Chapter 3 CONFRONTATION BETWEEN ASHY AND STORM

　　Months and days passed. They grew more comfortable with one other. Their pals did not intervene in their mocking. Until one night, when they were all dining at the same time.

　　"What's going on fascinates me," Weng stated as she ate simpky looking at them one by one.

　　"Which part gave you a rush? Oh, nearly every man you see gets a rush," Jem taunted, laughing.

　　"He winked at Jem," at least I confess, how about the others present, it's been so obvious and yet they can't even admit it.

　　They knew who would be the subject of the talk, so Storm refocused his attention. Storm appears to be enraged, and Ashy is already embarrassed.

　　"Stop right there, what else will this Storm consider later?" Ashy replied, clearly ashamed. His pals have a valid point. Even if she hides it, she knows that as she encountered Storm, she became close to it, to the point where she felt disappointed when she couldn't see it. Is it true that she adores him, as her pals claim? Or maybe, she's also been misunderstood.

　　They continued to be harassed in this manner. Until she gradually realizes that she cares more passionately about Storm. It's something she truly enjoys. Shele understands this since she's not so easy to deal with when they're face to face. She couldn't even look it in the eyes straight. But why is it the case? Why does it tend to steer clear of him? Is she dissatisfied with it? She felt ashamed of herself once more. Is she correct in hwr feelings?

　　"Pssst... do you love him?" Jem stood up from her bed and floated towards her, her gaze fixed on the ceiling.

　　She couldn't understand herself and added, "I don't know, I don't know, it appears."

　　"Is he in love with you?" Jem inquired.

　　"I also don't know, I get the idea that he's been avoiding me over the last few days. He doesn't laugh as much as he used to, and when we're in the living room, he doesn't join in on our stories and foolishness, you know, he seems to be avoiding me," she sighs.

　　"I also pay attention to that and you are right. When it's just the two of us, he's fine. When you're not kidding, but when you're the topic he suddenly avoids, he opens another topic." Jem inquired, his mouth agape.

　　"Insane! What does the future hold for us? We don't even know that you are aware of. "Perhaps he can't be my type," Jem joked.

　　"Perhaps, let me go, I'll forget my promise," she assured her friend. "You're still a force to be reckoned with." she laughed to soothe her friend's feelings,

　　"You're both smart, you're both crazy."

　　"you know what? I'm wondering if I said something bad to him all of a sudden, " she pondered again.

　　"As long as I'm here Ash, I'll support you, Weng and I. If you're happy, but if you update us, maybe you'll be fine and you won't simply tell us," he sulked.

　　"Yes, but not really," she responded, "I swear, look he's already avoiding me."

　　A couple more days went in the same way, and it's still going on. She also avoided Storm so she wouldn't look like an idiot. So when she realized she was with the gang, she was the one who made sure Storm didn't notice, which astonished him. Everyone gathered in the living room one day. Ashy simply walked by them, ignoring Mark's cry. He simply excused himself, claiming that he had a lot of important things to do though there's none..

　　Everyone was hushed one night as they were eating, as if they were chasing the food, as if they were all in a rush. What her companions were doing perplexed Ash.

　　After some time had passed, one by one, everyone at the table rose from their seats, which astounded her. They were never like that before. Because they used to converse after dinner, but today they all stood up silently, leaving only Storm and Ash. That was something that bothered her. She don't understand and she couldn't figure out.

　　"Hey, wait, why are you moving so quickly?" she inquired, but no one responded.

　　She was going to get up since she was so chilly, and Storm was the only one at the table with her, when Storm grabbed her hand.

　　"Sit down," he whispered, his voice low and mournful in a way she couldn't express.

　　"Just a moment, Storm, because I know how dramatic these guys can be. Is it appropriate for them to abandon us here? When I try to contact them, they don't even respond? " It was still standing, and Storm had her hand in his.

　　"Sit down, because I think we have something to talk about," he said again, his serious expression and tone of voice remaining constant.

　　He thought to herself, "He's even more handsome when he's that serious, and maybe even more handsome when he's angry."

　　"Did you hear me Ash? I said sit down!" he says again because the person he's talking to's thoughts appears to be flying.

　　Ash stared at him, instantly uncomfortable because he had been staring at her for some time, as though studying her every motion.

　　The man posed the question, "Is there a problem?"

　　"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? Is there a problem?" She began, still staring at him.

　　"I've been noticing that your friends have been hearing about us for the past few days," he said.

　　"Didn't you get used to those up until now, Storm? They've been like that to us since the beginning, am I right? So, what's new in that stuff?" She wanted to say that he was the one who changed, but she kept it to herself since she didn't want their conversation to go somewhere else.

　　"So, should I get used to your newfound aversion to me as well? Do you think I'm not paying attention? " He inquired, his eyes staring, and he realized to himself that he had avoided a bit because she was perplexed, but she didn't expect him to do the same.

　　Ashy was going to stand up and leave Storm, but he clutched it tightly in his palm.