Chapter 18: Attracting attention with three beauties
Allen walked into his classroom, drawing astonished looks from everyone. It's an understatement to say that no one expected to see him here, especially considering his absence yesterday, many thought he wouldn't return.
Allen felt a bit uncomfortable at first, but he quickly got used to it. As previously stated, Allen is not shy, if he were, he wouldn't be creating content. He simply didn't draw attention to avoid problems.
However, Allen feels it's silly to hide from bullies when he has the power of a portable lobotomy in his pocket.
[Host, if you wish, we can use the remaining fragment to alter everyone's memory at your school.]
'No, the fragments are a life's safety, using them to avoid extra attention is irresponsible,' Allen affirmed in his mind as he sat in his place. 'Besides, with my relationship with MJ and Gwen, it's impossible to go unnoticed.'
[I understand.]
Mary Jane sat at the front, and he was at the back row. This was one of the reasons for their few interactions before, It was a convenient location though, so he could talk to Gwen, she sat next to him in class.
"Weirdly, she's one of the first to arrive," Allen whispered.
Allen had his usual black hair and large glasses. MJ didn't question how he could change his hair color instantly, but she seemed curious.
'Does this work like Superman's glasses?'
[Host, someone would have to scrutinize his face for a long time to even relate the albino Allen to Allen Potter.]
'System, you remember I hate nicknames, right?'
[I apologize.]
Allen felt his system was mocking him, but she showed no emotion, so he let it go reluctantly.
Allen felt someone observing him with hatred. It was Harry Osborn, watching him from a corner while talking to other popular guys.
Allen sighed; comparing having a psychopathic clown trying to kill you and a group of bullies might seem absurd. But problems are problems regardless of their size.
Allen already knew the reason behind Harry's hateful look. He reviewed the recordings and saw what happened with MJ. Allen anticipates that, with his luck, Harry will somehow end up blaming him for being rejected.
'The stupid pride of rich bastards...'
[Host, now that you're bankrupt, you can say that without feeling embarrassed.]
*cough*
"What's up, celebrity, fans bothering you incessantly?" Gwen's voice came from Allen's right. She sat next to him, giving him a mocking look.
Of course, Gwen was talking about the fight's fame. Although Gwen knew that Allen usually made content for the internet, she had never seen any of it; that was pretty funny considering she was his only friend. Mary Jane didn't count since Allen wasn't aware of her identity and immediately shifted from being his friend to being his girlfriend.
"Gwen, you know I hate fans, especially the persistent ones. See that group over there? They're like paparazzi, they won't stop watching me," Allen teased loudly, deliberately causing everyone in the room to quiet down.
"Allen?" Gwen looked incredulously at her friend, who had always been reserved in school.
Harry walked over to Allen and stopped at his seat. "I apologize; I was just curious. I never knew you were so heroic; I think my opinion of you was biased," Harry laughed, and the overall mood relaxed.
"A hero?... It's funny to be considered a hero for acting with a little common sense and decency," Allen looked directly at Harry. "Tell me, Harry, do you agree with Flash's actions? Because it never interested you in stopping him."
Harry clenched his fists as Allen's words were about to make him look bad. "You!" Before responding, Harry noticed a couple of students recording in secret and decided to control himself.
"I'm not Flash's father, I can't force him to act as I wish. I apologize if Flash is a prankster who sometimes doesn't measure his actions. This time, he realized he went too far and regrets it," Harry replied with a bright smile, and several girls in the room sighed upon hearing him speak.
"Just a prank... huh," said Allen with a fake smile. "Is that how you see bullying?"
"As I said, I can't control Flash, but I apologize if my words were inappropriate." Harry coughed and went back to his seat, not wanting to extend the conversation.
"I didn't think they were so unpleasant," Gwen sighed upon hearing Harry's comments, feeling disdainful because due to his charisma, he could turn something as horrible as bullying into just a joke.
"Don't worry, Gwen..." Allen placed his hand over Gwen's to comfort her.
"Huh?!" Gwen froze at the sudden intimacy; she didn't expect this action out of the blue.
Allen had a certain idea of her feelings, but he needed to be sure. He decided to be more active with her; if she didn't reject his displays of affection, he would try to go further.
Gwen slowly withdrew her hand and looked away, feeling embarrassed. It was a cute action, but Allen couldn't ascertain if it was due to embarrassment at being seen, embarrassment regarding him, or both.
Allen knew Gwen wasn't honest many times and tended to hide her feelings towards him; otherwise, they would have started dating long ago.
Allen knew he had to push hard if he wanted Gwen to reveal her true feelings. Allen apologized to Gwen in his heart and pretended to be saddened when she withdrew her hand to press the girl.
"I'm sorry, Gwen..."
Gwen glanced at Allen and panicked seeing him affected by her rejection. She immediately grabbed Allen's hand to prevent him from getting hurt. Allen smiled and patted Gwen's head.
She saw Allen's smiling look and knew he had set a trap for her. She became annoyed, swatted Allen's hand, and crossed her arms, pouting.
"Idiot."
Allen laughed and stopped teasing her. He also noticed MJ was watching him from the front and smiled at her. His red-haired girlfriend looked ahead, a little embarrassed to be found out.
The class began without further incidents.
...
Allen was about to get something to eat, intending to invite MJ, but she gave him a look, reminding him of their agreement.
Allen shook his head as he was going to invite Gwen as well. It's not like both girls didn't get along, they just lacked mutual interaction.
Allen led a surprised Gwen to MJ, and the three went to the cafeteria. Mary Jane was nervous, and Gwen still couldn't understand how Allen had become friends with the beautiful red-haired girl at school.
Allen simply told Gwen the truth, well, omitting that she lived with him and that he had a relationship with her.
...
Allen, Gwen, and MJ sat at an empty table. Allen was drawing attention by himself, but now that he had two beauties with him, the attention towards him increased. However, he didn't care anymore about being watched.
"So she's your fan, you must be happy~," Gwen sat to Allen's right, mocking him.
"It was a shock to me as well," Allen laughed. It was indeed astonishing for him to know that one of his oldest followers was such a beautiful girl.
"I told you a thousand times she was a cute girl," MJ teased lightheartedly from Allen's left.
"You know the rule, MJ, everyone on the internet is a man until proven otherwise," Allen closed his eyes mischievously. "I thought you were a creepy old guy, but who would have thought I'd meet such a lovely girl."
"What?!"
MJ blushed, but she was more surprised that Allen dared to flirt with her in front of Gwen. Nervously, the redhead glanced at Gwen, and indeed, she pouted and pinched Allen's arm.
"Don't tease MJ, Allen," Gwen paused and looked apologetically at Mary Jane. "Is it okay if I call you MJ?"
"Not a problem," she replied cheerfully, and both girls smiled.
"Hey, I'm glad you get along, but I feel weird being ignored while I'm between you," Allen chuckled at the situation, but deep down, he wasn't surprised. He had known MJ for years and Gwen as well, and he knew that if there was no conflict between them, they'd end up getting along.
[Congratulations, another step closer to your harem.]
Allen thought with regret but without repentance. 'System, don't put it that way... Well, who am I kidding? I can't deny it. As much as I'd like to dress up my situation, I'm shamelessly forming a harem like a womanizing bastard.'
[I'm glad you're being honest. Who would have thought you could make moves on three women at the same time.]
"Three?"
Allen looked around and noticed Felicia sitting at the table next to him, memories of the kiss he shared with Felicia and the promise of a date with her flooding back into his mind.
He had forgotten about it; this situation was problematic. At that moment, he had no commitments and went too far in failing to control his impulses. He couldn't just tell her no and forget about her.
Felicia Hardy smiled mischievously and amusedly at Allen while eating an apple, seemingly saying, 'You're a son of a b...'
[She's a challenging opponent, like a wild animal, but you're lucky. If you had encountered her a couple of years later, you wouldn't have been able to fully tame her.]
Allen rolled his eyes at the system's statements. 'Do you think I'm a degenerate womanizer aiming for every beautiful woman I meet?'
[...]
'Hey!'
Allen awkwardly returned a smile to Felicia, and she laughed, pointing her fingers to the sides of Allen.
Allen glanced to the side and saw a blonde and a redhead, both looking angrily at him accusingly. Still, neither of the girls said anything, Gwen because she wasn't his girlfriend, and MJ because she didn't want Gwen to find out about her relationship with Allen yet.
Allen coughed and looked at Gwen, "Gwen, I'd like to take you out."
"Huh?!" The blonde girl raised her voice, shocked; it was as if Allen had gone from second gear to fifth abruptly.
The Allen from before would have hesitated to even suggest such a thing, but he wouldn't have a date with a girl he barely knew, no matter how beautiful, before dating Gwen.
"I-I..." It seemed like Gwen's mind short-circuited, and she began to stutter, then stood up and ran, saying she was going to the bathroom.
"I'll go with her." MJ stood up and gave Allen a kind look. She leaned in close to Allen's ear and whispered, "I don't have the right to complain about you flirting with another girl because I'm also another girl, but don't neglect Gwen, or I'll be mad..."
MJ went after Gwen, leaving Allen alone—or so it seemed, until a girl with long, snow-white hair sat next to him. Felicia's green eyes were fixed on Allen with interest; her aura was different from Gwen and MJ's, giving off the vibe of a troublemaker.
"You're a bastard, not one but aiming for two girls at the same time," Felicia unabashedly grabbed Allen's flan.
Allen smiled while feeling panic inside; how could Felicia have noticed?
"Women have a terrifying instinct for these things, and I'm very good at reading people," Felicia stated. She moved closer to Allen, closing the gap between them, a daring action that angered the onlookers.
"Aren't you a bit close, Miss Hardy?" Allen could feel Felicia's breath on his neck, though it didn't bother him, everyone in the cafeteria was watching them.
Felicia laughed and took Allen's hand, pulling him out of the cafeteria, much to the astonished gazes of everyone who couldn't react or understand what was happening.
Not far away, there was a trio of infuriated boys.
"How is this possible?!" Flash said, wanting to punch the wall.
"Mary Jane, Felicia Hardy, and Gwen... the three most beautiful girls in school are in a relationship with Walker, the bastard." William seemed calmer, but seeing Gwen's reaction, he was about to jump and hit Allen.
Harry, on the other hand, looked at this with coldness. "Stay calm... everything is planned. Before the day ends, Allen Walker will be arrested, and all this stupidity will end."
The two guys calmed down upon hearing Harry's words, they couldn't act impulsively and give Allen a reason to suspect.
...
Felicia cornered Allen against the wall, looking at him suspiciously. "What did you do?" She tilted her head curiously, appearing like a cat that found something interesting.
"What do you mean?" Allen didn't yield.
"Your aura, your attitude, your presence—all have increased several levels, and above all, you've become stronger," she said while examining Allen's body.
"Hahaha, it's nothing, and it's the second time you've touched me; I should call the police," Allen laughed, showing no intention of revealing anything.
"You can prevent me from touching you, but you don't; admit that you enjoy it." Felicia teased as she bit Allen's ear.
Allen felt that this flirtation was becoming too much and pushed Felicia away slightly; anything more would be too forward for a girl he just met.
"I love treasures, secrets, excitement, but I also love challenges..." Felicia licked her lips with a desirous look in her eyes. "You have a treasure worth stealing, so I won't give up easily."
"I don't think I'm interesting enough for you to spend your time on, Felicia."
"It won't be easy, huh?" Felicia stepped away from Allen and silently looked at him with a smile. "And... when will we go out?"
"Eh?" Allen was momentarily confused.
"You said you wanted to go out with me on a date, hehe. When will it be? Or... do your two girlfriends not allow you?"
Allen remained silent, trying to figure out how Felicia's mind worked, which made the green-eyed albino girl smile.
"You're not denying that they're your girlfriends." Felicia raised an eyebrow. "You're a peculiar guy."
"It's not that; you've left me speechless." Allen gave her a mysterious look. "You're also peculiar, even knowing how I am, you mess with me. Don't you know that curiosity killed the cat?"
"Whatever you say." Felicia turned to leave but not before throwing something at Allen.
"This is my phone!" Allen was surprised.
"I added my contact number." The girl winked at Allen and left.
"System, did you let her use my phone?"
[I thought the host would like to have her number, so I allowed her to take it; don't worry, all the important information was protected.]
"That's not the point; don't assume or act without informing me beforehand," Allen thought for a moment. "Unless it's a life or death situation."
[I'm sorry, host, I let myself be guided by your high levels of excitement and assumed you wanted to mate with her.]
Allen choked at that. "It was inevitable with such a dangerous and beautiful woman at such close range."
[I won't deny it, I believe they're called femme fatale... an interesting term. She has the potential to be a lethal woman for men.]