Immediately, King began to stumble over his words, but no one in the class seemed to notice. His explanation had been so captivating, so carefully delivered, that the entire room, including both the students and the teacher, was completely fixated on his lips, hanging onto every word as if it were the most important thing they had ever heard. Only Ratel appeared to sense that he was starting to lose his flow. She covered her mouth quickly to hide a charming giggle, the sweetest sound King had ever heard. That gentle, tinkling laughter felt to King like a cold spring breeze brushing softly across his face, refreshing and unexpected.
The mood in the classroom, however, was very different for their teacher. The old man adjusted his glasses with a low growl, his voice gruff and stern as he addressed the class, "Miss Ratel, would you care to tell the class what it is that you find so amusing? This young man has just explained the complex concepts of tropical cyclones in such a unique and insightful way that even the slowest students in this room are paying close attention. If I had not witnessed him sleeping through all my previous lessons, I might have thought he was a genius or something of that sort. Yet when everyone is finally engaged, that is exactly when you decide to disrupt my class. Let me remind you that such behavior is unacceptable and must not be repeated."
Though their teacher was speaking directly to her, Ratel did not seem to register his rebuke. Instead, she locked eyes with King, her gaze shy yet intense. To King, it felt as though she was looking right through him, as if she could see into the very depths of his soul. Suddenly, he became painfully self-conscious. He could feel the cool breeze on his face more sharply than before, and the tiniest and most trivial details of his appearance became glaringly obvious. Every stain on his shirt and every crease on his pants seemed to stand out, filling him with a rising tide of awkwardness that spilled over all his composure. His body stiffened as he questioned whether his posture looked correct. Did he seem sloppy? He wondered, and as a result, he shifted between four different stances, each one more uncertain than the last, before finally settling into a weak pose, like a servant awaiting instructions from a master.
Ratel watched, amazed, and thought she had never seen a man fumble so badly. King's discomfort grew unbearable. Unable to bear the attention any longer, he muttered a quick excuse and left the classroom, heading straight for the bathroom. The other students, unaware of what had caused his sudden departure, assumed he was upset. Their teacher was no different. Meanwhile, Ratel, sharp as ever, seized the moment to excuse herself as well, explaining that she wanted to apologize to King. With their teacher's reluctant approval, she quietly slipped out of the classroom and trailed after King through the hallways, careful to remain unnoticed. It was unclear whether she planned to startle or surprise him, but her intentions were undoubtedly gentle.
She caught up with him around a curve in the hallway, where he was leaning against the cold wall, resting his chin in his hands. As she approached, she spoke in the sweetest voice King had ever heard. "Hey, handsome, why did you run off like that?" She leaned closer, her breath warm against his face, and then wrapped her arms lightly around his waist.
King could have sworn she must have heard his heart pounding loudly inside his chest. His face flushed a deep shade of red, and he quickly looked away, his hands fidgeting awkwardly on the sides of his trousers, unsure where to place them. His blunder was obvious to anyone watching, and he silently cursed his own luck. "Ratel, are you going to do this here in the hallway? Someone might see us," he said nervously.
She lifted her eyebrows, teasing him gently. "Do what? I'm just giving you a hug. Or were you expecting something else?" Her mischievous smile made King's cheeks burn even hotter.
He raised his hands in defense, his bright red face looking as if it might start spewing blood at any moment. "No, no, that's not what I meant. I just think, um, you should be careful next time. Because, um, well, not that I'm expecting a next time," he stumbled, his words trailing off in embarrassment.
She interrupted him with a knowing smile. "You said next time, right? Does that mean I can do whatever I want in these halls next time?" King's mind went blank. His dictionary seemed to have vanished entirely, leaving only jumbled ramblings and stammers. Ratel giggled softly as she watched him struggle with his words. "Since you can't even figure out what you want to say, I'm leaving. See you at the restaurant after school, by four."
After she left, King packed his things hurriedly and slung his bag over his shoulder. Then, sitting alone, he berated himself. His confidence, once solid, now felt full of holes, like a block of cheese riddled with gaps. Instead of returning to class, he made his way to the bathroom to rehearse what he might say to Ratel later.
...Later that day, Ratel arrived at the restaurant looking as joyful and radiant as ever. King had come earlier, wearing his toughest look, his glasses perched just above his nose. Without warning, she pulled him out of his chair and wrapped him in a bear hug. King felt two soft, warm pouches press against his chest, and a wave of her perfume flooded his senses. His tough exterior vanished instantly as he realized this was going to be far harder than he had expected. Muttering to himself in disbelief, he said, "She just arrived, and I'm already messing things up. What the hell is this?"
Ratel sat down across from him and ordered food for both of them. Casually biting into her burger, she looked up and asked, "So, what's on your mind, handsome?"
That was it. King decided enough was enough. He would no longer allow Ratel to shake him so deeply, especially when he was not even sure if she really liked him. "Ratel, I need you to be honest with me. Do you really feel the way you said you do?" He took her hand firmly and stared deeply into her eyes.
She did not flinch. King's hand trembled slightly in hers, as if cold winds had swept in. Whether it was the mastery of her emotions or her skill at acting, she remained calm and steady. Ratel sighed, sounding almost disappointed, as if she expected King to simply believe her when she said she loved him. Her voice shifted into a gentle, soothing tone, so convincing that King was sure he would have believed her if she told him jumping off a cliff would not harm him.
"I honestly don't know why I am surprised you are asking me this. I should have expected as much. You probably think I am too good for you, but you do not know what kind of person I am. I see beauty in people, and I can tell you that although I am not looking for a guy based on looks, you are like a diamond in the rough. Your skin is clear and flawless, and I know it is natural because I cannot imagine you using skincare products. Your voice is deep and strong, truly befitting of a king. You have such a piercing gaze, and your height," she made a dramatic expression filled with lust and rolled her eyes playfully, "do not even get me started on your height. The only reason you look like an ugly guy is that you do not have anyone dressing you up, which is something I can fix."
King did not realize it, but Ratel's assessment was more accurate than he knew. He paused for a moment, hesitant. Deep inside, he understood that what she was saying might be true, yet he also doubted her completely. It was a strange feeling. He had built a fortress around his heart, and now everything had crumbled, leaving it exposed and vulnerable to Ratel.
"I am going to be very honest with you. I do not believe you," King said, attempting to defend himself before surrendering entirely to the beautiful seductress before him.
Ignoring his words, Ratel leaned forward and smiled. "I could listen to you all day. I am not going to lie. Your voice sounds like that of an army general or something. Enough with the doubts. Just give in, and let me change the way you feel and behave." Then she kissed his cheek softly, sealing the conversation and leaving King wondering if all this was a dream