Friday.

Mairi's smiles had always been subtle.

One must fully inspect her features to point out the change in her flat countenance.

However, Abel's memories seemed to tell a different story, because those minuscule smiles had been crystal clear, and more often than not, they sent his body over the edge. No matter how much he tried evicting these images, they demanded to stay, especially the one back on the train.

Alas for him, a new one had arrived.

It was her unusual smile, which barely reached her eyes, when he gave her some donuts and some dumb advice he should have not muttered out.

This one not only beat the definition of subtle, but it literally shattered all his impressions of the poker-faced Mairi to pieces. It was so distinct and wide, it looked as though she was grinning, and from the way she thanked him... it was way too sincere.

Is she really that happy for just some Timbits? He tapped his fingers and glanced at nothing in particular, drowning out unrelated noises in the background. I gave them because she helped me, and it's not like she doesn't deserve some snacks...

Hold on, why the hell am I still thinking about last night?! Get over it, you idiot! There were probably hand marks on his temples from all the countless slaps he had done. Instead, he gritted his teeth and tugged his short hair, inducing sharp pain all over his head. Who cares if she's smiling or not, it's not your business! Stop acting so giddy over it!

This was the third time those dumb thoughts distracted him completely. It had him nearly miss a step during his nightly jog with Rocky, falling victim to Charlotte's special attack this morning, and then...

"Is there something wrong, Abel?"

The shrill voice of Mrs. Applewood — she finally muttered something relatable for once — sent his heart flying out of his chest. Snapping back to reality, numerous heads have turned towards him. Their gazes burrowed through every part of his body, judging even the tiniest of his stiff movements. Awesome, now I'm acting like a freak in the middle of the class!

"Uh, no..." he blurted out. "Not really..."

"You look like you're about to pull all of your hair out. Unless you wanna be bald, don't do that," informed the teacher as giggles from the girls quietly erupted around him. Meanwhile, Adrian didn't even bother hiding his bratty smirk.

"Well then, can you solve this problem for us, Abel?" Mrs. Applewood beckoned towards a math problem on the projector screen. Meanwhile, all kinds of weird numbers cluttered the whiteboard, which seemed to appear out of the blue.

"Y-Yeah, sure." Abel gripped his pen as he jotted the equation on his notes, then hovered over his textbook. His classmates continued monitoring him, pinning him to his chair and adding even more pressure.

"Well class, why don't you try solving it too?" The teacher's curls bounced as she walked. "Don't think you're gonna get away with it just because Abel's solving it."

Now you're just making too much sense, Mrs. Applewood...

However, just by looking at the equation, his three brain cells immediately skedaddled in endless circles, howling like those boisterous toddlers throwing tantrums. This problem had roots and fractions practically jumbled together, forming some complex shit that was no longer recognizable.

Regardless, maintaining his cool was a top priority. This was a consequence of letting himself drown in reverie consisting of only that certain friend of his. Damn it, Mairi. Even if she was not physically here, she occupied most of the space in his thoughts.

If I'm not wrong, Adrian said roots always cancel each other out. Abel recalled, rubbing his neck. But... the numbers here are different! There's so many terms... how am I supposed to compute them all?!

Something pointy then poked his shoulder. From his peripheral vision, a small folded paper slipped into view and fell onto his lap. Raising his brow, he was on the verge of turning around to the person behind this secret note, but Mrs. Applewood's looming attention halted his actions. So... what's the purpose of this note?

Sighing silently, he slowly opened the paper, coming across the so-not familiar handwriting that made his nose twitch.

Pls allow ur dear man Adrian-sensei to teach ya da way of math ;)

Adrian-sensei? Only if they weren't in class, Abel would have snorted so loudly. Even from reading this, he could visualize Adrian's cringey, sparkly faces as he tried his best to impersonate those cool-looking dudes in anime. Seriously, this guy... Why aren't you cosplaying when you can act like one?

However, his focus grew intense when halfway through the paper, Adrian easily tore apart the equation through all the steps he had scribbled. He observed as all the complicated numbers were condensed into one answer. The hell, so that's how you do it? He made it look like a piece of cake.

"Abel, have you found the answer?" As if on cue, Mrs. Applewood called him out, and all attention was on him again.

"Yeah, it's the root of 3 over 2x!" proclaimed Abel, crossing his arms.

"Yup, correct!" She reverted to the others. "Did you all get the correct answer? Martin? Kayla? How did you do it? Remember guys, we're gonna have an exam next week!" she reminded them.

You fucking genius. Without the need to look back, he dropped his hand in a way Adrian could see it, and set a thumbs-up. Fine, I'll give you some credit for that.

"You're most welcomed," he whispered with a hint of mischief.

***

Much to Abel's relief, the rest of the class went without further hiccups until the bell screamed for lunch time. At last, he managed to cast off any unneeded daydreams to the back of his mind. Good, stay in there and don't make me look like a weirdo again.

"So Abs, what's up man?" Adrian questioned as they strolled through the crowded hallway. "Never seen you act like that before."

Of course, it was only a matter of time until someone asked.

"I-I'm frustrated about the exam. Like I still don't even know much about roots and you're rescuing my ass," he quickly lied, although it was not the best reasoning. At least it was way better than saying something like, 'Oh, I'm distracted by Mairi and how she smiles'.

"Hmm, but you never are frustrated with one," Adrian rebutted. "In fact, you never gave two shits."

Cannot refute that because he's right.

"Well this one..." Abel paused. "Seriously rattled my nerves."

"Feel like there's more to that." He chuckled. "I'm sure something else's bothering you... or to be more precise, someone..."

This dude literally unleashed his hidden power to slam his entire body against Abel, causing the blue-head to barely lose — not to mention, they were strolling the stairs — his momentum. He proceeded to shoot daggers at the snickering man. I'm eternally grateful Adrian isn't the one doing the special attacks.

"Yeah, that someone's you," Abel retorted, rubbing his hips. "God, you knocked me the fuck off like a bowling pin."

"Boy, don't be so dramatic. You just saw only a small percentage of my power!"

He groaned and rolled his eyes, before striding to the cafeteria. No time to think about that... as being stuck in those classes had left his rumbling stomach to control all of his actions. Without hesitation, he headed straight for the queue, passing through some slow students. Hopefully the food's not trash.

Grabbing some chicken breast — they looked drier than the desert, but whatever — sandwiches, Charlotte finally showed up, and the three promptly claimed their favorite spot before anyone could take a single step.

"So, what are you all gonna do with the math exam next week?" The orange-head sighed heavily. "I have extra piano lessons for my competition, but I should be able to study this weekend..."

"Just gonna go over problems in the textbook." Adrian shrugged. "From what I hear, she takes questions from there."

"Dude, you're smart. You don't need to study and you still get good. I worked my butt off just to get an average score." she complained, before she leered at her other friend. "And as for Abel..."

"Whuf?" mumbled the cosplayer while he chewed on his sandwich, before swallowing them all. "Forgive me for not being not so diligent." At least I passed and that's all it matters!

"Ya know what, Lotte?" Adrian chimed in as he tapped Abel's shoulder. "This man right here said he's freaking out about the exam."

Charlotte's fork froze midair, although her salad barely reached her mouth. Instead, she jerked her head towards him, wearing the most blanched expression ever.

"Huh?!" she cried. "You, worried about an exam?!" She proceeded to squint her eyes. "Who the heck are you and what have you done to my best friend?"

"Still here and bussin'." Abel sneered and bounced his leg. "It's just that the c-chances I won't pass this exam are huge, t-that's all." Fuck, why am I stuttering like hell?

Charlotte and Adrian remained wordless as they scanned each other's features, but the latter broke the entire silence through his shrilling laughter. Abel cast him a side glance as he crushed the cabbage of his sandwich. What is it this time?

"Ah, I almost forgot, he got called out during class 'cause he got distracted,'' Adrian tittered as he gave the blue-head a few nudges. "Man, this guy's literally ripping his scalp out. If Mrs. Applewood didn't stop him, he'd lose his entire hair."

"Leave me alone," he grumbled, and out of all the times, his cheeks decided to warm up. "Like I said, I'm really f-frustrated with it."

"Hmm, the Abel I know will just laugh it off and let his gigantic ego do the job," said Charlotte as she sipped on her milk. Welp, not that she was wrong though, so he could not argue there. However, now that she mentioned it, why the fuck was he not being his usual self?

"Or perhaps... it has something to do with a woman named Mairi," Adrian droned.

"Shut up, she got nothing to do with this," Abel snapped back almost instantaneously after that particular name left his friend's mouth. It's true she distracts me, but I don't want her to become the topic here!

"But she certainly got something to do with you," Charlotte countered. "Ever since you're friends with her, you're just... a little different? I'm not saying it's a bad thing but like, you used to be so loud and conceited. Well, I really like this side of yours."

He said nothing, turning away and stuffing the remains of his sandwich. As much as he hated to admit it, she was spitting straight facts, and not even his arguments could deflect it. It feels like I completely forget what confidence is like a fucking Pokemon move.

Adrian leaned forward, still wearing that dumb smug look Abel desperately hoped to wipe off. "The moment Mairi won by landslide on that showcase, you're like: 'Goodness gracious, I'm so smitten by her! Can this be the start of my love life?'"

Abel was sipping on his juice, and that one mortifying comment had him almost spurting out his drink. His blood rushed to his face, explaining the abrupt hotness he felt tingling his skin. "Why would I think like that?! I'll never like her that way!!'

"Puh-lease, you can't fool us anymore, brother." While Charlotte was in stitches, Adrian continued with his attack. "Your crush is as obvious as day."

The blue-haired man huffed but did not bother giving further responses. There was no point; they have all gone too deep with their claims. No way he developed feelings for that woman. After all, why would he have affection for someone who possessed an emotional range of a celery, of all people?

But that smile she has...

It's one of the most authentic smiles I have ever seen... coming from someone like her.

***

05:19 PM.

"Jesus, toddlers and their mess... his mom didn't even bother cleaning them up!!"

Abel groaned loudly while he and Mairi scrubbed all the food spills left by a family with a very lively infant. Well, that was a justified response. That small boy had carried out countless stunts, ranging from shrieking, thrashing around his plates and helping his helpless mother earn the condemning glares of neighboring customers.

Regardless, she merely shrugged and resumed wiping the table, brushing any sweat forming behind her bangs. Over the years, she had watched all varieties of performances from these little demons in the making. Based on all of that, the severity of this one infant was still pretty low. I'm surprised he didn't do any cartwheels or something else.

"At least we both got huge tips," she pointed out. "And the mom actually apologized for all the ruckus." Like repeatedly.

"Still! She was supposed to be cleaning this shit up, not us," he protested as he mopped the floor. "If I was his mother I would have disciplined that spoiled brat better than she ever could. God, what a pain in the ass."

"Oh well. Kids will be kids."

"Can't wait to see what more they've to offer." Abel rolled his eyes as he disappeared into the kitchen with all of the empty bowls.

Mairi said nothing, but she tilted one of the corners of her mouth upwards. Ever since Abel gave her those Timbits, all the dense and heavy sensations she had been mounting in her back for years... vanished. Not only was she casually talking with this Kaito boy again, watching all sorts of reactions from him, but she didn't have to force the heck out of herself to smile anymore.

It was just there... naturally. Not that Mairi was complaining though.

"Abel, you said you've a math exam next week?" She asked as soon as he returned. It's been a while since I heard that word.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna go over it after work." He dusted his apron. "What about it?"

"Want me to tutor you? I'm pretty much free on the weekends or after work," she offered. "Completely free of charge."

More opportunities to learn more about Abel.

He gawked at her like she was some alien from a distant galaxy, before he snapped away. "Huh, I-I don't need your help. I can do it myself."

"Not a huge fan of math myself, but I aced that class," Mairi walked in such a way she met back with Abel's wandering gaze. Forming a finger gun, she placed it under her chin. "You can say I'm that one straight A student... maybe throw some occasional Bs."

"Oh wow, you're so amazing... have mercy on me, Princess." Abel slowly clapped his hands and shook his head. "Show off."

"Says the detective with an ego the size of the Titanic. Sadly, both crashed and burned."

He tensed up, but managed to produce the biggest snort she had ever heard. "You're still trying to grill me with that loss, huh? Too bad, that won't work on me anymore." He simpered. "I still have my dignity, at least."

"Yeah, I do admire that. We shall see that on our next con." Mairi declared. "For now, if you need an amazing math tutor, you can always text me." She flipped her ponytail to further strengthen her words.

"Whatever." Abel marched off, his ears burnt scarlet red.

So flustered as always.

***

A/N: Finally, another long update after some time! Thank you so much everyone for reading this chapter, and hope you have a great week! :)

- Tara