Revenge is Best Served… After Reborn

He was off, lost in his own thoughts, not even sparing a backward glance. Sophie scrambled to keep up. "If you were a bad guy, you wouldn't have listened to all my babbling just now."

"You know it's just babbling?"

"It's just that it's been ages since anyone heard me out, so I'm kinda happy about it."

Sophie tagged along behind Odie as he moved ahead, his long strides forcing her to pick up the pace to stay beside him. Noticing her struggle, Odie slowed down. "Where's the lecture hall?"

"Huh?"

"Aren't we headed to class?"

"But didn't you go there yesterday?"

"I can't remember the way. Is that okay?"

"...Oh."

Sophie took the lead, guiding Odie through the sprawling campus. It felt endless to Odie, like they'd been walking forever.

As they got closer to the lecture hall, Sophie admitted sheepishly, "Honestly, I'm not really into attending classes, but I've never actually skipped one."

Odie paused, intrigued by her confession. "If you want me to help you ditch, just say the word. No need to beat around the bush."

"Isn't that a bit...wrong?"

Sophie hesitated, but kept an eye on Odie's reaction. Eventually, she softly asked, "...Can we?"

66

Just then, a motorcycle zoomed by Odie.

Without even looking, he reached out and grabbed the handlebar.

"Whoa! Are you crazy?"

"Hand over the bike."

"Huh?"

The delivery guy was stunned. He was just delivering food! Now someone in college was trying to swipe his ride?

Odie tossed him a Bentley key without a second thought.

He tugged Sophie onto the bike, catching her off guard, and in a flash, she was seated behind him.

"Put this on," he said, handing her a helmet.

Sophie fiddled with it, unsure how to wear it, until Odie helped her out.

"Hang on tight."

"...Okay!"

The delivery guy stood there, bewildered, staring at the Bentley key in his hand, then at his bike.

"Hey, dude! Where's the car?" he called out, panicked.

Odie cranked up the speed, zipping through the campus. Students

uj

jumped out of the way, ing

sighnoveldrama

the

of the speed demon whizzing

by

Sophie clung to Odie's waist, her voice filled with worry. "This is too fast! Can't we slow down?"

"Slow down, and where's the fun in that?" Qdje replied, accelerating. If you're holding on like that, it's not my fault if you end up falling off."

HIMS

At his words, Sophie tightened her grip around his waist.

Odie glanced down at her hands clinging to him, a smirk on his face. "Yep, just like that. Hold on nice and tight."

Pushing the bike to its limits, they burst past the campus walls.

They weaved through the crowd, making a beeline for the Devonport docks.

Throughout the wild ride, Sophie went from shutting her eyes to

loosening up, finally letting net

joyful shout, as if shedding at her pent-up feelings.