Girl Friend

Inside a class in the academy, two girls were in the midst of chatting after tiring themselves out of the Casting Class.

"By the way, I am planning to request for a task, to the mysterious adventurer." Then she brought out a yellow paper.

"You really kept it?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I?"

"Chesca, most of the women in the city have already thrown their copies of the said flier. You should throw yours too. The circulating word must really be true that the mysterious adventurer is hideously unsightly. They have stood firm to their words, seeing the mysterious adventurer's face they were very regretful . Though it's exaggerated for them to say he looked like a pig's sh*t."

"Who knows. It must be a scheme to stain the mysterious adventurer's reputation. Just think of it, it's pretty unbelievable of him letting them see his face because they asked for it. The mysterious adventurer wouldn't reveal his face that easily."

"Yeah, you're quite right. Wait, aren't you rooting for the mysterious adventurer? Why would you declare that you wanted that Cherom too?"

Chesca sighed. "If I married the mysterious adventurer and if he's truly ugly, then might as well I'll have Cherom's handsome face to soothe me."

The girl added, "With that, I'll get a strong man and a gorgeous man at the same time, a fantastic balance. "She then raised her chin up, acting proud and smart.

Her friend laughed and shrugged her shoulder. "Well, if you it's so you. He's indeed very handsome and weak, perfect to be a gigolo."

In the midst of their chat, a group of young men came to their spot.

"Chesca, how about a stroll before class?"

Chesca, twitched her lips. "Not interested. Roland, you can enjoy a stroll yourself."

"Are you waiting for that trash again?"

"Who are you to care? It's my own business."

"Hmp, that trash might have already dropped out. That is to be expected as he couldn't learn anything. If I were you, I'll choose a capable man like me."

"Sadly, I am not you, who thinks he's capable himself to think that you're even a level lower than me, tsk."

She snickered. "Mind your own business scumbag. My standards are way higher than you thought. Let's go."

The youth named Roland, sneered. 'Hmp, that Cherom! Even if he became the son of the city lord, I still have my ways to deal with him. Just he wait.'

...

Cherom was striding his way to his favorite spot of the academy, the garden. For almost three years of attending academy, he was always often there, killing the time with the deck of cards, he made out of boredom.

On the way to the garden, he saw a very familiar girl but she was with a talented young man of their class. Cherom was a man and he could tell what the young man was aiming for. It was pretty obvious with the young man's gaze, he liked the girl. What was more frustrating was she wasn't seemed to be annoyed of the youth's presence at all. Instead, she looked, comfortable and happy.

For the three years he have known that girl, Cherom knew she was wary of men and their intentions. She wouldn't let them take advantage of her in any way and she was always trying to shoo them away.

But it seemed like the version of the girl he knew was no more, she definitely had changed.

The answer was already in front of him. He was kinda sure that if ever he decided to risk and step forward, and say his feelings, it would be all futile.

He sighed. 'Leina, it seemed like I made the right choice.'

Sigh, Cherom could only sigh and forcely put aside the pain he was feeling inside. This was the torture of accepting the fact that you love someone, yet, she cannot love you back. Unfortunately, he was put in the same spot again. Fate really do liked to play with him.

Even if he didn't dare confessed his feelings, he was still hurt as if he did. The intensity of pain was no different from being rejected.

Tied in this kind of situation for several times, Cherom already developed a solid defensive mechanism. In the next second, he began on cheering himself.

Yes he was hurting but life goes on. He had to continue life and he could still make the best of it nonetheless. This was nothing but another repeat of history he was used to.

'Why should I bore myself in this unhealthy thoughts? There are more exciting stuffs for me to try. This time, my body can satisfy my love for food. I shouldn't die because of food way different from my past life. Also, with this prowess, I could travel and explore the world like never before.

When he arrived to his usual place of killing time, a familiar face greeted him. It was the girl of the other day who somewhat harassed him.

"Cherom, I finally got to see you!" She said with a cheerful voice.

"Oh, hello." He pressed he lips into a thin line, barely forming a smile.

Though that was obviously forced, that was enough to leave the girl in daze. It took her an amount of time before she could respond. "You, you actually smiled at me."

He sighed. "I don't consider it as a smile actually."

"You just look too handsome doing that. Can you grant me a smile again? Please." Her eyes sparkled expectingly.

He directly answered. "No."

She pouted, "Fine then."

She paused then she added, "Can I stay here? Honestly, I want to stay here to chat with you."

In the next second, the girl showed him a pleading look.

That made Cherom chuckled inwardly and thought that this girl wasn't terrible at all different from what he thought. She was like an open book, very vocal and bold. She always say her thoughts out, or did she just show herself that way in purpose. Whatever it was, at least she did not appear so detestable.

He could remember a certain girl doing that move too when begging to be served by food. Aish, it was unhealthy for him to remember her at this moment.

Cherom pursed his lips, and said, "Can you stop acting like that? It doesn't fit your class standing."

Chesca didn't listen and even placed her hands on Cherom's backhand.

"Remove that hands please." He said in a cold tone, as if giving a warning.

She removed her hand reluctantly. "Hmp. You're really quite unusual eh? If it is another guy, then he would even locked my hand at his."

"I'm not any of that guy. I am not interested in you to begin with."

"Ouch. Can't you be gentle to a girl?"

She sighed. "So it's a no for me? I am already rejected? Can you at least lie, and say nice words."

"Missy, just a friendly reminder, reality is truly harsh."

"Hmp, you aren't even friendly in any way. Are you even a real man? You didn't even know how to flatter a lady."

'For goodness' sake, I am. I just find it too complicated and maybe in this lifetime I will not be interested of entering that kind of relationship. So why bother flatter a lady?

He didn't voiced it out though.

'I shouldn't be talking to a girl, right? But I am not interested in her so it isn't a big deal. I admit, I kinda feel okay with her presence.'

Then he kept his silence. In the next second, brought out something from his pocket. It was a deck of cards he made out from thick yellow papers. He made it himself, that same year when he started studying at the academy.

"What is that? What are you doing?"

"Playing to pass time."

Her eyes looked excited and curious. "Please teach me that, I want to play too." She sounded very cheerful.

He sighed. "Fine. Wait and listen well for the rules as I don't want to repeat it again and again."

"Okay!" Chesca enthusiastically answered.

After explaining to her the rules and mechanics of the game, Cherom uttered, "Only one game."

"Huh? only one?! I won't be satisfied with that!"

"Don't tell me you're deaf? Besides, I don't care if you're satisfied or not."

Her brows met and pursed her lips. "How mean of you."

"Say what you want. If you won't agree, please leave now. This is my spot to begin with, you are just an intruder."

"Fine! One game is better than nothing!"

He sighed inwardly. Look, he was just brokenhearted, why would he keep himself being with another girl? After this one game ended and the girl left, he would make sure to cry his heart out in this silent and beautiful garden.

"Hey Cherom, you seemed off today."

His lips twitched. "Who wouldn't feel uncomfortable when a girl who just harassed me yesterday is with me now?"

She shook her head. "Nah, I'm sure it's not the reason, you're already looked sad even before you saw me."

"It's way different from your usual self when I see you walking at the pathway. Even if you're recognized as one of the weakest in the academy, you are always cheerful and looking carefree as if you're living with no worries. I wonder what makes you smile even if the world is condemns you. From that day on, I became interested in you. Not just because of your face but also of your attitude that made me crazy of curiosity."

"Yesterday, I have confirmed something. Let me ask, is that attitude just a facade?"

Cherom was taken aback. The girl sure got him. He was someone who always draw a circle, limiting those who should be inside his circle since that depressing days of the past happened. Although he didn't like associating himself to such a person who could read someone well, but he couldn't feel any malicious intent from her. It just seemed like she was plainly curious and she just wanted to know him.

He then composed himself then he clicked his tongue. "Why ask so many questions? Don't you want to play? If not, then you could just leave."

Honestly, he was a person who always got it hard to say his thoughts out and he found it hard answering such a personal problem. But to a girl like her, it might not be hard to find the answer herself.

But for him, it was a risk, opening his circle to someone like her.

"Of course, I will play. It's really nice for me to know and play with the real Cherom." She said with a lovely smile.

Seeing her face becoming more stunning being painted with such a smile, Cherom was stunned for seconds. When he recovered, he coughed and answered,

"Because of that, I will grant you a smile."

The girl paused for a while while looking at his face with her mouth half-opened.

'Wait, did she just blushed?'

Then with her pinkish cheeks, she laughed. "Ah, now I am already very confused what the real Cherom is really like. Now the a playboy side is blooming."

Cherom couldn't help but chuckle. "Now, now, are we going to play or not?"

"Let's play now. My hands are itching and my brain is excited to outsmart you."

Clicking his tongue, Cherom said, "You sure know to boast even if your knowledge is scarce."

"I'm certain, I will shut you in this one game."

"Well, it's nice knowing the real you too, Chesca." Cherom said softly.

"Did you said something?"

He shook his head. "Ah, nothing."

'This change... Is it a good thing, having myself a girl friend?'