MTLNOVEL Chapter 4: Jessica and Mia
By the time Alex hit his teenage years, he had already gained a reputation that made teachers nervous, parents wary, and girls… well, interested.
Jessica leaned against the lockers, twirling a strand of hair around her finger.
Her best friend, Mia, was stretching her legs, preparing for the usual torture session the coach called exercise.
"Hey, Mia," Jessica smirked.
"I bet you can't make Alex blush."
Mia scoffed.
"Blush? That guy has the emotional range of a brick wall. He doesn't even react when the math teacher yells at him for sleeping in class!"
"Exactly," Jessica grinned.
"Which is why, if you can make him blush, I'll do your math homework for a week."
" Ask me to do something that's possible for heaven's sake Jessica."
" Fine. If you manage to get the slightest reaction out of him I'll do your math homework for a week."
Mia raised an eyebrow.
"And if I lose?"
"You have to tell Coach that you're skipping class because you started your period while he's eating his lunch."
Mia cringed. "Ugh. Fine. Deal."
***
Alex was already standing near the basketball hoop, stretching his arms, looking like he had just walked out of an anime intro.
A group of boys surrounded him, hyping him up about a one-on-one match.
But that wasn't what caught Mia's attention.
What caught her attention was the fact that he still refused to wear his gym shirt.
"Yo, Alex!" Mia called out.
Alex turned his head slightly but didn't fully acknowledge her.
He was too used to girls calling his name it had become background noise.
Mia wasn't the type to get nervous, but damn, this was Alex.
The same guy who once scammed the entire school into giving him their lunch money just by smiling.
Still, she wasn't one to back down from a challenge.
So, with the confidence of a girl with nothing to lose, she walked up to him and lifted his shirt just slightly.
"What the hell do you eat, dude?" Mia muttered.
"Protein powder and sin?"
Alex blinked.
That was it.
No reaction.
No flustered expression.
Just an unimpressed blink.
Mia tsked. "Damn, thought that would work."
She turned away, defeated, but Jessica, who had been watching, was shaking her head.
"You went too soft," Jessica whispered, stepping in.
"Let me show you how it's done."
Mia rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
Jessica strutted over, flipping her hair back dramatically.
"Hey, Alex~" she purred.
Alex sighed.
"What do you want, Jessica?"
She grinned.
"Oh, nothing… I just wanted to tell you…"
She leaned in, just enough to whisper,
"I saw your search history."
For the first time in history, Alex actually paused.
Mia gasped.
"Did… did she just get a reaction out of him?"
Alex squinted at Jessica.
"I don't have a search history."
Jessica smirked.
"Exactly."
The boys around him lost it.
"OH SHIIIIIT!"
"BRUH, YOU GOT BUSTED!"
"HE GOT NOTHING TO HIDE 'CAUSE HE USES YOU KNOW?"
They bust out laughing.
Mia was wheezing.
Alex sighed, rubbing his forehead.
"This is why I don't talk to people."
Jessica turned to Mia.
"Guess who's telling Coach about her period now?"
Mia groaned, burying her face in her hands.
"Ugh. I hate you."
Jessica raised her brows.
"Fine. You win."
" Good girl. "
Alex, meanwhile, walked off completely unbothered, but also slightly wondering if he needed to switch to a VPN.
***
Mia had been watching Alex for weeks, studying his every move.
No one, not even their teachers, had an upper hand on him.
He was untouchable.
Annoyingly untouchable.
But Mia wasn't just any girl.
She was determined.
And she had a plan.
Alex was protective over a particular notebook.
A thick, worn-out counter book he always kept in his bag, away from prying eyes.
That alone made it suspicious.
Mia's chance came on a Friday afternoon when Alex left his bag unattended during PE.
He was out on the field, probably making a fool out of some poor kid in a fight, and she had just minutes to act.
Heart pounding, she unzipped his bag, slid the book out, and flipped it open.
Her eyes widened.
Two names.
Millie
Natalia
Her lips curled into a devious smile.
"Well, well, well, Alex… what's this?" she whispered to herself.
Millie used to be their class teacher. Natalia she presumed was their maid.
And suddenly, Mia knew exactly how to mess with him.
Later that evening, Alex was in the school courtyard, casually leaning against a pillar, enjoying the cool breeze.
His mind was occupied, plotting his next move in life.
That's when Mia approached.
She walked up to him, holding his counter book in her hands like it was an ancient relic.
Alex's eyes immediately sharpened.
"Where did you get that?"
Mia smirked.
"Oh, you left it lying around. Thought I'd take a look."
Alex's jaw clenched. "Give it back."
Mia flipped through the pages dramatically.
"Hmm, Millie and Natalia. Now, why would you write their names in a book meant for things you own?"
Alex didn't flinch. "Maybe I'm just manifesting."
Mia chuckled, stepping closer. "Oh, you're manifesting something alright. But the question is should I tell Millie about this? I'm sure she'd love to know she's been claimed by one of her students."
Alex sighed. "You're annoying."
Mia grinned. "And you're in trouble."
She leaned in, standing on her toes so she could whisper near his ear. "But I have a proposition."
Alex didn't react, but she could tell he was listening.
Mia placed a hand on his chest, her fingers lightly tracing the fabric of his shirt.
"How about… I don't tell Millie, and in return, you and I make a little deal?"
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"What kind of deal?"
Mia smiled slyly.
"Something fun. You see, I don't like losing. And right now, you're the king of this school."
She paused, tilting her head.
"I think it's about time someone knocked you down a peg."
Alex smirked.
"You think that someone is you?"
"Maybe." Mia shrugged, then her fingers trailed up to his collar.
"Or maybe… I just want to see if you're all talk."
For once, Alex was silent.
Mia took that as her cue.
She slowly, deliberately dragged her fingers up his jawline, watching for any signs of reaction.
Alex just stared at her, completely unfazed.
She narrowed her eyes. "No reaction? That's a shame."
Alex smirked. "You're trying too hard."
Mia huffed, crossing her arms.
"Tch. Whatever. Keep your stupid book."
She shoved it back into his hands, turning on her heel to walk away.
But just as she left, Alex called out, "Better luck next time, Mia."
She froze for a second, then scoffed.
"Oh, don't worry, Alex."
She glanced over her shoulder with a smirk.
"Next time, I won't be so nice."
" And what are you going to do with that information?"
" I'm going to tell the entire world Alex. "
With that she ran towards The girl's locker room.
Alex chased after her.