Temporary Class

The university quickly dealt with the incident in the business class building. They issued a statement that there had been construction damage on the third floor, and that the building would be temporarily closed. Lecture activities were diverted to other buildings in the campus area, which were made into temporary classrooms.

During the interrogation earlier, the campus advised Runa and Mandy not to say anything to anyone about what happened last night. They, and the guards who came to the scene, were asked to sign an affidavit that they would not discuss the incident with unrelated parties.

After Runa felt that she had spent enough time in the toilet, she came out. Still, with her limping legs, Mandy waited for her at the restroom's front door, then they walked together to the temporary class.

"At least they postponed my follow-up exam until next week because of this—" said Mandy. She covered her mouth and looked around, making sure no one heard them. "I almost mentioned it," she whispered later.

"You can borrow my notes," said Runa. She had to be careful not to mention last night's incidents to anyone, not even Mandy. Her best friend didn't know what was really going on and Runa would keep it that way.

She did not do this merely because she had signed an agreement not to discuss it, but rather for her own safety. Because she knew her father suspected her, and Runa didn't want any private interrogation between them.

Now that her ankle is healed, it is difficult to walk with a crutch. She had to concentrate so that her acting looked convincing.

"Thank you. I'll copy your notes as fast as lightning." Mandy adjusted the position of the bag strap that was slung over her shoulder. "Actually, I'm not that excited because for the next few weeks we have to be in the same class as students from other classes."

"Yes, Me, too. But we can do nothing about it."

"Do you know which class we will be in?"

Mandy got her answer as soon as they arrived at the meeting building, which had been converted into classrooms. Because of the limited space in the building, it forced the campus to combine several classes into one.

Runa and Mandy's classroom was on the ground floor. As they climbed the stairs in the front, the students, who had heard the incident in the classroom building last night, whispered while glancing at the two of them. Although they don't know for sure what happened, the university cannot cover the rumors about Runa and Mandy at the scene up.

The students must be curious about what really happened there, but no one dared to talk to Runa. Of course. They know how sharp Runa's mouth is to people who try to find out what they shouldn't know.

Yes, Runa thought, they all would not dare to ask her. But it turns out she was wrong.

"Runa Crown," called a man.

Runa stopped, as did Mandy.

"Yes?" Runa replied as she turned around and kept her poker face.

A young man in a plaid flannel shirt and thick glasses stood awkwardly while holding a cell phone. He adjusted the position of his glasses before speaking again.

"C—can I take a photo and interview you for a bit?"

The question made Runa's jaw clench tightly and Mandy covered her mouth to hold back a laugh.

"What for?" asked Runa.

"I—I'm in charge of covering the campus bulletin… and—and we're planning to write an article about… last night's events." The young man swallowed. "I'm just carrying out the editor-in-chief's orders," he added when he saw Runa's gaze turned sharply on him.

Runa opened her mouth, was about to give an argument, and asked him to specifically name who the editor-in-chief he was referring to when someone interrupted her.

"Good job, Louis. I will take over from here."

Runa, Mandy, and the young man named Louis turned in the voice's direction. Runa sighed as long as she could while closing her eyes when she saw Owen Iverson standing at the top of the stairs.

Of course. It's the doing of this annoying man. How could Runa forget that Owen Iverson is the editor-in-chief of the campus bulletin? This is the reason Runa gave up her intention to join Rumouré, the name of the bulletin for the business campus of Sunbrillo university.

"We're not in his class, are we?" hissed Mandy, who didn't bother to hide her disgust at Owen.

Owen walked over to Runa, then stood between Runa and Louis. "It would be very interesting, of course, if you held an interview with us, Runa. The campus bulletin will be sold out in no time if I put your name on the front page."

Runa lifted her chin so she could level her eyes with Owen's. "You certainly know the answer," she answered in a nonchalant tone.

The smile on Owen's face grew, and Runa glanced at Louis, who had spoken to her earlier, who was now standing with his head bowed behind Owen.

"So the rumor is true? The campus ordered you to zip your lips? Looks like the construction error was just bullshit. The building is not new. If there is a construction error—"

"Are you deaf?" cut off Mandy. "No interviews."

Then she took Runa's arm and led her away from Owen.

But Owen is stubborn as a mule. Instead of leaving because of rejection, he followed Runa and Mandy. "Which class are you in?" he asked.

"Why should I tell you?" Runa replied without looking at him. She continued to walk with Mandy to the classroom.

Inside the meeting building, barrier boards have been installed to separate one class from another. Many students were standing in the hallway, chatting with each other or busy playing on their cell phones.

Owen easily caught up with Runa. Now they were walking together, and almost all eyes were on them as if they were celebrities.

"If we were in the same class, it would be something phenomenal," said Owen. "Imagine. You and I. Two of the brightest students in Sunbrillo."

"No," said Mandy. "You're not one of the brightest students anymore."

Owen scowled at Mandy, who he didn't talk to. "I was talking to Runa, not to you, Bechtel."

"I'm just stating facts," Mandy insisted. "You're no longer the brightest male student at Sunbrillo, Iverson."

Owen laughed. "Ah… you mean the transfer boy named Arden Whitlock? Don't you think he was just lucky or cheating? That brat—"

Owen's words were cut short when they reached their designated class, and the scene inside left him speechless. Even Runa didn't know what to say.

The gang of troublemakers at Sunbrillo were in the classroom, gathering in the corner, smoking and joking.

Like Runa and Owen, the gang fell silent as soon as they saw them, and they made it clear that they did not like Runa and Owen's presence.

"Are we in the same class as them?" Mandy whispered in Runa's ear.

Runa nodded once, a kind of doubtful nod.

In her entire life, Runa has never been in the same class with troublemakers at any level of education. And she was pretty sure there was her father's intervention behind it.

Now her father is not doing that, because there are more important things to take care of.

"Let's sit in the front row," said Owen.

Runa didn't know since when they became a team, but this time she has no choice but to accept Owen's invitation. She couldn't possibly be sitting where the gang was.

Only halfway to the front row, someone called Runa and Mandy. It was the officer who had taken part in the interrogation. He asked Runa and Mandy to sign an additional agreement and reread the results of the interrogation. Since it couldn't be done in class, they have to go to the empty living room in the next building, and when they returned to class, almost all the seats were filled.

There were only two empty seats. One in the front row, next to Owen, and the other in the back corner, where the gang Runa wanted to avoid. But her gaze stopped when she saw Arden sitting in the corner seat, behind the empty seat.

Runa didn't see him before, or maybe she didn't notice.

"Where do you want to sit?" offered Mandy. "It's a tough choice," she added.

Yes, Runa agrees with Mandy's statement. Both hell.

"I'll take the back seat," said Runa, after a while.

Better to be among these dangerous-looking students than to sit next to Owen. After all, the students wouldn't dare to mess with Runa.

She can only pray that her choice is not wrong.

Mandy nodded, understanding Runa's decision, then escorted her to the empty seat in front of Arden before Mandy headed to her own seat.

As happened earlier, the students fell silent as soon as they saw Runa. Runa tried to smile at them, but her lips felt stiff. No one smiled back. Even the girl who was at the same table as Runa looked away from her.

Runa sighed while raising an eyebrow. She wishes they will return to the classroom building soon. She pulled up a chair and glanced at Arden before sitting down in her own chair.

Arden was closing his eyes as he leaned back in the chair. His arms crossed, his legs stretched out on the table. His expression conveyed peace and seriousness. White earbuds are attached to his ears. Looks like he's listening to a song, Runa thought.

Not long after Runa sat down, the lecturer came and the lesson started.

---

Hunter nudged Arden in the ribs with his elbow.

"The lecturer's here," he said.

Arden didn't really hear what Hunter was saying, but he opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was long brown hair that gleamed in the sunlight from the window. Is a familiar sight. A figure he seemed to know well.

Arden blinked as he lowered his legs off the table. When he removed the earbuds and put them in the case, Hunter said, "Can you believe it? We're in the same class as Runa Crown."

Then Hunter glanced at the girl sitting in front of Arden.

Arden's gaze hardened and stuck on Runa.

There were many things he wanted to know about this girl.