Chapter 56: Dream walk~
Alex blinked.
"How’d you guys even get in here?"
Paused.
"And how’d you know I was in THIS room?"
Luna froze mid-sip.
Bubble tea straw still in her mouth.
"Wait."
She looked at him.
"Are you talking to yourself or talking to us?"
Alex’s eye twitched.
"Obviously talking to YOU!"
He pointed at all three.
"I’m not sick!"
Luna nodded slowly.
"That’s what mentally ill people always say."
Bob snorted. Turned away. Shoulders shaking.
Trying not to laugh.
Alex groaned.
"Bob, I swear—"
Raven rolled her eyes.
"Stop."
She waved Luna off.
"He’s fine."
Took another bite of watermelon.
"Here’s what happened."
Leaned back.
"Half an hour ago..."
[Flashback - 30 Minutes Ago]
The three of them arrived at the training room area.
Crowd everywhere. Students. Teachers. Principal with his wig slightly crooked.
Ambulance parked outside. Lights flashing.
People shouting. Arguing. Chaos.
Luna looked around.
"What the hell happened here?"
Bob pointed at a stretcher.
Someone on it. Covered in bandages.
"Is that—"
Raven squinted.
"Ethan."
They exchanged looks.
Then slipped into the crowd.
No one noticed. Too busy.
Luna tilted her head.
"Where’s Alex?"
Then they heard it.
From one of the rooms.
"WHY ARE YOU GAY?!"
All three stopped.
Bob grinned.
"Found him."
Then louder:
"PIE! CHARGE!"
Raven walked to the door.
"He’s in here."
[Back to Present]
Raven finished talking.
Alex frowned.
"Okay, cool."
He crossed his arms.
"But you STILL didn’t explain how you got IN."
Paused.
"And hello? Privacy?"
Looked at Raven.
"You’re from a big family, right?" "Don’t you guys have rules about this shit?"
Raven’s face went red.
She turned away. Leaned on Luna’s shoulder.
Didn’t say anything.
Luna smirked. Patted her head.
Bob stayed quiet too.
Alex’s frown deepened.
"What?"
Silence.
"HELLO?"
He waved his hand.
"Look at my eyes!"
Still nothing.
Alex’s confusion peaked.
Then Bob pulled out his phone.
"Bro."
He turned the screen toward Alex.
"Just... watch."
Pressed play.
[Video]
The three of them standing outside the door.
Alex’s voice from inside:
"WHY ARE YOU GAY?!"
Luna covered her mouth.
"Oh my god—"
"PIE! CHARGE!"
Then the door stayed closed.
But Alex BURST THROUGH IT.
Eyes shut. Face intense.
Arms flailing.
Phased straight through the door like a ghost.
Raven’s eyes went wide.
"What—"
Alex spun around mid-air.
Shot back inside.
Through the door again.
Then he bounced around the room.
Invisible walls. Ceiling. Floor.
Ricocheting everywhere.
At one point he flew past Raven.
Hand extended.
Almost grabbed her chest.
She jumped back.
"HEY!"
But Alex didn’t stop.
Kept bouncing. Eyes still closed.
Muttering something.
Finally, he slowed down.
Floated to the center.
Sat down.
Cross-legged.
Still.
The video ended.
Alex sighed. Long and deep.
Ran his hand through his hair.
"Not surprised."
Flipped the hair back.
"Even when I’m asleep, I look hot as fuck."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Bob stared. Luna stared. Raven stared.
Then Raven stood up.
Grabbed Alex by the collar.
Dragged him.
"HEY—"
She shoved him toward the back of the room.
Hard.
Alex stumbled.
"I need to talk to you!"
Raven’s face serious.
Alex’s face went red.
"W-what are you doing?!"
He backed up.
"You gonna force me?!"
Hands up defensively.
"I’m still a virgin..."
Voice trembling.
"Please, don’t—"
SLAP.
Raven’s hand across his face.
Not hard. But firm.
Alex, shut up immediately.
Raven pointed at him.
"Sit."
Alex sat.
Back at the entrance.
Bob and Luna still on the floor.
Luna crunched a sunflower seed.
Spit the shell.
"Want some of my tea?"
Held out the cup.
Bob looked at it.
Then at the straw.
"...With the straw?"
Luna shrugged.
"Sure. Or not."
She grinned.
"Your choice."
Bob’s face went red.
Looked down.
"That’s... that’s basically an indirect kiss."
"Huh?"
Luna burst out laughing.
"PFFT—"
She poked his shoulder.
"Look at you!"
Poked again.
"Already blushing!"
Bob turned redder.
.....
Alex’s side.
Raven sat down beside Alex.
Looked at him.
Covered her face with both hands.
Dropped them.
Grabbed her hair.
Sighed. Long and heavy.
Alex frowned.
"You don’t look like someone about to hit a strip club."
Paused.
"Something wrong?"
Raven stayed quiet.
Stared at the floor.
Finally spoke.
"I have an arranged marriage."
"With another family."
She swallowed.
"Fire-type. Big family."
"Top three in this city."
Pause.
"Their eldest son..."
"He likes me."
Another pause.
"So my family wants us to... connect the bloodlines."
Alex tilted his head.
"How do Rex and Ethan’s families compare?"
Raven shook her head.
"Not even close."
"Heaven and earth."
"Totally different leagues."
Alex nodded.
"Damn."
"You really are attractive, huh?"
Raven lifted her chin.
"You’re just figuring that out?"
But her head dropped again.
Shoulders sagging.
"Don’t you have..."
"Anything to say?"
Alex looked at her.
The side of her face.
Pale skin. Smooth. Soft curve of her jaw.
Eyes downcast. Lashes long. Dark.
Lips pressed together. Trembling.
Beautiful. Painfully so.
He reached over.
Grabbed her hand.
Squeezed.
Raven’s head lifted.
Eyes red at the edges.
Alex kept his grip firm.
"Do you like him?"
Raven shook her head.
"Do you like me?"
Raven opened her mouth.
Alex grinned.
"You hesitated!"
He pointed at her.
"That means yes!"
Raven’s brow furrowed.
She turned away.
"Annoying."
But her hand squeezed his back.
Tighter.
She exhaled.
"The engagement’s already set."
Her voice steadier now.
"Originally it was supposed to be in six months."
Pause.
"But Sebastian convinced my father to delay it."
Alex’s grin widened.
"He’s a good guy!"
"Don’t interrupt!"
Raven glared at him.
Then softened.
"The portal session of assessment in two weeks..."
She looked down at their hands.
"It’s city-wide."
"Everyone competes together."
Her thumb brushed his palm.
"The family will come."
"They’ll watch you."
She glanced up.
"If you perform well..."
"Maybe—"
Alex smiled.
"They’ll cancel the engagement?"
Raven nodded.
Then shook her head.
"Not that simple."
"His background is too strong."
Pause.
"But..."
She looked at Alex.
"It’ll help."
Alex squeezed her hand again.
"Don’t worry."
"I’ll handle everything."
He leaned closer.
"You’re my Cupcake, right?"
Raven’s face went red.
"Alex—"
He lifted her chin.
Fingers under her jaw.
Tilted her face up.
Leaned in.
Closer.
His lips moving toward hers—