NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: My dear Lover
"Why do you always have to be such a dick?"
He heard the sharp voice and turned to see the girl with platinum hair streaked with bluish ends. Her piercing blue eyes glared at him with unfiltered disgust.
'Can't believe I'm seeing this bitch right off the bat.'
He stared at her silently for a moment, then closed his eyes, unwilling to summon the energy to retort.
"Didn't you hear me?!" she snapped again, her voice rising.
He sensed danger too late.
'FUCK!'
Her fist connected with his face, sending a jolt of pain through his jaw.
"Argh," he groaned, clutching his jaw as he glared at her. But it was clear she wasn't done.
'Damn it. She's using this as an excuse to take her anger out on me,' he thought, realizing this situation could escalate fast—possibly ending with him on the floor or worse.
"She just asked for your name, and here you are, acting like your disgusting self again!" she spat, grabbing him by the collar.
He resisted at first, but his gaze fell on her meta-watch, and he froze.
[POWER LEVEL: 7]
"Let go, Ariana," he said calmly, his indifferent expression unchanging despite knowing he was at a severe disadvantage.
[I sense more dark emotions.]
'Why are you even telling me this?'
"It's okay... I shouldn't have asked. It's my fault," a softer voice interjected.
He turned to the blonde-haired girl standing a little behind Ariana. Her braid swayed slightly as she lowered her trembling green eyes, clearly eager to defuse the tension.
"Didn't you hear her? She said it's her fault. Now let go," he said, gripping Ariana's wrist. Her slender hands, deceptively delicate, held an unnerving strength. He tried to pry her off, but she stood firm, her glare boring into him.
"I hate you," she muttered coldly before releasing him.
At that moment, the elevator doors slid open, and she stormed out, dragging the blonde girl along.
"The feeling's mutual," he called after her, loud enough for her to hear.
Her free hand clenched into a fist, her frustration evident.
'Annoying bitch.'
He stepped out of the elevator as well, catching the menacing glares of a few students who had been inside.
'Great. More enemies. Just what I needed.'
'It's your fault... I just wish there was a way to mute you,'
[Everything I said is the truth. You just keep ignoring it.]
"Yeah, sure," he muttered under his breath.
He made his way into the lecture hall, his gaze scanning the rows of seats. From the corner of his eye, he spotted Ariana and the blonde girl heading toward the front.
"Ariana," he muttered, taking a seat midway near a large window that framed a stunning view of vibrant cherry blossoms swaying gently in the breeze.
His gaze wandered back to her, then to the blonde girl.
[Why do you hate her so much?]
"What do you mean?"
[I can feel it—the dark emotion intensifies whenever you look at her. Why?]
"...Ugh, just let me sleep," he muttered, resting his head on the desk, using his arms as a makeshift pillow.
[You're already hiding too many secrets. At least tell me this one.]
"What do you want?"
[That novel you read… I want its contents.]
'So, you want to know the future?'
[Yes.]
'But you already do.'
[What do you mean?]
'You knew I was a villain without me telling you. How?'
He waited for an answer, but none came.
"Yeah, keep your secrets," he muttered sarcastically.
After a pause, the voice spoke again.
[I have a question.]
'What now?'
[That girl from your past. Why do I always sense overwhelming emotions when you think about her? That deep obsession... Why?]
"...Sigh," he exhaled, his voice tinged with weariness. "I don't know. To be honest, when we first met, I didn't like her. In fact, I hated her guts, just like I hated everyone else. But somehow... she got to me. She made me feel things I didn't want to feel. Before I knew it... I had fallen too deep to escape."
The voice hesitated before replying.
[You must have noticed... those feelings of yours. They're not normal. It's as though...]
'Don't say it. Just don't,' he interrupted, his tone strained. 'I know something isn't right with what I feel for her, but, It's just like a drug addict, I want to keep feeling this emotion,'