CHLORIS POV

FLAME came to me. He held both my arms and guided me to stand up. He even picked up my books that were spread on the ground not so far away from us.

“F-Flame…” I was still shocked and trembling. That must be an after effect of what happened. If it wasn’t because of him, I might end up used and abused. But still, the question lingers inside my head. How the hell did he do that, anyway?

“Not that I’m bragging but I’m a black belter in taekwondo. That is why I knew how to fight. But I only fight if the situation needed it. Since I am a kid, I studied martial arts. For self-defence.” He said as if answering the question inside my mind.

And what should I expect? He is a genius. I wouldn’t be surprised if he will tell me that he can read minds just by looking into facial expressions. Eeer. I think there’s nothing in this world that he doesn’t know.

“Anyway, what are you doing in this secluded area? Aren’t you coming into school?” he irritatingly asked me. I don’t know why suddenly he got irritated.

“I-I am on my way, actually.” I stammered. I couldn’t help it. I haven’t recovered from the shock on what happened to me. Not just yet.

Flame dust off the dirt on my school uniform. I’m still lucky that the dirt wasn’t visible because of the colour. Black high socks partnered with above the knee striped dark grey pleated skirts and white collared blouse with a coat in same colour of my skirt. Then, he guided me to his motorbike.

Flame put my books inside the compartment.

“Let’s go.” He said. He was not asking but was commanding me to go with him.

I am such a hard-headed person. I never like it that someone is ordering me around. But right this time that I am hearing commanding handsome voice, I don’t know what happened to me that I didn’t feel like rebelling to him. Not now. I am not sure if it is because he was Flame—the guy that I happened to like. Or it was just because he has the ability to subjugate anyone without his command. He was simply that kind.

And despite of everything just happen, I manage to smile at him. I don’t know but he had definitely washed every negative feeling away from me.

EVERYONE was in chaos as we entered the classroom. The girls were shouting and giggling while whispering into each other. The guys from the class were shouting like crazy too. Some of them whistle. And I am all out smile. I perfectly understand why. This is the first time they saw Flame and I together. Even at the school parking, our classmates gone wild when they saw us together. Him, being the campus crush who never entertained his fans, was with me. That’s a news!

Flame is my seatmate in our class. We are Grade 8, anyway. Our seating arrangement is in alphabetical order and it is alternate with male and female. I am an Alcantara and his surname is Algernon. I don’t know his nationality or whatever. But what I knew from him is he is such a genius. He just transferred in our school this school year. Flame is elusive, quiet or better say he rarely speak, and most of all, he is not socializing with others. While I’m an outspoken type, well, that was just only if I’m with my friends and with the people I am comfortable with.

But though Flame is a quiet type of a person, he thus had a jam-packed of a brain. He can solve math even with his eyes closed. We haven’t tackled the lesson and yet, he had a lot of ideas about it—in deeper sense, actually.

And because I am such a natural talker, I used to make a conversation with him. He was polite even though it was obvious that he was just forcing himself to answer me. I even joined him in break time or lunch; or even when he was wasting his time in the library in our vacant time. Not just because I am bored or what. I like him. Yes, I like him. I really do. He used to get upset with me until I noticed that he just let me do whatever I pleased. And then, it came the time that annoying him became a natural thing for us.

Because of Flame, I never get tired and bored of going to school. I became excited attending our class. In fact, I even prefer the school days than weekends, or the days without class. Because I can see him and I can talk with him. I can be with him. All of my attentions were on him. I don’t even bother anything about mom.

I even admitted that I have a crush on him. As a matter of fact, that thing became an open-secret in our class. The whole class used to tease us together. Even our teachers do. And if that made me feel so happy and thrilled, then Flame doesn’t mind anything about it. He didn’t show any emotion. But that doesn’t mean that I’ll just give up. I’m already happy that among all the girls who used to admire and praised him, I am the only one he talks for more than three minutes. And besides, the battle wasn’t finished just yet.

Because knowing and seeing him right before my eyes, fighting his all might with those three assholes, my hopes grew high. I felt like a damsel in distress saved by my knight in shining armour. Oh, wait! I’ll rephrase that. I felt like I’m a beautiful princess saved by my handsome prince. Oh yeah, that one.

I’ve finally get over with the horrible scene happen a while ago. Flame saved me. As in, oh my gosh! This snobbish guy really saved me. I couldn’t help myself from blushing.

I was about to sit on my chair when Alfiona grabbed me from my arm and lead me away from the others. Maze, Sienna, Kattie and Deidra followed us. They were my friends since Grade 7. I’ve actually spent less time with them when I met Flame. Guilty for that, but I knew they perfectly understand me. They said that they will support me with anything that makes me happy. And what makes me happy is that being with Flame.

“So, what’s up, girl?” Deidra asked. She’s the one who’s near me.

“W-What?” absentmindedly I threw back the question. I’m puzzled with what she was asking. But I still feel thrilled and happy with the thought that everyone noticed that Flame and I were perfectly fit together. I overheard that in the school parking. It’s as if I’ve got five minutes fame in our campus because of the attentions they gave to us.

“You and Flame… I mean, have you ever had a relationship?” It’s Maze who seems to be full of excitement while waiting for my answer.

“Not yet.” I shrugged. “He didn’t accept my love for him, yet.” I giggled mischievously.

Me, being so nosy about what Flame’s businesses is one of my ways on how to get him.

“Really? Then, what is the meaning of this? You two came to school together.” Kattie asked. And from her tone, I know she wasn’t convinced.

“He saw me this morning and…”

I started to tell the story. Everything that happened. It was preposterous that when I looked back into the horrible thing that happened, I didn’t feel the same frightening feeling. Instead I’m thrilled. Maybe because at the back of my mind, there was Flame who came to rescue me.

“And because of what happened, I think I admire him more, girls.” I shamelessly announced to my friends. I couldn’t help but sigh while hugging my books.

“Duh! You were such a lovesick.” Sienna commented while clacking. “Don’t you still remember that you were almost got kidnapped? Or worst, you might have been raped. And you still have the energy to flirt with Flame? You’re crazy!”

I jokingly flared my eyes on her. Sienna was always like that. She’s very pessimistic.

“That’s why I’m happy. Because someone came to rescue me. And he wasn’t just someone, really. He was Flame. My hero-fafalabs! Oh my God! I think his more handsome now than yesterday.” And my eyes flew back to where Flame was sitting and reading.

Yes, he was reading again something in his smartphone. There were times that I sneaked to what he was busy with his phone, and more often, I saw ebooks of mystery stories.

“Well, we should be thankful to Flame that he saved you from those bad guys. I’ll triple my vote to him for you.” Alfiona was thrilled also, just like me.

“Right!” I nodded. I’m so pleased with what I heard. “So, I should leave you guys here and do my things. Bye, girls!”

“Bye!”

“Good luck, girl!”

I was about to take a step when I heard Sienna mumbling something.

“I still don’t like him, Chlor.”