Club fair

After leaving the school building, I got a text from the Pottery Club President. I checked the text and regretted it instantly. 

—

Pottery Club President: Emmelyn, please come to the Club building and help us promoting the Pottery Club. This is an obligation for all new members!

—

Damn it, I couldn't act like I hadn't read it either. Because it was a WhatsApp text, so the blue ticks marked that I've read the text.

I sighed and then walked to the club building. The building was still crowded, with students jam-packed in the corridor. The clubs each opened their registration desk in front of their club door. 

The students flocked each club, though I could see that one club was more popular than the other, including the ever-popular Cheer and American Football Club. 

The American Football Club was flooded with boys who wanted to join and girls who wanted to see the main attraction.

"KYAAAH! MASONN!" 

"MASONNN!"

Ugh, those girls really didn't know how to stop. I got it. Mason was dreamy as heck. But they still disturbed the students who wanted to sign up for real. 

Mason also looked overwhelmed. But as always, he said nothing and only smiled at his fangirls, much to the Club Captain's dismay. 

I heard him yelling at the girls to leave but was ignored. 

Well, I had nothing to do with them—for now. So I went straight to the Pottery Club. I saw the Club President, whose name I instantly forgot after submitting my application letter before, standing alone.

Nobody really looked at the Pottery Club seriously. It was such an unpopular Club in this school.

"Good morning," I greeted. The President's face brightened once she saw me. 

"Oh, Emmelyn! I'm glad that you're here. I've been sitting alone for a while," the President said. 

I smiled perfunctorily. I didn't want to do this either, but I had to, or I might not be accepted, since the Club President had complete control over the admission. 

"President, how about that one guy who submitted his application letter before me?" I asked. I didn't want to be the only one who got dragged into this.

"Ah, he came earlier. But I couldn't keep him for more than an hour. Because he looks too intimidating," the Club President sighed. "There are few girls who got attracted by his looks, but he scared them with only one glare. He is that scary."

"If only we have someone like Mason Hall in our Club…."

Yeah, if Mason was in your club, then I wouldn't even touch your application letter. 

And that guy, not only an asshole, he was also intimidating to everyone. So he was hopeless aside from his money. 

We sat for a while, and I saw few boys started coming in my direction, but I could detect their line of sight. They didn't even look at the booth and all the ceramics lining up. 

They stared at my boobs instead. 

I got uncomfortable right away, remembering how these racks were also the cause of my bullying in my previous life. Since I wore a white shirt, I could do nothing to hide it except by turning my back or glaring at them. 

I got too uncomfortable and excused myself to go to the toilet.

I passed the American Football and Cheer Club, I saw Mason was still standing there, and our eyes met for a second.

I held my breath and halted my step for a moment, simply because I could see his gaze darkened when he saw me.

I got nervous, afraid that he might call my name in front of his fangirls, so I rushed as quickly as I could. 

I entered the empty bathroom and was breathing heavily.

"Fuck, that was close."

For some reason, I always got nervous whenever it was about Mason. Anything about him always reminded me of my trauma in my previous life.

Because he indirectly turned me from the quiet kid who got bullied by one or two students into that kid who became the punching bag of the whole school. 

Okay, I need to leave this place as soon as possible. I should grab my bag and then leave. I didn't want to get noticed by anyone, and who knew Kristen might come here sooner or later, though I doubted it.

But I should be careful and cautious of my surrounding. 

I opened the bathroom door, planning my escape from this Club Fair, but I saw a man had been waiting for me in front of the bathroom.

He had blonde hair and blue eyes. It seemed that he wore a contact lens today. But what made him stood out was his breathtaking appearance. 

He smiled at me and commented, "I thought you wouldn't leave the bathroom, Em. What took you so long?"

"Mason…" I called his name subconsciously.

"Mhm... I've been waiting for a while," Mason said, still with the same gentle smile. "I come here to give you this—"

Mason spread a jacket from his hand and draped it on my shoulder. 

"This is…" I could smell sandalwood smell inside the jacket. I stared at him with both fear and curiosity, "What is this for?"

He zipped the jacket high enough to cover my boobs and commented, "I saw that you're wearing a white shirt. Although you look gorgeous, I don't think it's safe for you."

I gulped. If someone out there saw me with Mason's jacket, then that would be my death sentence.

"I—I don't need this," I tried to take out the jacket, but Mason suddenly grabbed my wrist.

I looked up and saw his gaze darkened. It wasn't like the usual sweet Mason.

His eyes peered at me with such pressure that I froze on the spot.

"You need it," Mason stated without any room for a debate. "I will never let them stare at you with their lecherous gazes."

"Wha—" 

I was speechless, but before I could react, Mason's expression returned as if the previous pressure was nothing but a mirage. 

"Don't worry, it's my new jacket. Nobody will know that it's mine."

Mason turned his back and walked away, "You can return it Monday, early morning. I'll be in the schoolyard. You're also coming to school early on Monday, right?"