===== Chapter 20   [ Part 3 ] =====

Okay, maybe you shouldn't have accepted her offer so quickly and give it a thought for at least a minute. The wave of regret immediately slaps you so fast as soon as you finally settle in their table.

Having someone to eat with you is definitely nice, but you barely know Ia's friends. They are not even your classmates. Possibly, not even in the same batch as Ia's face is the only one you can recognize from all the students in the table.

You glumly look at their happy faces while you drown in your secret misery. You feel so out of place from their lively discussion and even felt it more when Ia tries her best to include you in.

Ia's really nice; but unlike her, her friends doesn't seem that enthusiastic to have you there with them. While they smile at your presence, it almost feels like they were only obligated to be cordial to you.

Is it because of your reputation, or are you not just that approachable as before?

Maybe it's true that your social skills has indeed detereorated from the past few weeks of isolating yourself.

You sullenly focus on your food.

Spooning a small scoop from your cup of shredded corn snack, you shove it in your mouth. While it tastes deliciously sweet, you're not able to fully savor it because of the tension that you're feeling alone.

"(Y/N), is it really true? Is Gerald courting you?" A guy suddenly asks, making everyone in the table finally look at you with anticipation.

You instantly stop chewing your food, almost choking from the bizarre question. Where in the world did they even get the idea?! Gerald is not into you, and you are not into him.

Never!

"No, no, and no! The guy likes someone!" you deny as you give them a baffled look.

In contrary to earlier's situation, you have now become the center of the attention. The rumors surrounding you were suddenly spoken up, and everyone wants to know every little details of the news.

A girl beside you giggles, taking your surprised reaction as a bashful behavior. She has seen how the school's renowned playboy defended you earlier from his ex. If there's really nothing going on, then why is he so protective of you?

Gerald doesn't really meddle into his girlfriends' affairs.

Not until (Y/N) happened.

She giggles again, playfully elbowing you, as she even has the guts to encourage you. "Oh, come on! Don't be shy! Spill the juice!"

"There's no juice..." you dryly answer.

The girl childishly pouts, but then her face beams again, seeming to recall something.

"Oh, wait! Is it because of the other guy that you don't wanna say anything? I think his name is Ale—"

She squints her eyes a little, struggling to remember something, before opening it again with a gleam in her orbs. "—Alessio? From what I know, isn't he also courting you, right? But where is he? I think I haven't seen him the past few days."

Where is he?

The question echoes your thoughts.

But even you don't know where he's supposed to be right now. One day, he just suddenly didn't come to class. Nor your other friend Dante.

"I don't know," you murmur as you start to get more and more uncomfortable sitting in the same table with them. You try to catch Ia's attention, but she's just looking down at the table.

"And ooh, Kielle. Is he—"

You block her voice out as you can only hope that she'll shut up. Kielle's really a sensitive topic for you. He— he's somewhere you don't know, but you sincerely hope that his mental state is alright now. If he is eventually cured, then you can only hope that he'll return.

And then maybe.

Maybe, you and Peach...

"Oh, (Y/N)! There you are! I have been looking for you since earlier." A voice calls out, and you feel something snaked around your arm before being pulled. The unforeseen action triggers you back back to reality, with you immediately being greeted by Gerald and his charming smile.

You feel a sweat forming.

Clearly, this is going to lead to a misunderstanding again.

You turn to the others; and as expected, there are strange expression written across their faces. You awkwardly direct your gaze to the man again, who is still smiling at you so cheekily.

"You were looking for me?" you ask, confused.

Isn't he supposed to be with Peach right now? He only usually bothers you during recess, so you can't help but find his presence right now before you kinda odd.

Gerald nods, chuckling. "Yes."

His answer, short and simple. You raise a brow. Even so, he doesn't bother to explain the reason to you as he suddenly turns his attention to the other people in the table. He then makes the reckless decision to ask you from them.

"You won't mind me taking (Y/N), won't you? I really need some time with her right now."

Ia purses her lips from his words, looking disappointed, while the other girl who has been bothering you earlier giggles, "Sure! It's okay. Have fun!"

You can only exhale out a sigh as the crazy playboy pulls you away from that group. Though, to be honest, you also feel slightly relieved leaving that table.

The awkwardness you feel from sitting beside them is so overwhelming that you even came up with the thought that it's better to be taken away by this guy then stay with those nosy people a little longer.

When Gerald finally stops walking, you pull your wrist back from him. "What happened? Why'd you do that just now?" you ask when he only stares at you with that sheepish smile on his face.

Clearly, he pulled you away for nothing.

"I— um— I don't know?"

You faceslap yourself. "So you don't know?!"

This guy; he's really stupid, huh...

But then again you're really grateful for his stupidity in saving your ass earlier. Yet, at the same time, you're also worried because people might assume the ties you have with Gerald once again is something a bit more than friendly.

"Gerald, you should really refrain from doing that again" you tell him, sighing.

"People might start spreading rumors about us."

"Us??" Gerald laughs, as if hearing that statement from you is a stupid joke "Nah, impossible. I don't have those thoughts about you. People know my type, and you're obviously just not there."

You give him a deadpan look.

Now, you're really wondering what his ex-girlfriends saw in him for them to fall deeply in love with this playboy. While he looks good, his character is just meh.

You look down at your wristwatch to see the time; and as expected, you do still have a lot to spare. Maybe you're just gonna spend it on studying again.

"Since you clearly don't need me, I'm gonna go back now," you excuse yourself.

Gerald snaps out of his daydreams of Peach.

Shamefully laughing from being caught with a weird expression on his face, he then volunteers himself to assist you with with red-stained cheeks.

"Nah, I'm okay being alone," you immediately turn it down as you don't want to be seen with him any longer.

"I insist," Gerald says before taking your wrist again for the second time. Not wanting to start an argument with him, you let him off just for this time.

While you two head to your classroom, you momentarily notice those familiar blue eyes lingering on you. Her expression's oddly sullen. You blink your eyes for a confirmation of this scene, but then her attention's now elsewhere when you open it.

It's as if she has not been looking at the both of you— or specifically at you— in the first place.

Peach...

You don't really hate me, do you?

A heavy feeling resides in your chest— you allow your gaze to drift away from your white-haired friend. You can only hope that this is just a phase of hers.

That it won't be long before she talks to you again.

Right?

Unbeknownst to all of you, a brown haired man was in the sidelines, observing everything— everything— that has a connection with you.

His ever serious green eyes slightly narrow at Gerald's hold on you as a reminder to kill anyone who is a threat to you crosses his mind. He frowns as he lowers his hand to his gun.

"No, don't."

His action is immediately put to a stop before everything goes amiss.