21 Chapter 21: Evasion (1/2)

”Then I would like to exercise my right to refuse that right,” I replied automatically.

Everyone stared at me. I shrugged. What? Was there anything wrong with what I said? Only Doug Daniels looked amused, but everyone else seemed to be staring at me as if I had grown an extra head or something.

”You're refusing me?” Cecilia Stuart asked incredulously.

”If you asking me to be your boyfriend, then yeah. I refuse.” I nodded judiciously, wondering if I could leave now. This was a complete waste of time. I wanted to go to class already. Getting involved in all this romance bullshit and teenage angst and drama was not worth my time at all. I had much better things to do.

”You're kidding me!”

”Is he serious?”

”I didn't hear him wrong, did I?”

The students gathered in the courtyard were whispering and murmuring to each other in disbelief. Either a lot of people had decided to skip class to watch the Crowley Academy students leave, or they didn't have any lessons scheduled for the morning. Not that I cared. What they did with their own time or timetable was none of my business.

Furthermore, I was too tired to deal this bullshit. It had been an unnaturally long morning for me, with so many things happening all at once. Ironically, this felt more exhausting than yesterday, when I practically singlehandedly blasted through five consecutive matches.

”Is he gay?”

”How can he refuse such a beautiful girl?”

”What an idiot…I would jump at the chance if I were him!”

This was getting stupid. I was not obligated to date a girl just because she was beautiful. Even though I had heard of Cecilia Stuart before, I was not familiar with her at all. Hell, this was the first time I had actually met her face-to-face. And what I saw didn't give me a favorable impression. She was cold, and arrogant.

Beauty was useless if her personality was ugly. While I admittedly found her physically attractive, her condescending attitude turned me off. If the other guys want to go out with her, they were more than welcome to.

Cecilia studied me for a moment. ”You do know that I'm from the Stuart family, right?”

”Yeah.”

”And you still refuse me?”

”Yeah.”

”Even though I'm from the Stuart family?”

”So what?” I was getting irritated. Using her family to intimidate me now, was it? Or did she I was somehow obligated to go along with whatever she said and be her boyfriend just because she was from one of the top ten families who served as the pillar of the Federation? What kind of logic was that? I didn't care if she was a princess or a goddess. Her attitude and arrogance pissed me off, and that was all that mattered.

Cecilia seemed as if she didn't know if she should be impressed or outraged. She sighed and shook her head. ”You'll regret this.”

”I'm already regretting volunteering for the matches yesterday,” I muttered as I shut my eyes, feeling a headache pounding through my temples.

”Don't say that.” Doug looked a little hurt, though I could tell that he was joking. ”I had a great duel with you yesterday.”

”Yeah, but it is more trouble than it's worth.” I sighed wearily. ”I'm having a bad day, and it looks like it's going to get worse.”

Cecilia narrowed her eyes. ”That's not an excuse.”

”Excuse?” I met her gaze evenly. ”I'm not offering any excuses. I just don't want to deal with your nonsense. I already said no, and that's that. If you have a problem with it, that's too bad. I'm not obligated to cater to your every whim just because you're from the Stuart family. I'm not your slave.”

”Fair enough.” Cecilia folded her arms. ”Then what are your conditions?”

I gaped at her for a moment, not comprehending. What was this girl on about? ”Conditions? What do you mean, conditions?”

”What do you want in return for being in a relationship with me?” Cecilia was pondering on the matter. ”Money? Status? I can give you the resources you need for developing your magic. I heard that you're having some trouble with your current ranking. If you enter the Stuart family, I can provide you with everything you need.”

I stared at her, astonished. Was this girl serious? Just what did she view other people as? Did she think I was trying to ransom her?

”You misunderstand. I don't want anything. I don't want to be in a relationship with you. It's that simple.”

Cecilia's frown deepened, as if she couldn't comprehend the possibility that a guy would reject a beautiful girl of her stature.

”I find that hard to believe. I don't mean to boast, but I'm pretty confident in my appearance, and my background…”

”Captain…” Doug began, smiling politely. ”I don't think that's the issue here. And I don't think it's productive to force the issue. If Richard doesn't want to, then don't press him.”

Thank heavens. I had an ally here. At least there was one person who saw some sense.

However…

”You cocky brat! Don't get too full of yourself! Who do you think you are, rejecting Cecilia's confession?”

Hal Gunther was glaring at me. Teacher Cure must have healed him completely yesterday, for he seemed fine right now. Somehow I wished she didn't heal him fully. The bastard deserved to be bedridden for a few more days.

”Just because you won against our team by yourself doesn't mean you can get all high and mighty!” Elena added angrily. ”How dare you reject our captain's kindhearted offer?!”