Chapter 145: Acceptable

"That one’s kind of cute, right?"

Jessi pointed out one of the boys talking next to his group.

They had reached the training facility, and everyone had already changed into their own gear. The academy’s training suit was a little too perfect for them, so the students had already taken the liberty to bring gear of their own.

"Stop it."

Amelia’s eyes slightly wandered around the hall, spotting if anyone had noticed their stalking.

"Come on, Amelia! This is what life means. Don’t you want to get a boyfriend?"

"No."

Amelia’s answer was plain.

Jessi looked at her for a moment longer before turning her gaze to the far end of the training hall.

"Yeah, someone like you won’t understand the plight of average people like us. Not everybody is as bold as you."

"Bold?"

A single word caught Amelia’s attention as she looked towards Jessi, only to find the girl searching for more boys.

"Yeah, bold. I mean... not everyone has the guts to approach the Lava Boy."

Amelia’s face twisted into a light frown.

"Lava Boy?"

Jessi paused for a moment, seeing the confusion on her friend’s face.

She felt like laughing but managed to restrain herself.

"I meant Kael, your best friend."

"He isn’t my friend."

Amelia had involuntarily raised her voice at the end.

"Sure, sure. Not everyone eats with strangers... I mean, that would be kind of creepy, don’t you think?"

"..."

"Alright! I eat with him because that’s the only time he sits in one place, and I can talk to him about all the stuff."

Amelia defended herself after a slight pause.

"Stuff like?"

"You know what I am talking about. And what’s this about Lava Boy?"

"Oh, that. He is currently the hottest material around here."

Smiling, Jessi winked at Amelia.

"I will do some warm-up."

Tired of her friend’s antics, Amelia began to move towards one of the private training rooms, only to be stopped by Jessi, as she grabbed the former’s arm.

"Though I like this wild version of yours, please stop with this new training fetish."

"Let me go."

Amelia insisted, but Jessi didn’t release her arm.

"The bald bastard’s going to arrive soon! Let’s chat till then."

"..."

"Please!"

"Haa... okay."

Seeing her request succeed, Jessi gave up her hold on Amelia, making the latter lean against the wall.

"So... tell me, if not a friend, then what’s the deal between you two?"

"I thought we were going to chat."

"We are chatting."

"Okay. Let me do the warm-up then."

"Amelia! Aren’t you my friend? Or is this a betrayal?"

"..."

"I am just curious. Tell me, please!"

Amelia sighed as she leaned back.

"We are just classmates."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Then why does he talk with you?"

"He talks with everyone."

"..."

"What?"

Jessi didn’t know what to say. Amelia was the smartest person she had ever known, but that was only limited to the academic sector.

In everything else, she was as smart as a jellyfish.

"Amelia... do you really think he talks with everyone like he does with you?"

"Yes."

Amelia’s reply was instant.

Though Jessi wanted to deny it, remembering Kael Frost, maybe...

That guy really talked with everyone out there.

"Still... he talks with you differently."

Now that she had initiated the topic, Jessi couldn’t simply back down.

"And how is that?"

"It’s like... he sees you as a woman."

"Jessi."

"Yes?"

"I am a woman."

"..."

Jessi clenched her fists to let her anger dissolve before she did anything she would regret later.

"Yes, dear! I know that. What I meant was that he looks at you in that way!"

Jessi arched her eyebrows and made an expression that Amelia found to be the most suspicious thing she had seen to date.

Seeing that her friend didn’t get the point, Jessi took it upon herself to clarify things.

"Maybe... he wants to date you. Make you his girlfriend or something."

Hearing that, Amelia paused for a few seconds before looking at Jessi again.

"He doesn’t."

Her answer was short yet firm, with no hesitation.

"And why do you think so?"

Now Jessi was getting even more curious than before.

"He calls me a kid."

Amelia replied, shrugging her shoulders.

"And I don’t think you call someone that if you like them... or he might if he likes... kids?!"

Amelia’s eyes widened in realization, but soon—

"No. That can’t be."

"Of course it can’t be. Don’t go making assumptions about innocent people."

Crossing her arms below her chest, Jessi voiced her thoughts.

"Innocent?"

"Maybe."

There was a short silence between the two.

"Hey, listen! What if he liked you?"

"He doesn’t."

"I asked what if!"

"Why are you even asking?"

Amelia couldn’t understand the reasoning behind this weird interrogation.

"I mean, if he asks you out on a date or something, will you accept it?"

"No."

"Why?!"

"Why should I?"

"Because he’s hot! He’s cool! He’s cute! He’s—"

"Why don’t you ask him out yourself?"

Amelia questioned Jessi, noticing her unusual interest in Kael.

"I would have. But I know it would be futile. I am not a match for him. But—"

Jessi leaned closer to Amelia, just inches away from her face.

"You are a match for him. A royalty with beauty and brains."

Amelia thought for a moment before narrowing her eyes again.

"Jessi, he calls me a kid."

"Oh, that."

Jessi stepped back, her eyes wandering over Amelia’s body.

"What are you doing?"

Amelia was caught off guard by the sudden scan.

"Hmm... I can see why he might have called you a kid."

Jessi spoke up, her eyes aimed at Amelia’s chest.

Amelia too followed her gaze and looked down.

"..."

"They look a little on the smaller side."

Walking towards Amelia, Jessi bent down a little to get a proper look.

"But mother said they are good."

Amelia’s eyes remained fixed on her own chest.

"I know they are good. And your mother knows that too. But—"

Jessi approached Amelia from the side and leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Kael doesn’t know that."

"..."

"So you will have to let him know that. I think it’s time for some new shopping."

"Like?"

"Like buying some tops that would flex your assets."

Amelia just kept looking at Jessi.

"What?"

"Why should I?"

"Don’t you want him to like you?"

"No."

An instant reply that made Jessi pause for a moment.

"Well... it’s not for him. Consider it as showing the best version of yourself."

"Why should I?"

"Why shouldn’t you?"

For some reason, Amelia found the logic acceptable.