The rest of the first school day passed relatively normal. After returning from the bathroom, Professor Dwight forced me to go to the infirmary, so I spent the morning there. Luckily, they allowed me to leave just in time for lunch.
"I'm so hungry I could devour the entire cafeteria if I wanted to," Dren muttered as his stomach growled loudly, forcing him to press his hands against it to quiet the sound.
'This is so uncomfortable... Everyone is staring at me...'
Dren walked down the hallway feeling the students' gazes piercing his back. Some whispered among themselves, throwing curious glances his way.
'Calm down, Dren. Everything will be fine... That guy Luck seemed willing to keep his part of the deal, so nobody should know. They're probably talking about something else entirely... the usual stuff.'
Taking deep breaths to calm himself, Dren finally reached the cafeteria. The place was packed with students, practically overflowing.
To protect his identity, he pulled his hood up before getting in line for lunch. After a few minutes, tray in hand, he found a table far from the commotion where he could eat in peace.
"Steak with rice... Looks and smells delicious," he commented while enjoying his first bite.
"Look who's here! It's Miss Alice Ashbourne!"
"It's true! It's her!"
"She's gorgeous!"
"Do you think she has a boyfriend?"
While Dren ate quietly in his corner, trying to remain unnoticed, he observed a girl entering with two others flanking her. Her presence instantly captured everyone's attention, and they began to approach her, murmuring excitedly.
'Who is she?'
'Seems like she's almost as popular as I am...'
'Well, I don't need to worry. Unlike me, she seems to enjoy all that excessive attention.'
"I appreciate this warm welcome," Alice said with a charming smile, "but I'm looking for someone. Could you please give me some space to see if they're here?"
"Of course, Miss Alice!"
"We're at your service."
"Whatever you wish."
With a beauty and kindness that would persuade anyone, Alice managed to get everyone to clear her path without hesitation.
"Do you see him anywhere? I'm sure he came in here," she asked her companions.
"I don't, Alice," replied the girl to her right, scanning every corner of the cafeteria. "With how big this place is and the number of students, it'll be difficult to find him."
"And you?" Alice turned to the girl on her left. "Do you see anyone who looks like him?"
"No..." she responded listlessly with sadness in her voice, not bothering to actually look, just staring at the floor.
"This is impossible," Alice sighed, pressing her fingers against her eyes in frustration. "I was so close..."
"Who are you looking for, Miss Alice?"
"Maybe we can help you find him."
Hearing these offers, Alice removed her fingers from her eyes, seeing an opportunity.
"I'm looking for someone you probably already know, who studies at this academy. I'm certain he came in here because I saw him. I'm looking for Dren Valemont."
"Dren Valemont?! He's at this academy?!"
"Are you serious, Miss Alice?! You're looking for him?!"
"It's incredible that Dren Valemont is in our year!"
"Of course he is! He's in my class!"
"Really?! Is that true?!"
"Absolutely! I don't lie. Though he looked very sick this morning, maybe he went home..."
"That's not true! I saw him just minutes ago walking down the hallway!"
Alice was beginning to lose hope as the conversation derailed, until she heard the last comment.
"Yes! He was supposed to have come in here after that! Did you see anything else?" she asked the boy anxiously.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Alice," the boy replied, blushing as he scratched his head, "I was so hungry that I went straight to the lunch line..."
"This isn't going to work..." Alice muttered, lowering her head in frustration.
"We're wasting our time," commented the girl to her left, visibly discouraged.
'There's a big crowd around those three girls. I wonder what's happening,' thought Dren, turning his attention back to them.
"Hey, lying weakling! So this is where you were!" exclaimed Luck, slapping Dren on the back, startling him.
He wasn't alone; Gary was with him.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about, I don't know you..." Dren replied, pretending not to understand when he saw Gary, then looking angrily at Luck.
"Come on! Don't play dumb! Gary knows everything now!" Luck affirmed with a mocking tone and a wide smile.
"Know what exactly...?" Trembling at the possibility that another person knew his secret, Dren continued feigning ignorance.
"I saw the photo. That orb is grayer than the winter sky!" Gary laughed, leaving Dren paralyzed. "By the way, can I see it? You have it in your backpack, right? Come on, let me see it." He continued while trying to snatch the backpack.
"No, of course not!" Dren exclaimed, firmly pulling his backpack away.
"Come on, don't be mean to him, let him see it."
"Besides, I already scanned the image and confirmed it's definitely yours, Dren Valemont."
Dren glanced at Gary briefly before ignoring him and turning to Luck.
"You broke our promise..." he muttered with contained rage, though loud enough for Gary to hear. "You said you wouldn't tell anyone. Do you have any idea what kind of problems this could cause me?"
"Come on, man, it's Gary, my best friend. It's impossible to hide anything from him."
"Yeah? Well we agreed you wouldn't tell anyone, and you broke the damn deal. If he tells someone else, my life will be ruined..."
"You still have to pay me... Because if you don't, I can keep spreading your secret..." Luck threatened with a malicious smile.
"I won't tell anyone..." Gary interjected, feeling excluded from the conversation.
"And don't look at me with that rabid puppy face, because I assure you if you try to confront me, I'll tear you to pieces, weakling," Luck warned as he saw Dren gritting his teeth, staring at him furiously.
'Damn it, as much as it pains me to admit it, I have no choice. I'll just have to trust and pay this idiot what he wants, hoping he doesn't tell anyone else. Otherwise, everything will be ruined.'
"Hey, why are you wearing that hood again? Take it off already," said Luck, catching Dren off guard and yanking it off with one pull.
"Why did you do that?!" Dren exclaimed, trying to get it back, but Luck prevented him.
"How can you always be hiding?! You should enjoy the fame and recognition you have!"
"Enjoy?! There's nothing good about being famous!"
"You're just an ungrateful crybaby who doesn't appreciate what you have!"
The argument between them escalated over something as simple as a hood that meant protection for Dren.
Meanwhile, students began to notice Dren's presence, slowly approaching his table.
"It's him..."
"The rumors were true... He really is at the academy."
"He looks exactly like in the photos..."
"He's very attractive too."
The comments didn't take long to spread.
"Wait a minute... What's happening over there?" Alice asked, directing her gaze toward Dren's table.
"Looks like a fight is brewing..." replied the girl to her right.
Alice's eyes widened as she recognized Dren.
"It's him!"
Without wasting a second, she began making her way through the crowd of students.
"Miss Alice, wait!"
"Please let me through, I'm in a hurry."
Alice was getting closer and closer to the table.
"Um... guys, I think you should stop arguing..." Gary warned, seeing that all eyes were now on them.
"Let go of it already!"
"No! I'm tired of you not valuing how fortunate you are!"
"You have no idea what you're talking about!"
Finally, Dren managed to get his hood back from Luck.
"Hey! Dren Valemont, I need to talk to you! Will you allow me?" Alice exclaimed breathlessly, slapping her hand on the table and startling the three boys, who looked at her in surprise.
Both Luck and Gary were instantly enchanted to see that the beautiful Alice Ashbourne was standing before them.
'Oh no! I'm such an idiot! I got careless and now everyone's here!' Dren thought, trembling as he realized he was surrounded by students watching and photographing him.
'How the hell do I get out of this?'
"Miss Alice, I'm..."
"I'm also..."
"Your biggest fan!"
Luck and Gary expressed their excitement in unison at having Alice so close.
"I... uh... I think you've got the wrong person. I need to leave..." Dren mumbled, pulling his hood back on as he tried to stand up.
"No way! There's no mistake! You are Dren Valemont!" Alice insisted with determination.
"What?!"
Luck and Gary banged their foreheads against the table when they realized they had been completely ignored.
"He's definitely a lucky one..." they muttered.
'What does this girl want? I don't know how to escape this situation, and it's putting me under too much pressure.'