CHAPTER XXI: Sought After, Blooming Flowers

As the day progressed, so did the festivities.

Everyone was wandering around the campus premises. Laughing and enjoying the day away.

In particular events like this, I would have been in the garden, sketching mindlessly to my heart's contents. Or maybe sleeping on the grass with the sun providing the necessary warmth I needed.

But alas, here I am, being dragged everywhere at every possible corner.

"Dia! Try these!" She pointed at the candied apples that were being sold in one of the booths in the campus square.

I grunted and moved backward. That girl was damn persistent.

She already made me eat half of the food being sold around the academy and my digestive system cannot keep up anymore.

While she was busy picking the shiniest and largest candied apple, I began my plan to disappear.

But sadly, I was hit by a wall.

When I looked back, both Haru and Ross were standing behind me.

They were also holding enormous bags of stuff, courtesy of Solar's unstoppable shopping spree.

It was a little funny because they looked like bodyguards, especially Haru who was covered entirely by boxes.

He was practically buried in them.

Ross, however, looked good.

No matter how annoying he is, I couldn't deny the fact that he had the looks sculpted by the gods.

Geez, it was such a cringe to compliment him.

He was carrying the paper bags like they were an accessory worn by a top paid model.

The people walking past us wouldn't stop gawking at him. Which was quite irritating to say the least.

Not for the reasons anyone may think of. It was just annoying to have people suddenly stop in their tracks in front of you and undoubtedly result in the clashing of bodies.

Which happened to me five times already and not all of them were girls!

The man in question, however, was either oblivious of this or simply stupidly proud of himself. I would prefer the former but this doofus clearly presents the latter.

I was about to continue tormenting him in my mind, but Solar was paying for the newly found food she picked up.

And there's no way I'm going to eat that!

No matter how much I love food, there's a limit to how much I can digest in a single hour!

I squeezed between the two useful bodyguards and hid behind their backs.

Both of them were confused at my behavior at first, but when they saw who I was hiding from, they clearly understood.

Ross glanced at me.

"So, whatcha doin', my lady?" He said with a teasing tone.

"Hiding from Lucifer, can't you tell?" I stated, while pushing him to stick closer to Haru who was obediently following along with my strategy.

I felt him chuckle. Good thing he didn't say anything anymore and just did as he was told.

"Where's Dia?" I heard Solar ask.

"Hiding from Lucifer."

I wanted to smack Ross but that would give away my hiding spot. Instead, I pinched him hard on the back. He hissed, but not loud enough for Solar to notice.

"Hiding from what?"

Exactly after she asked that, someone pushed their way behind me, forcing me to bump into my manly shields which were sturdy enough to prevent me from falling.

"What the hell?" The girl who pushed me said.

The audacity of her to curse me out.

She was the one who bumped into me yet I'm the one being cursed at.

I ignored her. She's not that important anyway compared to Solar finding out where I am. It was a relief that she hadn't discovered me yet.

But that's not something low-class bitches know.

The blonde girl glared at me and decided that the best course of action was to stomp on my foot like an immature kid.

But she underestimated me. I was able to swiftly avoid her futile attempt however, this made me reveal my position to Solar.

"There you are, Dia!"

"Yeah, hi." I replied, trying to disregard the fuming idiot behind me.

"You done playing hide and seek with her?" Ross asked with a smirk plastered on his face.

I was about to answer when the idiotic lady bumped into me again, this time harder.

This made me stumble unexpectedly. Ross' arm immediately found its way around my waist to hinder me from falling face flat on the ground.

I held onto his toned arms and supported myself.

Once I stood back on my feet, I coldly glared at the blonde hound in front of me.

"Yeah. But it looks like I'm playing bumper bitches right now." I said without taking my eyes away from her.

This blonde bitch was angrier now. Either because of what I said or because of the guy he kept on eyeing.

Ross.

She was particularly scowling on his arm around waist and my hand on his arm.

Ha! Another desperate woman in heat.

Before I could come up with an intimidating remark that would send her to her doom, Ross took a step forward. Slightly blocking me while still holding onto my waist.

Um...why wouldn't he let me go?

"Excuse me miss, I don't know who you are, but can you please not disturb the lady beside me? It's kinda rude. I would be glad if you take your attitude to someone who's thirsty for it."

My eyes widened at what he said. I sneaked a peek at the blonde girl and was delighted to see her flustered and humiliated by the guy she was fawning over.

"I-I didn't…whatever. Argh!" She quickly took hold of her friend who was just standing there the whole time and dragged her away.

"I could've handled that on my own." I said.

"I know, but I didn't want you to." He smiled cheekily.

I raised my eyebrow at him, "You know she was gawking at you, right?"

"Probably? That's why I took the liberty to be a gentleman and take responsibility." He shrugged.

"You sound like you impregnated her or something."

"Too early for that. I am not ready to become a father, you know?"

"Are both of you finished?" Both of us instantly turned towards Solar. She had her hands on her hips and was smirking at us.

"We still need to go visit other booths and I'm not planning to wait here until both of you are done acting all lovey-dovey."

"Acting what?"

"Acting that." She then pointed at us. When I looked down, I noticed that Ross and I were still holding onto each other.

I immediately separated from him.

I cleared my throat and looked away. Heat creeping up my cheeks.

"Now, now. Dia, here." When I looked at her, I was greeted by a candied apple being forced into my mouth.

I harshly grabbed the sticky food and removed it from my now sugar-coated lips.

"What the fuck, Solar!"

"Lucifer wanted me to give you that." She shrugged.

"Tell Lucifer, I gladly appreciate the thought." I replied sarcastically.

We once again started our so-called adventure around the academy.

I sighed. I really want to toss the freaking candy away. But Solar kept checking up on me.

I was busy frowning at the candy when, all of a sudden, it was stolen from my hand.

Ross took it and ate it.

I was appalled.

Ross just winked at me and continued to eat the candy without a care for the world.

I shook my head.

However, I couldn't stop the smile forming on my face.

After a while of walking, we picked a bench under a cool shade and sat down.

My feet were feeling sore from all of that walking. If Solar forced me further, I would have stabbed her with all the sticks from the food she made me swallow.

"I was wondering. Wouldn't it be unfair for the other departments to compete against the sports teams?" Solar suddenly asked.

"Actually, they're not allowed to participate in the actual competitions." Haru answered.

How he knew that, I don't know.

"Really? Where did you hear that from?" Solar continued.

He pointed at Ross, "From him."

All of us directed our gazes at him.

Our questioning gazes provided the sufficient signal for him to start his explanation.

"They're only allowed to be the heads of the events. It was a tradition that they agreed on. Plus, it boosts their pride to know that people fear them." Ross explained.

"What about you? Aren't you part of the student council? Why are you here, loitering around like you're not?"

He shrugged his shoulders at my question.

"I don't have anything to do, aside from the usual speech and stuff. So, I'll be accompanying you guys for the majority of the festival." He said, then patted my head.

I slapped his hand away.

He laughed lightly at what I did.

"By the way, what was the gossip you were talking about, Solar?" He added and directed the question to the gossip queen.

"Oh that! I almost forgot about that."

"The tattler forgot her tattle." I tried to taunt her.

"Well, sorry about that! Hmph. Anyway, I heard that the architecture department found a solution or something for their crisis."

"What solution?" Asked by Ross.

"I didn't actually get to see it because people were blocking the hallway earlier."

Ah, so that was what the commotion was all about.

"But, I think we'll get to see a glimpse of it later this evening. Since that's when the departmental competition actually begins."

"Do you know what it is, Dia?" Haru quietly tugged at my dress.

"Not a clue." Was all I said.

He was so cute!

I literally just want to pinch his cheeks.

Even though he was 5'7" in height, he was still shorter than me.

In the corner of my eye, I felt someone staring at me.

When I turned my head towards the direction of its intensity, I saw Gioffer standing.

He was just standing there with an unreadable regard to where I am.

He was with a girl, but she had her back turned. I would guess that it was Gwenne.

She was practically the only girl who had the patience to keep up with his outbursts.

From the way he was staring at me, it must be because of 'that.'

Not that it was any of my concern anymore.

When Gwenne turned around, so did I.

I focused on what Solar, Haru, and Ross were talking about. However, the fierce eyes never left me.

When it was becoming uncomfortable, I insisted that we move along already.

They were confused at first because, apparently, it was out of character for me.

Which was true, given that there were no piercing gazes directed at me.

As the night of the first day started to make its presence known, the festival began it's introduction to the world.

And so awaitens the welcoming of renewals and repentance.