Chapter 40

“W-where is he…?”

Alicia mumbled to herself, scanning the town square with a single person in mind.

—Rey!

‘I thought he would want to hang out together.’

This would be the first time they would explore the town, so she thought he would want to do it with her.

She imagined they would check out the marketplace and even have tons of fun… like on a date.

But he was nowhere to be found now.

‘I guess I was the only one who was looking forward to this…’ Alicia tried to shake off her disappointment when she sensed a shadow looming behind her.

Someone was approaching her, and for a moment she suspected it would be Rey.

‘Maybe he quickly went to get something and came back for me.’

It was sort of rude, and she would have to give him an earful for it, but Alicia was relieved.

This meant they could finally hang out.

However, the moment she turned back and looked at the person who approached her, it wasn’t the boy she longed to see.

She recognized the face, though seeing it didn’t exactly make her happy.

‘It’s him!’ She tried to hide her disappointment, but Alicia wasn’t a great actress.

“H-hey… Billy. I thought you already went off with your friends.”

Alicia hoped he would take the hint and just go and hang out with the many friends he already had.

She squirmed under his gaze, feeling uncomfortable.

“Well… I… just thought maybe we could hang out together. You know, since it’s our first time in town and all.”

Alicia fought back tears.

Why were the words she longed to hear from Rey being spoken to her by Billy?

It felt like a cruel twist of fate.

“Erm, I was hoping to explore on my own. You know how I am… haha…”

She tried to let him down gently, hoping he’d take the hint.

“I just want to be alone,” she added, forcing a smile to ease the tension.

However…

“… Because Rey isn’t here, right?” Billy’s whisper cut through the air, catching her off guard.

“What was that?”

“Rey isn’t even here! He went off on his own. He clearly doesn’t care about you… not like I do!”

Alicia was stunned that Billy would make such an outright confession after he had been so subtle and indirect in the past.

Especially now that they were in the middle of the town square.

“Billy, lower your voice and—”

“You think I don’t have eyes? I see you with him all the time. How can you be going to his room so frequently? Even staying so long there till late at night?!”

Alicia knew what Billy was referring to, and it proved her point that he had been indeed stalking her.

In retrospect, Alicia realized she had spent way too much time in Rey’s room that night.

They had both lost track of time due to the fun conversation they were having.

Would she change that night if she could?

Alicia’s answer was a resounding no!

It was clearly because they were having fun that so much time had gone by without either of them realizing it.

‘And it’s not like we did anything…’

But those thoughts aside, Billy was really getting on her nerves.

“I told you to lower your—”

“Do you know what people are saying? Do you know how hard I try to fight the rumors and help you out, even in secret? Yet you spend time with that loser that abandons you the slightest chance he gets.”

Right now, Billy was whining and shouting like a child throwing a tantrum. Alicia couldn’t hide her disgust as she looked at him, her brows furrowing in annoyance.

He kept blabbering on and on about what he had done for her, how hard he worked… and how unfair she was being to him.

It got to a point where Alicia couldn’t take his pathetic display any longer.

‘This idiot. There are eyes on us and he won’t stop talking.’

It was at this point that Alicia reached the limits of her patience and it was for that very reason that she finally spewed out her pent-up frustration.

“Would you shut up already? You’re the most insensitive asshole I’ve ever spoken to. Why don’t you just leave me alone?”

As her words hung in the air, Billy paused in utter shock.

The tables had turned, and it seemed like she was suddenly the villain in his eyes.

Alicia didn’t care, though. She was done being polite to this guy.

‘The reason I was subtle and indirect to him was because he was also subtle. I didn’t want to be too forward, and I considered his feelings, which is why I didn’t outrightly reject him…’

But now that Billy had revealed his true colors, Alicia had no reason to continue the charade.

“I don’t like you, Billy. And if you keep pestering me, I’ll have to defend myself. You wouldn’t want a fight between us, would you?” Alicia threatened, deepening her glare.

At her words, Billy visibly shuddered.

Everyone knew Alicia was stronger and more skilled than him.

Their classes may have been in the same tier, but her abilities far surpassed his.

If they were ever to fight, it would be an embarrassingly easy win for Alicia.

“Exactly. So back off. If you keep pestering me, I might have to involve Adonis and the higher-ups too.”

The look on Billy’s face as she said this made it clear he was nervous.

Of course, a suck-up like him wouldn’t want to lose all the goodwill he had been getting thus far.

Alicia couldn’t help but find it pathetic.

‘Unlike you, Rey doesn’t care about any of that…’

And yes, Rey did leave her alone in this town to wander on her own, but at least he didn’t publicly embarrass her or bombard her with hurtful words like Billy did.

Most importantly, Alicia actually liked Rey—not the guy standing in front of her.

“Just leave me alone and don’t bother me again, okay? Don’t follow me,” Alicia stated firmly before turning to walk away, leaving Billy standing there like a lifeless statue.

She didn’t feel great about having to be so harsh, but it needed to be said.

‘Look what you’ve caused, Rey. Because you left, this guy felt bold enough to act up.’

Despite everything, Alicia couldn’t help but smile.

She wasn’t particularly angry at Rey, just a bit disappointed.

‘I wonder what he’s up to…’

********

“I… I… I just…” “I… I… I just…” Billy mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible in the bustling town square.

He replayed the moments in his mind—the times when his friends called out to him, wanting him to join them, but he had chosen to seek out Alicia instead.

He recalled how happy he was that Rey wasn’t present, and Alicia appeared lonely.

He had thought… genuinely believed she would appreciate his company.

Well… he was wrong.

Not only did Alicia thoroughly reject him, but she did so in the most humiliating way possible.

Billy was heartbroken to the core, his emotions raw and exposed for anyone to see.

*

*

*

[A/N]

Thanks for reading!

Man… I honestly feel bad for the gigachad, Billy.

After everything he’s done… tsk tsk… Alicia really is ungrateful.

Lol