I've been crushing this ul*l for a long time. There is also stupidity in this one, what? Fortunately, he was able to say it right away. Because the feeling is mutual!
“I like you too, Crimson.”
Of course just a joke! I won't say that, what! On a serious note, he shouldn't be! He will only get hurt... “Since we were kids...” I echoed. “But aren't you—”
“I know. My answer is no, Ahrina. I don't consider this as puppy love or infatuation,” he stated, sounding so sure. “Ahrina, I'm going to court you. It is clear to me that Thoreau isn't serious which gives me the chance to breathe freely so I am going to court you with all my might.”
Shems, I’m going crazy! But, is this really okay? He did not know that I was the successor of Headmaster Hades.
I just nodded. After all, he wasn't asking for my permission. “Your choice, Crimson.”
He smiled once again. Shems, does it look like I drank a liquor? The strength of my heart is right. “Thank you, Ahrina."
“But Crimson...” He looked at me again. “I have lots of secrets.”
Crimson took a deep inhale and nodded. “I understand.” W-What? “I also have lots of secrets in me, so I understand.”
It's the first time to see his soft side. Seriously, other than being refreshing, it’s just convenient to feel.
“So, you're going to court me today?” He nodded, still smiling. “Nevermind.”
“E-Eh?”
This one also has deafness. “I've changed my mind. Love me.” We both remained silent. When I looked at him, he just frowned. “Fix your face, you ugly one. You look ul*l.”
“Whatever, st*pid.”
The audacity! Earlier b*tch, and now st*pid. Ul*l is really red.
“What are your plans for today?” He shrugged. “If you don't have a plan, let's just attend classes.”
I was standing up but he suddenly pulled me down. My foot hurt even more. “Accompany me.”
“Why would I?”
“Because you said earlier, you don't want to attend classes with that state.”
D*mn this shade of red. Can I spank him on his *ss?
“D-Does it hurt?” he asked worriedly and touched my right foot. “Sorry...”
“You're weird.” He chuckled and looked at me. “I'm used to the cold Crimson Torren.”
Crimson just snickered and faced me. When he placed his face a few centimeters away from mine, my heart started racing and sh*t, I can hear it. “I'm sorry, baby girl, but when it comes to you, I'm vulnerable. I may act strong, cold, and emotionless to everyone but not to you.”
My insane self f*cking smiled. Yeah, I smiled. “I'm not really used to it.”
“Then you should get used. Don't rush things unless it has deadlines.” He has a point.
We spend our time here silently yet comfortably. And since I was sitting on the lawn, Crimson laid down on my lap and closed his eyes. “Are you going to sleep?”
“Obviously.” He laughed when I flicked his nose. “Unless I fall asleep.” I flicked him again and this time, he opened his eyes. “What? I'm just saying the truth.” I glared at him. “Baby girl, I'm more than comfortable here laying down on your lap so I think I'll really fall asleep.”
“I won't let you sleep,” I said with conviction. I won't really let him, I can sleep too. "Tell me about our childhood."
He smiled and closed his eyes as the nostalgic wind breezed. “When we were kids...”
Flashback...
“Finley! Give me my d*mn shoes!”
The young Ahrina Tantiana Regalia left her bedroom and started chasing the young Blake Finley. As they both ran along the halls, maids and some butlers are witnessing their everyday habits.
As soon as they both arrived at the Dining Hall of the Torren Mansion, the young girl whom they call 'Tantan' and 'Tanny' threw the black shoe to the young Blake and it hit his head, causing the young Blake to tumble down. The young Tantan marched and took her shoes from the young Blake. “I told you, Finley! Never mess with a Regalia!”
“Hey, hey, what's happening here, huh?” The Vice Governess Ruby Torren authoritatively asked as she arrived at the Dining Hall along with Governor Vermillion Torren, Scarlet Torren, Crimson Torren, and Thoreau Whistler. Blake, Tantiana, what kind of mess are you doing again?
The young Tantiana faced the Vice Governess and pointed the young Blake using her shoe. “This ugly guy stole my shoe so I chased him wearing only one shoe on my left foot! It is said in the Torren Mansion Code number 10 that no one must invade the private space of the others without any permission from the owner of the private space. And yeah, it's clear that this ugly Finley kid here broke it!”
Tantiana is known because of her sharp memory and is Crimson Torren's secret foe. She appears to be a confident, fearless, and one h*llish debater and trash talker. Everyone in the Hesperia and Aurora fears screwing her up. Because of her attitude, the Royal Family of Demetria is interested and amazed at her.
The young Tantiana and young Blake were both scolded for creating a fuss. The latter apologized sincerely and even bowed his head to avoid the eyes looking at him while the former just apologized too and left the kitchen without saying any words other than 'I apologize'.
The young Crimson excused himself and told them that he'll go back to his room but he did the different. He went to the garden where the young Tantiana looks like sleeping. He was about to take a step away when she spoke. “I know you're there, Torren.” So the young Torren has no choice but to go and sit beside the young Tantiana. As he sat down, young Tantiana spoke again. “Why did you follow me?”
“Just because.”
“I don't consider that as an answer.”
“I don't know.”
“Again, I—”
“I'm being honest here, Regalia.” The young Tantiana opened her eyes slowly and plastered a smile before looking at the young Torren. “I just found myself following you.”
Silence filled the garden, only the wind breezing and the plants swaying can be heard. The young Crimson stared at the young Tantiana and mentally admired her.
The young Tantiana snickered, making the young Crimson look away. “Do you have a crush on me?”
“C-Crush? You're not pretty and you're arrogant so I don't like you.”
She just laughed. “You're too obvious, Torren,” she said in her mind. “Okay, whatever.”
The young Crimson cleared his throat and gathered all of his courage to ask one damn question to the girl sitting beside him. “When you grow up, is it okay for you to have a suitor?”
“Why not?” Then the young Tantiana looked at him and smiled. “As long as you're my suitor.” The young Crimson blushed, making the young Tantiana laugh. “You're cute. Go back to your room, Torren,” she said and left.
The young Crimson calmed himself and stared at the row of aster flowers, which is the young Tantiana's favorite flower. Later on, he smiled. “I will wait until we grow up and I'll court you, Tantan. I promise.”
End of the flashback...
“So, now, you're courting me now?” Crimson smiled and nodded. “That's how I used to be. I never change.”
“True.” Then he laughed. “You were just worse now and grown-up. Before, you were acting as the Governor in the Torren mansion.” Horrible memory. Gosh, my attitude since birth. “I have a question.”
I nodded to him. “Sure. What is it?”
“How come that you forgot your childhood memories?”
Oh yeah. That's my question too. “I don't know. Is there anything that happened before Mom and I left?”
He nodded. “Uncle Tyson died after spying in Dreich along with three other magicians from the Committee. After that, Tita Amber and my parents all talked to each other privately. Tita Amber signed an indefinite contract saying that the Vice Governor of Aurora will lead her city in the meantime and that's it. That's when you and Tita Amber left the Magic World.”
“Your Papa died when you were six years old. He died to protect us.”
So, that's Mommy's point.
“If my father died in Dreich,” my eyes widened, “i-it means—”
“Unfortunately.” Oh my god. Tyson Regalia's soul is in Dreich? Looks like I have to bargain with my real father again ah. “The Committee fixed everything and the Dreich promised that they will not use their souls. But I don't think they are capable of doing what they promised.”
“Yeah. They promised but they probably broke it right after they promised.”
Crimson sat up and smiled. “Don't worry, baby girl, we'll check.”
What! They will check? "What the h*ll?”
He looked away and bit his lips. “Sh*t, it slipped.” Then he turned to me. “Let's go? Tell me where you want to go.”
I just nodded and accepted his hand so I can stand up. My feet are still aching and there's like a little bit of electricity inside my veins so it hurts even more. As I sat down in the wheelchair, I placed my bag on my lap and Crimson went behind to push me.
While walking down the hallway, we both saw Julianna wearing her uniform and her bloodshot eyes are evident. We all stopped and she glared at me. “Regalia, you're one d*mn b*tch. I will make sure that you will fall.”
I was about to speak when Crimson did. “Sutton, where did you get all of your courage? I didn't know that you were this immature." From those words and Julianna's reaction, I can imagine him smirking to pissed the hell out from this bitch in front of us. "If I were you, Sutton, I would just concentrate on my studies.”
I smirked as well, making Julianna narrow her eyes and clenched her fists. We were kinda far from her when the b*tch barked. “How could you do this to me, Crimson ?! Am I not really important to you? D-That Regalia just arrived, she's the one you're paying attention to! What about me, Crimson?”
Crimson stopped, causing me to stop too and I felt him facing Julianna. “Tantiana and I are close since we were born. She lived in our house, played with us, studied with us, argued with us, and slept with us. Moreover, compared to you, Tantiana is more matured. She may act impulsively but she never acts like a withered wallflower.”
Ouch, withered wallflower!
And we both arrived at our class which is Mathematics. Crimson knocked on the door and opened it. Our teacher just continued writing on the board. Crimson kicked away a chair and placed me in front of a desk then he locked the wheel so the wheelchair will not move.
As he sat down on the chair beside me, our teacher spoke. “I'm fully aware that Ms. Regalia is excused for the whole day but not you, Mr. Torren." He faced us. "Are you now her butler now?” The f*cking h*ll?
“Sir—”
“Instead of wasting your time and energy scolding me, just teach the class.”
Our teacher pointed at Crimson. “Report to the Guidance and Discipline Office later.” And he turned his back to the whole class.
My eyes widened and I faced Crimson. “Are you insane already, Torren?”
He just smiled. “Nothing's new, Regalia. Bare with it.” I showed my fists to him and he just snickered. “Focus.”
I rolled my eyes at him and just listened to the topic.
After the Math class, Crimson took me to the Speech Laboratory, causing all the students we passed to look at the two of us.
When we arrived in the Speech Laboratory, there were only a few students here and our teacher was not there yet. Crimson placed me on one side and he closed the door, ignoring the students' stares at him. “Aren't you going to your next class?”
He shook his head. “I will wait for the girls to arrive before I leave you here.” Then he smiled at me. “Safety precaution.”
“You'll be late, then.”
“I'll still report to the Guidance so you have nothing to worry about.” He just snickered and patted my head. He turned to everyone, flashing his signature emotionless face. “What are you looking at?” By that, everyone looked away and talked about a new topic.
A few minutes later, the door opened, revealing Freesia, Marina, and Lia. As Marina closed the door, they smirked. Crimson just ignored it and turned to me. “All right, I have to leave now.” I just nodded. “Do your best.”
“Hmm. You too.” He patted my head and left the Speech Lab. My eyes landed on the three witches who are smirking at me and just rolled my eyes.
Now it is lunch. The usual is still our lunch routine though they all smiled at us Crimson. But that's the least of my concern. I'm nervous. Later, the disciplinary meeting about abuse of power held by Julianna yesterday.
Should I skip?
“You look like a rotted egg, Ahrina.” My palm immediately landed on Marina's arm. “Ah! That hurts!”
“Hey Tantan, what happened to you? You look like you want to pop.” I just rolled my eyes to Blake and took a bite of the steak.
I frowned as I placed my utensils down. “Can't you all calm the f*ck down?”
Lia threw me a glare. “It's you who's not calm!”
Freesia immediately agreed. “Yeah. What's really the matter?”
“I'm nervous.”
“What!”
I glared at them all and continued eating. “I'm nervous about the disciplinary meeting later.”
Thoreau nodded. “You can choose not to attend if you're that nervous, Ahrina.”
I shook my head. “I don't want and I don't know why.”
I know I'm not required to attend but...I will still. I think there was a bias. I also did an abuse of power too, but I can't remember how much it was.
“We're here,” Crimson said as we both stopped. “You ready?”
I took a deep inhale to calm myself and nodded. “Hmm.”
Crimson held the handles again and started pushing me carefully. Since the door was opened, we just went straight in.
A long table was prepared and sixteen seaters case because I was in a wheelchair, they removed one seat, making it only fifteen. Crimson placed me next to Mommy. When he locked the tire, Mommy immediately hugged me as if since childhood, I had not seen her.
“It's okay Mommy.” She let go of the hug and smiled.
The Suttons arrived last with Julianna. When they entered, the butlers came out and then closed the door.
Aunt Calla cleared her throat. “Let us start the disciplinary meeting regarding the abuse of power of Ms. Julianna Sutton.”
Sir Collin nodded. “During the training class, Ms. Julianna Sutton and Ms. Ahrina Regalia were selected to fight each other. As the match goes longer, Ms. Julianna Sutton has reached the limit noticed by the school and performed an abuse of power.“
“How?” Governor Sutton asked. “I believe there is a reason why my daughter did it again.”
“She used her fire magic to intently kill Ms. Ahrina Regalia.” Everyone gasped and looked at Julianna Sutton. The latter just bowed her head, avoiding everyone's stares. “In fire magic, fire flush is considered a dangerous technique. Also, when Ms. Regalia was already immobile, Ms. Sutton took the advantage and surrounded her with fireballs and molten lava.”
Mommy nodded. “To sum it all up, Ms. Sutton used battle techniques instead of the school training ones.” Unlike earlier, she is emotionless this time and sounds very authoritative. “Under the Academy Code 27 and Committee of Peace and Power Act number 10, the offender committed an abuse of power by performing battle techniques must be severely punished by the joint decision of the Headmistress and Headmaster of the Schiz Academy.”
Wow. Is there a law about that? Seems like everything is based on the law.
Uncle Carob spoke. “Let us hear the offender's side first. If she showed guilt for what she did, we may reduce the punishment rate to her.”
Julianna raised her head and glared at me. “Am I the only one to be punished here? Ahrina also committed an abuse of power. She lifted me from the grounds and attempted to throw me down.”
Ah yeah, she's right.
“Julianna,” Governor Sutton warned. “It's better if you will just confess—”
“No!” You're really stubborn ah. “I know I committed an abuse of power. However!” She stood up and pointed to me. “She also committed the same violation!”
“Ms. Sutton!” Aunt Ruby and Mommy simultaneously shouted, and they looked at each other. Mommy nodded, gesturing for Aunt Ruby to speak. “Do you know what you are doing? You're making your punishment more complicated! We are giving you the chance to reduce your punishment, but you just made it worse. Are you that immature?”
She laughed sarcastically. “All due to respect, Vice Governess Torren but I am saying the truth! This is all unfair! You're biasing Ahrina just because she is related to all of you!”
We all got startled when Mom smashed the table and stood up. “Watch your words, Sutton!” Everyone became silent and as for Julianna, she isn't recovering from shock for now.
I patted her arm and pulled her down carefully. “Mom, just calm down, okay?”
She took a deep inhale and nodded. I turned to Tita Calla and to everyone. “I have my fault too. I brought Julianna up and planned on throwing her down on the floor.”
“How?” Governor Sutton asked.
Crimson and I looked at each other. I took a deep inhale and turned to Governor Sutton. “I have wings.”
Their eyes all widened. Uncle Carob cleared his throat. "S-Since Ahrina can't stand for now, I think it is okay if we won't make her show her wings in the meantime.” I can breathe properly again by that.
“Really? You don't want to see how magnificent her wings are?” Julianna barked. “We can make her sit—” Her words were cut when Governor Sutton threw her a glare. “Tss.”
AUnt Calla inhaled deeply and spoke. “Mr. Torren, may you confirm everything?”
Everyone looked at Crimson, so as for me. He nodded. “Ahrina did bring Julianna up until to the ceiling of the Training Chamber, but Julianna burned her left wing. As a result, both of them fell on the floor but Julianna has the least casualties. Ahrina's wings badly regenerated and became totally immobile so Julianna took the opportunity to seize her.”
Tito Carob nodded and gazed at me. “Why did you bring Ms. Sutton up?”
I shook my head, gesturing that I couldn't remember anything about that incident. Crimson spoke on my behalf. “The doctor in the Academy hospital said that Ahrina's still in a state of trauma.”
“Trauma, my ass,” Julianna dissed. “Just because she's the one who got hospitalized, she's now the victim?”
“It is clear that Ms. Regalia and Ms. Sutton have their faults,” Sir Collin stated and lifted his head. He met everyone's gazes. “I think both of them must be punished. However, only Ms. Sutton will receive the severe punishment while Ms. Regalia is a normal punishment for a common school violation.”
Julianna smashed the table and was about to speak when the door opened. Crimson and I sighed as we both saw the dorks ruined the disciplinary meeting. “All due to respect!”
“Are you all out of your sanity?”
They all frowned. They are the ones who bothered it, they are the ones who want to frown. “And at least, we'll be punished at the same time.” Marina just grinned and gave me a slice of her grilled beef steak. "You ate Ahrina."
Well, there's no point in crying on spilled milk.
We just ate and talked about what happened earlier when they were away. They also regret who took the lead. When Crimson asked them to point out who the instigator was, it only got worse because they were pointing to each other. Blake to Thoreau, Thoreau to Freesia, Freesia to Marina, Marina to Lia, and Lia to Blake.
After I ate, Crimson just checked on me and he continued eating. While I was on my cellphone, I felt someone staring at me so I looked around to see Marina staring at me. “Hmm? Is there dirt?”
Her eyes widened and patted Freesia's shoulder. “I'm not hallucinating, right?” Huh? I can't comprehend anything.
Freesia leaned on the table and stared at my face. After a few seconds, she gasped and the fork even slipped out of her grip, causing them all to look at me. I heard Lia gasped also beside Crimson and mumbled something. “Y-Your eyes...”
I turned to Crimson. “What's wrong?” His eyes were now filled with interest, confusion, and surprise.
He just shook his head and smiled. “I'll tell you later.”
They all went back to eating and after a few minutes, someone suddenly hit the table, loud enough for all of the students here in the Dining Hall to be startled. “What is the thickness of your face?” She glared at me and smirked. “What makes you special, huh? Why are those folks protecting you?”
I laughed sarcastically. “Pathetic. Are you really that stupid?”
Her eyes widened in rage. Before her palm flew on my cheek, a hand prevented it and it appears to be Crimson's left hand. He stood up and towered over Julianna, still gripping her wrist tightly. Julianna laughed sarcastically. “Wow, Crimson Torren!” she yelled to the point that she got everyone's attention again. “Are you out of your mind?”
“I am warning you, Julianna Sutton. Try to touch nor talk to my girl and I will make sure that you will experience h*ll. Understand?”
Julianna forcibly nodded. “Y-Yes.”
Crimson released his grip from Julianna's wrist and went behind me to bring me out of the scene, thinking that they can fix it.
He brought me to the girl's restroom, leaving the door open, and placed me in front of the lavatory. “Look at your eyes, baby girl.”
I looked into my eyes through my reflection. My eyes widened and my hands shook nervously. Crimson held both of my hands. “I-I have...”
“Yes, baby girl.”
My eyes aren't brown anymore. It is in violet.