Kay frowned.

It had been three months already, but those girls have yet to leave her alone.

It wasn't anything serious, actually. Just lots of snide remarks, a few belittling comments and stuff like that. Kay basically ignored them as she believed in the saying, that 'nothing affects a person more than not being affected by said person'.

Erica, the leader and her two minions, Ethel and Pauline.

Seriously, why must she have to face these three stodges?

Since they didn't really bother her, she let them be.

It was the other two that were more of a headache.

Mark and Lance.

No matter how many times she refused him, he did not give up.

First, it had been to go for a meal. Then, to study with her. She'd see him practically everywhere she went, posing like some strutting peacock yet under the impression that he was being cool.

"Kayla!" Mark shouted out as he saw her approaching.

Kay sighed.

She had asked Kyle about this.

She had wanted his opinion about what should be the best step to reject Mark without being too mean?

Guess what?

Kyle had been completely useless.

✿ Flashback ✿

[Brother, I have a bit of a problem]

[Oof] Kyle grimaced.

It was the one thing he had been dreading. Okay, fine. It was one of many things he was dreading.

What could he do all the way in Country M?

More importantly, could he stop himself from flying back to help if it was truly bad?

[Oh come on, brother. I just want to ask your opinion about something]

[Okay. Shoot. What is it?]

[There's this guy ...]

[You like him?]

[No, it's not that ...]

[He's disturbing you?]

[Well, yes, but ...]

[Big Bro Nic can annihilate ...]

[AAARGH. KYLE!! Can you let me finish a sentence?! Urgh. Seriously]

Kyle winced and he could feel his head pound a bit.

Okay, so Kay was truly upset to have sent out that strong a mental shout. He had felt it even at that distance.

[Sorry] Kyle apologised sheepishly [So what's the problem?]

[Well, there's a guy on campus that has been trying to date me. I've refused him constantly, but he doesn't give up. What should I do?]

[Erm ...] Kyle scratched his head.

[Kay, I'm sorry but I'm not the best person to ask. Heck, I'm not even someone you should ask about this]

[What do you mean? Aren't you some sort of ninja with skills of disguise and infiltration? Honey traps galore?] Kay asked in surprise.

[Yes, but it's more of getting the person and not rejecting them. We either love them to get information and kill them when we're done]

[And ... well, I haven't exactly been very successful in rejecting people either, remember. Like, hello? Sarah and Randall?]

Kay sighed [You have a point. You are useless]

[Hey!]

Kay giggled.

[Maybe you can ask Sayuri? Her ninja skills are more in tune with what you're facing. She deals more with the human nature of things whereas the Kato Art is more about hypnotism and killing]

[I can't ask her!] Kay protested.

[Why not?]

[I don't know her that well. You were the one that was in constant contact with her, not me...]

[True, that] Kyle replied when he thought about it.

[Are you interested in her?]

[What?] Kyle was shocked at the question [Why would you even ask that?]

[Because in the last 16 years that we have been together, she's the first girl you ever mentioned outside of school]

[It is NOT] Kyle protested [You make me sound like I never have any girl friends]

[You miss the point, dear brother] Kay said with a sigh [Granted, you have lots of girl friends but you have never, and I mean never, put any thought to them. Let alone ask me to seek one out for advice]

[That's because there was ever any need to] Kyle protested [Sayuri is a capable and skilled ninja. She has the knowledge and you have this problem. So it's only natural that I would think of her when you're faced with a problem that she can help with. Stop overthinking things]

[Okay, okay. Don't get your boxers in a twist. I was just saying]

[Well, stop saying it. There's nothing between me and Sayuri, okay?]

[Okay, okay. I got it] Kay replied with a laugh [I do think someone doth protest too much]

[KAYLA!!]

✿ [Content is stolen if this is not in w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. Please support me there] ✿

Even thinking about it now made Kay smile.

It was really fun to tease her brother. Helped ease her missing him.

"Wow," gasped Mark as he reached her. He was completely mesmerized by her blinding smile. She smiled? She smiled for him?!

Yes! Score!!

However, his face fell when he saw that as she lifted her gaze and saw him, that dazzling smile fizzled and a frown was formed instead.

Lance who was beside him, laughed softly.

"You really thought that smile was for you? You're more delusional than I thought," Lance replied, then said, "This is your final chance. It's been months already, man. How long are you going to take?"

"You never said that our bet had a time limit," Mark replied with a grin, his confidence coming back,

"No," Lance insisted, "You can't make this indefinitely. All this time and she's not warmed up even a little bit. Give up, man."

"She hasn't rejected me either, has she?"

Lance looked at him in surprise, "Seriously? How many times must she say 'no' before you count it as a rejection?"

"She's never said 'no'," Mark replied, "She gave me excuses for not being able to accept but she has never rejected me completely. Thus, she is just playing hard to get."

"Unbelievable," Lance said with a roll of his eyes.

Mark rubbed his hands together and said, "This is it. I can feel it in my bones. Today is my lucky day."