Chapter 43 Unexpected Kiss
Nami still couldn't believe what Commander Cristos had said. How could he ask her to join a team with someone who had so openly shown hostility towards her?
Even after she left the room, she still felt a sense of disbelief. Moreover, she and Prince Jacob were forced to leave the room together. This made the atmosphere even more awkward for two people who had fought before.
Jacob walked a few steps ahead of her, remaining silent and unspeaking, although his admission of guilt for last night's incident earned Nami a little respect. At least, he wasn't a loser looking for a scapegoat and choosing to run away from the problems he had created.
Seeing Jacob walking ahead made her uneasy, but remaining silent would only make her look like a loser. Realizing he was still standing in front of the door, Jacob stopped walking and looked back with a blank expression that made him hard to read.
"What are you doing? Come on!" He said. Nami was stunned, sure she hadn't heard correctly. How could the young man who had wanted to kill her last night speak so intimately?
"W-what?" Nami stammered. She was sure she hadn't heard correctly.
"We have to meet Corporal Joan Homer, he's the one who's going to train us both specifically."
"But why? I mean, why did you agree so easily? Don't you really dislike me? It would have been better if you refused Commander Cristos's order."
"Unfortunately, it wasn't an order, but a punishment, and a soldier shouldn't refuse a punishment. It's up to you whether you want to do it or not, it's none of my business!" He said as he took another step.
"I don't want to, but having to train specifically with you in a group feels a bit—"
"You're an esper too, aren't you?" He asked. Nami didn't answer immediately, not knowing how to explain herself to others.
Levi had always told her not to explain herself to anyone, even though she didn't fully understand her condition or how she was so strong. Although she was certain he knew about her condition, every time she asked, he would always tell her to wait for the right time.
"Levi still owes me an answer. How can I explain it to this guy?" She thought. Prince Jacob remained silent, waiting for her answer.
"Actually, I don't know who I am either."
"What do you mean?"
"I grew up in an orphanage and never knew who my parents were. That's why I can't tell you."
"You were under Professor Levi Sanders' supervision, weren't you?"
"Yes, but how did you know?"
"I looked up your background and your background in the ERI database, but your name wasn't on the list of espers under ERI's supervision. However, someone told me that you have a close relationship with Professor Levi Sanders, the founder and director of Sanders Laboratory, one of the most important laboratories in the world today. It's where advanced equipment, combat machines, and weapons used by humanity to fight monsters are created."
Hearing Jacob's confession, Nami was stunned. She hadn't expected Jacob to learn about her so quickly.
"So, what do you want?" She asked. She could still sense Jacob's ill intentions, and it made her wary. Jacob stepped toward her and stopped right in front of her.
He stared at Nami with a cold, cynical gaze, the anger that he felt he couldn't defeat her still haunting him. He grabbed Nami's hand, tugging her, and forcing her to follow him.
"W-wait, what are you doing?"
"Come with me!" He said firmly. He hated hearing rejection.
Jacob led Nami down the corridor to the quiet library. He stopped and pushed her against the wall before finally kissing her lips forcefully.
Nami was too shocked by Jacob's unexpected action. It was so unexpected that she didn't know whether to attack or defend.
"A-a kiss?" She thought. Her body froze, she felt something immobilizing her.
The unexpected kiss lasted for 10 seconds, soft and wet. For Nami, this was her first kiss, and she didn't know why she had to give it to the crazy man who nearly killed her the night before.
When Jacob broke the kiss, Nami felt a warm feeling wash over her face. It was the first time she had felt such a strange feeling.
"W-what are you doing...?" Nami screamed in panic. This was the first time in her life she couldn't fight back. Meanwhile, Jacob smiled in satisfaction, finally knowing the weakness of this super-strong girl who could deflect all his attacks.
"So, you're still a woman, huh? How sweet," he said with a sarcastic smile that made Nami even more annoyed.
"D-don't mess with me...!"
She immediately landed a punch to Jacob's face, never expecting a prince like him to be hit so hard by a woman.
His body shot forward and slammed into the wall, cracking instantly. The poor prince immediately lost consciousness from the shock of what had happened to him.
Realizing she'd made another mistake, Nami panicked and rushed to the unconscious Jacob.
"Oh my God I'm dead, what should I do?" She muttered, fear coursing through her body as she remembered the prince could die from her deadly blow.
Nami put her ear to Jacob's chest to check his heartbeat. It brought her some relief to hear his heartbeat, though it was very weak.
"What should I do now? What if someone sees what I did? I'll definitely be hanged for injuring a king's son?"
She became increasingly paranoid, starting to regret herself and her excessive strength, which made it difficult for her to coexist with others.
"Okay, there's no other way. I have to give him CPR."