NOVEL NEXT Start of the harassment
The next few days were relatively peaceful. At least for me, I cannot say the same for Lyn. The harassment has started. For now, all they did was talk loudly behind her insulting her. This is their way of assessing the situation. If Lyn chooses to be passive, those girls will feel emboldened to elevate it even more. So, I decided to speak with someone. I left Melanie in class.
“You.”
I stopped blue hair.
“Uh, how can I help you?”
“I give you the privilege of divulging your name.”
“Divulging? What does that mean?”
She thought for a while, I was gracious enough to give her time.
“Oh! You mean you’re asking for my name. My name’s Juliet! Um, thanks for letting me share my name?”
“You pick up quickly, Juliet. I allow you to speak informally to me. Feel free to use my first name but only with the proper honorific.”
“Got it. Miss Athena? Is that one alright?”
“It will suffice.”
Juliet breathes out a sigh of relief.
“Okay. So, what can I help ya with?”
“From what I gather, you are quite close with red hair?”
“You’re still calling her red hair? Uh, I mean, yes. We are best friends!”
“What I call her is my business. I hope you understand.”
“No problem! You can call L-, I mean, red hair whatever you want!”
“Good. I shall offer you a position.”
“A what now?”
“A position. Be grateful that I do not demand for your obedience and subordination.”
“What? Ugh, you keep using complicated words.”
“These are hardly complicated.”
“Anyway, what’s this position you’re talking about?”
“I request for your services as an informant.”
“Informant?”
“Yes. If I have anything, I wish to know. I will ask of you.”
“But why?”
“Because I decided so. Is there any problem?”
“What’s in it for me though? Like, I get that you want me to gossip but what do I get?”
“I offer you nothing. This is an offer after all. You are free to decline.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Unless, you have something you wish? If so, maybe I am generous enough to consider it.”
“Woah. You’re really considering me? I’m a nobody!”
“What you think of yourself is of no concern to me. What I care about is what I think. As such, the very fact that I am even having this conversation is already something you should be grateful about.”
“Uh, okay. Let me think of something.”
Juliet spent some time thinking about it. She looked outside, leaned on the wall, crouched, and other stuff. She was very expressive in her body language.
“Ooh. Got it!”
She finally decided. I wonder what she will request.
“So, how about if I want to talk to you, you will talk to me?”
What?
“Like, if I have anything I want to ask, you can answer. Or if I just want to chat, then you will chat.”
“Ah, you wish for the right to engage conversation with me at any time you choose.”
“Uh, yeah. Something like that.”
“A very peculiar request.”
“I mean, I’m pretty sure that if I tried to talk to you. I would get ignored. So, if you agree, this means I won’t get ignored.”
“You do understand that your request does not entail me to actually go along with anything you say?”
“That’s fine by me. So, we got a deal?”
“I accept.”
“Great! Don’t worry, I won’t force you to tell me anything. Just uh, please don’t ask anything too personal, okay?”
“Do not worry. For now, all I wish to hear is for the current happenings around your best friend.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, there were some noble girls suddenly bothering her out of nowhere.”
Juliet’s eyes widen as she looks at me.
“Wait, did you send those girls after her?”
I smile at her. She also shudders, is my smile really that bad? No matter.
“I do not need to answer that question.”
“Then, can you tell them to stop. They’re seriously starting to bother other people. Like our classmates are even getting affected!”
“That is not my concern. Whatever those girls choose to do in their own time does not matter to me.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it.”
“So, why are they bothering her?”
“Oh! Remember that scavenger hunt?”
“Yes.”
“Well, by the end of it. We got along with the prince’s group. Well, more like the prince and her were getting along. I was just there. Luckily, they aren’t doing anything to me! Just her, wait is that lucky?”
As I expected. Well, I already confirmed it but verifying with an involved party is better.
“What exactly have they done?”
“Oh, for now they keep throwing letters at her. Telling her to go away, to disappear, things like that. When we’re walking in the hallway, we hear voices talking bad behind us. Something about being a slut, whore, hoe and other things. At one point, I thought they were talking to me!”
“So, do you plan on abandoning her?”
“Nah, this ain’t bad enough yet. Besides, she’s my best friend!”
“It is rather surprising that she is your best friend.”
“It’s actually thanks to you!”
“To me?”
“Yeah. She’s been mostly silent in our class in the beginning. She looked good but she always looked angry. A lot of people were worried. Either because they were scared or they just wanted her to not be angry anymore. Then, she suddenly spoke to me asking about you. After that, we hit it off and now she’s my best friend!”
Ah, beauty truly is powerful.
“Then, be grateful to me and worship me.”
“Yes, your highness! Wait, I got too excited. What were we talking about again?”
“No need. You have told me enough. If you can find me, I will give you the privilege of having my time. If I have need for you, either I or one of my people will reach out.”
“Got it!”
“Good. Then, I bid you farewell.”