I left the pottery club and head straight to the cafeteria. I couldn’t wait to see Kristen’s face as she tried her best to keep her composure around Cerise.

I knew that Cerise could be very talkative and annoying. It would be fun to watch. ​​

I walked in the club building corridor until I heard the loud and rowdy voice of few boys walking in my direction. I squinted to see who went there, and I saw plenty of boys around my age, alongside many girls I recognize, were Mason Hall’s fans.

They walked like a pack of buffalos, ready to stomp anyone on their way. I could also see Chrissy and Cindy.

I gulped after realizing where they were going. They were definitely going to submit their application letter to the American football club and Cheer club since they always went hand in hand.

Strangely, I didn’t see Mason in the group. It was rare to see them without Mason since that boy was like… a magnet for everyone.

“Where’s Mason anyway? I already waited in front of his class, but he just disappeared,” one girl asked.

“Did you get the new schedule? Mason changed some of his classes because of his job. Just check it on our WhatsApp group.”

“Which one? Mason Fanclub?”

“Yes, his schedule has always been there, right?”

I got creeped out when I heard that. How could they pry on his privacy so easily to the point that they knew about Mason’s daily life and schedule?

But Mason’s fans had always been crazy, even in my previous life, and the number of girls joining his Fanclub increased by days. It became sort of cult at some point.

I held my breath once they walked closer to me. My instinct told me to hide because this wasn’t my fight. At least not yet. I’m just too weak for now. Especially since Cindy and Chrissy were there, alongside many boys, they might’ve targeted me.

Thus, I looked around and saw the small storage room on my left. I opened the door and entered. I closed the door and hide inside.

I could hear the voice of those group of buffalos passing me, and I sighed in relief.

Really, I felt humiliated because I had to hide from them. But this was just not the fight I could win. It would only put me in the spotlight, and I had no resources to fight them.

Not yet, but I will strengthen my position later and destroy them.

I waited until I couldn’t hear their steps. I held the door handle, wanting to go out, but a strong, veiny hand suddenly grabbed my wrist.

I shrieked in shock, but his other hand suddenly covered my lips to silence me. I tried to struggle instinctively. I looked back to see my assaulter.

I thought it was a weirdo that somehow ended up with me in this small storage room. But when I saw that dreamy blue eyes, that blonde hair, and nicely sculpted facial feature, I was dazed for a moment.

The man put his index on his mouth and shushed me, “Ssshh, they’re still close by. I can sense it.”

“…”

“…”

“Mason Hall, why are you here?” I asked. I really thought that I was hallucinating, but after hearing that deep but gentle voice, it assured me this man was the real Mason Hall.

Mason smiled at me with the same perfunctory smile that he showed to everyone. He scratched his cheek with his index and replied, “I’m hiding from them.”

“Them… you mean your fans?”

“You can call them that, I guess” Mason chuckled lightly. “But they can be excessive from time to time. I’ve been trying to find alone time for a while.”

Mason Hall still tried to arrange his words to ensure that he didn’t offend those crazy stalkers. It was also the same reason why he’d never get over those stalkers even later in his life because he enabled them.

I said nothing, but he looked at me right in the eyes and asked, “What are you doing here?”

“Ah, I—”

Wait, I couldn’t just say that I hid here to avoid his fans. That would be humiliating and suspicious.

“I’m avoiding someone,” I replied.

“Someone? Ah, I thought we’re avoiding the same group,” Mason pouted a bit, which made him a bit cute… well, a lot cute. I looked away immediately. There was no use of getting enamored with someone like him. It’d only create even more trouble in the future.

“I guess you’re my hiding buddy now, right? What a coincidence!” Mason chuckled lightly. “What’s your name?”

I knew he would ask my name as soon as we talked. Not because he liked me or whatsoever, but because he was always that friendly to everyone.

Anything about him was just perfunctory kindness to avoid trouble, but dealing with him was nothing but trouble.

“I need to go now,” I said. I flicked my wrist with a bit of strength to release my wrist from Mason’s grip.

“E—Eh? Did I say something wrong?”

“No, I’m just in a hurry.”

I opened the door and rushed out, leaving Mason alone in that cramped storage room.

“W—Wait!” Mason tried to catch up but did a sharp turn in the corridor. For some reason, I felt like a school Cinderella running away from the Prince Charming.

But then again, Cinderella had a fairy godmother that always helped her, and the Prince Charming wasn’t as dangerous as Mason.

After I was far from the club building, I took a deep, relieved breath. Though, I had one question in mind.

‘Wait, Mason doesn’t remember my face, right?’