Chapter 3:
5:00pm
"How long does it take girls to get ready anyway?"
Ren had been waiting for the last thirty minutes and everyone who knew Ren Tao knew how impatient he is. For the last half-hour, he was able to drive away five suitors. There had been two juniors, two seniors and a sophomore…not that he really needed to fight. All he really had to do was crunch his knuckles. Being a world-renowned fighter has their perks. He used to be a squirt, The second shortest in their group, the Shamans. It is composed of the Asakura twins, Horohoro, Lyserg, little Manta and himself. Only the most popular are welcome (with the exception of Manta) and you of course you needed to be a shaman. He had a growth spurt over the summer and now girls swoon at the sight of him. It helped to be the heir to the Tao fortune too.
5:10pm
He noticed another batch of boys coming around the corner. They were basketball players…big bodies; small brains (they never won a single game). They settled themselves by the locker room door.
Ren sighed and began crunching his knuckles again. The fools couldn't seem to take the hint. He cursed under his breath and approached.
"Who are you here for?" Ren knew very well who. Since Horohoro was in the skateboarding finals, Pirika was vulnerable. I guess these were not expecting a substitute.
One of them smirked, "Pirika…"
These brainless goons probably never heard of the newspaper because none of them even recognized him. He has made big news for some time now, making front page in various newspapers in the country. He was even having doubts, if they could read.
"I suggest all you brainless clowns to leave."
"Hey! Who do you think you are?"
"I'm the one who is going to give all of you a beating, if you don't heed my warning."
"Do you hear that, boys? He thinks he can take us."
Ren yawned and mumbled, "Three minutes…or less…"
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"It means it'll only take me three minutes to bring moaning on the floor."
"Why you! You're going to pay for that!"
One minute later…
"That's it!"
Ren marched into the locker room. Girls squealed trying to cover themselves with their towels. Not that they minded, having a drop dead gorgeous hunk in their locker room was a welcome distraction.
Pirika was already dressed thankfully. She was laughing and primping herself in front of the girls' full-length mirror. She gasped when she saw his reflection in the mirror.
"What are you doing here!"
Instead of replying he grabbed her arm and proceeded to drag her out.
"Let me go or my brother will hear of this!"
He chuckled. "This was your brother's idea in the first place, sweetheart."
"My brother's idea? You've got to be kidding me! Why would he send you? And don't call me SWEETHEART!"
She then proceeded to tug her arm and kick him in the shins but she may as well be kicking a brick wall. He wouldn't budge.
"Let me go!"
"Stop resisting…"
"I will continue to resist until you let me go!"
"I'm warning you, Pirika…"
"You're warning me? Now that's a laugh. Why don't you just jump of a----"
She never got to finish her sentence because Ren suddenly tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of rice.
"AHH! Let me go!"
Instead of answering, he continued to carry her out. Pirika saw the basketball team moaning and clutching their stomachs outside.
"What happened to them?"
He shrugged. "I gave them a stomachache"
"Aren't you going to help them?"
"Why?"
"Because you gave it to them! How did you give it to them anyway?
"It didn't take long actually…"
Food poisoning?"
"No…something much more painful…"
She gasped. "You didn't…"
"Didn't what?"
"You didn't hurt them did you!"
He just shrugged.
"You idiot! The play-offs are tomorrow!"
This time he laughed. "Relax, Pirika. It's not like they ever won a single game."
"That's not the point!"
"Why do you wear such short skirts? No wonder your brother has trouble driving away your suitors."
She blushed but ignored his comment about her skirt. "What are you taking about! Are you saying my brother beats up people?"
He grinned. "Only about…everyday. Every time he comes to pick you up. Oh, that reminds me…Hey! You clowns."
The boys looked up from their positions on the floor.
"I better not see any of you hanging around Pirika again. I was only being considerate right now. I will really give you a good beating next time. "
The whole team nodded.
"And tell all your friends too…"
Once Ren was content with their chorus of "Yes!" he walked away carrying the struggling Pirika still on his shoulder.
"Who do you think you are? Those were my friends!"
"You mean your fans."
"It's none of your business!"
"On the contrary…I'm making it my business now…by the way, your brother said yes about your auditioning."
Pirika's face brightened. "Really? I can work with Pakenori?"
"No…with me…"
