"Hey, what was your name again, new comer?"
"Look, he is wearing old uniform! hahaha"
"Hey, I asked you your name, are you deaf?"
Few teenagers wearing expensive uniform could be seen surrounding one boy in similar uniform but little ragged.
"Who even gave you this much ragged uniform? Did you stole it?" One of the guy said while pinching Jack's uniform.
The sound of ripping cloth sounded in surrounding .
"....." Silence.
"pff...hahhhaha" Everyone started laughing.
"Hey!! Look!!, I just touched it and cloth came ripping off.....hahaha" the boy started laughing.
Seeing him ripping his uniform, Jack frowned.
'This uniform was given by one of the passed out senior I know and now it is ripped. I could get new one if I want to but it will cost lot of money. I rather give money to reduce my loan.' Jack was thinking while keeping his face and eyes calm.
"hey, what are you thinking??"
"yeah! Don't tell me you are thinking of asking for reimbursement from us."
"yeah ! this uniform suites you more like this."
"pfff"
"hahaha"
Jack watched as they were laughing and pushing him. He tried to walk away many times but they don't allow to.
'Right now, It is important for me to go to class and do study because I won't have time to study if I miss this chance. I also have part time job to do.' Jack was thinking how to solve this problem.
"hey, come with us to back alley behind the school let us bunk classes together. Since, we are friends now."
"yes, yes brother "
Jack just looked at this teenager thinking for solution
"what? You don't want to?" One of the boy took a hold of Jack's shoulder and asked threateningly as if he said no then it won't end well.
Jack was frustrated by this situation where he have to surrender to the strong unwillingly.
Seeing no solution to the situation, Jack eyes dimmed and he surrendered himself by hanging his head low.
'Well, I'll score less this time, nothing much.' Jack thought depressingly.
"So, let's go." Leader of the group said to everyone.
"Wait"
Suddenly, a very charming and calm voice of a teenage girl sounded from behind of group.
Everyone looked at the direction of voice and where surprised,
Extremely gorgeous female student wearing school uniform, her hair half tied by dark blue hair ribbon fluttering in wind. Her eyes calm and sternly watching directly each and everyone's soul. Aggressive yet pure beauty, that's how Viviana was seen by this young teenagers.
[ Ding! ]
[ Jack's Favorability increased by 2 Current Favorability : 5 ]
"What is School belle doing here ?" Group leader said blushingly and proudly.
"Did you came here for leader?" one of the guy asked excitedly.
Viviana looked straight through them towards Jack. There eye's met. Jack was also looking at her slightly with surprise.
'His clothes are torn.. tch' Viviana thought to herself.
"Where are you taking Jack?"
"Why do you care?"
"Well! You see I need to complete my homework and he has agreed to do so." Viviana said while smiling at them charmingly replacing her stern expression which made everyone blush.
She looked something unattainably beautiful and charming which made them feel privileged to be just near her.
[ Ding! ]
[ Jack's Favorability increased by 1 Current Favorability : 6 ]
"So, I would be taking him with me." Viviana said softly finalizing deal.
And then before they could come to their senses, she ran towards Jacob who was standing foolishly watching her. Took his hand in front of everyone's watch.
"Run fool!" and ran away from there with Jack.
When everyone came to senses of what happened, they had already disappeared.
"So, are we still following them?" one of the boy asked.
"Didn't you heard what she said? We will catch him next time." Leader said with cold expression but everyone could see his flushed face.
Everyone decided to keep silence about it.
Two of them kept running holding hands running all the way to classroom. Viviana didn't felt uncomfortable nor did Jack. Favorability kept increasing in the background. Viviana didn't pay attention to them.
Two of them stopped when they entered the classroom and Viviana let go of his hand.
Jack watched as she let go his hand with little regret.
[ Ding! ]
[ Jack's Favorability increased by 1 Current Favorability : 7 ]
[ Ding! ]
[ Jack's Favorability increased by 1 Current Favorability : 8 ]
[ Ding! ]
[ Jack's Favorability increased by 1 Current Favorability : 9 ]
Notification sounded which Viviana ignored while running with Jack.
'This side quest would be completed soon if this keeps going on. But why system is targeting this poor lad? Well, none of my business.' Viviana was thinking while tidying her hair and uniform.
After tidying herself up she turned around and found Jack looking at her continuously.
Viviana just looked at him calmly and raised her eyebrow as if asking – why are you staring?
And Jack understood his assignment.
"I don't remember promising to complete your homework." Jack said frowningly.
"How about first we go to our place?" Viviana said and walked towards her and Jack's desk without waiting for his answer.
Jack followed her after watching her walking towards desk.
Jack sat near her, and again gave her inquiring look.
"sigh....don't give me that look."
Jack didn't withdrew his eyes at all from her.
" And why did you ran with me then? You could have said no." Viviana returned question to him.
Jack frowned and looked like he didn't know how to answer it.
"Let me answer it for you." Viviana interrupted his thoughts while smiling
"You came with me because you were already were thinking of solution for leaving that place."
There was slight surprise in Jack's beautiful shimmering golden eyes hidden under his unkept golden bangs.
"..." Viviana was lost in depth of those shimmering beautiful golden eyes and kept looking at him.
Initial surprise in the Jack's eyes died down and was replaced with confusion seeing Viviana just staring at him without speaking.
'Her brown eyes are beautiful under afternoon sunlight coming through window. And her eye lashes looks even more beautiful looking closely.' Alex was thinking
'Her skin looks extremely soft and her soft facial features and her red lips....Lips??? What am I thinking?'
Both of them came to senses and panicked at the same time due to which they both caught each other's panicking eyes.
Realization hit them suddenly, that they both were observing each other for quite a long time.
Jack was first to look away in embarrassment and blush crept up on his neck and ears.
While Viviana did panicked but she calmed down immediately and was not embarrassed at all.
"Your..." Viviana was first to break awkward situation and Jack looked at her to see what she was talking.
His initial embarrassment was nowhere to be seen.
"Your eyes are extremely beautiful." Viviana said seriously like she is confessing her love for him.
Both looked in each other's eyes again for few seconds and this time again Jack was one who looked away first in embarrassment and blushing all over.
'How could she say that to a guy so shamelessly?' Jack thought to himself in utter disbelief.
[ Ding! ]
[ Jack's Favorability increased by 1 Current Favorability : 10 ]
He seemed to never heard anyone praise him.
"You...you " Jack just kept murmuring to her with his mind a mess.
"Well, that's that, let's come to our previous topic" Viviana successfully dispelled any atmosphere there was between them and calmed Jack down.
"Well, what I meant was since you already wanted to come out of that situation and I came at the right time. You used me to get out off that situation and now you are asking me why did I do that??" Viviana said coldly.
"I did wanted to get out of that situation but that was not why I didn't object your lies." Jack tried to explain himself.
"then what was the reason?" Viviana asked him showing offended expression.
"the reason was....." Jack paused mid sentence seemingly contemplating what to say.
'At that time I did desperately wanted to get out off the situation but when I saw her I completely forgot what I wanted to do. When she came towards me I felt like time has stopped. And when she grabbed my hand and told me to run I felt like, I had to, because I like the way she smelled, the way her warm and soft hand wrapped around mine making my cold hand warm. I liked it and didn't wanted to let go. So I instinctively....allowed her to drag me and then came back to my senses when she let go of my hand.' Jack thought with blush on his cheeks visible.
'I can't say to her this. Now, can I?'
Jack looked at Viviana whose hair were fluttering and was looking at him, waiting patiently for him to answer her.
Jack closed his eyes, took deep breath and opened them after some contemplation with some determination and indifference now in his eyes replacing earlier infatuation.
Here, Viviana who was observing changes in him closely just raised her eyebrow habitually.
"What do you want from me?" He asked with extremely calm voice and indifferent face.
"Are you asking me what do I want? " Viviana asked as if she couldn't believe what he was asking.
"Yes." Jack said coldly.
'If she helped me that means she needs something from me. Whatever it is I'll give her and stay away from her. Being close to her will only bring chaos in my already chaotic life.' Jack thought like this and more determination flashed through his eyes which was soon shattered and replaced with panic.
Crystal clear tears started flowing from her beautiful eyes making them look slightly red and pitiful which replaced sternness from some moment ago. Her face was calm but her eyes showed how hurt she was by his question. Even when she was crying, she just looked even more beautiful. Her wet eyes lashes making her more charming.
"Do I look like this kind of person to you? I just wanted to help you and you are...." The more she spoke the more the more tears flowed and more pitiful she looked. Thankfully there was no one in the class since it was lunch break.
'Oh my god! it hurts so much to pinch myself, this bastard is making my job so hard.' Viviana thought nervously while pinching herself where Jack couldn't see.
Jack was panicked and fell extremely guilty for being cold towards her just now,
"I am sorry, I didn't mean to. It's just that everyone seems to want something from me so I was on guard. .... I mean I am really sorry." Jack kept trying to calm her.
"Are you telling truth?" Viviana asked with crying voice and while wiping her eyes.
"yes!"
'How did it come to this? ' Jack thought to himself exhaustingly while watching Viviana calming down and wiping her eyes elegantly 'though I don't seem to hate it.'
"That's good" Viviana smiled slightly while still having tears in her eyes.
Jack sighed in relief seeing her smiling again.
'That's good I reacted quickly, I didn't know how to explain him why I helped him when he asked me. And also just now he was putting walls around himself and thinking of staying away from me, if I had not reacted the way I did, this simple side quest would have taken ages to complete.' Viviana thought to herself while observing Jack from side eye.
Soon, Bell rang and everyone entered classroom one after another.
Luca also entered and went straight to his desk and sat. He then just naturally glanced at Viviana direction and was stunned for a second and then turned to look ahead after teacher entered.
After that, Viviana and Jack didn't spoke with each other. But Viviana observed Jack closely.
"Alex, find about Jack everything. I want to know everything about him"
[ "Ok" ]
After school was over, they both went their separate ways.
Luca and Viviana exited school together. Along the way Luca kept looking at Viviana and spoke more considerately then he already do.
Afterwards, twins also joined them and they also kept looking at her face and kept quite. They usually would have made fun of her but they stayed silent whole journey towards their Villa in the car.
Even if they met their eyes with Viviana they will look at other direction. Viviana just ignored them as usual.