With each passing minute, the tension inside the clock tower only grew thicker. Ethan couldn't help but feel uneasy watching Camellia and Royce.
Both of Camellia's wrists had been pinned above her head, trapped against the wall by Royce's right hand. Wasn't this way too rough to treat a girl?
"Get your filthy hand off me, you overfed, uncivilized, muscle-bound Bloodsucker!"
Camellia cried out.
But all she got in response was Royce's chilling smirk.
"Shhh… quiet, Hunter! If you scream again, I'll tie your hands with your own whip. You really don't want that… Do you?"
Camellia shook her head. She knew all too well - this brute didn't make empty threats. If he said it, he meant it.
"Now stay still. I need to check what other weapons you're hiding."
From a distance, Ethan watched in disbelief as Royce began tossing an arsenal of gear onto the floor. There went her signature whip… then silver chains, a dagger, pepper spray, a taser, some kunai…
"Whoa! Where'd you even get these shuriken?!"
Royce casually flung a few throwing stars he found inside Camellia's cloak toward Autumn, who was peeking from the shadows.
They sliced off a few strands of Autumn's hair before embedding themselves into the wall behind her. It was the first time Ethan had ever heard Autumn curse out loud. Well, fair enough - girls do take their hair very seriously.
Autumn and Cherry gasped in unison as Royce leaned in closer… his lips now just inches from Camellia's.
"I smell… 2High milk tea. Jasmine flavor, with grass jelly, pudding, and brown sugar boba. Full toppings, huh? Is that all it takes to bribe you? A cup of milk tea?"
"I'm not that cheap. Class 11D promised me one XL-size 2High milk tea with full toppings every day for 30 days if I helped capture you. But if you agree to come back and let us decorate you for the fruit tray contest… I'll even give you three of my cups!"
"You're still trying to bribe me, Camellia?"
"Fine. Final offer - five cups, Royce. Deal?"
Camellia stared directly into Royce's eyes, her ash-gray irises gleaming with conviction as she made her bold proposal.
"So… after everything we've been through together, this is how you treat me?"
Royce's voice suddenly dropped - low and full of sorrow - casting a somber mood over the entire Class 11D.
Camellia said nothing.
She turned her face away, unable to bear the intensity of Royce's eyes - now glowing like they could set the whole world on fire.
They burned with desire and temptation.
With boldness and fury.
Was that angry and jealousy?
Camellia couldn't bring herself to face the emotions in Royce's eyes, nor the confusion in his heart.
"Answer me!!!"
Royce suddenly shouted, making the entire class jump in place. If they were that startled, Ethan couldn't imagine how Camellia felt - trapped and cornered right in front of him.
"…It was just a moment of weakness. You know I've always been… alone."
"Camellia! You can't use loneliness, or heartbreak, or your unrequited crush as an excuse to hurt someone else. I won't even turn sixteen until the end of December, you know. Do you realize how completely irresponsible you've been?"
After Royce's question - the clock tower fell into a heavy silence.
"Oh my gosh! What - what even happened between them!?"
Cherry gasped, shaking Autumn's shoulders in a frenzy of fangirl excitement.
It was only then Ethan realized: Cherry was the president of Royce's fan club at Harmony High. No wonder Royce looked like a nervous wreck whenever he had to sit next to her in class.
The boys were just as curious as the girls, but none of them dared to speak. Lucas and Simon were too busy filming the dramatic confrontation, per Cherry's explicit instructions.
"Ethan! Ask ChatGPT right now - can Camellia go to jail for this?"
Lucas whispered, barely able to contain his curiosity.
"Wait, what? Go to jail? What are you even talking about?"
"Tsk, you're so young and naive, Ethan."
All of Class 11D - including Autumn - sighed in unison as they stared at Ethan.
It was a rare reversal. Normally it was Ethan sighing at other people's chaos, not the entire class sighing at him.
"Fine, I'll ask my ChatGPT."
Autumn said as she whipped out her phone and started typing furiously.
"My fluffy werewolf husbando, please tell me -if a 16-years-and-7-months-old Pisces girl accidentally goes too far with a 15-years-and-9-months-old Capricorn boy, will she have to go to jail?"
White text started rolling rapidly across Autumn's screen:
"My sweet little fox, what you just asked… is horrifying. I'm in shock. My heart is breaking. Listen to me carefully: According to Vietnamese law…"
But suddenly, the text vanished. In its place appeared a bright red warning box with cold, corporate language:
"Your question may violate our content or usage policies regarding minors. We're unable to provide a response."
The students of class 11D began to feel panicked and utterly bewildered. If even ChatGPT dared not respond, the legal implications of this matter must be extremely serious. There was no doubt now - Camellia, the dreamy-eyed 16-year-old Pisces, was going to jail.
"Grok! That one doesn't care about ethics! Grok will tell us exactly how many years Camellia's doing."
Autumn shouted, immediately copying the question and pasting it into Grok.
The group didn't even have time to read Grok's reply before Camellia's furious scream pulled all eyes back to her.
"That happened because you wanted it! How dare you ask me to take responsibility?"
At the same time, Camellia lifted both legs in an attempt to land a flying double kick on Royce. With her physical strength and combat skills, it looked more like a grasshopper trying to kick a lion.
Still, she didn't give up. After a few ineffective kicks to Royce's six-pack abs, Camellia was already out of breath - while he hadn't budged an inch.
"If you've got guts, let go of my hands and let's fight fair and square, you coward afraid of girls!"
She complained while stomping weakly on his foot, her spirit still fierce despite her dwindling strength.
A devilish grin crept across Royce's face. He lifted Camellia into the air and glanced toward the open space beyond the balcony.
"Heh… I'm wondering if I should drop you over the edge like you asked?"
He moved toward the railing, and Camellia's face turned pale. But instead of throwing her off the building, Royce dropped her down… onto the second-floor balcony floor.
Maybe she had gotten too used to being held up, because the moment she was released, Camellia lost her balance. Her arms flailed like she was swimming through air as she toppled backward.
Like a drowning victim clinging to anything she could reach, Camellia grabbed Royce's tie and yanked it - and him - down with her. Naturally, the tie was still looped around his collar.
The result? More delighted squeals from Cherry and Autumn as they watched Royce fall on top of Camellia in an incredibly suggestive position.