Chapter 123: Novice in love
The ringing of the bell shattered the peace in the hallway, and suddenly, students started pouring out of their classrooms. They seemed relieved that their class had finally ended, and the corridor filled with their voices, bags slung over shoulders, books in hand, and the shuffling of papers.
People greeted each other, made plans for the break, and hurried along. For me, it was a reminder to pick up my pace. Navigating through the bustling students wasn't easy, but I was determined to reach Alice's classroom before she had a chance to leave.
I quickened my steps, weaving through the students as I headed towards her classroom. It was a race against time, and I didn't want to miss the chance to talk to her. My mind was filled with thoughts of what I would say, how I would explain myself, and whether she would even want to listen.
It was quite amusing to think that someone like me, who could control the thoughts of others, was struggling with a situation like this. Despite my extraordinary abilities, matters of the heart and personal relationships could still confound and challenge me.
Finally, I reached her classroom, and I could see Alice packing her bag at her desk, ready to leave. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding, and approached her. This was it; I had to seize the moment before it slipped away.
"Alice," I called out to her
She turned toward me, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Mr. Zyn? What are you doing here?" she asked, clearly taken aback by my unexpected appearance.
I smiled at her, trying to appear as casual as possible.
"I just wanted to apologize about last time. Do you have any plans after this?" I asked.
She didn't reply immediately and started looking around. It was then that I realized something. I turned my head and saw the other students gossiping about us. The situation was becoming a bit uncomfortable, and I hoped she would respond soon.
[Is that him? I heard he's in a relationship with Ayumi.]
[Yeah, I think he's on a girl-hopping spree now,]
[What a scumbag, he thinks he can just bounce around because he's a little cute,]
I couldn't help but overhear the hushed conversations around us, and it was clear that rumors were already spreading. I had to act quickly to avoid any further misunderstandings.
"Alice, it seems like we're attracting some attention," I said softly. "Can we talk somewhere more private?"
She nodded, looking uncomfortable with the gossip swirling around us. "Sure."
I followed her as we left the classroom, trying to ignore the prying eyes and the judgmental whispers.
Maintaining a respectful distance from her, I continued our conversation as we walked within the campus.
"Are you still angry with me?" I asked
She stopped walking and turned to me, her expression contemplative.
"At first, I was," she began, "but I realized that you have a point." She then resumed walking.
"It's still my fault for saying those harsh words," I replied, taking responsibility for my previous actions.
She didn't respond further, and we continued until we found ourselves in a quite spot .
"Why are you doing this, Mr. Zyn?" she stopped in her tracks and faced me, her expression curious and slightly concerned.
I tried to maintain a calm demeanor, despite the anxiety building within me.
"Doing what, Alice?" I asked, hoping to deflect her suspicion.
She studied my face for a moment before sighing softly.
"You know, I've heard things about you," she admitted, her voice tinged with caution.
"Oh? What kind of things?" I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence.
"Rumors, mostly. About your... tendency to hit on your students." She sighed.
I quickly tried to explain myself.
"I mean to explain about the rumors and the perception some students might have. I want to clear up any misunderstandings."
"Explain? Explain what, Mr. Zyn?"Alice raised an eyebrow in response.
"About the student-hitting part."I clarified
"You don't really have to explain it. You're a young, good-looking teacher, so it's only normal that some of your students will be attracted to you."
"But, I'm not one of those students." She added with a firm tone.
"I..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say, and fell into an awkward silence. This was my issue with her; I couldn't seem to utilize my charisma when she was around. It was as if she were my kryptonite or something.
"I apologize, Mr. Zyn, but I can't engage in any romantic relationship with someone like you," Alice stated plainly, making it clear that she wanted to keep things professional between us.
I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment as she spoke those words. It seemed that my attempt to clear up the misunderstandings had backfired.
"I understand," I replied, trying to maintain a calm demeanor. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just wanted to make sure there were no misconceptions."
Alice nodded, her expression still serious. "I appreciate that, but I think it's best if we keep our interactions professional."
"Of course. I respect your decision." I nodded in agreement.
With a polite bow of her head, she excused herself. "I'll be on my way now, Mr. Zyn," she said, and then turned to leave.
As I stood alone, I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. It was like a bizarre joke - here I was, looking like a total stud, but still getting rejected.
I glanced at my reflection in a nearby window and thought, "Man, I'm hot now!" I was tall, had skin smoother than a baby's bottom, pearly white teeth that could blind others, and an aura of charisma that could rival Idols. Even my voice had upgraded to that of a smooth-talking radio host. But despite this miraculous transformation, I had just received a big fat rejection slip.
I couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Back when I was, well, ugly, I used to console myself with the idea that I was just born with lower "stats" in the dating game of life. But now, as this handsome version of me, I realized that I was a total novice in the fine art of wooing the ladies.
"I have too much to learn ," I shook my head while laughing at my failed attempt.