Chapter 5

“Aiden? OMG! Is this really you? Aiden Adler?”, Olivia screamed on top of her lungs, earning sighs here and there from our friends.

“Hi, Olivia. I have to admit that I miss your high pitching voice so badly”, the so-called Aiden Adler gave a rude remark, in my opinion.

I already didn’t like him.

“OHMYGOD! You’re really Aiden Adler!”, instead of saying anything about his rudeness, Olivia shouted once again, shattering our eardrums at once. Bless all of the poor hearts in the cafeteria. “By the way, you’re still didn’t change. Still the rude and cocky Aiden, huh?”, she finally stopped to shout and talked like a normal person.

“Olivia, what did I said about shouting without warning?”, Luna asked nicely but everyone could see that Olivia was in big, big trouble.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Luke sent an S.O.S to Asher. We all knew that no one, I repeated once again, no one could save Olivia from the evil Luna except Asher.

“Nothing?”

My eyes widened a bit when I heard Olivia’s innocent answer. When I looked at her, she tilted her head, trying hard to figure out what Luna meant by that. As soon as my eyes landed on Luna’s face, I was hoping that nothing would happen to Olivia. Luna is the kindest human being that I had ever known but please do not mess up with her.

The tension on Luke’s face was so clear that I thought to myself that I had to do something to distract Luna. Thank goodness that Asher acted quick enough by wrapping his arm around Luna’s shoulder and brought her closer against his chest. Like magic, Luna instantly melted in his arms. I only could heave a relieved sigh after that.

“Hey”, Asher greeted Aiden Adler, showing no enthusiasm of meeting him.

I didn’t know if he greeted him because he wanted to or he just wanted to distract Luna. I had a hunch that it was the latter.

“Hey, buddy. It’s been a while. Your stone face has gotten stoic than before”, Aiden Adler commented.

Judging by the playful smile on his lips, I didn’t think that he was offended by Asher's lack of interest in his sudden appearance. I guessed he knew him long enough to not take Asher’s cold personality to his heart.

After Asher's cold ‘Hey’, Nicholas patted Aiden Adler's on the shoulder. The big smile on his face was enough to tell me that he was beyond happy to meet this person.

“Took you a year to get here”, Nicholas said.

“Of course, he is. I always knew that Japan is interesting or should I say the girls are?”, Chase smirked after he shook hands with Aiden Adler.

Aiden Adler didn’t make any comment as he greeted James but a grin on his lips was enough to answer Chase. Boys.

“Chase, please. Can’t you just not say something disgusting like that?”, Luna gave him a sidelong glance afterward. She was scowling when she looked at Aiden Adler. “You’re still with your habit of changing a girl like you changed your clothes? Seriously, when you will grow up?”, she sighed, earning a light chuckle from him.

“Agree”, Olivia added, her judging eyes never lost sight of him, Aiden Adler I meant.

“I’m not here for five minutes and you guys already conspired against me?”, Aiden Adler openly showed his dissatisfaction.

“Hey, Aid. Nice to see you, man”, Luke greeted him brightly.

I knew he was just trying to tone down the tension.

“Hey”, Aiden Adler greeted him before bumping his fist with him.

He looked at Violet and nodded his head in acknowledgment before facing Luna.

“Come on, Luna. You still have many chances to scold me after this. Save the nagging for later, alright?”, he said, persuading Luna to stop it already.

“Cocky brat”, Luna said, putting a smile on his face.

As I was looking at him, I concluded that he was a bad boy with an attitude. The kind of guy that I would never associate with. The bad news that every parent asked to stay away from. I was so deep in my own mind that I wasn’t realized he was staring at me. When I was aware of it, it was too late to tear my eyes off him.

“Who are you? Didn’t notice you’re here”, he said with pure confusion written all over his face.

I knew I was small with 5’3” only and I was a wallflower so no wonder if he didn’t notice me but he sat right beside me. Is it possible to not notice me?

“Weird guy...”

My eyes widened when I saw his surprised face. Oh no… Did I… Said it out loud?

Okay, now I was scared. What if he got mad at me for calling him strange? Besides, I shouldn’t have said it. It was not my place to judge me. Just because I didn’t like him, I have no right to say something awful about him.

Out of panic, I tore my eyes of him and looked at Luna.

“Oh, look at the time. I really need to hurry to my class now. Yeah, right now”, I was actually rambling and I only could pray that Luna won’t say anything about it. Quickly, I grabbed my books and stood up without waiting for Luna’s reply.

“Yeah, sure”, Luna said.

I could tell that she was confused but I didn’t waste any time and dashed off the cafeteria at once. I was hoping that it was the first and last meeting with him.