Jealousy

The next day, when Xavier, Albie, and Mason walked into the classroom, they found Emma already seated in her usual spot. Xavier casually walked to her side and took his seat, but the moment he sat down, Emma stood up. Xavier's eyes squinted, but he didn't move or look at her.

Emma walked towards the adjacent row where Mason and Albie were sitting and stopped beside Mason. Mason and Albie looked up in surprise. Mason raised his brows. "Is something wrong?"

The whole class was watching the interaction between them. Among the onlookers were Alia and her gang, who eyed Emma with envy and barely concealed disdain, wishing they could push her away. Emma noticed everyone's stares, including those of the mean girls, but just as she hadn't cared before, she didn't care today either.

Emma handed him her notebook. "I just wanted to return this," she said quietly.

Mason quickly waved his hand. "No need to thank me, like I said yesterday."

Emma pursed her lips and nodded.

"By the way, if you need notes for any other subjects, let me know. I always keep mine organized," Mason added.

Emma's eyes widened in surprise. She already had Kai's important notes, but Mason's notes had shown her how to make efficient running notes. She understood and memorized important points swiftly and easily. She was tempted by the offer but felt ashamed for never greeting Mason or his friends before, let alone treating them as friends or seniors.

She bit her lower lip and said nothing, but her interest was obvious to Albie, Mason, and Xavier.

Mason chuckled. "Don't worry about it. They’ll be more useful to you than sitting around in my room."

Emma gave a faint smile, which Mason noticed in her eyes. He felt intrigued by her genuine expression.

Emma bowed slightly to thank him.

"Hey, no need for that. Give me your number, and I'll text you when my driver brings the notes," Mason suggested.

Emma nodded and handed him her phone. Mason quickly entered his number and called himself to save her number.

"Wow, who knew the way to your heart was through your notebook, Emma? I've been trying to get close to you all week, and this is how you repay me? You give your number to Mason, who you barely know?" Albie teased.

Emma looked at Albie like he was a clown. She never understood him. She knew he meant no harm, but she couldn't fathom why he tried so hard to befriend her.

She gave Albie a blank look before taking her phone back from Mason. Walking back to her seat, Emma immediately felt a cold vibe from Xavier beside her.

She turned slowly and saw Xavier playing with his pen, exuding a cool attitude, but she sensed something off about him. It felt like he was restraining himself from reacting physically.

She tilted her head in confusion. She had never seen any emotion from him before. Emma felt the chill and tried to avoid provoking him.

Xavier had felt nothing until he saw Emma walking towards Mason. His eyes squinted with immediate displeasure. Watching her interact with Mason, even if she wasn’t talking much, irked him. She looked comfortable with him.

Xavier had tolerated Albie's nuisance, but Mason was different. Seeing Emma give her phone number so easily to Mason made his anger boil over.

He had never had the chance to talk to her properly. Albie had proposed friendship, and then Mason, with his notes and helpful nature, got closer to her. Xavier felt like punching a wall.

Since yesterday, he had been seething at how she did nothing about the insult she received. He wanted to yell, but he felt powerless. Seeing Mason and Albie close to Emma only fuelled his frustration. He couldn't even understand his own feelings but knew he wanted to lash out.

All he wanted at that moment was to hit something.

Class dragged on, and Emma felt more suffocated with each passing second. She couldn't pinpoint the reason because every time she glanced at Xavier, everything seemed normal. It felt like she was overreacting or being overly sensitive. For the first time, sitting beside Xavier was uncomfortable for her. She kept anxiously watching the clock, wishing for the class to end as soon as possible.

As soon as the class ended, Emma hurriedly stuffed her things into her bag, eager to leave as quickly as possible. Watching her rush out as if being chased by a ghost, Xavier's lips twitched in amusement, while Albie and Mason looked at her in confusion. They then turned to Xavier, who remained nonchalant, casually twirling his pen.