Webtoon

4

Atlantis POV

"Dude, your face looked like you want to kick someone straight in the face," I lifted my glance from my plate the moment I heard Jack’s voice. My brows furrowed the moment he sat on the table I was seated, putting in his tray of food as he had always been doing it for God knows how long.

My eyes wandered to the cafeteria and caught the jealous stares that I've been getting from the girls looking at our direction.

A long sigh escaped my lips, "Jack, leave me alone before I end up kicking you straight in the face," I muttered, my voice low but is good enough for him to hear.

He laughed at my response which made me grunt internally.

"Lantis, I'm not leaving you here after your brother told me to keep an eye on you," he stated and I stared at him, cold expression visible on my face. Most people will back off the moment I stared at them coldly but not Jack. He had seen me and Josh arguing before and much to my dismay, he would always end not taking me in the very most unserious manner.

"What are you, my brother's accomplice? And since when did he actually cared?" I whispered, the sudden change in my brother's demeanour concerning me a little. Lately, my brother is actually acting like a real, well, a brother and it is very unlikely of him. I wonder what has gotten into him.

"You'd be surprised if you knew the things he did for you," his voice was low but I was able to hear it clearly.

"What did you just said?" I asked him and he just grinned, shrugging his shoulders like what he said is not a big deal.

What does he mean by that?

But then he didn't answer. In defeat, I just went ahead and continue eating.

The faster this lunch ends, the better for me.

But then, just right after I took a spoonful of my food, my brother's face appeared in front of me, occupying the space on Jack's right. Surprised, I ended up accidentally spitting the food I was eating straight to his face.

My hand automatically reached for the tissue as I try to wipe the remnants of food scattered on his face, his eyes closed and I swear to God he was trying so hard not to scream at me.

I tried to stop the stifle of laughter threatening to emerge from my mouth but failed to do so at the sight of Jack openly laughing at my brother's state.

He looked like he could kill me any moment.

Just then, I was startled when I felt another presence on my right side, this time, it wasn't one, but five more people actually occupied the space on the table. I almost choked on my food the moment my eyes met my Devon’s who purposely sat on my right.

"What the fuc-"

"Language missy. It's not very nice for a pretty girl like you to curse, especially not in front of food," I turned my head to my left and my eyes grew even wider than it already has the moment I recognized the beautiful man in front of me, Jeth, the face of our University.

Well, it's not like all these seven boys aren't but Jeth is actually the official one, which means his face is plastered all over the city in promotion for people to enrol in our university which I knew was effective because it's not a secret that many of the students here actually just enrolled for the sake of meeting these seven boys.

It doesn't take too long for me to recognize Noah and Alex sitting in front of me along with my brother and Jack. Beside Jeth, Theo gave me a curt nod as a greeting, that makes me realize that there is only one person who must be sitting on my right, Devon.

Startled, my body immediately bolted up from my seat, unable to handle the presence of too many uninvited guests before me. The moment I tried to turn and leave, I felt a force on my right shoulder pulling me back to my seat.

"Not so fast, young lady. You're not going anywhere until you finish that lunch on your plate. You look skinny, I'm starting to think your brother is not taking care of you," Devon's voice rang on my ears and I was frozen in place, my eyes meeting my brother's and I realized that he was scowling at the both of us.

"We've talked about this Devon and please remove your hands off my sister's," he stated before he started eating the food from his plate.

From the corner of my eyes, I noticed the amused expression showing on the boys in front of me but I don't have the guts to check the others because that means I'll have to turn to my side and I can't do that.

"So now I understand," I heard Noah stating. Though I wasn't close them, I was careful enough not to care who the persons I should avoid with, and it actually includes all seven of them though I cannot particularly avoid my brother, Jack I can handle but all seven of them, I can't.

My head hung low at the sound of his voice. By this time, I was aware of all the attention this table is currently getting.

Suddenly, I felt a sudden contact on my right arm and my heart started beating like crazy. I knew for a fact that Devon’s arm just actually brushed with mine which is understandable considering the space we are all sharing.

"No doubt, Josh had been all over the place since you entered this campus. I just say, he's done a good job protecting you," my brows furrowed and I heard my brother grunted.

"Ah, hey!" he groaned and I looked at my brother confused.

What does Noah meant by protecting me?

"I wasn't hiding her. I was just," a long sigh escaped my lips, " being careful," the last words came out as a whisper but it was loud enough for me to hear.

"What did you say?" I asked, confusion daunting to me even more. What does he mean about being careful?

Shit, I'm not understanding a thing.

I heard Alex laughed before staring straight at me and my mouth hand wide open at the sight of his heart-shaped lips. The man sure is oozing with so much charm.

"You see little girl, ever since you started Uni, your brother here had been keeping boys from trying to get close to you," he chuckled.

"Including us," Jeth muttered beside me and my eyes turned to my already blushing brother.

"What?" I whispered.

He did what?

Did he actually stopped guys from pursuing me, is that what they meant?

A weird laugh escaped my lips.

They must be joking. Why would guys even try to do me?

The idea of my brother protecting me from guys amused me so much I started laughing. It started out low until I can no longer handle it anymore, my hands already on my tummy as it's starting to hurt.

I didn't even realize that every one of them was gawking at me yet my eyes already moist from all the laughter I made.

Once I calmed down a little, I looked at them, still laughing, "I'm sorry but you must be confused. Why would my brother do that? I mean, I am just plain and boring Atlantis. Not a single soul in this university notices my presence. I'm practically invisible especially if I'm with the likes of you.,"

I noticed my brother scowl while Jack was laughing his a*s off, his hands hitting on the table as if what I just was so amusing.

I turned to my left and even Theo seemed to have a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

"See? She's so clueless," my brother muttered and I stopped from laughing.

"Kitten, I assure you, you're not anywhere close to being plain and boring," Devon stated and that's when I turned to my right. He was staring at my brother but I caught the way he runs his tongue over his lower lips.

Shit.

Jack had already calmed down from laughing before he spoke. "Lantis, I'm sorry to burst that little bubble of yours but the truth is, you're the unofficial beauty of this campus. And sad to say, everyone is aware except you." he deadpanned stated and my mouth hangs wide open at his words.

"What?" I told him. "That's impossible," I whispered.

I stared at my brother but he wasn't looking at my direction. He was mumbling incoherent words but I was quick to decipher one word which says "stupid,"

My eyes turned towards the people who are staring at us and for once, my eyes caught the stares of the boys around the cafeteria.

I gulped.

They were all staring at me. My eyes even caught one who suddenly choked on his food the moment we made eyes contact.

"Holy-"

"I said no-"

"f**k!" I finished before Jeth can even stop me.

"cursing," he stated, a long sigh escaping his lips afterwards.

I heard Theo laughing along with Devon.

"Looks like the young lady here is no longer clueless," Devon stated and my eyes focused on him. He was smiling at me and I was started when I felt his right-hand grazing right at the corner of my lips.

His eyes were captivating I find myself melting at his stare.

Those lips, they were so red I wonder how he was able to keep it like that.

I was startled when I heard someone clearing their throat and I don't have to turn around t know that it was my brother.

"I like it," Devon whispered.

"Huh?" I asked confused, still staring at him.

"I like it when you stare at me like you have the hots for me. It's turning me on," he whispered and I heard the growl of protest from all the guys around the table.

"Yah!"

"Aist! We're still eating here!"

"I'm going to kick you in the balls, Devon!"

He was smiling at me and I can no longer handle the attention.

Everything was new to me, the attention, the presence of too many people. Everything...

In a flash, I stood up from my seat and as I grab my things from the side, my books ended up falling scattering on the floor. My eyes widened when Devon suddenly grab a hold of my sketchbook.

"No!" I screamed the moment Devon attempted to open my sketchbook. I can feel everyone's eyes on me and Devon suddenly smirked.

My heart was about to leap out of my chest in nervousness. I was frozen in place and I probably forgot how to breathe.

No.

"What's on this that you don't wa-" he was about to open it once again but my brother stopped him.

"Dev!" my brother growled and I have never seen him so angry like this before, not even when we used to banter when we were kids.

Devon and the boys look taken aback at my brother's outburst. Even I was startled.

"Don't ever open her things," he stated and his voice cold.

Dev looked shaken up a bit but gave back my sketchbook and then, my eyes focused on my brother who avoided my glance.

What the hell just happened?

Still confused about everything, I turned my back on them, my steps very fast until I was sure I was far from where everything had happened.

A long breath escapes my lips. I didn't know I was holding my breath until I felt the need to catch another.

My body halted, unable to move.

Just then, a realization hit me big time.

Fuck. My brother knows...

He knows my secret. That's why he didn't let Devon open my sketchbook.

Holy s**t.