QT: Against My Will (Volume 1)

1.07 - Let's The Cliche Begin! - Crimson Academy

"Hurry please," Bing Shi quickly rushed the girl inside, "I don't want to be late."

To pay back Olivia's favor, Alisa had to take part in managing the restaurant, as per Olivia's wish. She continued to be a cheerful and hardworking girl, but she was just a bit more mature now. Her personality clashed with her appearance as a cool beauty; this gap moe was really too cute for anyone who was close to her.

On their way to school, Olivia glanced at Alisa, showing her a hand warmer, "Be careful around him. You should always bring a hand warmer with you. Here, I got one for you."

"Handwarmer?" asked Alisa doubtfully.

Bing Shi tried to scare Alisa by changing her voice, similar to a dreadful ghost's. "Because he would freeze you if you don't bring it with you." A pity that it didn't sound convincing enough. This sounded more like a joke that was executed poorly, "I was joking. Don't take it seriously. He would freeze you even with the hand warmer. Better bring a coat with you, haha."

"..." Alisa accepted the hand warmer, giggling, not knowing if she should believe Olivia's words or not. In the end, she didn't want to disappoint her benefactor, so she didn't take the jokes lightly.

Bing Shi grinned as she pumped her fist on the inside. Success! As she was observing Alisa's determined look, she warned the other, "It's okay... Even if he is scary, he's still shackled by the law. He won't do anything to you... but be careful of his fans. They're dangerous."

"..." Alisa went silent. She looked out of the car window. Now, she had a huge task. Not only did Olivia pay off her family's debts, but she also helped her grow up as a person.

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Both arrived at school on time. There were students everywhere. Due to the chaos, not many people noticed a cute girl and a cool beauty stepping out of the car.

"Now, you're on your own. Go to the hall and try not to get lost. Message me if you need help with anything. Don't forget, at school, we're strangers," said Bing Shi, leaving Alisa by herself.

Heeding to Olivia's orders, Alisa followed the kids with a tie color similar to hers. When she arrived at the hall, she chose an empty seat.

After the principal's speech, it was Xavier's turn to make an oath. He became the representative due to his remarkable grades, also the first one who was chosen as a powerful student council president. Never before was there a first-year student, who could occupy that spot. Walking up the stairs, he gave out a chilling aura of a cold winter night.

'So he's Xavier Dalton?' Thought Alisa to herself, her heart started thumping. She was flustered that she, too, reacted. Even though she prepared herself by looking at his photos, she was still not strong enough. She carefully took in all his features and tried to ignore his dominating aura. On the inside, she was chanting to herself, in an attempt to brainwash herself that he was only a human and not a magical being of seduction.

While Xavier was giving out the oath, he felt a burning gaze on him, different from others. There she was, looking at him with her fiery eyes as if challenging him for a deadly fight. Without thinking much, he ignored Alisa and continued with his oath.

Listening to all the loud fangirls that thought that Xavier just looked at them, Alisa got goosebumps. 'Miss Olivia was right. The things his fans say...'

She gulped when she heard some of the dark things his fans talked about. She prayed to the poor girl who gathered Xavier's interest.

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After the ceremony, all the freshmen were led to the classes by their homeroom teachers.

"A two-faced fox," mumbled Mark.

"Wet chicken," remarked Grace.

"..." The classmates watched how the famous knight bickered with the infamous princess of the Bacchus family.

Alisa was in the same class as the three most famous people. As she was going to sit at her arranged seat, which was in the last row in the middle, someone kicked her chair. Stumbling down, she landed on her behind, a small wince leaving her lips, she looked up and saw a girl alike to miss Olivia.

"Crazy fox! What are you doing?!" exclaimed Mark at Grace.

"I don't know! My leg moved on its own!" Grace shrugged her shoulders. Since she was always arguing with Mark, she would do things without thinking, in the open, before everyone's eyes. People accepted this side of her, so she saw no point in trying to hide it.

"Apologize to her!" Mark demanded.

"I'm not apologizing," Grace refused his demand. She was in a bad mood.

"I'm sorry for her behavior. She's a bit moody. Maybe she's jealous of your beauty. As an apology, why don't we invite you to lunch?" smiled Mark at Alisa with his gentleman's behavior, a knight in shining armor to the rescue.

A flicker of jealousy flashed through Grace's eyes. Her heart felt something familiar, so she quickly ran out of the classroom.

"Sorry again," Mark said to Alisa and ran after Grace.

"Never mind," Alisa tried to say, but she swallowed her words. She watched with her eyes wide, in bewilderment, as Mark followed after Grace with a loud yell.

'So childish.' Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room turned frosty. Looking up, a male student sat down to her left. Feeling his gaze on her, she quickly stood up and sat at her seat.

When she peeked at him, he was already looking out of the window with an empty expression. He fully ignored the commotion caused by Mark and Grace, as if he was not part of this world.

Xavier Dalton, her rival.

She clenched her fist in determination. She would make her benefactor proud!