Chapter 13: “Uh, This is awkward…”

{Katelyn's POV}

"Dad, why are we up here? It's so cold!"

I didn't really see the point in waiting by the helipad. We could've just shown up once they landed. That said, the view made it hard to complain. The university and the city sprawled beneath us like a masterpiece—one I might've painted in another life. For a moment, I felt like a goddess admiring her own creation. Only problem? I wasn't actually a goddess.

"Come on, Kate. An important person is coming. She's the figurehead of our product."

"And how haven't I met this person before?"

"Uh, you haven't? Do you even watch the commercials?"

"Sorry, Dad—ad blocker!"

"Hah~ figures."

Thu~ Thu~ Thu~

"There they are, Kate. Step back."

Listening to my dad, I stepped back toward the exit. I was really curious who this could be. Grabbing my phone, I went to our social media page and scrolled through the posts.

Not this one. Not this one either… Oh!

Finally finding a decent post, I opened it. My mind froze. This woman looked… familiar.

...this shampoo ad, the smooth black hair, her red eyes—OH MY GOD. THAT'S EIZ'S MOM?!

Looking back up, the helicopter had landed at some point, and a group of people walked out. I didn't need to see anything else—just that familiar face.

I bolted up the steps without warning, grabbing the bastard in front of me.

"EIZ, WHAT THE HELL?!"

"Huh?! Oh, uh… this is awkward…"

{Eizkel's POV}

What are the chances of this…

Getting off the helicopter, a certain someone greeted me with a terrifying smile on her face.

"Big Sis!" Euphi rushed in for a hug, saving me from Kate's damn vice grip.

"Phew~"

"I'm sorry for her. I didn't expect that!"

"I did~. I'm glad it worked out like planned."

"Seriously, Mom."

"Don't give me that, Eiz. I know you're happy to see her!"

"Shut it."

A little heat rushed to my face, but I made sure to hide it.

"Hahaha! Well, isn't this wonderful. How about you two head to school together? You only have twenty minutes until class starts, anyway."

I nodded, and Kate slipped out of Euphi's hug, turning her attention back to me—which wasn't good for my health.

We rushed to the exit and into the elevator. Once the doors closed… well—

"Holy shit, Eiz?! You really are loaded!"

"Correction: my mom is loaded. Not me."

"Shut up! You're her son, so you count!"

"I guess."

"You don't even get it. I know the contract the company signed with the 'face of our product'—two hundred fifty million. Million!"

"Oh… wow."

I didn't know what to say. What could I say to that?

"Oh my god. People would kill for that kind of money and you don't even care."

"I mean… aren't you loaded too?"

"Yeah."

"So why lecture me?!"

"'Cause I can."

"…"

"Hehe~ More importantly… good morning, Eiz!"

"Haha~ I guess. Good morning to you, Kate."

Ding~

The elevator reached the ground floor before we knew it, and we hurried out of the building. She suddenly grabbed my right arm with her left.

"Kate, can we at least readjust? I feel like a dog…"

"Huh? Oh—pfft, sure."

H-huh?

"Is this better?"

She interlocked our fingers and slowed down, matching my pace. Walking side by side, we approached the university—it wasn't even that far. Just one right turn at the end of the block.

"I won't deny a beautiful girl's hand."

"Idiot."

"Uh huh. Says the woman who shamelessly got fed in front of my mom."

"It was an accident!"

"Totally~"

"If you don't shut it, I'll take my hand back! I'll have you know—only one close friend has had this privilege!"

"Ophi?"

She turned away at my guess, but the pink on her ears was all the confirmation I needed.

"Why are you acting like that? It's not like I said you only have one friend." 

"Shut it."

"Oh... you really only have one frie—"

"TWO!"

"Sorry, sorry. Two."

"You're counted now!"

"Of course, my bad. But still, that's only one ot—MMM."

She stepped in front of me, suddenly covering my mouth with her other hand. Strange behavior, considering we were just talking about something lighthearted.

"Shut it."

"Oh... you really only have one frie—"

"TWO!"

"Sorry, sorry. Two."

"You're counted now!"

"Of course, my bad. But still, that's only one ot—MMM."

She stepped in front of me, suddenly covering my mouth with her other hand. Strange behavior, considering we were just talking about something lighthearted.

"Shut. It." The third time was enough for me. Totally not because I could feel that if I continued, I would regret it. 

"MMSk."

"Say that again."

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good! Now let's hurry bef—"

"Kate!"

Katelyn jumped, her body visibly jerking before she hid behind me.

"Why are you hiding? It's just Ophi."

"S-She'll bombard me with questions!"

"It's too late for that. She's already in front of me—and she's staring directly at our hands right now."

"Eek!" Katelyn released my hand, grabbing the back of my shirt instead, trying her best to hide. But it was pointless. She stood out like a white circle on a black background.

"Good morning, Ophelia."

"Morning to ya too! So~" She didn't have to finish the question. It was obvious what she wanted to know.

I coughed a little awkwardly. "Uh... stuff just happened, and now we're frien—GUUU!"

"Pfft~ Hahaha! Seems like Kate doesn't agree with that. So, my sneaky little Kate, what's going on, huh? Huh?"

'Oh god. Kate, I'm so sorry for you.'

Ophi's green eyes were like a predator eyeing its prey. They gleamed with a certain viciousness that even I could tell wasn't normal. I froze, not even wanting to challenge that look. She rushed behind me, grabbing Kate into a hug from behind—trapping her so she couldn't escape.

"Hey Eizkel, Shu~ Shu~"

"Uh-um. Be gentle with her, please. If you have any questions, you should ask both of us."

"Nope! I'm going to interrogate this little woman right here!"

'There's nothing little about her though...' Safe to say I didn't have the balls to say that out loud, so I left them behind with a reluctant nod.

Entering the university was a bit of a struggle, having to push through a few people just to get to the stairs. There were elevators, but I didn't feel like being cramped—and mind you, the stairs weren't much better. The only thing they had going for them was that I could at least lift my arms without hitting anyone.

Class was on the second floor, first room to the left of the stairs. I got in, and everything was about the same as yesterday—except for a visible layer of anxiety in the air.

Was the exam that important?

I really didn't understand the hype. If you did bad, couldn't you just do better next time? That's how I understood it, at least.

[Quest: Help Your Professor] 

- Accept: Nothing

- Decline: Decrease in opinion 

What the? Seriously?

I wasn't even surprised by the randomness anymore—just the conditions. I get nothing for helping, but something bad for not? Just not helping her would cause this? What a scam.

"Eizkel."

"Y-Yes, ma'am?"

Speak of the devil.

"Can you hand out the placement test results to each desk? Do not open them."

"S-Sure."

I turned around and grabbed the envelopes from her. Her topaz-like eyes stared into my soul, tired and sharp. She looked completely fed up—a far cry from yesterday. Before, she seemed like the kind type. Now, she radiated do not fuck with me.

Yikes. Whoever pissed her off—fuck you.

This morning had been one rollercoaster after another.