C2 Be My Protector

Luigi Triad Clain, that's his name. The student I estimated was 18 years old, like me, because he was also in the 3rd grade. We're not in the same class because, at this school, boys and girls are placed in different classes. This is done to maintain the concentration of students in learning. Luigi is also a transfer student. He has studied at this school since the beginning of this semester.

Luigi is very popular, and even his popularity beats students who used to hold the title of most wanted before Luigi's arrival. It's no secret that almost all the girls at this school idolize him. I don't idolize him either because I've never spoken to him. I often looked at him from a distance but did not dare to approach him. Although very popular, Luigi is a naughty student. I say this because his sloppy appearance proves he could be a better student. Looking at his appearance, it was clear he had broken many school rules. Her long hair for the size of a student's hair and his hair that was deliberately dyed red made me even more sure that my assessment of him was correct. It's just that until now, I don't understand why he is still being kept at this school.

"I asked, what are you guys doing?" he asked, which made Alessia and her two friends panic even more. Of course, they are panicking and nervous at this time because their actions, which were so cruel to me, have now been caught red-handed by the man they adore so much.

"N-No, we're just reprimanding this kid," Alessia answered while pointing at me. "Are we bothering you?" muttered Alessia in a trembling voice. It was clear from the look on her face that she was terrified.

"Very annoying. Can you guys get out of here?" With a straight face, Luigi said that. In that instant, Alessia, Elara, and Carina looked at each other before they nodded together and hurriedly left me alone with Luigi.

I lowered my head to look at my messy state. My uniform was torn in several places, so my bare shoulders were now exposed. My long hair was soaked and dirty from the food Alessia spilled on it. The food even stained my forehead and face. Don't forget my face flooded with tears. I'm also sure my eyes must be puffy and red by now. I crossed my arms, covering my upper body so he wouldn't see me. I feel embarrassed to be in this situation in front of this most popular guy.

Because his voice could not be heard even though he was standing before me, I tried to work up the courage to look at Luigi. The embarrassment immediately turned into panic when I realized Luigi was staring at me.

"They are so cruel. That's why I don't want to harass women. They are terrible," Luigi said while holding out a handkerchief to me.

I was reluctant to accept it, but remembering how bad my current state was made me finally take the handkerchief. I remove the food above my head and wipe the stains on my face and uniform. The tear in my uniform was quite large upon closer inspection. There was no way I could attend class in this condition.

"Wear this."

I averted my eyes, and now I was looking at Luigi, still standing before me, holding out his jacket. The black jacket he had been wearing earlier was now in his hand. I didn't even realize when he took it off. I was reluctant to accept it this time, so I stared at the jacket in silence.

"Take it and wear the jacket," he said as he forced my hand to accept it. Now, I can no longer refuse it. I took the still stretched-out jacket and put it on to cover my torn and dirty uniform.

"Come on follow me. I'll take you home."

"But I still have class in a bit," I replied quickly after controlling my surprise at hearing him offer to take me home.

Luigi snorted, "So you still want to take classes in that condition? If I were you, I wouldn't do such a stupid thing."

I can only be silent to hear what he said that I think is true. There's no way I can continue studying with this appearance.

"Come on follow me."

Luigi took a step without waiting for my response, and I felt I had no choice but to follow him.

He took me to the parking lot where his red sports motorbike was parked. After handing me his helmet, he told me to get on his motorcycle.

"Then how about you? You're not wearing a helmet."

I said that after receiving the helmet he gave me. Yes, I have troubled him a lot today.

Luigi smiled faintly, "It's OK, you just wear it. Come on up."

Even though the doubt still clung to my heart, in the end, I couldn't argue anymore. After I put on Luigi's helmet, I rushed to ride his motorbike.

"Hold on tight," he said, but I ignored it. However, the motorbike's speed was so fast that I unconsciously wrapped my hands tightly around his waist. This red sports motorbike also took us away from the school area.

I panicked when he stopped his motorbike somewhere. Somewhere quite far from my house.

"What place is this?" I asked without reducing the panic I felt. Honestly, all the negative thoughts started popping up in my head at this point.

"Wait a moment here, I'll be right back."

Again and again, without waiting for my response, he ran away from me. I thought about leaving here while he was gone, but all his kindness made me discourage that intention. I feel ungrateful if I leave without saying goodbye to him.

After a while, he returned with two ice creams in his hand. He gave me one of his ice creams. Even though I was surprised by his action, I couldn't help but refuse.

"I like to buy ice cream here, it's delicious. You try."

Seeing him licking his ice cream from this close made my heart beat beyond its rhythm. I can even hear its ticking sound. I was worried he could listen to it, too. I've consistently recognized Luigi's handsomeness, but I didn't think that seeing him this close would make me even more fascinated by his handsomeness. I also began to understand why the girls at my school idolized him.

"That's why they bullied you?"

His voice was deep, and suddenly, it made my heart almost jump out of my chest cavity, maybe because I was daydreaming too much.

After trying my best to control my unusual heartbeat, I answered his question, "I don't know either," I answered briefly.

"This is weird, I'm sure they have a reason to do that cruelty to you."

Silence returned between us because I no longer answered. He continues to eat his ice cream, and so do I. After eating this ice cream that tasted so good, my feelings started to calm down. My heart rate slowly returned to its regular beat. Remembering Luigi's kindness to me today makes me feel terrible if I didn't answer his question earlier.

"They don't like me because I'm not a rich kid like them. I was able to study at Sondrio International High School because of the scholarship I received. It seems they can't accept that I'm not on the same level as them, that's why they bullied me to get me out of school."

Luigi chuckled as he turned to me, "Huh? What an odd reason. I think people like you have the right to study there. Smart and accomplished students like you, not students who use their parents' money even though they have no ability. That's why I don't like that school."

His words made me gasp. I never thought that Luigi would not like our school, an elite school that all students dream of. Or did I mishear? His words sounded strange to me.

"Do they often do that to you? Tortured you like before?"

This question made me remember some bad memories that happened to me in the past. An incident like today is one of many for me. Alessia and her friends have often done that. I don't want to talk badly about my classmates before Luigi, but I don't want to lie to him.

"Not often but a few times," I replied. I don't want to lie to him.

"That's the name often, Miss. Hahaha."

My heart, which I had managed to control, was now racing fast again, looking at him, who was laughing at my words.

"Are you always silent like before when they hurt you?"

Now, I answered him with just a nod.

"You should have fought. No wonder they like to bully you. Have you ever reported them to the teacher's side?"

Watching me shake my head, he seemed to understand everything that happened to me at school. He exhaled while shaking his head. "You are. It would help if you weren't silent like that. Don't let them bully you."

"I don't want to make things worse. Besides, I'm sure one day they'll get tired of bothering me."

"Haah… what a stupid thought. You're too innocent," he said. I'm speechless.

Silence returned between us. I have nothing more to say to him. He didn't even have the desire to continue our conversation.

"Oh yes. What's your name?" he asked, breaking the silence that made me uncomfortable.

"Serena Constanza," I answered briefly.

Luigi smiled faintly, "Serena, huh, nice name." Luigi suddenly looked at my face closely, which was very bad for my heart, which was beating again without being able to control it.

"Because I don't like seeing people being bullied. Alright Serena, starting today I will be your protector. Don't hesitate to ask for my help if something bothers you again," he said with a broad smile.

I didn't say anything because my tongue felt numb now. What's wrong with my hearing? Say I didn't hear wrong just now? Did Luigi say this dreamlike thing?