The morning after my first conversation with Arian (the bread incident at the cafeteria), I entered the gate and saw her as she greeted everyone. Both of us were walking towards our classroom while still at the school grounds.

“Good morning,” she waved with a smile.

“Oh, Arian. Good morning,” one girl greeted.

“Arian. Good morning,” one guy followed with a smile.

“Ah, good morning too,” she responded with a smile. “Riza, good morning.”

“You’re early as usual. Good morning,” the girl Riza replied.

As you’ll expect to a model extrovert. She’s the complete opposite of me, all right.

Because I was right behind her, she didn’t even notice my presence. Because my gaze got fixed at her while we advanced, I didn’t notice a bump on the ground and hit it with my shoe. And with my weak legs, I tripped spectacularly.

“Shoot!” I yelped and stumbled forward. As a last resort, I tried to grab something, only to grip Arian’s skirt along with my fall.

*bam*

“Ouch...” I muttered and opened my eyes. And in my hand, I immediately saw a skirt. Nervous, I looked upward and saw Arian’s pink underwear.

I’m dead.

Because she was facing along the way, I couldn’t even see her reaction. As everyone stared at us in surprise, Arian knelt and grabbed her skirt back. Then, she wore it again and faced me with the eyes of a killer.

“Uhmm. That’s...” I muttered as I looked up at her while I lay on my stomach.

Then, she raised her right leg and kicked my face as hard as she could.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

After the incident, I found myself with a bag of ice pressed against my swollen cheek. I was inside the school’s clinic with Arian. But we stared opposite each other as I sat on the bed while she stood near the door.

“I won’t apologize for what I did,” she said with a serious voice.

How can I apologize after hearing that then?

“I’m gonna go ahead,” she followed and left the room.

“How youthful,” the nurse commented with a smile. She was wearing pure white clothes and seated behind her table.

Leave me alone, jeez.

After I left the nurse’s office, I went to my classroom and noticed the stare of everyone. Some giggled while some glared at me.

Goodbye, my social life, even though I’m not that interested in developing you.

When I sat down on my seat, I saw Arian surrounded by our classmates.

“Hey, Arian. That pervert is back. Should I give him a lecture?” one girl asked with an irritated expression.

“Leave that Prince Dweeb alone. That’s only a waste of time,” Arian muttered in a foul mood.

“Prince Dweeb? What is that? That’s a funny nickname,” another reacted with a laugh.

“Preach it!” one guy followed and everyone laughed.

The heck is that nickname? At least call me Prince Awesome.

And that was the origin of my cursed nickname that got famous throughout the school.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

Since then, Arian and I didn’t get along well with each other. Every time we meet, we contradicted each other.

“This way is a lot shorter,” she exclaimed in agitation as she carried some books.

“No. This way is two meters shorter than your suggestion,” I interjected with a raised eyebrow, with books also in my arms.

A teacher requested us to bring a pile of books towards the library. With us convinced that our own chosen path was the right one, we ended up in an argument right in the middle of the hallway.

Jeez. Why is this girl always against my will?

“What? You realized I’m right?” she asked, still irritated.

“Like I would. I won’t give in to you,” I continued with serious eyes.

How long does she even hold a grudge? Is she still thinking about that accident last week?

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“Then, you go with your path. I’ll go with mine,” she suggested with an unchanging expression.

“Fine by me,” I answered, and we went separate ways even though we have the same destination.

I’m sure we won’t get along no matter what happens.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

Some weeks after, as I strolled around the school, I saw Arian. She was with a guy, so I immediately hid.

“Wait. That violent girl has a boyfriend?” I asked myself and saw them going behind the ITS tower.

What? Are they going to do a quickie?

Curious for the action that might take place in the sacred grounds called the school, I followed them.

“Uhmm. Arian...” the guy muttered shyly.

They were both facing each other with a meter of distance between them. In my position, all I could see was Arian’s expression and the guy’s back. While the guy was nervous, Arian was awkward, her gaze not even fixed to the guy.

“I’m... interested in you for quite a while now. And I’m sure it will be cool... if I can date you. So... will you become my girlfriend?” the guy confessed after he tried to sound serious despite being nervous.

As I expected... it was a quickie confession. I’m very frightened of my powerful divination.

“Sorry...” Arian apologized with a bow. “I can’t date you.”

Because of her answer, the guy’s shoulder twitched.

“B-But... why? Do you have... someone you like already?”

Arian lifted her head and in a sad smile, she responded, “I don’t but... I’m not interested in that as of now.”

“I... see...” the guy muttered in a sad tone. “I got it. Thank you for coming here with me. Bye.”

After that, the guy ran away opposite of the path they took earlier. With him gone, Arian let out a deep sigh.

I guess I need to scram too.

But when I took a step backward, I crushed a twig. It made an audible sound.

“Who’s there?” Arian reacted with a surprised look.

Darn it! I got discovered!

She immediately went before me and got shocked.

“Prince?”

“Arian?”

“Why are you even faking a shocked face? I can see all over your act!” she said, repulsed.

“And do you need to look at me like I’m sort of garbage?” I countered with an offended expression.

“Why won’t I? After you stalk me? Are you a stalker? You’re the worst!”

“Hey, hey, hey. Who is a stalker here? Not me for your information. Why would I even stalk you?”

“Then, what are you doing here?”

“I’m only taking a stroll, that’s all.”

“And you saw Ron’s confession because of that?”

“That’s right.”

“I don’t believe you,” she followed with a wary look.

“Then, don’t. I’m outta here,” I muttered and walked away.

“That’s my line!” she yelled in a foul mood and went in the opposite direction.

Why do we always fight when we see each other? Are we arch-enemy in our previous life or something?

When I reached the far end of the school, I saw the guy who confessed to Arian. He was talking to himself, so I couldn’t help but pity the guy.

So he lost his mind after getting rejected by the worst woman in the world. Even my ego would suffer after that kind of defeat.

“You’ll pay for this, Arian,” he muttered with a devilish face.

When I saw and heard that, I stopped in my tracks.

Isn’t this... a bad premonition? I’m just kidding in my divination, you know.

“Don’t get involve, Prince,” I said to myself and started walking away.

──◈─▣─♕─▣─◈──

The next day, our teacher announced that Ron was absent for the day. And when I realized that the guy Arian rejected was a classmate all along, I couldn’t help but get flabbergasted.

I should start remembering the faces of my classmates, even if I won’t socialize with them.

I turned to Arian and saw her with a worried look on the empty seat of Ron. Because of that sight, I remembered Ron’s anger from yesterday.

I hope that it won’t result in a dangerous incident.

After the class, I immediately went to the library as usual and read some books there for an hour. Soon after, I saw the sunset and called it a day. I exited the library and walked towards my house. But along the way, I saw a puppy inside a cardboard box by the side of the road.

“...*woof*...” it barked adorably.

“So someone abandoned you here,” I muttered and knelt down in front of the box. When it noticed me, the puppy tried to get near me. I pet its head and the dog sat down in obedience. After I noticed its genital, I commented, “So you’re a boy.”

I guess I need to do something.

With that decision, I lifted the box with the puppy and went to the Animal Shelter of our city.

“You’re kidding me,” I reacted, stunned.

In front of me was the Animal Pound with a notice on its closed door.

WE ARE CLOSED FOR THIS WEEK. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE

“What great timing,” I whispered and looked at the puppy. He barked and looked at me with his tongue stuck out.

I can’t bring him to my house because of Mom’s allergy. Some neighbors could adopt him through Mom’s connection, but that will be my last resort.

Because of the notice, I went to the park instead, where lots of people go. When I arrived in the area, I placed the box on top of a bench and started my call for someone who would adopt the dog.

“Does someone want to adopt a puppy?” I announced as lots of people passed before me.

I repeated that shout for more than an hour, with the hope of someone being interested. But before I knew it, the post started lighting and the people around got fewer.

“Does someone want to adopt a puppy?” I continued as the sky turned darker.

*woof*

“Are you bored?” I asked with a smile and approached the puppy. He barked once again, so I petted his head.

Should I go home now? This is getting hopeless.

“Uhmm...” someone called behind me. I turned to the person and saw a middle-aged woman. “Are you finding an owner for that puppy?”

“Y-Yes. Would you like to become this guy’s owner?” I asked with a big smile.

She approached the puppy and commented, “How cute~”

“Right?” I followed and looked at the dog too.

She lifted the guy with two hands, and he barked cutely.

“I like this one. And my son is requesting one, so it’s perfect timing,” she said and gave me a smile.

“Th-thank you, madam,” I said with a bow.

“So... how much is he?”

“Uhmm... I’m not selling him. I only saw him along the way.”

“So you’re finding an owner for this abandoned puppy?” she asked, astonished.

“Well, yes,” I answered with a smile.

“Now that’s noble. I hope my kid will grow up as nice as you,” she followed with a giggle. “Then, I’ll be taking this little guy. Thank you for bringing him to me.”

“It’s my pleasure,” I responded, and she walked away with the puppy and the box.

After I found an owner for the puppy, I went home with a smile on my face.

♡ Arian’s Point-of-View ♡

After I followed Prince for more than an hour, I finally let out a deep sigh when he found an owner for the puppy.

“And here I thought I would be the one to step forward,” I said to myself as Prince walked away. Then, I smiled and followed, “I guess he’s not a bad guy after all. He’s still a pervert though.”