Scandalous Love (Volume 1)

"..."

Standing before the classroom door, Kaito slid it open quietly.

"..."

"Teach! Kaito and the Princess are here!" A classmate called out.

"!"

"Oh my, what's this?"

"Impossible!"

"Am I seeing this right? The transfer student, on his second day, is already hitting off with the Princess?"

"Damn you, Kaito! How dare you steal our Princess away from us?"

"I'm jealous! Aaaahhhh!"

"Awh, didn't you say promise you'd wait for me, Kaito? Boohoo!"

The gossip spread like wildfire. The entire classroom erupted with murmurs and exclamations, all eyes fixed on the Princess they had admired from afar. Not only had she arrived late, but she'd done so in the company of the new transfer student.

Scandalous.

"..."

"What time do you call this, Mr Lionheart?" The teacher asked sharply, fixing Kaito with a stern gaze. "I understand this is your second day, but that does not give you permission to be late to my lessons."

Caught off guard, Kaito stammered, "Well, uh... You see..."

"..."

"I knew it!"

"We're all doomed, my friends!"

"Doomed, I tell you!"

"That lucky b*stard really made a move on our Princess, didn't he?"

"Explain yourself, Kaito!"

Pressed against the wall by his classmates' jealous demands, Kaito struggled to form a coherent response.

"..."

Natasha cleared her throat, drawing the room's attention. Her voice was calm, yet commanding. "My sincere apologies, Sir. We were summoned to the Headmaster's office regarding a serious matter. I hope you can forgive our tardiness".

She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, "Of course, if my explanation does not suffice, you are always welcome to discuss it directly with the Headmaster. Thought just a gentle reminder, he was not in the best mood today. Proceed with caution."

The teacher's expression faltered, his bravado crumbling under Natasha's veiled warning. He gulped audibly. "N-no, that's fine, Miss Wilford. Please take your seats. Mr. Lionheart, you as well."

Natasha gracefully made her way to her desk, her composure unshaken. She oozed the presence of royalty. Meanwhile, her classmates watched in stunned silence, their awe tinged with unease.

Was this the same Princess we used to adore?

What happened to her soft, pampered demeanour?

Could it have been the Headmaster's wrath? Or... Was this the influence of the new transfer student?

Their minds swirled with wild theories.

To them, she was no longer the Princess they once knew.

"..."

As Natasha settled into her seat, the classmate in front of her, Priscilla, leaned back her curiosity evident.

"Hey, hey, Prin-" Priscilla's words faltered mid-sentence as Natasha shot her a sharp, icy glare. The intensity of her gaze was enough to make Priscilla rethink her approach.

"I mean, Natasha. Yes, Natasha, ahaha..." She stammered nervously, flashing an awkward smile as she tried to play it off.

Natasha raised an eyebrow, her gaze still sharp.

"So, tell me," Priscilla continued with a teasing grin, "is there something going on between you and the new kid?"

"What could you possibly mean by that, Priscilla?" Natasha asked coolly, though a faint blush betrayed her.

"Now now, trying to play innocent, are we?" Priscilla said, her grin widening. "I know this game all too well. Don't you see? It's quite clear as daylight. The way you two walked in together... And don't even get me started on the aura you're giving off. It's not the same as before. Honestly, it doesn't feel... 'Princess-like.' The pure, virgin princess we once knew, has vanished in thin air. It is clear you two have da-"

"Wha-wha-what are insinuating? That's completely illicit!" Natasha's voice shot up, her flustered tone drawing attention from the teacher.

"Uhm. Is there a problem, Miss Wilford?" The teacher asked nervously, still wary of her earlier remarks.

Natasha coughed, quickly regaining her composure. "My apologies, Sir. Please continue with the lesson."

"I... I see... Very well. Back to page 111, everyone," the teacher mumbled, hastily turning back to the textbook. "During the year 111X..."

"..."

Returning her attention to Priscilla, Natasha hissed, "It's nothing like that!"

"Oho? Still denying it, huh?" Priscilla teased, her smile as mischievous as ever.

"Jeez, you!" Natasha muttered, delivering a light barrage of punches to Priscilla's back in an attempt to hide her embarrassment.

"Natasha darling," Priscilla whispered. "You can deny it all you want, but your face says otherwise."

With a playful smirk, Priscilla tilted her head toward Kaito, her thumb gesturing in his direction repeatedly.

Natasha hesitated, her eyes involuntarily following the motion. For a brief moment, her gaze landed on Kaito, and she felt her heart flutter.

"!"

Kaito, feeling the weight of their stares, glanced in their direction.

Their eyes met.

"..."

"Ah!"

Lost in a daze, Natasha quickly turned away, her cheeks burning as she buried her face in her hands.

The affectionate interaction among the trio did not escape the public gaze, especially that of the male students seated at the back. Unable to endure the sting of Kaito's seemingly charmed life, they quietly cursed him, sending a chill down his spine.

"..."

When the morning lesson concluded, the bell ran again, signalling the start of lunch. Yet, instead of heading out, the students swarmed around Kaito and Natasha like a pack of hungry crocodiles circling prey.

"!"

"Princess! I mean, Natasha, is it true you're..."

"Going out with Kaito?"

"You're not, right? Please tell us you're not!"

"Natasha, we demand answers!"

"..."

With a sly, fox-like smile, Natasha responded, "Hmmm, what do you mean?" There is nothing going on between us. But even if there were, what would it matter to you?"

Her bold response was like a bombshell, leaving the class flabbergasted. They struggled to reconcile this new Natasha, confident, assertive, and mysterious, with the one they had once idolized.

Could a girl in love really change this much?

Next to her, even Kaito felt taken aback, his heart skipping a beat. But the moment was short-lived as the group of male classmates at the back erupted into grief-stricken chaos.

"Kaito, you b*stard! What have you done to our princess?"

"I sweat, I didn't do anything!" Kaito pleaded his innocence.

"No, this can't be! Our princess, she is no longer ours..."

"Boys," one declared solemnly, "this might be just it. The time has come to disband the PFC, Princess Fan Club."

"Boss!"

"It's okay, Jimmy. We may have lost our princess, but the true treasure was the friendship we made along the way!"

"You're right boss!"

Unable to cope with their loss, the boys stormed out of the classroom holding each other's hands, wailing loudly in the corridor.

"..."

Amid the chaos, Natasha seized the opportunity to slip away unnoticed. She stood up, walked over to Kaito's desk, and teased, "Don't forget, we have another meeting with the Headmaster. Or... Did you forget, dear Kaito?"

"Huh?" Kaito exclaimed, completely oblivious to the situation. "Wait, we do?"

"Oh, you silly fool." Without giving him a chance to argue, Natasha forcefully grabbed Kaito by the hand and dragged him towards the classroom door.

The spectacle only added more fuel to the already blazing rumours.

"Wow, they're holding hands, right in front of our single-looking asses."

"Lucky. I'm so jealous!"

"Oh my, it seems to be our Princess, that is the leading one in their relationship."

"Princess? She looked more like a lioness taking her lion husband away from the pack of hyenas."

"That's actually a good one, Dick."

"Really? Thanks, man. I appreciate it."

"But wait, why are we the hyenas...?"

"..."

Natasha continued to hold onto Kaito's hand, her determination unwavering. All Kaito could do was follow, resembling a child being dragged home by a stern parent.

The students in the corridor stared, whispered and pointed in astonishment.

"Look, look, she's holding hands with the new guy!"

"Are they dating?"

"Who is this guy?"

"Does this mean they're a couple?"

Natasha paid no attention to the growing chatter, her focus solely on reaching the Headmaster's office. Kaito, on the other hand, bore the weight of envious stares and a barrage of muttered insults fueled by jealousy.

"Uhm, Natasha...?"

"Not now, Kaito. Save it until we get to the office."

"But-"

"No buts!"

"Yes, ma'am..."

"..."

Finally, the pair arrived at the Headmaster's office.

"Shall we go in, then, Kaito?" Natasha asked, her composure intact.

"Sure, but, uh... You can let go of my hand now, ahaha..." He added with a nervous laugh.

Natasha froze and glanced down at her hand, still interlocked with Kaito's.

"..."

"Ahhh! I'm sorry!"

She quickly released his hand, her face turning bright red. For a moment, she came to realisation, she had been holding his hand the entire walk through the corridor. The thought of how many students might have witnessed it sent her mind whirling.

Unable to hide her embarrassment, Natasha covered her face with her hands and muttered, "Don't tell me..."

Kaito simply nodded.

I did try to warn you...

"Ahhhh! I'm so, so sorry!" Natasha exclaimed, her voice muffled by her hands.

"No worries," Kaito replied, with a light chuckle. "I guess you just really wanted to get out of that classroom, huh?"

"Uh-huh. Sorry," she said, stealing a quick, apologetic glance at him. The sight of her flustered expression hit Kaito squarely in the heart.

Cute.

"..."

After a brief silence, Natasha fidgeting her fingers, spoke again.

"Say, Kaito..."

"Hm?"

"Do you..." She hesitated for a moment, then blurted, "Do you have a girlfriend...?"

"No... Why?" He asked, puzzled.

Turning away from him, Natasha clenched her fist in silent triumph and whispered to herself, "Yes! I still have a chance. Fufufu..."

"Hm? Did you say something, Natasha?"

"Nothing!"

"Ehhhh?"

"But you -."

"It's a s.e.c.r.e.t," she teased with a playful grin.

Kaito sighed, resigned. "Alright then..."

"Good. Shall we head in, Kaito?"

"Yes, let's."

Natasha eased the door open.