Paradoxical Love

Chapter 19: I hope you're okay

I had just returned home at about seven o'clock when I arrived from the market to buy the ingredients for our dinner tonight.

Since I'm still a little upset with Kiana, my punishment for her is that she'd be cooking for both of us, it's even better when she's the one preparing for our dinner, I might mess up after getting my head riled up in some dilemmas anyways. I had already forgiven my sister, but she must also learn her lesson at the same time.

If it weren't for her, I hope he won't see me the way she thought I was that time, and it's disturbing to think about what she deems me to be when I'm innocent, though I can see why she didn't let me explain things first, my reputation had sunken deep into the abyss, it's a matter of time before she hates me just like the rest of them.

But honestly, I can't accept Matilda came to a conclusion that I'm a playboy, clearing my name in suspicion proves to be difficult, and our confrontation shall be the only way I can convince her otherwise.

I went straight to the kitchen, Kiana is already there mumbling at the dining table, distressed obviously waiting for me because she is already aware of what I'm going to ask her to do.

"Kiana, you know what you should do, right?" I place the ingredients and spices I bought in the market earlier on the table.

This is what I don't like about her occasionally, she's conspicuously guilty that I did get mad. Even so, I just don't want to see my only and dearest sister in such a state; I approached her and hugged her from behind showing I can't resist the way she sulks on her own.

She got startled and let me embrace her as I please since she loves hugs more than anyone, yet she didn't hold me back, guilty of what she did to me. My sister is the reason why Matilda and I were on bad terms, at the same time, I won't blindly point blames as it was my fault for not wanting to hurt her.

"I want a luscious dinner, something hot and sweet, you already know what's my favorite." I handed her the curry powder left on our shelves. Basically, I crave curry once in a while and it's the perfect time since Kiana's cooking for me. I always loved her curries, after all, she was taught by our mother that's why my cooking skills were inferior to hers.

"Yes, brother..." Kiana nodded and took the ingredient and things without eye contact. I feel like I'm getting older every time she calls me brother.

While we're only a year apart; it is also part of her behavior when she knows she has done something wrong. I think this punishment is better, I'm pretty sure she'd back to her normal self tomorrow, cheerful and talkative like always.

The day passes by without bitterness between us, this evening I had finished taking my daily quests in a role-playing game on my PC, I turned it off and cracked my knuckles about to call it a day when my smartphone rang I thought I mistakenly set up an alarm.

I lie on the bed and snuggled under my blanket. The alarm had a vibration so I'm sure it's a text message or an electronic mail.

It's half-past twelve, who in the right mind would send me a message? Is it Ged? Maybe it's not, considering he's busy painting some women for references, and Ariel's probably on her midnight shift so I doubt he had the spare time to mess around.

I clicked the message and it came from someone named 'Reina', who else has that last name in Saint Legacy University? I guess it must be important so I should let it slide, I'd read what she had to say.

"Reyler is it? How are you? Tomorrow, Friday, I'll let you join the Gaming Club. Never dare to ditch me, I'll kill you. So... Uhm... That's all! I just want to say... Goodnight... It's not like I fancy your anything!" I  ended up reading the message aloud, the emojis and some strange characters describing she's embarrassed were all over with each sentence.

She's unpredictable and unexpected but she isn't the worst either that I can't call her annoying. I can only say that her violent tendency is a very strange palette of hers, it was uncalled for though I can see it's the way she defends herself.

I remember when I was in my sophomore year at Saint Legacy University, Helenia kicked me off for the reason that I stared at her for a mere three seconds. Her punches were weak, but her kicks aren't something to laugh about.

Now she actually has a nicer personality than what's on outside, I also emailed her my goodnight before going to sleep. It sure is a long day, I can already tell there would be interesting things awaiting me tomorrow.

Now that another dawn arrived, here I am again in our classroom enduring this dullness, I'm counting the birds that pass by the window so I can somehow survive.

More importantly, my performance drastically decreased over the past few days, I tried hard to focus but I can't seem to cope up. When it comes to written scores, I'm always right on the good spot despite skipping classes lately.

I just finished a thousand words essay activity, I was the first one to pass my paper so the instructor allowed me to do as I please for the rest of the time.

The essay is hell especially for Ariel saying he'd rather have the hardest math problem than poke around writing an academic piece. The same goes for me I'd rather write poems than involve myself in complex mathematics; we're literally the same side of the coin. The essay is about a poem from a prominent poet in greek, and for me, reading it and allowing me to express what I understood is a comfort zone that I always yearn for.

It was the domain of my greatest talent. Actually, I'm just interested in writing poems because I fancy seeing the smile of those who read them, especially Kiana would always request a poem she can read at night whenever she's melancholic. We have different hobbies, Ariel loved math problems, and Ged likes to draw cute girls wearing skimpy clothing.

Sometimes I can't help but have an inferiority complex. Because unlike their talent, on top of Ariel's endurance and perseverance to even have time for part-time jobs after classes, his math skills can't be compared to the whole class and probably the entire Saint Legacy University. Even our adviser pleaded for him to compete against the other universities, sadly he doesn't have time for such things, his family is his priority and it'd never change.

On the other hand, Ged's always thirsty peeking under girls' skirts whenever he has the chance. He was sent to the guidance a few times 'cause he was caught hiding in the locker of an all-girls volleyball club, those were golden days. Nevertheless, I believe that he's merely taking references, his drawing, and painting about ladies and women are unique and distinctive he has a knack as a national artist. And while me, I'm getting the vibe of we-got-that-one-friend-that-is-stupid feeling, and it's exactly none other than me.

I was drowning in my thoughts and all of a sudden it became silence, the rest of my classmates zipped their mouths and it was as if someone was peeking at the door. I thought the principal walked by or something so I didn't pay much attention as I resumed counting birds again.

"Hey bro! Reyler bro!" Ged's elbowing and pointing at something out the window connecting to the corridor.

"What is going on? Why is she here?" Ariel was whispering, he's panicking having no clue himself.

Now curiosity had led me to my doom again, I tried to look who is it that had silenced my noisy classmates, upon having a clearer view by standing up, only two words had me agape forcing me to saddle on my chair.

"Oh god," I whispered through my thoughts, but everyone probably heard it when all of them looked in my direction.

Merciful heavens, Helenia is there standing tapping the floor with her feet, leaning against the wall right in front of our classroom. She's messing up my day again by popping out of nowhere, I thought she was joking but I didn't expect her to come to pick me up.

"Damn. How can I escape? By the window or teleportation?" I covered half of my face with my hands, preparing to avoid this situation.

"Did you anger the Crimson Princess again? We already said you shouldn't provoke her too much, and more importantly, her uniform is different! What does that mean?!" Ariel scratched his head, he's going insane.

"Calm down Ariel, the whole class is staring at us." Ged saddled him on the floor beside him. I'm balancing my mentality in solving this rationally. She's here since I agreed on going to her club, I never implicitly told her in my email last night that I'm going, yet not also replying to her request means she took it as a yes on my part.

"First of all, we never fought, second, what do you mean by her attire?" I'm wondering if her uniforms have meaning. I thought it was just her taste of fashion since she has the freedom that even the rules bend before her wake.

"Huh?! Don't you know that legend?" Ariel asked, he's making up stories again.

"What kind of legend is that Ariel?" I answered a question with another question.

"Legend says that every time the Crimson Princess changes uniform style, something may happen." He's gritting his teeth, restless believing it's true.

"Don't be silly, who believes such a thing?" I was actually sweating in my seat for a second, he then tapped my back and I turned over.

"Kidding aside, I heard that legend from a friend of mine who's a classmate of the Crimson Princess." Ariel's just lessening the tense and I kinda appreciate it, but what if the legend is actually true? Now I'm starting to develop a superstition thanks to a dumb friend.

I have an intuition that something big shall unfold, I should've emailed Helenia that we'd meet in our napping spot only us know, and I since preferred to be dumb, now I'm stuck here with her and I'm still formulating my best move regarding this circumstances.

During our conversation, even before the gushes a fine wind, we'd never think that the person we were talking about had appeared like a mushroom right in front of us without prior notice.

The three of us were startled, while our classmates were also shocked, we were busy discussing things to the point that we didn't realize that she walked into our classroom and approached us personally.

"I change uniform 'cause it's my style." Helenia flips her hair looking down upon us. Then my theory is proven and it's her fashion.

"The Crimson Princess spoke! All hail the Crimsom Princess!" Ariel shouts his soul, some of the boys supported him and they were actually delighted she visited here, not the other way around. Now that I remember Helenia was also popular with boys, she was a school idol that she even has a secret fan club.

It was taken down due to some unknown reason, I suppose Jacob got rid of them using the brutal way.

"So gross..." Helenia winced, she moved closer to my armchair.

"What are you doing here Helenia? Isn't your classroom in another building?" I instinctively can tell this won't end well. She will use everything in her power to drag me out of my classroom, and there's no way I can escape her clutches.

The hyped-up atmosphere that had been overflowing fell silent, my involvement here was probably a crucial part, maybe they were tensed-up under her presence, and rather it was because I'm here? Such a possibility won't matter anymore as the class began murmuring with each other.

"Did he called the Crimson Princess in her first name...?!" Some random guy whispered.

"Impossible! That delinquent casually speaking to the princess?" Another random guy on the left replied.

Those are just some of the things I hear them saying, they were already conceiving their rumors that's why I should get out of here as soon as possible.

What the heck does Ged and Ariel were doing at a time like this? This is the point where they will save me by dragging me outside. The both of them can't even part their lips, they were too scared to step in.

I was caught off-guard as Helenia grabbed my forearm to the surprise of many. Her fingers were small but soft, it was considerate and caring, I really don't care where she'd take me now, running away is futile anyway I'd accept whatever it was she desired.

"Let's go Reyler, you said you'd eat lunch with me, right?" Helenia smiled so brightly I assumed there was a flashbang for a moment, can't she read the atmosphere? Now her fans were certainly furious at me I'd better get out of here in one piece.

She grabbed my arm and took out my lunch box inside the bag, she's intruding my personal space now.

"Reyler, good luck my friend." Ariel's sniffing in lament, sending me off with a farewell message, it's not like I'm gonna die.

"A delinquent and a princess... Hah! What a great reference!" Ged smirked conspicuously, he's an incubus in disguise, everything inside his head was his perverted imagination.

They were supposed to help me but they had brought me down this time. Now Helenia and I are walking together while ignoring everything in our sight except our way. And I can't believe she's pulling my arm as if I'm her dog with a leash, truly I'm an embarrassment, I was lucky the Council President went in her office earlier, good thing she never saw this uncomfortable event in my life.

"What were you thinking? You know my classmates will spread rumors about us, your reputation is at risk." I warned her that being with me might potentially tarnish her name as well.

"Who cares about that? Well, I don't. I came here 'cause I know you won't show up." Helenia flips her hair again smirking, sometimes I can't tell what she's up to.

"How can you tell?" I got curious.

"Just my... intuition I guess?" She's not making any sense, she turned around twiddling her fingers.

"Okay." I lost the motivation to figure it out, I'm just going with the flow since I want to get away from her soon.

"Huh? Where were you going?" She halted for a moment before we could step in the stairs. I won't let her drag me around, I'll lead the way for the meantime I just hated that this brat's walking ahead of me.

"Where else? Of course on the rooftop." I answered and she winced, she's acting like she didn't plan this before inviting me for a lunch.

"Rooftop?!" Helenia had the expression that she didn't expect all of this, she covered her face blushing. She's squirming so adorably I have no idea what to say. Then I realized my mistake, maybe she's planning on bringing me to the cafeteria like anyone and here I am bringing her to the rooftop just the two of us.

"It's not like that... it's just... too romantic." Helenia glanced at me for a second and I unmistakably skipped a beat there.

"You're really very honest." I'm composed on the outside as I replied calmly, although from the inside I'm actually dying of how cute she is that she can probably rival my sister's charms.

"I told you it's not like you think, you doofus!" Helenia threw a tantrum and kicked me on my hips, it was so strong I was pushed aside the metal bars.

"Argh... luckily it wasn't in between my legs." I tried standing up, she got me good there, to be honest.

"W-Well, let's go for now!" She insisted on walking in front of me, I guess it's part of her royal etiquette or something? I can't comprehend and I don't want to imagine it.

As I am walking upstairs, I glanced at the left side of the hallway, and I was certain Matilda was the one who passed by. I stepped back confirming no one was there, I think it's just my imagination.

"Matilda..." I whispered her name under my breath.

"Are you saying something?" Helenia turned over.

"No. Nothing, let's proceed," I replied in thin air, looking at the skies beyond.

Just what is Matilda doing right now? I hope she's fine. I'd hate myself if her performance drastically drops just because of my stupidity.