Paradoxical Love

Chapter 12: Princess of Red Rose

Hearing Ariel he had a crush on her had made me wonder why he had the hots for her.

"Ah, now you spilled the beans yourself. It's already obvious before you told us, I mean before you broadcasted it to everyone." I chuckled teasing him for his blunder.

Normally, he tends to like everyone as he easily gets love at first sight. He may have even fooled himself, sometimes he mistake admiration, timidness, and kindness as romantic love when it's clearly not the case.

"I must die. I must die. I must die." Ariel mumbled death curses upon himself, repeatedly hitting his head on the armchair over and over again. He'd get better in no time so I'll just let him be for now.

I know the feeling of being embarrassed to the point I'd kindly want to jump on the highest floor of the building. I wanted to help him but he was in a troubled lonely mode. I'm not in the mood as I want to experience the fresh air under the plants and trees behind the building we are, maybe I'll hang out there first and cut classes for a while.

"Ged, you take care of him. I'll get a breather outside so you know what I meant." I reminded Ged before going on my own, I'd probably miss at least two classes so it'd be fine. I always get sent to the guidance council because they always know I'm sleeping on the garden's lawn, the grasses were cold and nice it can't be helped.

"Come back Reyler." Ged will cover for me, Ariel grabbed him wanting to die and all. "Hey! Don't pull my polo, Ariel!" They are grownups they can take care of depression.

"Argh! You're going to die with me!" Look at them being feisty and all, I'll be gone before our next subject teacher catches me. It's fine to leave them like that, Ariel has a lively and tenacious personality he's probably over exaggerating.

I went behind where the fire exit was on the ground floor; there is an annoying guard overlooking the front entrance so I have no choice, the path here is the best choice since the beautiful scenery where I always hang out is just near here.

Passing over a few brambles and here I am, among the huge crowns of the trees acting as a canopy protecting me from the heat of the sun, the beautiful yellow irises surrounding and lying on the small blanket of sprouting grasses were spectacular no one would think there is such a spot here in the campus.

I lay on the cold greenery as I listen to the chirping birds, this is totally mine, I thought when I first discovered it, it's as if I arrive upon a fantasy world where peace is eternal.

The breezing winds dance along the branches of the trees, accompanied by the slight sunlight that shines through the interstices of the trees. How I wish this peaceful environment lasts forever.

What a sweet enjoyment of harmony. Sadly the teachers already know this spot so it's a matter of time before I get dragged back. Though they'd never dare considering they only show up during dismissal time, they are aware I'd hide somewhere, and searching for me is a waste of time.

I imagine this afternoon will be the most peaceful moment I'd have today, and I was wrong. A faint voice of someone around my vicinity, I hear the voice of a young lady that I have no idea where direction it comes from.

I looked at the top of the trees, specifically above the branches next to me. There I saw someone, there was a girl with a game console in her left hand peacefully taking respite on a thick branch. Her eyes were closed, maybe she's thinking deeply? Whatever it was, she invaded my personal space.

While I'm confused about how she climbed in the first place, I noticed she's about to move in a much comfortable position when her feet slipped on the tree trunk. I panicked when I heard her loud shriek piercing in my eardrums.

"Ahhh!" She screamed so loudly I instinctively move to her aid, she's going to fall and she'd be in danger at this rate, it's never too late.

"Hey! Grab something or anything!" I instructed her to mitigate the worst possible outcome.

"Huh?" She had been steadily grasping a tree branch with one hand but everything has a limit, she let go of her hand and she would fall, I quickly leaped over the spot where I think she will land for me to save her, I extended my arms assuring she won't be insured at all costs.

"Arghh!" I yelled in pain and in the blink of an eye, I caught her before she gets injured on a big rock awaiting her below.

"Argh... my back hurts..." She muttered, she's touching her body for injuries, and good thing she's now safe. Although the way she landed on my chest and gut was so painful I thought a few of my ribs were broken, she's a little lightweight so I managed to alleviate the damage as well.

Well, the heels of her shoes were right on my thighs and I was lucky I wasn't hurt that badly. The important thing was that she was fine. Who in the right mind would climb a tree wearing high-heels? Where on the continent did this girl come from thinking of playing atop a tree.

She stood up so I expected gratitude since I basically saved her life, but then she stomped her feet and glared at me furiously. "Why...? My game console is broken!" She was so mad I was nervous if I did something she doesn't like.

"Huh?" I wore the blank face acting dumb. Now that she mentioned it, her game console landed on a huge rock, the screen's cracked and I can tell it definitely won't work again. If I ever saved her game console instead, maybe the one that is broken would be her.

Although, the one that caught my attention as she stood in front of me, was her red hair. The light given by the sun bounces off and reflects upon a crimson glimmer; amidst the yellow irises from where her game console fell, her long elegant hair reached to her waist so majestically she kind of look like a princess.

Although I'm sure she should be in the elementary department, she's sitting on the grasses picking up the remnants of her plaything.  Although her dress seems very similar to the girl's uniform of a senior high student.

The only difference is that it looks like hers' is custom-made, the frilly white thing under her skirt, as well as the one with extra fabric on the shoulders were kinda cool, to be honest. Is it cosplay or something? She's such a geek she can wear such a getup on the campus.

She stares at me wickedly like she and I were sworn enemies, though she appears about to cry and pointed her index fingers bearing the malice of hatred.

"You..." She clenched her fists upon her realizing that her thing would never work again no matter if she collects the broken pieces.

"Me?" I looked behind me, I thought there was someone else.

"Who else?!" She frowned, it seems I shouldn't put oil on a fire.

"Wait, where did you come from anyways? The elementary department is behind that huge building over there, you can go now if you wanted." I can't believe I'd regret assuming she was a lost child who had been washed up here.

She threw a tantrum and kicked the wooden log below her in anger. "You just destroyed my SPS including the saved data in it! How can you bring back my hard work on getting the Legendary Sword Excalibur that they only gave away for a limited-time event?! Answer me!"

I was sure she meant I was the one who was at fault that her SPS, the game device broke into parts. The brand of her plaything, Super Play Seven, is the most expensive game console in today's market so I understand if she was enraged, but she was upset because her save data was lost and now she's putting the blame on me for whatever reason she has.

"I don't know what you're saying. I'm not bragging but I just saved your life little girl. Now you're going to blame me for ruining your stupid game?!" I raised my voice and used intimidation to properly put her where she stands. She's an ungrateful girl who has no idea of what I did just for her.

"How dare you talk to me like that! Don't you know who I am?" She even dared to talk back, her pride had no boundary and her personality differs from her small petite stature. She's so small, yet her soul is a brute.

"Who are you?" Maybe she's a daughter of those corrupt politicians here in our city, those kinds of kids were scattered around Saint Legacy University. Brats these days don't know what is the meaning of manners and humility.

"I am the Crimson Princess!" She introduced herself gallantly as she stood like real royalty, she bent forward and stepped her right foot over the left one, her hand's lifting her skirts in a correct stance.

She had a smirk with a smug on her face, maybe she was too caught up in those western animated series about princesses and now she was delusional thinking she's one of them.

"Crimson... What?" My jaw dropped from her imagination, she's literally insane.

Now that I've come to the conclusion, she was caught up in her own world I believe she had a special child syndrome. Annoyingly, my wonderful and precious nap time was ruined just for a brat-level prank like her. 

"Now bow down before me!" She insisted on playing the princess act.

"Get lost..." I whispered and I hear her tone of speech. She was very familiar, especially her hair being accentuated through her outfit, I almost forgot but it seems I remember her somewhere. And that's where I regretted forgetting her existence here in the university.