CHAPTER XLVII: Art in Love

I don't know how and I don't know why, but we both returned to how we usually were the following day.

There was no awkwardness anymore.

No more silent treatment.

Just like how we used to be.

This is great, but somehow it feels like it's too normal.

After acknowledging my own feelings, everything I see him as is way past the stage of just being normal.

Honestly, it's come to a point where it's suffocating to be so close to him whilst pretending to be unaffected with his every movement.

Solar was disappointed to know that I didn't confess that day but he was also relieved to know we were on talking terms now.

I want this peaceful thing to remain but I don't know if I can keep it going.

I want to tell him how I feel but no matter how much strength and courage I gather, I still can't push myself to utter those words.

Argh, this is so hard!

Why can't he just see the love signals I've been sending him?

They're practically bouncing off of him!

"You look like you want to murder Ross." Solar teased behind me.

I whipped my head in her direction and gave her an annoyed glare.

She just raised her hands in surrender and continued with her project.

I guess I wasn't showing it correctly but I was still showing it!

How dense can he be?!

Taking my finals was way easier than this.

"Here, do you want some chips?" Ross said out of nowhere.

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You've been looking at me like you were hungry so I thought you might want some. Unless…"

I felt my face flushed in embarrassment.

"Arrogant bastard, give me that." I snatched the chips away from his hand and angrily ate it.

I could hear Solar chuckling at the side.

She was having fun with all of this, I'm sure of it.

This was probably some form of morning entertainment for her.

I should stop saying this but I just deeply regret letting her know.

I practically receive torture from her everyday.

Frustrated, I angrily stuffed my mouth with the chips in my hand.

I glanced up amidst my tantrum and accidentally caught Ross' eyes staring at me.

He was grinning from ear to ear.

I scowled and threw chips at him.

"Easy there!" He said while trying to contain his laughter.

I rolled my eyes at him.

Luckily, the bell rang.

I could finally escape this humiliating situation.

I gathered my things and handed the chips back to Ross.

I went ahead of them and left the garden in haste.

I could hear Ross and Solar calling out to me but I just ignored it.

If I didn't know any better, I would have thought they were both teaming up against me.

Thinking about that possibility made my head hurt.

So for the next few minutes, I quietly cursed both of them as I walked towards my next class.

But that's when I felt it.

I span around and surveyed the area but there was nothing out of the ordinary.

I swear I could sense someone staring at me just now.

Was this just a mere coincidence?

"What the fuck? Now, I'm trying to scare myself?" I shook my head and turned my head back to the direction of my classroom.

But before I could even take a single step, someone bumped into me.

When I looked up, I saw Gioffer standing in front of me.

This was the first time I saw him again after the festival.

I nearly forgot his existence.

I tried to wait for him to speak up but he only stood there while gazing at me coldly.

"Can I help you?" I inquired after a couple of seconds.

"You're the one who bumped into me." He replied.

This made my eyebrows furrow.

"What? I was clearly just standing here. How would I bump into you?" I even pointed down to where my feet were planted in the ground but he just glanced at it once and returned his eyes back to me.

"Well, do you expect me to apologize? You were the one standing in my way." He crossed his arms in an arrogant manner.

Watching him do so made something in me tick in irritation.

"Fortunately, I'm not someone who's desperate for apologies." I answered with a sarcastic smile.

I fixed the strap of my bag and confidently left him there.

Not only did I almost forget his existence, I also forgot how obnoxious he is.

I already have so many matters to deal with and there's no way he's adding to them.

Just as I was thinking that, my phone beeped.

When I checked what it was all about, I literally wanted to throw it the moment I saw it.

'Ten ways to confess to your crush: Proven effective.'

Solar just knew how to push my buttons.

'Fuck off.'

After sending that, continuous messages popped up in my phone but I purposely chose to ignore it.

I pocketed my phone and went inside my classroom.

After sitting down, I silently waited for the professor to come.

Ten ways to confess, psh.

There's no way I'm getting help from unknown strangers from the internet.

…

But maybe I'll just open it later.

"Be confident and ask them out. Right now."

That's just down right straightforward.

"Get to know them."

I know them enough as it is, that's why I'm hesitating here!

"Make it obvious. Try to hint at them."

Haven't I already?

"Let it slip out, accidentally."

And look where that got me!

This is making things more complicated! Half of these things? I already did them! Yet here I am. Still!

"That's very effective, you know." I whipped my head towards the owner of that voice.

Solar was leaning on my locker, smirking at me.

"I thought the almighty Dia didn't need help?" She was totally provoking me.

I gave her a blank look, "I just caught a glimpse of it." I uttered and closed the door of my locker.

"Yeah and I'm the princess of England."

"You're probably adopted then." I showed her a pitiful look which made her eyebrow lift up.

"Excuse you. My looks pass way over the standards of royalty." Solar flipped her hair in an exaggerated manner that almost slapped my face.

I didn't bother answering her because of that.

The both of us headed towards the cafeteria to get some food. The boys were still in their respective classes so it'll just be the two of us for the rest of the lunch period.

After we bought what we wanted to eat, we decided to go to the garden to have peace and quiet while we ate.

Just as we sat down at our table, Solar began to shower me with her questions.

"So, what'll you do now?"

"You've been asking me that for the entire week." I sighed.

"Because there's still no progress for THE ENTIRE WEEK." She greatly emphasized.

I opened my food and took out my utensils.

"Do you just want me to cough up 'I like you, date me' out of nowhere?" I said without looking at her.

"At your pace? I think that'll be a fantastic solution!"

I glared at her, "You're seriously wacko in the head."

After a few minutes of silence, she opened her mouth again.

"Why don't you do something creative?"

"Creative like what?" I glanced at her while I ate my food.

"Write him a letter! That's pretty sweet." She suggested.

"As much as I love the idea, that's too plain for someone like me."

"Wow, I didn't know confessing had to be self-centered."

I threw consecutive crumpled pieces of paper I had next to me in her direction.

She managed to avoid some but the last one landed square on her nose.

How creative does a confession need to be, anyway?

Creative.

Aesthetic.

Artsy.

Wait, if that's what it takes then I'm exactly that!

Why didn't I think of this before?

I wanted to thank Solar but decided against it.

She tormented me enough, she ought to pay me back by giving me the right advice.

Plus, she's still busy retouching the foundation on her nose.

No one can separate those two, so I'll let her be.

And she won't be able to bother me if she doesn't know about it.

I had enough of her meddling everytime she gained new gossip.

So, for the next few days, that's exactly what I busied myself with.

I'll make sure to successfully accomplish this one in a manner that befits a Miradia Alluren.

That's why you should be prepared for what's coming, Ross.

Because I might just unexpectedly change your life.