Know her better

"Hah... Did I hear wrong? Do you want to be Jeanne's boyfriend? You should have seen the mirror first. An ugly, poor, and weak man like you is worthless for Jeanne," Shelly voiced her opinion to Ilia with hatred.

Raquel who was beside her nodded firmly. "Commoners like you are too arrogant! You should know your place, don't shame yourself more than this, and go back to your seat."

After hearing the words of her friends, Jeanne did not give her answer to Ilia immediately. She paused to see his reaction after getting those insults. She suspects that the boy will ignore or be angry with her friends but no, his reaction is not what she expected.

Ilia sighed, then said, "I am not as bad as you guys say. I have a nice face even though I'm not handsome. As a writer, I have enough money to sustain the life of a family, although not fancy. I'm not weak either, have you forgotten that I was a reserve player in three sports clubs in this school?"

Shelly and Raquel fell silent. As for Jeanne, she become quite interested and had a good impression of him after he promoted himself. Unfortunately, her interest and impression are just on a level of acknowledging a stranger to what they've achieved, not on the level for a man who will become her romantic interest.

"Even so you're still a virgin," Shelly insulted, again.

"That right, a virgin doesn't have the right to speak." Raquel voiced her support.

"Come on! Not everything has to be linked with I'm a virgin or not!"

The students in the class laughed out loud after hearing Ilia's whining.

As for Ilia himself, he cleared his throat.

"Ehem! Thank you for your amazing compliments. Now, if you can excuse me, girls, I want to listen to miss Jeanne's answer," Ilia uttered sarcasm and ignored Shelly together with Raquel without the slightest hesitation.

"You, commoners! Just watch out!" Shelly threatens but Ilia doesn't care about her.

Almost everyone in this school knows the influence of Shelly's family. So, most of them were scared when facing her in dispute directly. However, fear is not appearing in Ilia's eyes.

Jeanne who saw it was a little impressed. If she recalled about him again, this student was one of the few people who never acted nice to her or asked for her favor by licking her shoes. He also treated her like everyone else, he doesn't care about the contrast in their status.

Honestly, it was quite refreshing for Jeanne.

He's attractive, he has potential, and maybe, Jeanne can give him a job after he graduates. But no, he's not the one she is looking for or wanting as a lover. So... "No, I can't accept you as my lover."

Jeanne saw Ilia down to his knees then prostrate himself to punch on the floor with his hands saying, "Damn it!" Repeatedly.

The students in the class?

They laughed at Ilia.

Ilia cried and Jeanne knew, he had not lost control because he was laughed at by other students, she could see that he was truly sad because his love was rejected.

"Serve you right! Jerk! Cry loudly," Shelly cursed with a pleasing smile.

"As a disgusting insect, you should be always pathetic like this! Now you know your place," Raquel added.

---[+]---

Ring! Ring! Ring!

The bell rings to tell the students that the school was over. It's time for them to go home, to do clubs activities, or which is most picked, to hang out and have fun with friends.

This is their prime of youth. They should enjoy these happy times to the fullest. However, some of them don't have time to have fun. They are burdened and bound by the duties or responsibilities they have.

Jeanne is one of those who has responsibilities. The girl is the sole heir to O'Dea Central Hospital. So, she had to hear messages, business proposals, investment requests, party invitations, and so on from business partners or acquaintances of her parents.

She had to hear the people and read the documents about all of that. Then, she has to make a report and write her decisions about it. Lastly, she must deliver her report to Mr. Winston.

Mr. Winston was her father's trusted subordinate. Now, he takes care of most of the work and issues related to the hospital. The role was entrusted to him until Jeanne grew up and was ready to take over the business.

Yes, he's the one who will examine and consider Jeanne's decisions on her report. He also will explain why are Jeanne's decisions were good or bad.

But now, let's back to this moment.

In one corner of the empty cafeteria, Jeanne gathered with eight people consisting of four students and four representatives from some companies.

So, as usual, like the days before, Jeanne hold this meeting to talk about her parents' connections and hear the things they want to say.

Jeanne approve and was okay with this meeting and communicating with those people. However, she refuses and is not okay to hear all the dramatic words of those people when they relay messages from their parents or superiors at their company to her.

The way they ask for her favor by licking her shoes was not something comfortable to listen to. She loathes and is grossed out of it! She does prefer if they say what they want directly or by making a deal with her.

For two and a half hours or so, Jeanne listened to all of those disgusting words with a friendly smile. When the meeting was over, as soon as possible, she said she was going to stay at school for some time and then flee from them.

The people at the meeting knew Jeanne's habits, so they didn't make a fuss about her action and decided to go home.

Jeanne moved her legs up to the second floor, the toilet was her destination.

She has been holding this back since the first time she spoke to one of her acquaintances this morning. Now, after the meeting, she couldn't hold it any longer. She entered the empty booth as quickly as possible. After locking the door, she vomited the food in her stomach into the toilet bowl.

For some time, she felt the torture she always got every day after school.

"Disgusting," she said before sitting on the toilet and then hugging her knees. Her eyes that lost their light stared at nothingness.