At the midway point to school, Oliver spotted Alex and Rachel walking a bit further ahead of him. He silently followed behind them, when he was near enough he noticed that Alex and Rachel were holding hands, upon seeing this Oliver snickered. ‘These two are getting along pretty well. I’m proud of you comrade having to hold hands on the way to school, such is youth.’ Oliver then tapped Alex’s back, Alex turned his head around shocked at the sudden tap, but even while doing this he didn’t let go of Rachel’s hand.

Alex looked like he was about to strike but then he saw it was Oliver he tapped him, he stopped. “Your back was wide open comrade… Good morning comrade Alex, Comrade Rachel.”

“Good morning” Rachel gave her greeting but Alex was just staring dumbly at Oliver. Rachel nudged Alex gaining his attention, she then using her eyes signaled Alex to greet Oliver.

“Good Morning Oliver” While the three started walking again heading to school, Alex was in deep contemplation.

‘How did he get behind me without me noticing?! He was even able to touch me if he was an assassin I would have been dead for sure… It seems like I truly underestimated Oliver… No James Bourne.’ Alex smiled finding a friend who was at the same level as him who was also the same age as him was a great fortune.

Yet Alex didn’t know he was overestimating Oliver’s skills too much. The reason Oliver was able to get so close without Alex noticing was because of a combination of reasons. Number one, Alex’s thoughts were currently jumbled up, and he could not focus properly. Second the emotional dilemma he was having and couldn’t understand kept bothering him, even though he denies it. Thirdly and most importantly all of his attention was on Rachel’s soft comfortable hand holding his own. With all of these distractions and Oliver’s great timing, he was able to tap Alex’s back.

Still, without any knowledge of all of these factors, Alex simply assumed it was part of Oliver’s skills. Alex walked in the middle of Rachel and Oliver, he looked at Oliver and smiled.

“Don’t worry Oliver, I won’t let my guard down anymore… Thanks.” Oliver and even Rachel looked at Alex confused, the only difference was Rachel showed her confusion in her facial expression, Oliver, on the other hand, kept a serious look and nodded even though he didn’t understand what Alex was saying.

When the trio where near the school a bunch of students noticed them, but the reaction on seeing the group was not as loud as yesterday, still Alex could hear some of their whisperings.

“Look at them together, do you think the three of them are involved in a love triangle?”

“Huh?… Actually, you might be right Rachel being chased by two boys isn’t anything new.”

“No I’m talking about Alex chasing Rachel, Rachel chasing Oliver, and Oliver chasing Alex.”

“What?! Don’t tell me your bl crap you know I can’t handle that.”

“Why? Isn’t it hot and steamy just thinking about it?”

The other conversations were about the tennis match that happened yesterday.

“Hey look its Alex! Isn’t he so handsome and now that I look at him isn’t he also quite sexy? The tennis match yesterday made him look so manly. (sigh) I wish he would look my way.”

“Dream on… Don’t you see his already with Rachel.”

“Yeah your no match for her, if you’re not one of the three Goddesses you wouldn’t even able to fight back.”

“Who knows, Alex might like a girl who’s better in the inside than what she looks like in the outside.”

“Heh, your talking like you’re any good inside… Rachel already won in that area, we know how much you like bitching about, you slut.”

Some were even planning ways on how to show off in front of Rachel.

“Hey so what do you think any chance?”

“You saw how he moved yesterday, he even caught a tennis ball barehanded! There’s no way we can win in sports against that guy.”

“Then if we can’t beat him athletically, we can beat him using our brains, a.k.a academically.”

“That’s a no go too. I learned from a friend who’s in his class, Alex is even smarter than most of the teachers. He even corrected them while they were doing their lessons.”

“Damn it! Then how can we even compete with him”

Those were the conversations Alex could hear while passing by some students. He didn’t understand some of them, but it didn’t matter as long as they don’t have hostile intentions on Rachel, he could care less.

Another day in school that was supposed to be the same as yesterday, but now there was a difference. The difference was Alex noticed that someone had tampered with his locker, being on high alert Alex opened his locker carefully, and a bunch of letters fell down. Oliver looked a bit excited while Rachel was pouting, even though when she opened her own locker a similar flood of letters fell down.

“Are those letters of challenge?” Oliver asked Alex excitedly.

“Those are love letters, good for you Alex.” Rachel was the one who answered Oliver’s question while pouting.

Alex looked at the letters and was seriously thinking of what to do with them.

“Aren’t you happy Alex, you might actually find someone who won’t put you in a friend zone and actually date you.” Rachel’s tone was sour. She continued pouting while looking at Alex’s serious expression as he stared at the letters.

“I’ll read them later, but I really don’t have time for this.” Alex placed all the letters in a plastic bag.

“You don’t have time? What, aren’t you happy you’re so popular?” Rachel was feeling a bit better when she heard Alex had no time for such things, but her tone was still sour.

While he was putting all the letters in a plastic bag Alex answered Rachel. “I already have a full-time job of being your friend, I don’t have time for this.”

When Oliver heard what Alex said he whistled. Rachel, on the other hand, went from pouting to blushing.

“Really? Well, I’m sorry then.” Rachel stormed off into the classroom.

‘How can he keep on saying such lines with a serious face. So it’s better to be my friend than to have another person as his girlfriend..’ Rachel was blushing but her face was showing a smile as she started giggling which made everyone who saw her swoon at her cuteness.