Lily

Noah eased into his seat, but the room was different now, charged with whispers and sidelong glances. The same student who'd scoffed at him earlier leaned over to his friend, his smirk faltering just a bit.

"No way," he muttered, glancing Noah's way. "He's just scribbling random equations, right? Trying to look smart?"

But his words went unheard as Ms. Elara's voice cut through the murmurs. "Impressive work, Noah," she said, genuinely pleased. "Your understanding of the material is clear. Keep it up."

Noah caught her gaze for a moment, then looked down, listening as the room filled with soft murmurs, some surprised, others tinged with envy.

More than a few students shot him curious glances, their reactions a mix of skepticism and grudging respect. For someone they'd seen as a struggling student, his performance was... unexpected.

Across the room, Lily's face showed no change. Known for her cold, almost unapproachable demeanour, she was nicknamed the "Cold Beauty."

With long, dark hair and a steady blue gaze, she was the top student, though she wore the title with the sort of disinterest that only made her seem more distant. Other students' reactions didn't seem to concern her, and for a brief moment, her calm eyes settled on Noah. They held neither approval nor disdain, just… something almost assessing.

But after a few seconds, she returned to her notebook, expression neutral as ever, as if Noah's sudden brilliance was just another detail in a long, ordinary day. To Noah, though, that single glance felt heavier than all the rest of the stares combined.

The bell finally rang, breaking the room's tension. Students shuffled toward the door, still sneaking glances in his direction. Noah gathered his things slowly, letting the moment sink in. Lily was already standing, methodically placing her things into her bag without a hint of hurry.

Just as he turned to pick up his own bag, Layla walked over, her expression a mix of irritation and something else—regret, maybe.

"Noah," she said, her voice flat, though her eyes flickered with uncertainty. "I think... we should end things. Not that there was much to end." She took a shallow breath, bracing for his response. She took a shallow breath, bracing for his response.

She continued, trying to stop Noah from begging her not to. "This is fina—"

[Ding! Choice initiated, Please choose carefully]

Option 1: Remain silent.

[ Gain $10,000 Reward]

Option 2: Beg her to not break up

[ -10 Charm]

Option 3: Humilliate her

[Charm +10, Beginner fighting skill and $50,000]

Noah's lips twisted in a faint grin as he thought "Option 3".

[Rewards Granted!]

[Beginner Fighting Skill Rewarded]

[Ding! $50,000 was Rewarded to the Bank account ending in xx04. Current Balance $59,025]

"Break up?" he chuckled, folding his arms. "I must've missed the part where we were dating. If holding hands is all it takes, I'm practically married to my math textbook. We've been really close lately—spending long nights together and everything"

Layla blinked, caught off guard. "That's not what I—"

He raised a hand, cutting her off with an amused grin.

"Relax. You're free to pursue more... academic endeavours."

"Good luck with Mark and those intense study sessions. I hear that quadratic equations really bring people closer."

A few remaining classmates overheard what he said and laughed, the sound rippling through the otherwise quiet classroom.

Layla's cheeks flushed red, and without another word, she spun on her heel and stormed out.

[Charm +10]

Next to Noah, Lily had paused mid-motion while packing up her things.

Her face remained calm, but Noah thought he caught the smallest glint of amusement in her eyes.

As she walked past him on her way out, she looked over, her voice low. "Interesting choice of words."

He shrugged, unfazed. "I thought it was time for a reality check."

Lily gave him a slight nod, a hint of a smile flickering at the edge of her mouth before she continued out the door.

Watching her leave, Noah smiled lightly.

As Lily walked down the hall, a stray thought surfaced, surprising her.

"He's… not bad-looking."Quickly, she dismissed it, forcing herself back to her usual focus. No distractions, she reminded herself.

Certainly not the kind that came with a smirk and sharp comebacks.