Sludge and a Flower

Adam looked at her while doubting his ears if he heard her right or not. He looked back and sees if there was someone else standing but there was no one standing behind him. It was actually expected because he chose this place for same reason.

He thought there might be a chance and something things happens on the heat of the moment… Maybe she might have some trouble in breathing and needs some help… who know? Unexpected things happen at unexpected places. It might just happen…

"…You don't know who I am?"

"…Hmm…"

Adam was looking at her face. She lowers her head and to hide her face and give him a nod.

"…Why did you follow me then?"

"…You dragged me…"

Adam turned silent and looked away. He has no words left to say. Everything he had done…It was WORTHLESS! He can't believe it. His date… it was not a date but… more like a kidnapping or… abduction…Is there even a word for it? Does thing even happen with someone else? Wasn't his luck was supposed to shining like a sun today?

"…I am your classmate…Adam White."

"…You…?!"

Adam finally felt satisfied. It seems she recognize him. It's always satisfying how people react after knowing his identity. It felt weird to introduce himself. People know him already and it always others who introduced themselves to him since he joined the academy. It was first time in forever to introduce himself to anyone else but it seems it was worth it…

"…You're the same guy who peeked at my panties that day!"

!

Adam slammed his hand onto the armrest of the bench beside him. Lily flinched and backs off slightly. Her guard went up like she was being attacked.

"…Listen here! I am ranked first among first years! I best practical and written exams with top score! I defeated 2nd Rank within a single exchange! I am strongest among the first-year but all you see is a pervert who peeked at your panties!"

"..Are you really a pervert?!"

Lily can't believe it! The guy in front of him is handsome… really handsome but he just admitted that he is actually a pervert! She just remembers how her sister once told her that all good-looking men are perverts. Lily can't believe her sister was right!

Adam already gives up on convincing her. He stretched his back over the backrest and looked at the sky. He needs sometime to cool his mind. He doesn't know what he will do otherwise…

"…He-e-llo…, Thank you for helping me back then…"

"What actually happened?"

There was silence between two of them for a long time which was broken by Lily. Adam asked her for a change. It's useless to pursue her for now. First, he should learn few more things about her before making his moves. He also needs rest as he suffered too much already…

"…It always happens… whenever I tried to help someone… I always create trouble for them instead… I just don't know what I should do."

She spoke in lower and heavy voice. It seems like she is on verge of crying. Adam can tell this girl lack confidence… no, she doesn't even have a shred of confidence on her!

"…No one is perfect, you know? People make mistakes and fix it and learn from it. If you stay stuck up on every mistake then you will never grow up…"

Adam stops himself while talking. He had no idea how to continue. He is not good with punch lines. He wants to throw a line that will capture her heart in one hook of bait.

"…I don't know… whenever I do something… I made mistake… People… I always felt their gaze… I can tell what their thinking… I can felt that they are blaming for every mistake… I just can't bring myself-"

"Just stops caring about it…"

Lily was lowering her head further and further as she talked. She can always feel those gazes on herself but she heard his words and raised her head with a shock expression. He is telling her to stop caring about them?!

"You care about them… That's why you feel that… maybe you're right. They are blaming you, but so what? Does it matter what they think? You care about other people opinion and response that's why you are like this. For a second, stops caring about everything and see how it would change your life."

Lily just heard him silently. Adam stops looking away and looked back at her. He just self-engineered what he heard from Ethan to not have any copyright claim on him. It's seemed to be working. He just needs to give it a finishing touch now.

"…Lily, you're a beautiful girl and strong one at that. I saw how you thrash that guy with fire mage during ranking battle. I can assure you that I never meet a girl stronger than you…"

Well, He actually meet lots of women stronger than her but it's not like he needs to tell her the truth and things seems to be surprisingly going his way. Maybe… Maybe he still has a chance…

Lily blushed and looked around as if trying to find something. She is beautiful... and strong at that! An Indescribable warm feeling spread over her chest. She felt an unknown warm she never felt. Maybe she wanted to hear those words for a long time but no one told her. She felt her eyes become teary, she doesn't understand but she is feeling happiness she never felt before…

She turned her head to look at Adam who seems to be different in her eyes. He looks… more handsome… or shining… she can't tell but he looks so special right now.

Adam looked at her eyes which seem to be hinting… hinting something good… too good for this situation. He can't believe it! He didn't think he will make some exponential progress like this! He just went from starting line to finishing line in one jump. It's really happening? It is, isn't it?!

Drop.

Something drops down and both of them turned their head. There was a lady standing with long black hair and blue eyes. She was wearing a long skirt and T-shirt, it looks weird on her but it gives her a unique charm. She seems to be of same age as him. Adam looked at her. He doesn't who she is but there is familiar about him.

"My Darling…?!"

!

She suddenly run toward him and grab his collar. Adam was stunned and tried to break free but girl seems to have tighten her grip.

"…Who is this girl?! Didn't you promise that night that I am the only one for you?!"

!

"…Ahh? What kind of promise you are talking about? It's my first time meeting you!"

!

"What…?! You…are you that kind of person?! I almost think of you as a nice person…!"

Lily said in trembling voice and shocked expression. She was just thinking what a nice guy he is but does that mean… he was just saying that all just so he can take advantage of her?! She can't believe that she almost fell for his words!

"…You told me that spending time with me, were the best moment of your life…! How can you cheat on me like that…?!"

"Hey! Hear me out here! I have no idea who you are, so stop with this prank before I beat the shit out of you…"

"See that! He is now even resorting to violence since things are not going his way! My life is spoilt… I can't believe I slept with a guy like him…"

Black haired girl pointed at Adam and said to Lily in a remorseful voice. Lily was stunned but when she heard about sleeping with him. She can't help but turn her head toward him. Adam noticed her gaze and tried to explain to her but when he noticed her teary eyes and her hand, covering her mouth. He knows that shit had fallen too deep…

"…I can't believe that you are that kind of person… I thought you were… different than other people but…I even liked…"

The victim girl suddenly withdraws two glasses full of water and handed one to Lily. Adam stares at her as she walks toward him. He doesn't know what she is doing. Black hair girl grabs the glass tightly and threw it toward him with an angry and sorrow-filled expression.

Splash…

"…You told me you only loved me!"

Adam had his face drown in water. He doesn't understand why but for some reason, he feels like whatever he do, it doesn't matter. It will all lead to same conclusion… or maybe even worse ones.

Splash…

"You…You… You… Bad man…!"

Lily turns around and left right after throwing the water over him. She screamed out insults even though she doesn't know how to do that. It was first time for her to insult someone but she didn't think she did anything wrong. He deserved it!

"LILY…!"

Adam stretched his hand toward her back and looked at her back that was shrinking at rapid speed. What did he do to deserve this? What did he do to this girl to mess his life like this?

He turned toward her with a furious expression. She won't be leaving this place unscathed today. She was the one who messed with him first! His vision suddenly blur as another glass of water was thrown on his face.

Splash!

"…And you lied to me, you bastard! Give me back my money!"

Adam tried to see who it is but water seems to blur his vision. He used his one hand to wipe clean his face and look forward but there was no one there. He suddenly felt two arms wrapping around his neck from both sides.

"Yo Bastard…! Have enough fun with my money…"

Adam looked around and noticed two guys on his both sides. He finally realized the identity of mysterious girl who claim to sleep with him. She was none other than his classmate.

"… Lucas… Why…?!"

Lucas was waiting for this since they planned everything. He looked down at Adam with a savage and satisfied smile.

"… If you think we will support your love life… then you're sorely mistaken, my f-r-i-e-n-d…"

Adam feels his knees weakening. He walks off to his side and fall on his butt over the bench. Adam can't believe it! These guys… the one he thought who would support him unconditionally… they…how can they do this to him…and he…!

"You… Ethan… why…? Didn't you tell me you don't mind it…?"

Ethan played with his long hair of his wig that he was wearing when he disguised as the woman. He was skeptical about it but it seems to have worked. He just increased the pitch of his voice to convert it into a girl's voice.

"…I told you I don't mind but I never said that I would let your boat float in her water in my watch…"

"…You guys…"

Adam was dumbstruck by this betrayal. He was just one step away from his love. There were lots of stones, thorn, walls and even an old man! But he jumped and suffered them all and finally reached his goal but these guys… they took her from him, stole her from him!

"…You guys don't blame me for what happens today…"

Adam took his stance and silver lightning and orange fire crackles and burn respectively on his both hand. Ethan and Lucas also raise their guards and stood side to side with each other. Both of them raised their hand and bump their fist by sides.

…

Ethan and Lucas were staring at Adam who was dragging a beautiful girl with navy blue hair and youthful beauty. Her embarrassed expression and uneven walking gives Lucas a strong urge to kidnap her.

Both of them turned to their side and stare at each other.

"…Hee…Haaa…"

Lucas starts laughing and Ethan follows the suit. Lucas raised his hand and slaps Ethan's face. A red imprint of hand forms on his face. It even looks to be throbbing but both of them didn't stops laughing and laugh more loudly as even people seems to be turning toward them.

Phuuu.

Ethan lowers his center of gravity and took a stance. He punched with his left hand straight-like a true martial artist and landed a punch right on Lucas's ribs. Lucas twisted his body weirdly to his side. He felt the fist, digging deeper in his ribs. His face twisted in pain. Nothing is more pain than reality after all. He staggered to his side and looked at Ethan.

"I was just checking if I was half-sleep or something…"

"Then do it on yourself…"

Ethan rubbed his slapped cheek and gives him a disturbed look. His cheek felt hot and numb from a single slap. He doubted if he strengthened his slap with mana…

"…Does he know about Miss Chloe?"

"No…"

"Then let's tell him right away…!"

"Lucas…"

"…After screwing him up…"

Lucas completes the sentence with titanic smirk. Who wouldn't want Adam to suffer? He would even call orchestra for it.

Ethan also smirked in the same way and starts planning to screw him while stalking them from behind…

…

In the end, they never told him about Miss Chloe…