Free Web NovelChapter 30: A Silent Confrontation (Alicia’s POV)
Alicia’s POV:
Dawn rose above the sky. The students stirred from their sleep and started getting ready in a rush. They moved fast toward the academy buses to catch their preferred seats, making sure no one else would take the spots right beside their friends.
A silent competition was created here. Everyone wanted to sit beside the people they felt comfortable with. No one preferred to sit with a person they hated or felt disgusted by.
People live for comfort, not just because they are afraid of getting hurt by the unknown. It is originally because they do not want to destabilize their lives.
Stability is the core key that makes us human. We seek stability throughout our entire lives.
It starts from childhood. Children have to study hard to avoid getting left behind by other kids, so they will not have to work too hard when they grow older.
That illusion drives them forward until they reach adulthood. Later, they finally understand the truth. If they want to achieve true stability, they have to get into some suitable occupation to feed themselves and earn enough income to become stable. That drive helps them get a job.
But even after that, true stability is not earned. The constant struggle still remains. Throughout their whole life, until they grow old, they run after stability. But life doesn’t give them many chances to be stable. Even after settling down, human psychology is developed in such a way that there is always something existing that messes with their peace.
Even these students, who now seek the comfort of sitting around the people they care about, might lose most of them in their lifetime.
Life is never perfect and will never be perfect. Everyone just works hard to push it and make it near perfect. That constant drive is what makes them human.
...
Inside the girls’ dormitory, on the first floor. Inside a room near the end of the long corridor.
A silver-haired girl stood in front of a tall mirror while slowly combing her hair.
A rare hint of a smile tugged on her lips as she stared at her reflection in the glass.
"Hehe... I am getting ready just for you, Alden. So I expect you to stare at me the whole time..."
She picked up a lipstick and applied it carefully on her lips. Her eyes scanned her facial features critically. She adjusted a stray strand of silver hair, ensuring every single detail was perfect.
She stepped back while looking at her whole reflection in the mirror.
"Hmph... I am looking pretty, right?"
She questioned herself, seeking an answer from no one in the empty room.
"Well... I will find out after seeing your eyes on me... Hehe... I am sure you will keep looking at me secretly if I truly do look pretty..."
"Hmph! Let’s go now. I can’t let him wait for me anymore... From my guess, he must have sat alone there. I can’t let my ’darling’ stay alone. Hehe... Just wait for me a little, I am coming!"
She smoothed the wrinkles on her dress. She composed herself and switched back to her usual form, the one everyone called the ’Ice Princess’. Her face turned expressionless as she stepped out of the room. She walked toward the academy gates where the large buses were already stationed, and most of the students had already taken their seats.
As Alicia passed through the long corridor, she suddenly stopped her steps. She felt someone’s presence standing right behind her. She didn’t need to turn around to find out who that person was. She already knew.
"What do you want, Syrene?"
She turned around to look at the red-haired girl who stood behind her. Her bright emerald eyes were staring at Alicia coldly.
Alicia remained calm as she waited for her answer. She tilted her head while folding her arms across her chest.
Syrene stared at her with cold eyes. She stepped forward, her voice flat, leaving no room for excuses.
"I want to have a talk with you!"
Alicia looked at her calmly and replied.
"Nope. I am busy right now. You can pull anyone else to converse with. I am going now, bye-bye..."
She waved her hand casually, turned around, and started walking away.
"Hey, stop! I said I want to talk with you!"
Syrene’s gaze flared. The temperature in the corridor started to rise rapidly, bringing a wave of heat.
Alicia halted mid-stride. She stopped walking and looked back toward her. A small mischievous smile tugged on her lips, completely ineffective against her outburst. Alicia clasped her hands behind her back and stepped forward, closing the distance between them.
She didn’t wear any mask in front of her. She already knew that Syrene knew her real self.
She stepped closer, unaffected by the radiating heat coming from the red-haired girl. Alicia’s eyes were as calm as soft snow.
"So what do you want to tell me? Some secrets you found out? Or are you just wanting to chat around? Hehe... But sorry, I don’t have enough time for your small chit-chat. I have someone waiting for me... So don’t you dare stop me."
Her eyes stared at Syrene with an intensity that expressed she was ready to freeze her fire right there if she wanted to.
Syrene stared right back at her without any hint of backing away.
<Students among the First Year, if anyone is still left, you should come under 5 minutes, or the bus will leave on the decided time.>
The announcement echoed through the hallway.
Both Alicia and Syrene stood there staring at each other for a tense moment. Then, they turned away and started walking their own separate ways.
Alicia moved toward the bus. She composed her expression once again. Her intense gaze remained, hiding behind the rising storm of emotions inside her chest.
She walked toward the bus, passing by Professor Carasina after giving her a polite nod. She climbed the steps and walked inside, continuing down the aisle. She didn’t look at any of the other students. She just looked around, trying to find a familiar figure on the bus. It didn’t take much time to find him. He sat at the very back, very much alone.
’Hmph... Good. Nobody is sitting around him. Just as I wanted... that place beside him is reserved only for me to sit. Hehe...’
She then started walking toward him happily, completely wearing her mask. But it seems some bitch just couldn’t bear to see her happy.
"Hey Alicia, sit here. I have saved a place for you."
Sarah sat in a seat that Alicia was just about to pass by on the left side. Sarah pointed at the empty seat on the right where no one sat. Both she and Edwin sat together while looking at Alicia expectantly. Around them, other students also noticed her coming, and their focus shifted toward her.
’Sigh... It seems that annoying bitch will not let me sit beside my Alden quietly. Should I just freeze her mouth?’
Alicia looked at Sarah, leaned in slightly, and whispered.
"Someone is waiting for me in the back, so I have to go there..."
Sarah looked at her, feeling confused. She turned her head to look at the back seat where a black-haired guy was staring out of the window.
"Oh... Sorry, sorry. I didn’t know. Go on... Enjoy your time. Hehe..."
Sarah started to giggle, while placing her hand on her mouth. Edwin sat awkwardly while looking between Alden and her, and he quickly took his eyes off them, staring at nothing.
The nearby students also noticed their brief conversation, but they couldn’t hear what Alicia whispered, so they just turned around and went back to their own business.
Alicia ignored Sarah and started walking toward Alden again.
’Hehe... Sorry for making you wait for so long, dear...’
