Bully Lord

Part-44

The blue notification window pulsed with an almost mocking intensity. James felt a wave of frustration wash over him. This mission was absurd, an unwelcome complication on top of the already precarious situation with Ryan. He rubbed his temples, trying to think of a way out. Asking Mili out based on a forced mission felt disingenuous, considering she had already mentioned having a crush on someone else. But the System rarely offered wiggle room, and the penalty – getting struck by lightning – was a risk he wasn't willing to take.

With a resigned sigh, James decided to confront the situation head-on. He navigated the bustling hallways, finally spotting Mili amidst a group of chattering girls. She turned, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as James approached.

"Mili," he began, his voice barely above a whisper.  "Um, I was wondering…" He trailed off, his cheeks warming under her curious gaze.

Mili tilted her head, her eyes wide with innocence.  "Yes?"

James took another deep breath, blurting out, "Would you… would you be willing to wait for me after school today?"

M"Sure," she replied, her voice barely audible.  "What's up?"

James swallowed hard.  "I, uh, just wanted to talk."  He offered a weak smile, hoping it wouldn't come across as too forced.  "About something."

The school bell echoed through the halls, a jarring counterpoint to the nervous drumming in James' chest. He stole a glance at Mili, who sat a few desks ahead, her brow furrowed in concentration as she meticulously highlighted a passage in her textbook. Every stolen moment felt like a stolen glance, the weight of the mission a constant pressure. He could practically feel the expectant gaze of the System, urging him on. James wasn't sure if he was more nervous about asking Mili out or the potential consequences of failing the mission.

Finally, the shrill bell echoed through the halls, its discordant tone a welcome signal for James. He bolted out of his seat like a sprinter leaving the starting blocks, his eyes scanning the throng of students flooding the corridors. He spotted Mili leaning nonchalantly against a wall near the school exit, her arms crossed and a hint of defiance in her posture. With a deep breath that did little to calm the frantic drumming in his chest, James weaved through the chattering crowd, his palms growing slick with sweat with every step closer to her

"Hey, Mili," he greeted, offering a smile that felt more like a grimace.

"Hey, James," she replied, tilting her head slightly.  "What did you want to talk about?"

James hesitated, his carefully constructed plan dissolving under her curious gaze.  "Well," he stammered, "I was wondering, maybe you'd like to..."  He trailed off, the words sticking in his throat.  This was ridiculous.  Asking someone out on a date based on a system-generated prompt felt more like a bad prank than a genuine interaction.

"Like to what?" Mili prompted, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes.

James closed his eyes, bracing himself.  "Like to go out sometime," he blurted out.  "Maybe grab some food at the new cafeteria across the street?"

The amusement in Mili's eyes morphed into surprise.  She opened her mouth to speak, then hesitated.  "Actually, James," she began, her voice gentle but firm.  "I appreciate you asking, but I'm not really interested.  I have already told you, someone else I have in mind."

With that, she waved goodbye and turned away, heading towards the bus stop.