CHAPTER 16 - Friend-Zone

“Are you okay with your uncle?” She voiced.

“Why do you ask?” He responds.

“We’re cool. Just… he always talks about occupation after I graduate. It annoyed me a lot.”

Maeve giggled. Draws Rou’s attention toward her.

“What’s so funny?”

“N-nothing... it just very sounds like him. He talked about that to me as well even though I’m still in 3rd year.” Maeve explained.

Rou didn’t leave his gaze from her, just smiled.

“I’m glad I met you here since I can’t go to Coffee Stop today. That’s because of that stupid uncle.” He rolled his eyes to show he really didn’t please with his meeting with Kai earlier.

“Hey, you shouldn’t speak ill about your elderly, I bet you do come to Coffee Stop to see me after all..” She smirked.

“Wha-?! No, it was my second intention, my real intention was obviously because I like coffee…”

“..that you made…” He mumbled quietly making sure Maeve can’t hear.

“Changes of topics, is there someone from your class who likes you?” Suddenly she jumped to the question of the next topic.

“No,” He answered almost immediately.

“How about, from the school? It could be from another class or year?” She inquired again.

“Why ask me, though? I don’t know. No one tells me anything about that.”

“Hmm... I see.. you’re not popular, after all.” She commented.

“Leave me alone. If I cared any less of it, I’d be dead.”

“Then, drop dead.” She told him.

“Sure, after you!” He quipped.

They nearly reach Maeve’s house when Maeve leads for one more turn before reaching the block of the apartment she lived.

“My turn, are you living with your grandpa?” He just wants to know, nothing related to hope or disappointment.

Maeve gives him a look first before cracking a smile

“I live alone. That’s why it requires part-time jobs. Grandpa supports me too.”

Rou returned her gaze and there was still a smile on her face. Changed into a smirk.

“So, is it okay for me to come?” He ignores the smirk

They are already in front of the block of the apartment.

“Let’s go!” Maeve replied.

Maeve’s house was on the 8th floor and they were already standing in front of the front door. Rou was about to excuse himself while Maeve was busy reaching for her house key from her bag.

“Gotcha! Let’s come inside.” She invited. Rou gulped and this time he can’t deny that his heart beats faster than usual.

But this isn’t the first time they are alone in a house, even a room. She came to his house god knows how many times already and he never feels anything like this. Even after he kissed her in the most private place too he didn’t feel this thrill.

His feet just walking inside.

“Pardon me for my messy house..” Maeve giggles shyly.

“What? You care about tidiness?” he asked in disbelief. He didn’t expect a boyish girl like her actually cares about that and he found it cute because she acts like a girl.

“Of course I am!”

He chuckled.

“Because usually, only girls care about it.” He proclaimed.

“Boys don’t care?” Maeve let out a curious question rather than picking up that smooth insult.

“Ask yourself,” He suggested.

“I am a freaking girl!” She stated. Gritting her teeth.

Rou let out a laugh.

“Sorry, my bad. Yeah, we care too, sometimes, mostly towards the opposite gender.” He finally gave her an answer.

“Nothing wrong about that then, we are of the opposite gender.” She pulled an irritated look.

“Alright, alright, then, I should get going now. I completed the task to walk you home, right?” He said as he was about to step towards the door. Sounds as if he just do it upon Maeve’s request.

“Wait, why too soon? Stay for a coffee, won’t you?” She holds him.

He stopped. Maybe he should stay. To prove that he really likes coffee.

“For free?” He negotiated.

“Of course!”

“I’ll take it.”

“Sweet! Now, have a seat.” She beamed.

He took a seat and Maeve heads towards the kitchen in a good mood.

He looks around his surrounding before taking out his phone from his pocket to inform his dad where he was.

He knew his dad is a big silly when it comes to Maeve. Also, a big supporter.

“Oh my, how gentleman my boy, Rou! Tell dad any big news, and don't forget PROTECTION" - An example of his dad's silliness.

Rou rolled his eyes and locked his phone not interested in responding to that silliness. He put his phone back in his pocket as Maeve shows up from the kitchen with the coffee.

“Sorry for the wait, here you go..” Maeve was delighted as she placed a mug of white cappuccino on the table.

Rou wonders if the coffee she made tastes the same as at the shop so he’s a little bit excited to try it.

“You unexpectedly polite outside your job, aren’t you?” He commented.

“Eh?”

“Never mind,” He carefully brings the mug to his lips.

In the corner of his eyes, he still can see Maeve watching him with a wide grin on her face.

He took a sip and he didn’t care if it tastes the same or not. The only ‘taste’ he can feel right now is ‘happy’.

He shifted his gaze towards Maeve who still had hands on her chin, looking at him with a curve at the end of her lips. She probably waiting for his response regarding the coffee.

“What are you smiling for?” Instead of giving her his comment about the coffee, he questioned her, trying to sound unfriendly.

“Ah, nothing, just, you’re being nice today.” She told.

Rou averted his eyes from her and continue for another sip.

“It makes me think… I think I love you.”

That’s when he almost spurts out the coffee in his mouth. Quickly he struggles to swallow them and he managed. He exhaled his breath to keep his cool.

“At first, I thought someday I will like you but looks like I love you instead,” Maeve added.

Rou who just got back to his sense quickly catches the words. It sounds confusing.

So, with his high intelligent quotient, he quietly tried to process the words inside his head.

That’s taken him back to past moments of them while his mind quickly tries to analyze every word that ever came from Maeve. Such as:

“Hey, do you like me?”

Maeve always said ‘like’ instead of ‘love’ involving romantic feelings.

So he came up with a hypothesis that ‘love’ probably means she sees him as a friend or a buddy.

“Why do you think so?” He finally voiced out asking the girl.

“Love is opposite to hate. You didn’t do anything to make me hate you. You’re just being an idiot sometimes, and hard to understand. But you’re a good guy.” She compliments him sincerely.

“So if you don’t hate me, you should love me instead since love is the opposite of hate?”

Maeve nodded.

“Then what about like? Why don’t you like me instead?” He’s now getting close to the result.

Maeve’s expression changes a little bit.

“Because...” She paused.

“I like girls.”

The result’s out. Yes, his hypothesis seems to be accepted.

Love is the opposite of hate. Saying she loves him just because she didn’t hate him. Loves him as a friend, as a buddy.

She’s friend-zoning him.

Rou keeps his cool and took another sip after sip of his coffee until he reaches the final sip before he asks her his final question and decides to call the day.

“So, you need the answer for that?” He gently placed the mug back in its place.

“What?”

“Should I say that I love you too?” He placed his sights on the girl’s face before he feels a sting on his chest.

“Not necessary, you don’t have to love me back, I’m just saying what I feel.” She answered lowering her gaze.

Rou gets up from his seat as a sign that he wants to leave.

“Thank you for the coffee. I really should get going this time. Pray for me not to get lost on my way back.” He said without looking. He made his way to the door.

“It was my pleasure. Thanks for walking me home. There are no bad guys, after all, huh?” She replied.

There’s no response from Rou as he busies wearing his shoes. He’s done and about to twist the doorknob.

“Anyway,” He said before looking at her beyond his shoulder.

Maeve made a face telling him she was listening.

“Nevermind.”

“See ya!” He raised his hand as a parting gesture without looking back. He left.

Maeve's straight face gradually turned into a smile.

“Take care,” She hissed.

- CHAPTER 16 ENDS -