The stranger stopped. His monologue had drained him; he was gasping for air like a blacksmith's bellows, his chest heaving with every ragged breath.
Rumi's expression was a sight to behold. She stared at him, wide-eyed and paralyzed, a single confused syllable escaping her lips:
"Huh!?"
The whirlwind of madness had left her brain completely fried. She stood there like a living statue. As for me, I felt like the sky was crashing down.
My mind raced—what the hell just happened?
Suddenly, the deathly silent hall exploded. The sea of people, who had been dormant just moments ago, erupted like a pack of hungry wolves. The whispers turned into a thunderous roar of chaos.
"Look at that! A direct proposal! That kid's got balls of steel!" someone shouted from the back.
"Ugh, stop the cheap drama, I'm trying to sleep!" another grumbled, stretching.
"Why hasn't the seminar started yet? Did we pay to watch a circus act?" An impatient candidate slammed the bench.
"Is she going to kick his balls? It'll be a masterpiece if she does!" a voice chirped from the crowd.
"Shut up! Let's see if she says yes!"
"Yes? Fat chance! I'm waiting to see how far he flies when she slaps him."
Right at that moment, one standing, thin note from his pocket—currency uniquely crafted and bearing the portrait of the Great Runi di Butler. He waved the note wildly in the air, hiking up the stakes as he bellowed, "One hundred coin's says he catches a slap so hard he'll break through the wall and land in the next room! Any takers?"
The Great hall had transformed into a low-rent gambling den. Laughter, whistles, and bets filled the air. And at the center of it all, Rumi stood frozen, her hands still trapped in the stranger's grip, while I stood nearby, my fists clenching in white-hot rage.
I marched forward and grabbed the guy by his collar, jerking him back.
"Hey! Let her go!"
As I forced him to face me, my irritation spiked. I wasn't surprised—not even a little. My gut had suspected it, and now I had proof. This was none other than my only friend...
"Noah."
…
Noah was a walking contradiction. To guys like me, he was a nuisance—short-tempered and foul-mouthed. But put a girl in front of him? He'd transform instantly. His words turned into a cascade of flowers.
To be fair, Noah was handsome—thousands of times more than me. With his sharp jawline, stylish newsboy cap, and confident gaze, it was hard not to find him attractive. If he just stopped the cringeworthy love letters and the bizarre public proposals, girls would probably flock to him. But a leopard doesn't change its spots, and Noah's blood was hundred percent pure trying to playboy chaos.
I was used to it. We survived university together. He was brilliant—he'd even received an invite from the prestigious 'Quad University'. is the second best university in the world and the first best in the country. Students here become crazy and desperate to get admission.
but turned it down to follow me to the 'Societies Chain University.' Why? Still a mystery. He had even repeated a year because he skipped his finals to propose to the Headmaster's daughter.
And here he was, on the biggest day of our lives, pulling the same stunt inside the headquarters.
…
Seeing my old friend after two months, I almost forgot my anger. I reached out to hug him.
"Noah! You're here! We talked on the phone about meeting at the gate, but I was late and—"
He didn't give me the chance. Instead of a hug, he slipped his foot out of his shoe and shoved it directly into my face. My words died in my throat.
"Who are you...!? Oh, it's the pathetic Durlav! How's it going, you brat? Did you cry into your pillow every night for two months because you missed my beautiful face? Don't bother me now—can't you see I'm busy with something important?"
I pushed his foot away, fuming. "Move your foot! That's disgusting! I was worried about you, and you—"
…
For the past two months, Noah had been staying with his parents in the Vanilla Kingdom. From what I knew, his father was a government official there. Although Noah was born in our country, he wasn't a full citizen; his father was a pure-blooded Vanillian, and his mother had migrated to the Vanilla Kingdom many years ago.
Despite their move, Noah had remained behind out of a strange, stubborn streak. He chose to live here with his grandmother instead. It was only two months ago—following his grandmother's passing and our university graduation—that he finally left for Vanilla, seemingly for good.
But now, a mere two months later, he was back, driven by an obsession to join the Quad Corps. We hadn't seen each other in all that time, and while we spoke occasionally over the phone, I never realized how wild and restless he had become. Seeing his lunacy today, it was hard to believe he was the same person.
On one hand, he wore an outfit that radiated aristocratic charm and refinement; on the other, he was shoving his foot into his best friend's face. That jarring contradiction... that was the very essence of Noah.
…
"Hey! I was talking to you!" I yelled.
Noah ignored me completely. His focus shifted back to Rumi. He held her hands again, a serene, fake smile on his face. He leaned in closer. Rumi looked like she was about to explode.
"Ha...!!!" she squeaked.
Before Noah could get any closer, Rumi's instincts took over.
POW!
A sharp punch landed square on Noah's nose.
"I... I'm sorry! It was an accident!" Rumi stammered, horrified that she'd actually done it.
But Noah's reaction was weirder. He stood still as a mountain, blood dripping from his nose. With the grace of a true gentleman, he pulled out a white handkerchief, dabbed his nose, adjusted his cap, and spoke:
"It's nothing, my celestial princess. A punch from a beauty like you is like nectar from heaven."
He blew her a flying kiss. Rumi's entire body trembled with disgust.
"Durlav... is this the lunatic you were looking for?"
The moment Noah heard my name from her lips, his charming eyes turned venomous. He whipped his head toward me.
"Oi! What is this goddess doing with you? Where did you find an hour like this, you brat!?"
"I've been calling you for ten minutes! And if you mean her... her name is—"
Noah cut me off with a sharp hand gesture.
"Shut. Your. Mouth."
He turned back to Rumi, his face melting back into a deceptive, heart-stealing smile.
"Anyway... we've had enough sweet talk for now."
SWEET TALK!?
My ears were bleeding from his nonsense, and he called it sweet talk.
Noah took off his newsboy cap, held it to his chest, and bowed elegantly.
"I haven't introduced myself properly. I am Noel—Noel Noah. The world knows me as Noah. And you, oh moon-maiden... What is your name?"
I watched him in awe. His ability to change personalities like a chameleon was terrifying. He was a master actor. Seeing his confident jawline reminded me of a day fifteen years ago…
***
[Flashback: 13 Years Ago]
We were building a sandcastle. Noah, a year older, always acted like the grown-up while I was just the milk-drinking baby.
"Hahaha! Our palace is done!" Noah laughed. "Hey Durlav, want to play a game?"
"What game?"
"A tragedy!" Noah beamed. "Pretend you murdered the princess of this palace and ran away. I'll be the hero. I'll chase you down to avenge her! And the princess has to be unimaginably beautiful, okay?"
"NOOOO!!!" I protested. "Why are you always the hero? I want to be the hero this time!"
"This is why I call you a baby," Noah sneered. "Stop whining."
"I'm not whining, I'm serious!"
"Durlav!!!"
"Noah!!!" —And then, the brawl broke out. It was a scene straight out of a playground—clumsy, childish, and chaotic. We traded messy punches and wild swings, hitting each other until we both had bumps rising on our heads like freshly sprouted potatoes.
But in the end, my resistance was futile. Noah, using his superior strength, tackled me to the ground and pinned me down. He didn't just sit on me; he sprawled out comfortably as if I were nothing more than a plush, oversized sofa, making himself right at home on top of me.
"Fine! I give up! Get off me!" I groaned.
"Game later. Punishment now. I'm sitting here for an hour," Noah said firmly.
"I'm going to scream-cry!"
"I'm waiting to hear it, dummy."
Just as I was about to burst into tears, Noah froze. He scrambled up and started dusting the sand off me with sudden tenderness. I thought he'd finally felt bad for me.
Then, a sweet voice spoke:
"Did your friend get hurt?"
A beautiful young woman was standing there. Noah immediately puffed out his chest.
"Not at all, Madam! A few scratches are part of the game. He's a big boy!"
"But Noah, you just—" He pinched my waist so hard I shrieked. "OWW!!!"
Noah looked at the girl with adoration.
"Madam, will you be the heroine of our story?"
She laughed. "Madam? You talk like a little gentleman. What story?"
Noah recounted the whole epic of the sandcastle and the princess's murder.
"You are the perfect princess," he added. "You're too beautiful."
Blushing, she said, "I don't have time, little one. I have to go to university to say my goodbyes."
"Goodbyes? Are you leaving?" I asked.
"My name is Lili," she said, nodding. "I'm not from this country. I just came here to study. Today, I go home to my own land." She checked her watch. "Ah! I'm late! Goodbye!"
When I turned to Noah, he was already gone, stalking Lili toward the university.
"Noah! Where are you going!?" I screamed.
He looked back, his eyes glinting. (If I follow her to the university, there will be nothing but girls! Beautiful girls everywhere! They'll take care of me! That's all I want in life!) And then he vanished.
I didn't understand his madness then. I certainly do now.
***
[Present Day]
Noah stood in his refined pose, waiting. Rumi, still hesitant, whispered her name.
"My name is Rumi... Rumi di Butler."
The guy who bet hundred coins nearby muttered, "What? Her name is Bottle? What kind of name is that?"
But for Noah, that word was a thunderbolt. The name 'Butler' shattered his world. His charming smile evaporated. His eyes nearly popped out of his head, and his face twisted in pure, unadulterated terror. He couldn't believe his ears.
In a trembling whisper, Noah uttered a single sentence:
"I can definitely see myself behind bars."