"I''m so... so sorry..."


    The young guy standing at the door waspletely thrown off by the intense stare he received.


    Fiona let go of the straw she''d been nibbling on and sneaked a nce at Alec, who was right next to her, asking, "Why is he apologizing?"


    "Because he broke the ssroom window."


    "But he didn''t."


    "Now he has."


    Without even batting an eysh, Alec threw the basketball straight at the window in front of Fiona.


    A shattering crash echoed through the room.


    Fiona''s mouth fell open in surprise.


    "Wow..."


    Then, unfazed, she went back to sipping her milk.


    Seeing Fiona as clueless as ever, Alec couldn''t help but let a small, amused smile y on his lips. But it didn''t stick around for long.


    Soon enough, Jack from the junior ss became the talk of the school for deliberately smashing the window with a basketball. The incident led to a new rule at Seabay High School: No basketball in the ssrooms.


    During gym ss, Betty pulled on Fiona''s arm as they jogged, nervously asking, "Fiona! Why''s he always following you?"


    It was Alec''s first day at Seabay High School, and already he was the center of attention. Yet, despite the buzz around him, he couldn''t quite surpass Fiona in poprity.


    Fiona had been there for three years and had be the school''s unofficial mascot. The day she arrived, the whole school got a facelift with thetest learning gear. Everyone got newputers and tablets on her first day.


    Plus, with her irresistible cuteness, Fiona was adored by underssmen and upperssmen alike. Even the girls were enchanted by her charm,peting to be her friend.


    "Maybe he''s just used to it," Fiona shrugged, throwing a yful face at Alec over her shoulder.


    Alec, with one hand casually tucked in his pocket, was calmly signing papers handed to him by a bodyguard, showing no emotion.


    "But during gym ss, he keeps following you! It''s a bit much."


    Betty had to admit Alec was good-looking. But being good-looking didn''t mean he could be so domineering.


    Before Alec, whenever Fiona showed up for gym ss, a swarm of boys would gather around her within three feet. Not anymore.


    With Alec trailing behind Fiona, the boys only dared to admire her from a safe distance.


    "Girls, ready for the 800-meter dash!" the gym teacher announced.


    Warm-ups were over, and Fiona pouted, not too thrilled about running.


    Alec noticed, a teasing glint in his eyes.


    When it was time for the girls'' 800-meter, Fiona''s enthusiasm would plummet.


    Around her, both boys and girls lined the track, all eyes on Fiona, tinged


    the anticipation. It was


    with


    BUMS


    practically a Thursday gym ss ritual.


    "Go, Fiona, go!" the whispers of encouragement floated around, careful not to startle their beloved but unathletic mascot.


    Lovingly known as a "beautiful mess."


    Academically, Fiona was a straight-A student, fluent in eightnguages by the age of fifteen. But while she had been blessed with brains, luck hadn''t favored her athleticism.


    Fiona had long, graceful legs, a lovely ovat face, and perfect proportions. She was the perfect blend of her mother sugenes.


    Logic would suggest someone with her build should excel at running. But Fiona


    was the outlier.


    To this day, she''d never passed a gym ss.


    With the crack of the starting pistol, Fiona set off at her signature slow pace.


    Alec watched her run, strolling leisurely alongside her.