Respirator

The timing was perfect. I got inside the classroom right on time, so Jasper, who looked like he was about to explode, didn't get the chance to display his pitiable wrath.

And with the advantage of being used to the stares of so many people, I managed to ignore the daggers being thrown at me. Not that cursing me with his eyes would amount to anything.

But of course, he'd continue to corner me once the class finishes. 

In the past, I would've just listened to the nonsense so that I could leave faster, but today seems to be a great day to ruin people.

I decided to turn on my phone's voice recorder. I also clipped a mini camera onto my lapel for twice the fun.

Then I rush towards the door, knowing that someone's hot on my tail.

"Eli! Eliana, stop right there!" Jasper immediately called out.

Today was a really busy day, but I was once told that it didn't matter how busy the day gets, provided you never forget to ruin someone's life. After all, that is what would invigorate you. No wonder I was like a wilted flower for so long. Maybe I was just lacking in nefarious deeds.

So I turned around and asked for good measure. "What? Are you finally ready to submit your missing deliverable?"

"Eli. There is no need for all of this. You didn't have to make things complicated. It would've been fine if you had just apologized."

Ideally, un-trained people shouldn't be caught diagnosing mental illnesses, but Jasper's just embodying it now.

"What are you on about? Are you high?" Because you really sound like it.

"You're projecting. Stop that."

Wow. Projecting? Big word coming from someone with a singular brain cell. How long did it take for him to come up with that?

As if speaking to a child or something much worse for most children would be doing better than him, I indulged his nonsense. "Enlighten me as to what I'm projecting?"

"You're dating Lucian to get back at me and Alexa. You're trying to come between us by using Lucian."

"I'd like to hear more of this plan, so tell me how you think I'd come between you by using Lucian."

His eyes narrowed, and considering his already small eyes, it was not really as threatening as he was probably imagining.

"Alexa once told me that she had a past with Lucian, so you're using him to break us apart." 

"Oh no. On the contrary, I'm beyond thrilled about you guys staying together. Since I've long realized that you're perfect for each other." I tell him sincerely.

"You're just saying that because you're still hurt."

"Hurt?" I pause to look at him. This guy really thinks he's the shit.

"That would entail causing me pain or injury, Jasper. But all I could muster for you is anger. And even that is pushing it."

"You're just bluffing, trying to make me jealous." Frankly, the look on his face was pretty crazy.

"And why would I bother to make you, of all people, jealous? What exactly were you imagining in that brain of yours?"

"Stop this hard-to-get act. You're always so high up on your horse, but in reality, you just want attention. I once considered forgiving you and giving you another chance, but you're being too petty."

"Pardon? Did I just hear you say that you wanted to give me another chance? And what were you planning on doing to your new fiancee, Alexa?"

"Alexa would've understood, unlike you, she's magnanimous."

What part of her is magnanimous? If she's magnanimous, then I must've been a saint!

"Jasper, I never thought that I'd have to spell this out for you. But there could never be anything more between us. Not in this lifetime nor the next. As a cheater, you'd never have control over my life, my partner, or my forgiveness." If I could use a hammer to hammer that onto his brain, I would do so.

With his fingers pointing at me accusingly, he says, "How dare you say that when it's all because of you!"

"Me?" I scoff at his wild imagination. 

"That was all your fault! If you hadn't been too frigid and did your duty to please me, none of that would've happened!" He screamed at me.

I laugh at his childish argument, "So you're saying that you wouldn't have been caught fucking Alexa during my own birthday party had I not been frigid?"

"Or was that the excuse for being caught embezzling company project funds to fund Alexa's lifestyle?"

Jasper may have finally realized that he was screaming in public, so he hurriedly started calling me a liar. "You're lying! Stop making things up!"

"We could replay the footage, though? Maybe others could rate your performance? Alexa kept on asking for more after all." I shrugged at his attempt at saving himself.

Jasper then attempted to hit me. This idiot actually went to hit a person right in the middle of a populated university in broad daylight.

But just as I was going to block and retaliate, his poor excuse of a fist stops.

It was then that Jasper started moaning in pain, as his wrist got bent at an angle that screamed "hospital visit".

No need to look, his scent was so familiar that I easily complained. "I was going to defend myself."

"I know. But then you'd have to touch him. Why dirty yourself?" Lucian was nonchalantly speaking while squeezing Jasper.

"Let go of me, you bastard!" Jasper screamed at Lucian, who simply rolled his eyes.

Jasper's physique was merely a facade, the guy only bothered to look it, but couldn't actually use it.

On the other hand, Lucian has been training since he could walk straight.

"How long have you been here?" I casually asked Lucian, like there was no one writhing in pain next to us.

"Since he claimed that I had a past with Alexa." Lucian looked disgusted.

"I don't have the habit of collecting waste. A past with her would be unthinkable."

"Liar! You say that, and yet you're with her? Who are you kidding? It is clear that she's got nothing to offer but her looks and wealth. She's nothing but a frigid doll. So how could you say no to Alexa."

Lucian looked over to confirm if he was hearing him correctly. "I figured why I had zero recollection of her when she introduced herself the last time. I realized that she had remodeled her face too much. It had no resemblance to her original face."

This guy, hey, even I avoided using that against her. After all, I have no qualms with people trying to feel more confident about themselves, but Lucian was a different kind of animal.

"So how could she ever be compared to Eli? They're not even in the same division."

Jasper's snarling has lessened. He was probably surprised to learn about Alexa's plastic surgery. Now, he looked mostly confused.

But this determined idiot still refused to back down. "That's just you covering up for Eliana's disability. It doesn't matter how good she looks when she's incapable of using it!"

I stared at Jasper, who had just come out of an auditing class but learned nothing.

Oh, fuck it all.

I turned around to face Lucian, wrapped both arms around his neck, and then pulled him in for a kiss.

It was sudden, and I was sure he was caught off-guard, but Lucian took no time to respond. And his response was primal—like he actually needed this.

We were in public, and it had been noisy and lively since earlier, but right now, I could hear nothing but my own heartbeat.

I didn't mean for it to be deep, but Lucian kept on going, nibbling at my lips to seek entrance, which I gladly granted.

So kissing was supposed to feel like this. With Lucian pulling me closer with his free arm, he deepened the kiss. Even my waist felt hot and tingly.

His tongue intertwined with mine, and his minty breath, feeling ticklish, made my legs feel like jelly. Or maybe it's because I'm close to gasping at the lack of air.

Then, Lucian pulled his lips off mine, chuckling while telling me to breathe. He even dropped kisses to the sides of my mouth.

I felt like I needed a respirator for that. And let's not talk about my face. I don't have to check to know because my face feels hot, and it's making me want to take the loser's route of running away.

"Can't really do anything about you not being good enough for her. You can't blame her for your incompetence."

I wanted to continue hiding in Lucian's embrace, but I suddenly remembered the smushed-up mini camera, so I turned around to capture Jasper's face. Rina is going to want to see this.

There! That's the face of utter defeat. So what did him in was the damage to his sexual prowess? How stupid can this guy actually get?

With a smile so dazzling, Lucian motioned for Jasper. "Now, you could willingly walk to the teacher's office, or I could drag you. Your choice."