Chapter 62 - Calm Before Storm.

Shi Lang held Amelia's hand in front of his whole class, was a shock they never expected. They had no idea when these two came together. Jane the protective hen, walked forward and directly grasped Shi Lang's collar and asked, "Why was I not told?" 

The boy smiled and said, "We have been in touch with each other since the last assessment, and last night only did she confess to me. So, I accepted it, how can I break her heart. I was just thinking about how to break it to you guys when she came over to my rescue. Hehehe..." 

He skilfully shifted everything on Amelia, making the already frozen girl doubt her life. If anyone could hear the thoughts going inside the mind of the young girl, they will hear, "This is not real, Amelia, wake up this is a nightmare." 

Jane let go of his clothes and came to stand in front of Amelia and smiled faintly, "Hello, I am Jane, this guy is my best friend. He is silly and shameless at times, if you encounter any problems with him, give me a call. I will help you fix him up." 

She stretched her hand forward to shake hand with Amelia, who had just been pulled out of the ocean of daze. The latter shook her hand and said, "Thank you, I am Amelia, nice to meet you." 

The whole class took turns to introduce themselves, while the boys called her sister-in-law directly, the girls called her sister or addressed her by her name. Just when the people were about to fire a heavy artillery question round on her Rosa Blues walked over and said, "You people, do you not have to take the technical exams. Get moving. Also, who is going to the group battle? You will have to report to the battle class. You are a team from now on." 

Shi Lang nodded and said, "I will be going ahead, headteacher." 

Rosa said, "All the best." her voice was gentle and soft. Like a mother sending off her child. Shi Lang had been the weakest student in her class, yet his IQ was higher than the rest. What was even more, now this kid had become an inspiration for the class. So, she had a very good impression of him. 

The boy wished all his classmates all the best and walked over to the battle class. He was about to put his hand inside his pocket when he heard a low voice, "What do you think you are doing?" 

Shi Lang looked below and found that he was still holding her hand. He let out a peal of embarrassed laughter and asked, "Should I let go of your hand?" 

The girl blushed and could not decide what she wanted in her heart, this was the first time she held hands with an opposite-gender person. She was feeling very warm in her heart and butterflies. She could not decide what to say and what not to say. 

Shi Lang smiled at this. The two walked to the battle class and the group was again shocked to see how things were progressing fast. Jenkins looked at the former and could not believe what was happening, he has known Amelia but she was a cold person and never interacted much with others. However, now she was holding hands with this guy. 

Shi Lang whispered, "I will be back after reporting." 

He let go of her hand and walked forward. Amelia lowered her head to look at her palm and did not know how to express the storm in her heart. Shi Lang did not know this and walked forward to the headteacher of the battle class and saluted him in a crisp fashion as he said, "Student Shi Lang, technical branch, reporting for group battle, Sir." 

The teacher raised his head and said, "At ease, you may address me as Instructor Den. Now, please stand in the queue with the rest, in a few minutes we will be departing." 

Shi Lang replied, "Yes, Sir." and walked to his position behind Amelia, who stood at the end of the queue. 

She disliked the crowd, while this boy attracted gazes everywhere he went. Shi Lang silently took a hold of her left palm again. This time he held it from behind, and the movements were natural as if he was used to holding hands with her for ages. 

Amelia was surprised at this but she did not protest. Shi Lang had created a deep image in her heart during the last assessment, during the final fight he was definitely on the losing end, but he persisted, and through his sheer will defeat Jenkins. Then he went to a place where almost no one ever returned in one piece from. 

During the past three months, she did think about him, if he was alright, sometimes she even blamed herself for making that deal with him, otherwise, why will he have to go to that place? She recalled his cold attitude towards her. However, she suddenly became his fiancee orally. The other thing was that this guy was not cold to her anymore. She was looking for a chance to ask him this question. 

Just as she was about to ask the teacher said, "Let us go, you all will be provided the gear at our location, your parents have been informed. You will be debriefed about the rules on board the ship. Move out." 

The students all walked, and Shi Lang had to let go of Amelia's hand. They boarded a school bus and the two tactfully selected the last seat in the back. The teacher sat in the front. However, the bus was silent. Amelia felt as if her heart was being crawled at by thousands of ants. Suddenly she saw the boy beside her raising his hand and operating the communicator. 

He seemed to be typing something on the screen and showed it to her after he was done. The girl read the text silently, "Do you want to say something?" 

Amelia nodded. Shi Lang thanked Dalia and John for teaching him about human psychology and reading minute changes in expressions. The girl was obviously very nervous, he could tell from her fluttering eyelashes and how she peeked at him sneakily. She was hesitating to ask something. He typed again on the communicator, "What is it?" 

Amelia bit her lower lip lightly before she took the charge of his communicator and then typed, "Why did you suddenly become so warm to me?" 

The question was simple. She did not know how to do things in a roundabout manner and was direct in her words and thoughts. Shi Lang looked at the message and smiled. He typed an answer, "When I came back from the training, I was in a weird state of mind, always looking around at things, being wary of others. Even when I met my friends in the school upon returning, I was acting most of the time. Then you came and we talked while walking. 

I did not know I will be admitting this so soon, but you made me bring out the real me. The me that might have died inside that camp. Only when I was talking to you was I able to relax. Later, when you asked me if I wanted to call it off, I said no, because I would like to know you more and eventually be in love with you. Right now, it is more like teenage romance." 

He also did not hide what he felt and laid it all in front of Amelia like an open book, but only she was allowed to read it. Amelia held his extended arm gently and placed it in her lap. She was shy but it did not mean, she did not have emotions. She was shy that was why she did not confess to Shi Lang as he did. 

On a personal thought, women may like cold men, but warm men also had their charm, no girl dislikes a sincere expression of emotions. She might not reciprocate it but at least they will not call you insensitive and stuff. Just saying. 

Shi Lang did not say anything either the two just sat at the end of the bus, enjoying the subtle silence and calm around them as the bus traveled to the ship port inside the city. They were aware that the group battle will be something completely different from what they have fought in the past. 

This silence was not only the representation of the calm in their hearts but also, the calm before the storm. 

...

After a few minutes, the people reached the ship port and the students boarded the spaceship. They all sat down neatly in the sits arranged for them by name. Shi Lang sat down on a seat in the front row. Instructor Den stood in front of them and said, "Ready for the battle?" 

The students replied, "Yes, Sir." 

With that, the spaceship took off.