about yours?"

Grace took Olivia to her room and showed her a beautiful red mermaid dress with open shoulders. Grace was two years younger, but she was more mature-looking than her older sister. Both sisters stayed in Grace's room and chatted about nothing in particular.

"You skipped class to play PC games all day?" Grace sat at her armchair, crossing her arms, staring at her sister.

"Of course not! My period started. It was too painful. Nothing to do with games," lied Olivia shamelessly, holding Grace's dress, she rubbed her tummy with her right hand.

"You are addicted," said Grace, not buying her act.

"A bit, hehe," agreed Olivia without remorse.

"Olivia?" asked Grace with worry. Her sister was spacing out again.

"Hm? What is it?" Olivia blinked her eyes, switching her gaze from the dress to Grace, she changed the subject, "It reminds me, how is Xavier doing after your broken engagement?"

"He is going to have a new girlfriend soon," said Grace resentfully.

"Oh, so he is still single," nodded Bing Shi in realization.

"Don't try to go after him. You already have a fiance..." Grace frowned disapprovingly.

"No! I mean, you should take this chance, while he is still single to be clingy to Mark," Bing Shi placed the red dress back to the box, "Let Xavier choke on your dog food, hehe."

"..." Grace said nothing. Would being clingy to Mark help?

When it was time to bed, Bing Shi walked back to her room, dropping on the bed, she fell asleep.