Anos held Alia's gaze for a long mont, surprised at how she didn't imdiately turn away. After a second, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked to the side, avoiding his eyes. He almost chuckled—she was flustered. And yet, people often said that a man and a woman staring at each other for too long was bound to an sothing, maybe even spark unexpected feelings. Anos never believed that sort of nonsense. But maybe there was so truth to it.
Clearing his throat, he finally spoke. "Alia, about the other day… what happened, it really was an accident." Read exclusive adventures at empire
Alia turned back to him, her expression skeptical. "An accident?" she asked, folding her arms. "I've heard of accidental bumps or brushes, but a pinch?"
Anos forced a smile, maintaining his composure. "I know, it sounds a little far-fetched, but hear out. We were sparring, right? I was moving so quickly, I didn't even realize it was you right away." He gestured vaguely, almost like he was replaying the mont in his head. "When I did recognize it was you, I held back. But it was already too late—I'd already thrown the punch."
Alia raised an eyebrow, still unconvinced.
Anos continued, undeterred. "I didn't want to hurt you, so I opened my fist and turned it into an open palm. That's why my hand ended up where it did. Otherwise, trust , it would've been a full-force punch."
Alia looked down, frowning, as if trying to decide whether to accept his explanation. "So… you just happened to end up touching ? That's it?"
He nodded, shrugging as he added, "I'm stronger than I look, you know. Even if I held back, my strength probably made it feel, well, like a pinch. That was never my intention."
Alia sighed, weighing his words. Part of her wanted to believe him. After all, she knew Anos could be blunt, but not usually in this way. Still, it was all too easy for him to dismiss the incident as a "mistake."
She shook her head, finally voicing her doubt. "Even if we were sparring, most fighters aim for the back or shoulders, not… well, not where you did." Her voice trailed off, her cheeks going pink. She looked back at him with narrowed eyes. "Honestly, Anos, if you're going to be a rogue, at least own it."
Anos blinked, surprised by her sharpness. She wasn't about to let him off the hook so easily.
"Alright, I get it," he said, with a slight grin. "But whether you believe or not, I'm serious about one thing." He leaned in, his tone earnest, his eyes locking onto hers again. "I want you to be my girlfriend."
Alia's eyes widened as she took in his unexpected confession. She wasn't entirely sure how to react. Part of her wanted to laugh, thinking he must be joking, but his serious expression told her otherwise.
She forced herself to stay composed. "Weren't you pursuing Sasha not too long ago?"
Anos shrugged, giving her a lopsided smile. "Yeah, I tried, but she wasn't interested. And I can't keep myself tied to one possibility forever. Sotis, it's better to cast a wider net."
Alia's expression grew frosty, unimpressed with his words. "So, I'm just… a part of your 'net,' then?"
Anos winced inwardly, realizing how carelessly his words must have sounded. But rather than retreat, he t her gaze firmly, his tone softening. "No, Alia. It's not like that. I wouldn't be here, putting myself through all this if it didn't an sothing to . If I didn't see sothing... special in you."
Alia's eyes narrowed, and she scoffed softly, crossing her arms. "Special? Is that what you tell all the girls?" Her words were laced with sarcasm, but there was a hint of vulnerability beneath the bravado.
Anos didn't look away. "I'm not saying it to anyone else. Just you." He took a step closer, his expression more earnest. "If you think I'm so shallow guy, then fine. But if that were all I was, would I be here trying this hard to explain myself?"
For a mont, an intense silence lingered between them, his words hanging in the air. Alia's gaze wavered, just barely, before she sighed and shook her head, as though dismissing him from her thoughts. "Maybe next ti, think before you speak, Anos." With that, she turned away, leaving him alone, lost in his own thoughts.
Anos ran a hand through his hair, frustration building up inside him. He was so close—just one small step away from earning her trust. But that last 10% felt like a mountain he couldn't climb.
Not that he cared too much about what Alia or any of the others thought of him. eting them had been a matter of the scumbag system's missions, and to be fair, he had used them. Being called a scumbag wasn't wrong, really—it ca with the territory. Yet, there was a strange unease for soone who'd once been a model student to suddenly carry such a reputation.
The classroom door opened, interrupting his thoughts, as their teacher, Mr. Wyatt, stepped in. "Alright, class, let's get started. Today, we'll be diving into so theory, so get ready to take notes."
But before he could go any further, Jin stood up with a smug smile. "Mr. Wyatt, sorry to interrupt, but I think there's soone here who doesn't belong in our class."
Mr. Wyatt raised an eyebrow, glancing in Jin's direction. "And who might that be?"
Jin jerked his thumb toward Anos, clearly enjoying the attention. "Him. He's from the beginner class. Shouldn't we have him removed?"
Mr. Wyatt's gaze shifted toward Anos, who sat quietly, studying his teacher's reaction. Recognition flickered in Mr. Wyatt's eyes, and he tilted his head slightly, his expression a mix of curiosity and amusent. "Anos, isn't it?"
Anos gave a slight nod. It was strange, but amusing, that he'd made enough of an impression for even the teachers to know him by sight.
He rose from his seat and addressed Mr. Wyatt calmly. "Sir, I believe students are here to learn. I don't see any harm in being here to study in the interdiate class, even if I'm technically from the beginner class."
Mr. Wyatt adjusted his glasses, considering Anos's words with a thoughtful look. "You have a point. Though you're classified as a beginner, I've heard about your progress. You seem to have surpassed the expectations of your level."
Jin snorted, clearly dissatisfied, but Mr. Wyatt ignored him. "However, Anos, have you cleared this with Miss Sofia? She might want to know about your decision to join the interdiate lessons."
Anos shook his head. "Not yet, sir. I thought it would be better to confirm my place here before going to her."
Mr. Wyatt nodded, clearly impressed by Anos's initiative. "Fair enough, Anos. Go ahead and take a seat. I'll speak to Miss Sofia myself. For now, let's get everyone started. Please focus on self-study until I return." With a final encouraging nod to Anos, Mr. Wyatt left the room.
Anos rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he sat down, sensing sothing unusual in Wyatt's behavior. "Odd," he murmured to himself. "That teacher seed a bit... eager."
In the hallway, Mr. Wyatt's expression shifted, a glint of excitent lighting up his eyes as he made his way toward Sofia's Office. "Anos, you've given the perfect excuse to chat with Miss Sofia," he muttered to himself. His admiration for her was no secret, and he often found himself lost in thoughts about her, captivated not just by her intellect but also by her sultry deanor.
Indeed, Wyatt was drawn to Sofia's confidence and charm, though he was careful to keep it subtle. Finding genuine reasons to interact with her had been a challenge, and now Anos's presence in the interdiate class provided the perfect opportunity. Of course, he wasn't about to let that slip by.
Nearby, Alia leaned toward Anos and whispered, "You've just handed Mr. Wyatt a perfect excuse to go talk to Miss Sofia. He's definitely one of her admirers."
Anos blinked, realization dawning. "That explains why he ditched a room full of students to report this 'issue' to her directly. I was starting to wonder if I'd beco that important."
Alia raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Well, that's why Miss Sofia can't stand you! She's got enough to deal with from students admiring her, but Wyatt? He's been pestering her since forever."
Anos glanced over at her, intrigued. "You seem to know a lot about Miss Sofia's admirers."
Alia shrugged casually. "I was her student back in the beginner class. Trust , Mr. Wyatt's fascination with her is no secret. Anyway, you might want to think about how you're going to explain all this to her."
Anos leaned back in his seat, brushing it off. "Explain what? Even if she hears about it, what's she going to do—call out in front of the whole class?"
Alia's expression turned serious. "Don't underestimate Miss Sofia. She's not the type to play by ordinary rules."
Anos thought about that, suddenly feeling a bit uneasy. Alia had a point—Sofia wasn't like other teachers, and she didn't hesitate to handle things directly. However, he allowed himself a small smirk. After all, he did have a bit of history with her, a past that wasn't entirely professional. He couldn't imagine her publicly reprimanding him, especially given the rumors that already circulated about them.
...
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