I recommend you to read again the chapter: [Nyrel Loyster] Flashback, the Chapter 70 to refresh your memory before reading this. Enjoy :)

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"Um, Nyrel?" Shayna elbowed Nyrel who was seated just next to him.

It had been only a week since school started and they met but Shayna's shyness couldn't be overcome that easily. Even though the one she was addressing was also rather awkward with women in general.

"Yes?" Nyrel finished writing down a line in his book and turned to his left.

"Um..did you understand what the teacher said?" She asked hesitantly.

"Programming language or web development?" Nyrel asked since they had two classes today.

"Both.." Shayna slumped her shoulders.

"Both..? Well, I can't say that I understood everything well, but I can help you with what I understood." Nyrel said, scratching his cheek.

"Really?!" Shayna's face beamed in happiness. "Thank you very much, Nyrel!" She grabbed both Nyrel's hands and thanked him wholeheartedly.

"Ah." But by shaking her head like that, her glasses fell off from her nose and landed on the ground.

Nyrel stooped down below the table to pick up the glasses but-

-Crack!

"H-Hey!" He let out when he saw a shoe trampling down the glasses and breaking it.

"Nyrel?" Shayna couldn't see well without her glasses but she did hear Nyrel's voice.

Nyrel raised back his body and glanced up with a frown. "Why did yo-" But he soon stopped when he saw the man responsible.

"J-Jayce?" Nyrel stuttered when he saw the blond haired man. He first met him the same day, he met Shayna and it wasn't a happy meeting as he bumped into him and the latter pushed him down.

"What are you staring at, nerd?" Jayce glared at Nyrel.

"I mean..you walked on Shayna's glass.." Nyrel pointed at the broken glasses.

"M-My glasses.." Shayna's face clouded at the news. It was her only glasses after all.

"Shayna?" Jayce glanced at Shayna and smirked, "this four-eyed girl? Then why don't you give your glasses, nerd? You are both a good match." Jayce chuckled and his two friends joined the laughter.

"No..I mean we don't have the same correction in the first place," Nyrel, oblivious to Jayce's insult, explained clearly the problem.

"Tch. You are disgusting me with your hair and glasses. Don't look at me, nerd," Jayce said and spat on Nyrel's notebook before walking away.

"..." Nyrel stared at his notebook with a blank gaze. His fists were clenched with his nails nearly piercing his palms.

"Nyrel? What happened..?" Shayna asked because of Nyrel's silence.

"Ah..nothing." Nyrel recovered from his strange transe state and replied. " I'm sorry for your glasses, Shayna.." He added, picking down Shayna's broken glasses.

"Ah..no. Don't worry.. I will order another pair.. I should have taken two pairs before. It's my fault." Shayna slumped her shoulders.

"Not at all. It's not your fault." Nyrel patted Shayna's arm gently. "I will accompany you if you want. Until there, I will take notes for you." Nyrel said.

"A-Ah..thanks.." Shayna stammered and lowered her head.

Nyrel nodded and tore away the tainted page of his notebook. Then crumpling it in a ball, he headed to the trash can.

As he walked there, he felt everyone's gaze and he stealthily looked at them. None of them dared to intervene.

Dared..

No.

More than that; no one had really a reason to intervene. They knew nothing about him and Shayna and because of their nerd's look, they weren't really approachable.

Nyrel threw the crumpled paper into the trash can with a sigh.

'Maybe I should seat in the front rows..?'

Nyrel wondered as he was in the middle rows and it was quite disturbing for him. In the far back wasn't a choice as he wouldn't see or hear well and in the front rows..he felt too close to the teacher so he couldn't doze off in case he was tired.

'Do I have any choices? I should maybe ask Shayna, what she thinks of that.'

Thinking that, Nyrel turned around-

"Wow!"

Right when he turned around he nearly bumped into someone. Dodging the trash can, he took a step back hurriedly.

"I-I'm sorry!"

He said, looking up and..

"!"

..froze.historical

There he saw..the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, be it in real or even TV.

Silky black hair flowed down the girl's back and beautiful deep blue eyes adorned her eyes. She was breathtaking. A piece of art. One would wonder if she was real or a character from a movie, game or anime.

"Hm? You must be.." Ephera put her finger on her lips in a thinking position. "Oh, Nyrel Loyster, if I remember? You are the one who entered and got scolded by the teacher for bringing flowers in class, right?" She added with a giggle.

"Ah..yes." Nyrel avoided making eye contact with her and nodded but since she was shorter than him, it was difficult.

"Are you looking for something?" Ephera, well aware of the reason behind Nyrel's reaction, teased him a little. Usually she would ignore all the men having the same reaction since she wouldn't feel at ease with them but with Nyrel it was strangely different.

"A-Ah..n-no..that's.." Nyrel stuttered in his words trying to find a way to escape further tickling Ephera's teasing side.

"Sigh..Ephera. The break is almost over." Fortunately from behind her was a handsome black-haired man to stop her..to stop his sister.

"Okay big bro!" Ephera turned around and saluted her brother exaggeratedly.

"Enough." Emric gently pushed his sister's head, forcing her to walk ahead.

Ephera waved at Nyrel and walked ahead to take a seat.

"Oh, Ephera!" Jayce stood up when he saw Ephera. "You took your time, you must have eaten a lot." He teased.

"I am not a glutton!" Ephera complained.

"I hope so..but it seems like you get a paunch?" Jayce teased again as he furrowed his brows.

"I will punch you!"

'Beautiful.'

Nyrel and all the other men of the class thought the same thing.

Ephera really seemed like the perfect girl. She had plenty of facials expression and literally everyone of them enhanced her beauty—without forgetting her kindness and always jovial attitude which were putting ambiance to the class.

'They look perfect together.'

Nyrel thought as he looked at Jayce laughing and Ephera sulking.

Jayce was handsome and Ephera was beautiful and together they made a perfect picture of art.

Though he thought that Nyrel wasn't jealous at all. It was just a thought crossing his mind. Indeed he couldn't remember the last time he had been jealous. Ephera was beautiful and he did feel nervous around her but that's all.

He didn't feel jealous but he felt sorry for her.

'He doesn't deserve her.'

Nyrel stared at Jayce.

It had been more than a week he was in this class and he witnessed with his very eyes how quick and smoothly Jayce improved his relation with Ephera. The latter fell for it and Emric as well.

'Whatever.'

("Hate me and hate this world, or you will keep losing.")

'We are all only the small pieces of a big chess game that is called Earth. Be it me or Jayce, we are all pieces. I will die one day and he will die one day. The only difference would be whether I will be ready to face death or will I cower in front of it. I don't know yet but I know for sure that guy will cower..yeah..he will cower because he doesn't have..something to hate like I have. Without that drive...I couldn't have lived this long. This guy is just a spoiled guy who doesn't understand how short and brittle life is...'

Nyrel's lips started to twitch upwardly-

"Nyrel? Where are you?" Shayna's voice stopped the noise of the classroom. Since she couldn't see well she couldn't see Nyrel.

"Oh!" Ephera immediately walked toward Shayna. "Where are your glasses Shayna?"

"Ah..Jayce broke it accidentally.." Shayna said honestly.

'Shayna..'

Nyrel could already feel a headache.

Until now, he was the only bullied but he feared Jayce would find a new target since Shayna tainted the perfect image he had built until now for Ephera.

"Jayce?"

"Ah..I didn't see her glasses on the ground, my bad," Jayce scratched his neck.

"Sigh..now how Shayna will follow the class," Ephera shook her head.

"Ah, t-thanks Ephera but you don't have to worry..Nyrel said that he will take notes for me and he is going to accompany me to order new ones" Shayna shook her head.

"Oh, Nyrel said that?" Ephera held her chin and a teasing smile appeared on her lips when she glanced at Nyrel. "He must care a lot for you, right Shayna?"

"Ah.." Shayna's opened and closed repeatedly as her cheeks flushed slightly.

"Wow! How about I accompany you as well to order?!" Ephera offered, surprising everyone.

"B-But-"

"No but! You can't go alone with a man! I will be with you!" Ephera cut off Shayna.

"Then I will not be necessar-"

"No! Nyrel must come! You are Shayna's friend, right?"

"Well.."

"And Shayna would be at ease with a friend on her side! Right Shayna?" Ephera threw the ball at Shayna.

The latter nodded shyly. "Yes..please Nyrel."

"Alright.." Nyrel nodded but he couldn't really understand why Ephera suddenly wanted to come along.

"Then I will come as well!" Unfortunately Jayce also chose to come. "I will make up for her." He winked at Ephera and the latter nodded.

"Then perfect! After classes, we will go to do some shopping!"

"I'd rather go home." Emric sighed.

"No! You come with me big bro!"

"Stop with that, Ephera! You are a grown up adult now! It's embarrassing!"

"Big bro will always be big bro!"

"I said stop with that, Ephera! Everyone is looking at us!"

The siblings continued to bicker despite everyone's gazes on them.

"..."

'I don't like this at all.'

Amid the racket, Nyrel felt uneasy.