"Aland Hamilton?" Jofa shrieked in surprise when she saw Aland suddenly standing behind her.
"You're such a pain, Glasses Boy!" said Aland indifferently. Aland stretched lazily and walked up to Jofa. "I can't sleep because you're so loud."
Jofa swallowed hard. She took a step back to keep Aland Hamilton at bay. Jofa clenched her fists and put up a stance to protect herself in case Aland was going to beat her.
Aland instead stood relaxed as he slipped his hands into his trouser pockets. "Are you sure about what you say?"
"What do you mean?" Jofa trembled all of a sudden, but she played herself brave and defiant.
Jofa has prepared physically and mentally to face any attack from Miller's enemies at this school. But, for some reason, when Jofa had to face Aland Hamilton head-on, suddenly, Jofa's chest beat fast.
'It felt so different when I faced Hunter. Hunter always pisses me off. But, Aland….'
Aland suddenly lowered his head and brought his face closer to Jofa. Aland's eyes stared intently at Jofa.
"B4 are four loser pigs. Are you sure of your words?" whispered Aland with an annoying grin.
Jof froze. She just stared at Aland Hamilton without blinking. From that close, Aland looks... beautiful, not handsome. Aland had bluish-grey hair that looked very soft. Unknowingly, Jofa wanted to reach out to Aland's head and stroke his hair.
Jofa shook her head hard to wake herself up. However, Aland caught Jofa's head jerking as a different meaning.
"I already guessed. You only dare say behind our backs. When you face me, you deny all the words and curses I heard clearly earlier."
Jofa was nervous and suddenly stuttered. She badly wanted to say that B4 was such a loser pig, but it was as if the words were stuck in her throat.
"That… you heard everything?" Jofa was shocked and felt very embarrassed at the same time.
Aland nodded. "I heard everything," he said casually.
Jofa took a deep breath. She looked down wearily. She was sure that she would receive a punch from the young man in front of her after this.
Jofa glanced at Aland's hand. Her hand suddenly shot up. Jofa closed her eyes and frowned in fear.
Instead of hitting her, Aland touched Jofa's head and lightly patted it twice.
"Next time, if you hate someone, fight them in front of them. If necessary, challenge him. Don't just shout behind him like a coward. Show that you are a real man."
Aland lowered his hand. Jofa peeked a little. She saw Aland already walking away from Jofa.
Sigh!
The girl raised her head and was astonished. Jofa didn't think Aland had such a gentle and caring side, even though he looked calm and cold.
When Aland was about to leave the bell tower, Jofa caught a glimpse of the young man's hand.
"Wait!" shouted Jofa.
Aland didn't hear. The young man kept walking, leaving Jofa alone in the tower.
"Isn't that my handkerchief? Why is Aland wearing it? Impossible!"
Jofa's face suddenly went pale when she had to imagine that Aland Hamilton was the grey wolf she had met and helped this morning in the woods.
"Impossible! Impossible! Impossible!" Jofa repeatedly said to blow away the irrational thoughts.
The girl sits on the floor. Her body sagged. She covered her head with both hands and felt like a fool.
***
The next day at school, Jofa was very careful. Every time she stepped, she always looked around. She didn't want to meet Aland Hamilton no matter what.
"I don't want to be humiliated again like last night. I will find out about Aland's involvement in Miller's accident. I will find a way to repay him properly if he is involved."
Lunch time. In the afternoon, all the students gathered in the cafeteria. Jofa went to the canteen, but she brought her own lunch.
A group of students from dormitory two approached Jofa carrying their lunch trays. One of the students pushed Jofa's lunch on the table and told her to stay away.
"So disgusting!" the student snapped. "Why do you bring disgusting food like this to school? Can't you see the rules here?"
"Yeah, ever since you came back from the hospital. You're getting crazier, Nerd!"
"Understand our school rules," said another. "It is forbidden to bring outside food while at school."
Jofa, who was focused on finishing her lunch, felt disturbed. She stopped eating her rice and stared at the three students from dormitory two who were constantly bothering her.
"There are still lots of vacancies. Why did you guys come here? If you feel disgusted by my lunch, go eat somewhere else. Besides, I'm not as crazy as you guys who have to spend 100,000 Col just for lunch."
Slap!
One of the students slammed his glass on the table in front of Jofa. "You really are poor. You don't deserve to go to school here. Can't even buy lunch. But, you instead turned to advise us."
"Go, slave! This table is ours."
Jofa is really fed up. She hates this school. Every corner and every place makes her unable to be free to be herself. There are always people who don't like and annoy her.
Jofa suddenly felt guilty towards Miller. "I never imagined that Miller had to live such a hard life every day."
"B4! It's B4!" said the students hysterically.
The three students who bothered Jofa also stood up. They unloaded their lunch trays and ran to meet B4's arrival.
"Come on, let's find a seat near B4. We must not waste this opportunity."
The three of them left, leaving Jofa alone. The girl continued eating her lunch.
"You sycophants, students. Even when it comes to eating, they keep following B4. After all, what's so great about them? Claiming to be a rich man's son but still a slave to others."
Jofa scooped a large spoonful of rice into her mouth. She chewed quickly while pouting her lips.
A student with a sweet smile suddenly stood in front of Jofa. "It looks delicious? May I try it?"
Jofa choked. She pounded her chest, which felt tight. Then the student handed her bottle of mineral water to Jofa.
"Drink! Why are you eating so fast?"
After drinking the water until her throat felt relieved, Jofa wiped her mouth with her hand.
"You startled me! You made me choke!" Jofa said curtly.
"Sorry... sorry... I didn't mean it like that. I saw you having lunch alone. Looks like you're going to have a delicious lunch. The aroma is also appetizing. May I taste it?"
Jofa glanced at the student's lunch tray. Everything is excellent food at a great price.
"If you make fun of me? Your lunch definitely looks tastier than mine." Jofa ignored the student and continued eating.
"I'm bored with the menu in this canteen. This is the first time I've seen food like yours. Let me taste it, or I will buy it from you if need be. How?"
Jofa put down her spoon. "All rich people's kids are the same!" She exhaled roughly. "Good grief! Sit down. You can take my lunch. I'm not in the mood anymore!"
A pair of students' eyes twinkled. It seemed that he had a good aim. He immediately put down his tray and sat across from Jofa. The student took the omelette that Jofa made herself this morning before going to school.
"You are a little different," said Jofa.
"Oh, yeah? This is the second time you've said that. I told you before. My mother is from Germany, and my father is from Sapphire Blue. So, conclude yourself!" The student munched on Jofa's omelette greedily.
Jofa pursed her lips. She realized the student before looked very handsome and sweet. But he wasn't trying to brag, either. The youth spoke casually as if they were old friends.
"I'm glad you're back at school, Miller," said the student while stopping his lunch and looking at Jofa with his sweet smile.
'Who is this student?' thought Jofa.
Jofa started to panic. On Miller's list of school friends, no student had the half-German face before her. Jofa didn't know what name to call the student.
"I'd rather you didn't talk to me!" said Jofa. "I hope to live here until graduation in peace without any disturbances."
"Are they bothering you even more?"
Jofa gasped in surprise. 'Who exactly is this young man in front of me?' thought Jofa.
"You look a little different now, Miller. You now appear more daring. You dare face them head-on. I'm so jealous of you!" said the young man.
Jofa could not stand it. Finally, she asked a question she shouldn't have asked. "Who are you?"
The young man was shocked. He looked at Jofa as if there was dirt on Jofa's face.