CHAPTER XV: Dragged and Watched

Another day had passed, the exams were fast approaching. So did the festival.

I sincerely hope that I can live in peace now.

But not all our prayers can be heard.

Unfortunately, I kept bumping into someone that I didn't like anywhere near me.

Guess who.

"Um, Dia, he's glaring at you again."

Yes, it's none other than Gio 'I freaking hate women because I'm a man with an ego hanging out with my balls' ffer.

"Pretend he's invisible, just as he's supposed to be." I continued walking without sparing that idiot a single glance.

For someone who's adamant on treating women as trash, he's surely making an effort to get my attention.

Lucky him, I'm treating him exactly like his worth and that's nothing.

"Ever since yesterday, he kept bothering you." Solar whispered.

"Ain't I popular?" I shrugged.

"I don't think you're popular because he likes you. If he had a neon sign on his forehead, you could clearly see blinking lights from miles away, flickering between the words 'I hate you' or 'I hate you'." She whispered again.

Why was she even whispering?

"That's why we learned to ignore nonliving things." I said.

Since she kept on watching the glaring idiot, she didn't notice she was being left behind already.

I didn't bother to wait for her and headed towards the cafeteria. A few moments later, I could already hear her running.

"You like having people despise you, don't you?"

"It's a hobby of mine." I smirked at her and proceeded to the counter.

I was incredibly famished.

There were numerous variations of oozing goodness everywhere.

Now, the crisis begins.

What should I eat?

If I eat rice, I won't be able to have cake.

If I don't eat rice, I won't be satisfied.

There's also the battle between a shake and a juice.

If I choose a smoothie, I can't have ice cream.

If I get juice, it'll just make me thirstier.

Hmmm…this is harder than my mathematics exam when I was in highschool.

While I was having my own internal conflict, I could sense yet again another heated gaze from somewhere behind me.

I could tell even with my back to him. No one had such an intense glare like his.

Had that dude really been following me all day?

Argh, now I have another problem on my back, literally.

Good thing, the line finally moved.

But this just made me panic a little because my decisive food battle had been compromised.

Maybe I should just get-

"Chicken nuggets with rice. A large Coca-Cola and a large scoop of vanilla ice cream. Extra ketchup on the side please." I traced the arm around my neck and saw its annoying owner.

"You just cut the line."

"No, I didn't." He shook his head.

"I don't know if you're blind or just blindingly stupid." I tried to wriggle out of his hold but that man had a grip stronger than my ponytail.

"Can you add a double cheeseburger there? With pineapple. Thank you." He ignored what I said and proceeded to order more.

What's up with this guy?!

"Didn't know you eat like an ogre." I said while still trying to remove his arm from my shoulders.

"That hurt, my lady. Unfortunately, not all of that belongs to me." He sneaked a peek beside my head and smiled at me charmingly.

That smile must have taken years of practice to be that perfect.

Not the point here.

I stared at him blankly, "Not only did you cut in line, but also order for other people?"

Before he could even reply, the server had already finished preparing his order.

I watched frustratingly as he paid for it. He immediately went back to my side with an unknown grin.

"I'm freaking hungry and you dare smile at me?"

"Lend out your hand, princess." I rolled my eyes at his attempt to copy a line from Rapunzel.

I unwillingly held out my hand. To my utter surprise, he placed the bag of goods in my laid out hands.

"For you, my lady." He smiled wildly.

He was for sure expecting me to express my utmost shock.

But I only raised my eyebrow and stepped out of the line.

"Cheeky, very cheeky." I whispered.

"Of course. Who else would eat chicken nuggets with plenty of ketchup?" He placed his arm on top of my shoulder again.

"Excuse you, but numerous people in this diverse society eat chicken with ketchup." I elbowed him lightly on his side.

Only lightly, he did buy me food. It's not wrong to be grateful for the delicious food.

"Yes, yes, whatever you say." He mocked.

This man even bowed, making me go down with him.

I swear if it weren't for the food, I would have kicked his face already.

We were walking out of the cafeteria in silence with his arm slung on me. I could feel the eyes following us.

For sure, gossip is already going around everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if half of the student body already spoke my name or preferably Ross' name.

The doofus doesn't even seem bothered by the attention his gathering. He's just happily eating vanilla ice cream.

He's like a little kid.

…

Wait, vanilla ice cream?

I scrunched my forehead and looked down on my lunch.

The ogre was stealing my ice cream!

I turned to him angrily.

"How dare you?!" I spat at him.

He just tilted his head to the side. He even had the spoon inside his mouth.

"My. Ice. Cream." I emphasized.

"Ah." He let go of the spoon and was about to return it back inside the bag when I kicked him behind the knees.

He stumbled but still managed to regain his balance.

"Ew. Don't even dare."

"You were supposed to shiver with love and say, 'Is this an indirect kiss? Is this my opportunity to experience youthful love?' Something like that."

Squinting my eyes at him, "I definitely, no, firmly believe that you escaped from the asylum."

"Close but not close enough." He replied.

If only I wasn't holding my lunch for today, I would really kick him in his face.

Just once. I would already be happy about that.

I decided to ignore him and turn back to my eaten ice cream. It was half full, but still not full.

Stupid Ross.

A few minutes of walking and bickering later, we were already close to the entrance of the garden.

Ross wasn't hanging onto me anymore. Everytime he attempted, I would gladly step on his foot, which proved to be an effective method because I was wearing four-inch heels today.

I could stab him in the foot and I wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt.

"Come on, are you still mad at me?" He asked for the nth time.

"Frankly, it's beginning to turn into anger." I didn't bother to look at him and just walked with my eyes straight ahead.

Good thing it made Ross silent.

Silent.

It's too quiet.

Why does it feel like I'm forgetting something?

I think it's something I'm supposed to remember.

Well, I guess it's not important.

When we reached the garden, Haru was already there. As per usual, he was just reading quietly.

We began eating after we sat down at our usual spots.

I was finishing my ice cream, when I felt a dark force from behind me, making me stop midway from relishing the goodness of the said delicacy.

When I looked back, I was faced with a not-so-friendly look from Solar.

"I deeply appreciate your patience in waiting for me. I am so pleased to find you after searching the entire cafeteria, take note, which was filled with raging students and establishments. I am also deeply honored for pretending to remember my existence for the past hour." She forced a smile after finishing her well-prepared speech of the day.

I lifted the sides of my lips, "You're welcome."

I then turned back to my ice cream and ate it without regret.

I could literally feel the daggers she's directing at me.

Thankfully, she let it go after a few minutes.

Though, I doubt she'll actually forget about it.

Well, I believe in truce now, and escape later.

After a few minutes passed by, I stood up and grabbed my wallet.

"Going somewhere?" Ross inquired.

"I need ice cream."

"I can get it for you." He said.

"No thanks, I don't trust you returning with a full amount of ice cream." I shrugged at him.

He held his heart, as though it was aching, "That hurts, aren't friends supposed to trust each other?"

I raised my eyebrow at his dramatic play, "When it comes to food, there's no such trust."

I turned around and left. I didn't want to drag the conversation because for sure Ross won't let it go that easily. I would not forsake my precious ice cream for that.

Rule in life: Food before hoes or bros.

When I was finally able to purchase it, I decided to go back. On my way to my usual route, I noticed that the hallway was packed.

I don't know how I'll go through that. Feeling annoyed, I changed direction and used the alternative way to the garden.

I had to pass through some of the classrooms before I could make it outside to the building. It was a total hassle because there was a tendency of professors calling out students walking through even though they were not part of their respective classes.

Trust me, I experienced it the worst possible way. The humiliation made me have nightmares for a couple of days.

Good thing it was in the midst of preparations for both the exams and the festival, so lectures are pretty much non-existent.

Unluckily lucky for me.

I was nearing the exit of the building when I unintentionally caught a glimpse of an open room.

Not that I don't wander in this part of the building, but why do I keep forgetting that this was the way to one of the architecture rooms?

I planned to ignore it because why not? But there was another thing that caught my attention.

It was the stalking idiot.

He was alone inside the room. I couldn't quite see what he was doing so I moved a little to have a clearer view.

He was sitting in front of the large canvas. Although, this time, it's not entirely blank anymore.

I think they gave up on recruiting helpers that's why he's now there.

He looked extremely focused, totally opposite from his usual idiotic and egoistic expression.

Hmmm, maybe he does value his work more than anything.

I couldn't see the actual content of the canvas as it was facing away from me, but from most of the colors present on the floor, it can either be a landscape or an aesthetic portrait.

I wouldn't really dwell on it much. However, I am curious about how he will finish it.

That's basically it.

I scooped up some of my ice cream and was about to walk away when all of a sudden a phone rang.

I looked at my sides and realized that I left mine in the garden.

When I looked back, I saw Gioffer talking to someone. Wait, on the second note he looked like he was arguing with someone.

I didn't bother to listen to it, but by the looks of it, the fight seems pretty serious.

I mean, that dude never shows any emotions, yet there he was, furrowed eyebrows, eyes ablaze, and mouth on a permanent frown.

Since it has nothing to do with me, I just voluntarily left the scene.

When I came back to the garden, they were all at their usual places.

Did they even move?

I shook my head and took my seat. I placed the ice cream cup on the table and took my modules out.

When I looked back, my ice cream magically disappeared.

Without a doubt, my eyes instantly went to Ross who had a lazy grin on his face.

"Give it back." I seethed.

"Give what back?" He feigned ignorance.

Glaring at him, I replied, "My desire to keep you alive."

"I don't have any words for that."

"So does my patience. Give. It. Back." I threateningly stalked towards him.

"Hey! Hey! I don't have it! I swear!" He says that but he's already laughing.

"Um. Solar ate it." I heard Haru say.

I faced his direction and saw him pointing at Solar who was leisurely eating my food.

She felt my gaze and looked up at me. Unwavering, she announced, "Payback is a bitch, biatch."

She hurriedly ate the remaining ice cream and showed it to me.

I knew she wouldn't forget that. Her backing down early was so disturbing that it was impossible for it to actually happen.

"Oh. You're on."

Unlike how I usually act, I did the most infuriating thing.

I pounced on her.

She squealed and fled from her spot.

The only thing I can say is that I didn't accomplish anything that day.

But after seeing me irritated, all of them actually bought me individual ice cream tubs, even Haru who was innocent from all of this.

Well, more for me!

The joy I felt in enjoying those delicacies at home ended before it could even bear fruit.

And, once again, I became involved in another unwanted circumstance.

I hereby decree that my name will henceforth be 'Dragged Along Miradia.'

Ahh...How I wish I could just turn into a lazy stone.