Webtoon

6

Atlantis’ POV

I was busy nitpicking the bits of salad in front of my plate when I felt an unfamiliar presence suddenly invading my precious privacy while eating in the cafeteria.

Meat, there should be meat on this f*****g salad.

Not bothering to look up, my eyes stayed glued to my plate, my left hand leaning on my left cheeks for support.

It was probably just doing something for the other table.

The truth is, I don't really have that much appetite. Aside from the fact that the food in this cafeteria isn't really tasteful, the constant churning deep in my stomach is disturbing my ability to pretend that everything is fine.

Earlier this morning, I was called at the office and was given a very important task, something that I don't think I can actually do well. However, seeing that the dean personally fetch me on one of my major subjects, tells me that giving a "No" for an answer is not one of my options.

A long sigh escaped my lips. A minute has passed and that's when I started hearing murmurs around.

"Is he really going for it?"

"That's the transferee, right?"

"I need to see this!"

"Her brother will surely kill him,"

I was still busy picking the greens on my salad when a sound of someone clearing his throat got my attention. Without any interest, I lifted my gaze away from my plate only to be greeted by a pair of hazelnut eyes, his hair tousled messily, his fringe on the side while his glasses hangs perfectly at the bridge of his prominent nose.

From where I was standing, I can clearly see how tall he looks.

All in all, he looks decent, an average geek, though I can say his face doesn't really look average.

He was carrying a tray of food.

My eyebrow raised as I noticed him staring and though I didn't mean to, I started to feel conscious about it, "Can I help you?" I asked meekly. I am never a people person, at least in school but I don't really like the idea of having a rift with others.

"You're Atlantis, right? That kid who topped the dean's list last semester?" he muttered and my eyebrows raised even more.

"I guess I am, do you need something?" I asked amused. The way he was staring at me seemed like he was so determined or something.

"You are?" his eyes widen before he sat immediately on an empty seat in front of me, the first person who had ever tried doing it ever since I came to this university. "Mr. Smith of Humanities told us you're the first person who had gotten the highest grade one can ever achieve for that subject. Can you tell me what you did?" he exclaimed, the glint in his eyes tells me he was very much excited and I was caught off-guard.

Never once did I meet someone so eager to get something, for a good grade to be specific. And I don't really know how to respond.

"Ahh," my back straightened as I try to find the right words to answer him, but before I can even respond, I felt another presence beside and for once I am so goddamn thankful to see this i***t.

"Dan, what are you doing here?" he asked confused and my brows furrowed at the tone of Jack’s voice.

It seemed like he was panicking or something.

"Why? Do you know her? I was just asking her something." he stated and Jack’s eyes wandered across the cafeteria.

"Ask me about it, for now, leave," he stated and even I was confused at how worried he sounded.

"Dan!" a girl with a blonde hair came rushing towards us, her hands landing on the geek's back while his eyes ended up glaring to Jack. "Back off Jack. Not my brother," she snarled and I had never wanted to laugh this hard before. Jack’s face turned pale and his lips almost mummed into silence. But not before he was able to utter the beautiful girl's name.

"Lisa... I'm not, ahhm-" he was scratching the back of his head and I have never seen Jack this shy before.

"Calm down missy. Jack isn't doing anything to your brother," I told her smiling but she ended up glaring at me too.

"Really? Because as far as I know, no guy can come close to you as long as your brother and this prick are around," she scowled and I almost choke on the lettuce that I just ate.

"Lisa, stop!" Jack was looking frantic and I was starting to think there is really something going on behind my back.

"No, continue, please. I'd like to know more about what she just said," I stated, my voice becoming stern.

Lisa looked confused, "You didn't know your brother and Jack beat up some guys your first year? Every guy here knows not to even talk to you if they know what's good for them," she stated appalled. My eyes turned to Jack, my eyes burning.

Finding out someone got beaten because of me isn't something I can easily handle.

"Yah, it wasn't like that," he started rambling. And I gritted my teeth.

"I can't believe you," I snarled. I don't like people coming close to me but that doesn't mean I'm okay with what they were doing. "Why did you do that? And why did you even follow what my brother said?" I asked him, anger starting to get a hold of my emotions.

And why am I so goddamn clueless about it?

"You didn't know? Wow." Lisa whispered and I wanted to cry at the look of pity I saw in her eyes.

My insides started feeling heavy, and before I even knew, I'm starting to feel small inside. Suddenly, the weight of everyone stares is getting me.

I bet they think I am some spoiled brat who gets everything I want.

Ever since they told me weird things about me being a campus beauty, I started noticing everyone's stare. I tried to brush it off but now that I know what my brother has been doing, I feel like more than half of the stares that I was getting was out of hatred and not of admiration. They hate me.

And I feel so bad about it.

"I beat them up because they were pricks. They were sexualizing you and I heard them myself. Are you expecting me, your brother to let it pass?" I turned around and saw my brother and the rest of his friends coming, trays of food in their hands. The look on my brother's face tells me he isn't happy about me finding out.

"They are what?" Noah asked before seating on an empty spot beside Lisa's brother.

"Yeah, they were saying things about Lantis, how she would be nice in bed or something. Me and Josh were passing by and we heard," Jack added and my eyes focused on my brother. He was now seating beside Theo.

He was again avoiding my glance.

"Well if he's still alive, then good. Coz if it was me, he's probably dead already," my cheeks blushed at what the person on my right has said.

On my right I saw Devon sitting beside me. My heart did a mini somersault when he smiled. I didn't even know my lips were parted until his hands reached for my chin.

"Control yourself, babe," he said while chuckling and I had to groan internally at the sight of the amused people around me.

Just why Atlantis? Why?

I bite my lower lip before turning my glance back to the opposite side which was greeted by Lisa's. Her eyebrows raised a little but then the moment our eyes met, it turned into a little smile.

"Besides, I'm not exactly some gangster who would beat up people for nothing. And thanks, Lisa for ruining my image to my sister,"Josh snickered and Lisa just rolled her eyes.

"As far as I know, your image isn't really all that good anyways," I muttered and everyone chuckled.

I wanted to tease my brother but after hearing the reason why he beat up those guys, I can't help but give a smile at him.

He almost choked on his cola when he saw me smiling and I laugh as Jeth rubbed Josh’s back as the other was continuously coughing.

I'm not really sure how to react to how my brother had been protecting me all along especially since I have been used to us not even talking to each other. Lately, I've been noticing how things had been easy for me at school and now I wonder if everything was because of him.

Now I'm starting to think that my brother had cared for me ever since and I just failed to notice it.

Should I actually say thank you to him? But he's still an a*s to me though.

"Lisa, sit down and eat with us," Jack shyly stated and I wanted to laugh at his face for blushing.

Is he crushing on her?

"Yes, Lisa, come and join us. And is he your brother? a freshman I suppose?" Jeth invited the girl and she pouted.

"He is but thanks. I will eat lunch with my friends," she stated before pulling his brother by the ear.

"Please excuse us and sorry Atlantis for bothering you," She smiled and I did the same. "We should hang out sometime," she offered and before I knew it, I was already nodding.

"Yah,Lisa, I'm still asking her something," Dan whined but they look so adorable.

"Stop pestering her. C'mon!" In a flash, the two of them were out of our table and that's when I realized that once again, I was caught in the middle of having lunch with the most famous circle of people in the campus.

"Is that all you're eating for lunch?" Devon’s brow furrowed while looking at my salad.

My eyes landed on my food. It was a decent lunch, at least for me. I mean, the food in the cafeteria isn't delicious if I'm being honest.

Besides, I was too lazy to go outside the campus to eat alone.

Before I knew it, a spoonful of rice with meat at the top was being shoved into my mouth by none other than Devon and I wasn't even able to protest.

My already weak heart started hammering on my chest, the food I just ate was stuck in my throat. I'd probably die any minute. For not breathing and all.

I don't think I can ever do something without getting hypnotized by his soulful eyes. He is exactly like how I portrayed him on my manga, cheeky and always teasing but caring and all.

Perfect. He is everything close to perfection.

"Slow down Dev, you're going to kill her," I heard Alex’s voice which took me off from my trance.

My hands immediately grabbed the glass of water in front of me and chugged a decent amount of it.

"So Lantis, don't you have a speech to make? I mean, I heard you were chosen to provide insights to the incoming freshmen for the next school year?" Jeth whispered and butterflies started swarming on my stomach in nervousness after being reminded of my dreaded future.

Our University caters high school and was connected on the other side of the campus. Unfortunately, I was chosen as one of the three persons to give a speech to those graduating students to encourage them to continue studying and even enroll in our university.

And I am so not ready.

I am very much nervous and I'm not sure I am ready to stand in front of those students.

I mean, I can barely even lift my head when walking, unable to talk with people straight in the eyes. How do they expect me to inspire those kids when I can't even stand proudly on my own?

"Don't be nervous, you'll do great," I heard Dev whispered. My heart stopped beating the moment he started petting my head.

Holy s**t.

If someone will push me off from my seat, they'll probably end up pushing a wall because my body was frozen in place I don't think anybody can move me from my position.

"Why don't you ask help with Noa? He's good at speaking," Jeth beamed and my eyes landed to Noah’s direction, expecting him to say no.

"I'm fine with it as long as Josh is," Noah chuckled and we all stare at my brother who was busy eating his food.

"What? She's old enough to decide for herself," he mumbled. But then he turned towards Noah and my eyebrow raised when he whispered something. The amused smile showing on Noah's face made me curious about what my brother had said.

"Really Josh?" Noah exclaimed and my brother's cheeks turned red. Noah then turned his attention to me. "I guess we'll have to do the speech in your house then. Is tomorrow good for you?' he asked and my mouth formed an o-shaped.

"I actually have classes tomorrow," I whispered, a little dejected. I suck at speech and having some help will be really great.

"What time will your last class end?" Theo asked before eating a spoonful of food into his mouth. He had been silent the entire time I totally forgot about him being on the group.

"Four in the afternoon?" I asked confused.

"Our classes ends at three so we'll just go to your house then," Alex mumbled and my eyes widened.

"You're all going" I exclaimed.

"Well, of course, we're a package," Noah chuckled, "Besides, we had never hung out at your house for so long. And that's because you were there. Seeing we're now all acquainted, I don't see any problem hanging out, do you?" he beamed and my cheeks blushed. My heart rate increases once again.

If every one of them will be there, then that means Devon will be there as well.

With that in mind, I slowly turned my head to my right and realized that he was looking at me all along.

"I'll fetch you tomorrow then?" he asked and I thought I was hearing things.

Did he just say he will fetch me? Good Lord, he will fetch me after my class?

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I asked confused, my heartbeat booming in my ears.

"I said I'll fetch you tomorrow. I'll wait outside your room," he mumbled, his eyes now focused on his plate once again.

This time, I heard him loud and clear.

Fuck, I need to check my wardrobe tomorrow then.