Chapter 11: Encounter

"Ryan Knight, I know that he is the son of a rich man, the Knights industry founder, but he is a generic second-generation rich man. He always sleeps in class, he cheats during tests and he always pays for his assignment to be done by others. The only noteworthy thing about him is that he didn't bother other people." This is Gwen's impression towards Ryan. 

She was preparing for the exam when she heard someone calling her. "Hey, are you in thermodynamics class? ". She turned to look at him. The guy was wearing a checkered shirt with a jacket, carrying a sling bag, with a mask on his face. Although the mask covers his face, she knows who the bastard is. 

She got mad even seeing his face, because she once was his partner in class assignment. 'Ryan' doesn't do anything to help. Then, he transferred 10,000 dollars to her account and said it was a gift. She disdains this type of behaviour. "And how the hell did he know her account number!?"

As a scholarship student, she hates anyone who took their studies for granted. She returned the money immediately and when she told the faculty about it, the professor couldn't do anything but smile and say "Knight's family is one of the university's biggest donors. He's untouchable." 

She thought that was bad enough, but now he even had the audacity to forget about her even though she had confronted him just weeks ago. From Ryan's behaviour, she knows he wasn't joking.

" How could he not know me!? ", she thought in frustration. She tried to calm down and say with gritted teeth "why are you being weird , we had the class assignment together." 

She tested him. She thought maybe he just doesn't pay attention to who he was talking to, but then his reaction is that he's surprised? And a little fear? She is confused by Ryan's reaction." Did you forget me? "

Ryan stutters a bit and says," Of course, you're in my class. Miss…."  His voice trailed off, she  could tell he didn't know her name. She said loudly with an angry tone "GWEN! Gwen Stacy!" 

Gwen doesn't know that her name makes Ryan's mind short circuited. "Gwen Stacy? THE Gwen Stacy? From Spiderman?" His thoughts are a mess. "Of all the people that I  could ask, I had to ask Spiderman's girlfriend." And she also seems to know him. 

He panicked! Dana didn't tell him anything about this. Didn't he say he didn't have any friends? He become dazed, his eyes aren't focusing, and Gwen notices that. 

" Are you okay Ryan?" Gwen asks. Ryan is wearing a mask. Although she's mad at him, she also thought he might be sick.She regretted a little bit for yelling. She also notices that the guy is relatively skinnier than what he used to be. 

Ryan snaps out of it, he looks at Gwen again, "She does bear resemblance to her character on screen, but much more beautiful." he thought. "I'm okay, I just want to ask where the exam hall is". Ryan wants to quickly finish his main purpose of asking a stranger and just take the exam quietly. 

"The exam hall is on the left wing. You can just follow me to the place" said Gwen. Although she has a bad impression on Ryan, her experience as a student counsell in highschool conditions her to help her fellow peers. 

"Wait a minute!", a bad thought arises in Gwen's mind." Take off your mask!", she demanded. 

Puzzled, he complied with it. He takes off his mask and reveals his face. 

"Ohh", she is a little bit stunned. "Has this guy always been this handsome?", she thought in her heart. She asks him to take his mask off as she thought maybe he hired someone to take his exam for him. Hence, the mask. "Nevermind, you can put it back on". 

Ryan blurted out "You are a weird fella, aren't you?". He didn't realise what he said until it's out there. Gwen becomes angrier. "YOU'RE THE WEIRD ONE!" 

She didn't want to talk to the guys any longer. But her experience as a student counsellor makes her couldn't abandon a student in need. She hated herself for this. She thought in her heart "why do you even bother to take the test, it's not like you've studied". It sounds mean, but it can't be helped. 

Her thoughts on the guy are bordering eternal hate. She even wants to punch his face sometimes. Her feelings become like this after Ryan tries to pay her to do the assignment. Before that, she was just indifferent . 

He sits down near Gwen until the time for the test. He then opened the lecture book and made some revisions. He notices Gwen's contempt when their eyes meet. His skill on psychological cues warn him about it.

"I'm just a shadow, just a shadow", he plays the mantra on his head to try to make his presence as low as possible. While trying to become an ant, he doesn't notice that Gwen is surprised to see him with a book. She thought "maybe he'll try to cheat again in the exam" . Gwen's eyes linger on him for a while before she goes back to her own book. 

Nearing 9 o'clock , Ryan follows Gwen to the exam hall like a baby duck. He maintained at least a three meter distance  and quietly followed her from behind. He couldn't even appreciate the beautiful back view as he was nervous. In the exam hall, to his nightmare, Gwen's seat is located behind him. 

Being near someone who you know hates you is really uncomfortable . He took the exam in cold sweats. He can feel Gwen's glare from behind him once in a while. If the talisman doesn't show that Gwen has no malice, he might think the girl wants to shoot him. 

After the exam, Gwen asks him before he can sneak away, "How is it? Can you answer the questions?" By the end of the test, he notices she looks very proud of her performance. 

Honestly, the test is easy for him. But he didn't know how to tell her that ,without making her hate him more. 

His finger scratched his cheek and he mutters "Well,....", while he was debating internally on how to play this, he noticed a gloating expression on Gwen's face. Gwen said "It's hard when you can't cheat right!''. She is very happy as she thought the bastard did badly in the exam. The guy is stunned hearing the accusation. 

She is not wrong to make the assumption. She notices that Ryan is restless during the exam (because of her), and now he has a helpless  expression. (also because of her, he just want to leave quietly) 

Some of Gwen's friends call her saving Ryan from his predicament. He swears he saw that Gwen snorted before leaving. Ryan sighs and hopes in his heart that he will never meet her again. He swears to not make any more rookie mistakes . 

After taking his second exam, he went home and memorised the entire university structure and map. He also checked his relationship with Gwen, and it turned out they were partners before. "That's why she is so mad". Just to be safe, he memorised all his partners in class. 

"Wait, there's something else I need to do first!". He made a call.  After ringing for a while, the person on the other side picks up the call. "What's going on?" 

"F*ck you Dana!". Ryan hangs up after cursing the guy. He felt a little relieved after doing that. 

The next day, he only has a psychology exam, then the rest will be held next week. He meets Gwen again in the exam hall, this time he greets her calmly. "Good luck with your exam". He tries to be nice, but Gwen *hmph* and walks away. 

Mythic : You must have done something wrong.

VampireKid: or she just hates your face. 

TheDoctor: or hates your guts. 

Hydra : thanks guys, really helpful. 

When he shared his predicament in the group chat. All of the others laugh at him. The worst one is VampireKid

VampireKid : You must be a kindergartner. Go and study more so you can go to school. A cute little baby should stay up so late. 

Turns out the guy transmigrated into a 1000 year old vampire. He's the oldest one in the group. Ryan couldn't be outdone, so he insult back. 

Hydra : Didn't your bones already rot? How can you type?

They curse each other before Mythic chimes in.

Mythic: Is Peter Parker also there? Didn't they meet in high-school? 

Hydra: Nope, Peter Parker is only 6 years old. Unless he is dating Milf in the future, I don't think they are going to meet. 

VampireKid: So, aren't you going to date her? Make your own harem? 

Hydra : I wish there is a way to punch someone through the dimensions. 

Hydra : She hates me though, I don't think I have a chance there. 

Baal'sAss: Spiderman~Spiderman. Doing whatever a spider can~

He didn't really plan to pursue her. Although her beauty is still fresh in his mind, it's too much hassle to date someone now. Not to mention, he didn't know how to flirt. "Note to self, search for girl pickup techniques in the system marketplace" 

VampireKid : Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. Just flip it. 

TheDoctor :Yeah, just be more ambiguous with the advice. That will help.

Hydra : Can we stop with the what if. It will not happen. 

After finishing his next test the day on Friday, Ryan lingers around the University before he is going to head home. If he went back now, he would be stuck in traffic. 

"Hey watch where are you going". Ryan hears a familiar voice. He then saw Gwen picking up some scattered notes all over on the ground.The girl who bumped into her already ran away. They didn't meet today at the exam hall, and he planned to keep it that way. But then, this happens. 

He walks to her and starts picking up the paper.