opaque ↜ lfl

꧁ nine

Nara moved her stool as further as possible from Felix, but it wasn't much of a help since there was another student seated next to her. She was fuming with anger the fact she was so close to him. She wanted to avoid him as much as possible before she might actually burst in anger.

"Alright, get in pairs."

The teacher announced and Nara was about to grab a girl seated next to her but Felix was faster to grab her hand and pulled her towards him. They almost collided but luckily Nara had a stable grip on her feet.

Felix smiled down at her and Nara grunted. They had to carry out an experiment where they were supposed to burn alcohol and acid together to produce ester. Something interesting but Nara couldn't get the brat out of her head. She wanted him away as possible.

Each time she looked at Felix, she would always be reminded of the principal's conversation with his parents. How she said that Felix was much better than she was just because of his stacks of cash. Neither of them talked as they carried out the experiment, she wasn't sure about Felix but she refused to even face him.

"Nara, you should know that I had—"

"Shut up, I don't want to talk to you." Nara cut him off, she was never going to accept any excuses from him. Regarding the scholarship or the club, she despised him that much.

"That's where you're wrong. Listen to me. I—" Instead of focusing on the fire they lighted, Felix fixed his eyes on her. He least cared about the fire burning from the bunsen burner. "I'm wrong?" Nara scoffed, an annoyed grin spread across her lips. She kept a tight grip on the bunsen burner and looked right into Felix's eyes.

"What, are you going to tell me you had nothing to do with the call I overheard? It was all your parents' doing—"

"Yes, I don't know a thing and I will tell the prin—"

"Save your bullsh—"

Nara didn't manage to finish cussing when out of a sudden a bright light emitted in front of her eyes, then the faulty scent of burning came to her nostrils. She looked down on her arm and her sleeve was on fire.

Immediately, she let go of the burner. Her mind went blank for a sudden as she watched the flame like licking her cloth, becoming bigger each second. Instinctively, she looked at Felix who had his eyes rounded, panicked written on his forehead.

"Shit!" Felix cussed.

The bright orange and yellow lights flickered as the hot flame spread across her sleeve. She wailed her arm up and down trying to stop the fire. Without a second thought, Felix grabbed her arm and pressed his palms on the fire before splashing water on her sleeve. By the time the fire was out, Nara was left with a short sleeved blouse and Felix with a burnt palm.

"To the nurse's office, you two." The teacher ordered, worry was written all over her face. They bowed their heads a little as they walked out of the lab, eyes were on them. Most of them didn't manage to watch the incident live, they only witnessed when the fire was almost out.

The walk to the nurse's office was silent. Nara had mixed emotions, she felt guilty because of the burnt she caused on his palm and at the same time she was still angry at Felix. She wanted to turn around and say something to him, but her ego got the best of her and so they walked into the office silently.

The nurse applied ointment on her arm as it was only a minor burnt. Lucky for her, the fire didn't manage to touch her skin because Felix was fast enough to stop it. However for Felix, he burnt his hand because of the direct contact with the flame.

"Stay here, while I inform the office." The nurse ordered and they both nodded as they sat on the bed. As she left, neither of them talked at all. Nara knew she should say something but her stubborn self got the best of her. She sighed in exasperation.

"Are you alright?"

She heard Felix asking next to her. Nara couldn't take it anymore and looked at him, precisely his bandaged hand. "Idiot." She muttered. "You're welcome." Nara looked up and caught him grinning down at her.

One thing Nara couldn't understand was why did he do it. She knew Felix well enough that he was smart, he could've just splashed water on her arm in the first place instead of burning his right hand. His dominant hand which he used for writing. Why did he do it?

"Why?" Nara asked, her eyes still on the bandage. "Why what?" Felix questioned. "You're not stupid Felix, you could've stopped the fire without hurting yourself. Why did you have to hurt your hand?" She asked, unable to face him as she felt embarrassed somehow.

Felix chuckled instead of answering, causing Nara to look at him. However, she did not follow him laughing. "I didn't know we were this close, you literally know everything about me." He laughed as they both locked eyes. "Felix, I'm being serious." Nara stated, her tone low.

"You refuse to listen to me, nor will I ever make you to trust me. Why don't I make this game fair for both of us?" Felix replied.

"What do you mean?" Nara asked, her eyebrows knitted. She did not understand the game he was talking about. "You're one step behind in terms of influence, then I'll be one step behind in sports." He said, waving his bandaged hand in the air. "Fair?" Felix tilted his head with a small smile.

Nara softened at his words and at the look he was giving her. His eyes were begging for her to continue with the scholarship. "Felix, why would you— I don't care about the scholarship anymore. I'm pulling myself out." She answered. She felt ultimately guilty. She was at fault for his hand although it was his choice but he did it for her.

"Nothing would change my mind." Nara added. She looked down on her feet, the conversation on the phone repeating in her head. She was done with drama and bullshits, she wanted out.

"My mind's made up as well, besides it's already too late." Felix said and held on Nara's hand with his bandaged palm.

꧁꧂

🐾Felix smiling is the cutest thing ever