Heading home

Rachel looked at Alex who looked back at her. "Hey, why do you keep staring at me? You do know it's creeping me out."

Alex who heard Rachel's question started to think as fast as he could for an answer. He couldn't say anything about the mission or about how she was a potential target, so he needed to explain the situation as something else.

Alex's thoughts were turning, he was taught all forms of weaponry and even had some skills in interrogation but he was very unskilled in normal conversation. It was at that moment he remembered one of his teachers telling him something about girls and something about complimenting their looks.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help it... I couldn't stop staring because of your beauty."

Alex tried to say those lines, without showing anything on his face. Seeing Alex's earnest gaze as he said she was a beauty, Rachel couldn't help but blush.

"I already know I'm a beauty but still staring too much is no good."

Hearing Rachel's response Alex sighed inwardly for successfully fooling Rachel.

"In the first place, you shouldn't..." Rachel started explaining why Alex shouldn't act the way he does. Alex only pretended like he was listening to Rachel's speech but in truth, he was focused on the object flying around Rachel. He slowly approached Rachel his right arm stretching out.

When Rachel saw Alex's outstretched arm she backed away. 'What is this guy doing? Is he about to assault me? Did trapping myself on the roof alone with this guy backfired?!'

While Rachel was having this internal dilemma she realized that she was backed into a wall and couldn't escape.

Alex then slammed his hand onto the wall, 'it was just a fly.' The moment he slammed the wall he looked at the meek-looking Rachel who was blushing furiously, he was about to ask if she was alright when he heard the bell ring, break time was over.

"It seems like break time is over, we better get back to the classroom." Rachel stood there dumbfounded by Alex's reaction. 'Huh, what? He didn't do anything? What the hell was all that about anyway?!' Before Rachel could get her bearings back, Alex took hold of her hand and started walking back to the classroom.

'What! He just suddenly held my hand! This guy must be crazy!' Rachel was blushing, her face was red from ear to ear. "Hey! Who told said you could touch my hand!"

"You're right we will never make it on time if I just hold your hand." Alex then picked up Rachel into a princess carry. Rachel was bewildered as to what had happened. She started flailing her arms.

"Don't move like that, don't be worried I won't drop someone light like you." Alex held Rachel tighter and started running back to the classroom.

'Seriously what's with him, he wasn't satisfied with holding my hand and now he's carrying me, in a princess carry no less!' The students who saw Alex dashing back to the classroom holding Rachel in a princess carry started getting excited.

"Kyaa! Did you see that!? He was holding her in a princess carry!"

"So Rachel has a boyfriend already, and it's a good-looking one too."

"NOOOO! Our Goddess Rachel!"

"Someone needs to punish that BASTARD!"

Numerous screams of excitement, anger, and resentment were heard in the hallway. Rachel who was fully concentrated on her own thoughts couldn't bother with the people's reactions.

When the two entered their classroom, the whole class erupted into an uproar seeing Rachel being carried by Alex.

"So it went well, congratulations Alexander, congratulations Rachel."

"Damn it! I want a beautiful girlfriend as well to carry like that!"

"Heh, dream on how about you look in the mirror. How can your flimsy arms carry anything, much less a girl."

"A pretty girl, and a pretty boy they actually make a cute couple."

"Our Goddess Rachel, why have you forsaken us!"

The reaction inside the classroom varied, Rachel wanted to deny her relationship with Alex but was too flustered to do so. Rachel just absentmindedly returned to her seat not denying or agreeing to anything.

Alex also returned to his seat and continued to observe Rachel. The classmates especially the girls had changed their opinion of Alex, at first they labeled him as a weirdo but now he was labeled as someone passionate.

Rachel couldn't be bothered by Alex staring at her anymore, as she was preoccupied with her own thoughts regarding recent events. Class started again and the same as what happened in the first three classes; the teacher came in and noticed Alex's blatant disregard for the lesson, the teacher tried to embarrass him by asking a question above the standards of a High School student, Alex is able to answer the question flawlessly and sometimes corrects the teacher all while looking at Rachel. In the end, the teachers leave the classroom embarrassed.

School ended and before people could approach Rachel and Alex who left swiftly. Rachel was absentminded while she was walking home. Alex, on the other hand, was following her a meter behind.

When Rachel got her bearings back she turned around and looked at Alex. "Why are you following me?"

"I'm not following you... It just so happens that we're simply walking in the same direction." Rachel looked at Alex suspicious of his statement.

"Really?... Tell me where do you live?"

"Over there." Alex pointed in a direction behind him.

"So you're telling me that we passed your house and you're still following me." Rachel was getting a bit used to Alex's weird behavior and sighed.

"Like I said I'm not following you... It just so happens that I felt like walking in the same direction."

"Really?"

"Really."

Rachel didn't bother to talk with Alex anymore and turned into a corner street. Alex followed her exactly one meter behind.

"You see! I knew it, you're following me. If you don't stop stalking me, I'll be forced to call the police." Rachel dangled her smartphone in front of Alex and threatened him.

"Call them then, like I said I was just walking in the same direction."

Rachel shrugged her shoulders and called the police. A few minutes later the police came, and Rachel explained her situation to them. 

"Is what she saying true?" One of the police officers asked Alex.

"Somewhat, but like I said I was just walking on the same path. I'm not stalking her, it just so happens she was walking the same way I was."

"No matter... How about you follow us to the station, and will sort this out."

"Ok, then officers please handle this situation." Rachel then started walking away, Alex tried to follow but was blocked by the two police officers. Seeing Alex's reaction when Rachel left the police officers felt like Rachel's story was even more believable now.

"Sorry, she can go but you need to follow us to the station."

"Fine then, but before I follow you can I make one phone call." The police officer nodded in consent.

Alex once again called his father.

"What is it this time?" When Alex heard his father pick up the phone, he briefly explained his situation.

"So can I subdue the threat?"

"No!"

"If you're worried about witnesses you know I can do it without anyone noticing that I attacked. So can I eliminate the obstruction?"

"NO!"

"Then what do you want me to do Dad?! The potential target is getting farther away from me. Any longer and she will be outside the range of what I can see."

"Calm down Alex! First, go to the police station and I will bail you out. We will talk about the mission once we return home."

Alex was reluctant to do as his dad says but he had no choice but to do so.

"Affirmative."