Keith's Hidden Face

'Dine in must mean that she's asking me if I want to eat within the establishment or, take out, I would take the food out? That's the only logical explanation I can find…'

Although Keith was quick on connecting the dots, Natallie only answered a second later.

"Dine-in, miss."

"Alright, what would you want to eat?"

Natallie energetically answered while Keith picked up his pace and answered his meal.

'Got it!'

He proudly pumped his fist while none noticed. Upon seating onto the chairs besides the table, Keith asked-

"Where's the food?"

Natallie chuckled at this, finding how Keith could 'joke' while keeping a serious atmosphere funny. Meanwhile, Keith was nowhere near joking. Whenever he enters the dining hall, a whole buffet was already in placed.

Every meal was Keith's pleasure haven.

He greatly appreciate all the cooks and servers who spared no effort in giving him such a wonderful time in Beos.

Silence then occurred. Keith has only met Natallie, but he knows she's talkative. He didn't expect this situation.

'Maybe I'm not entertaining her enough? No, have I even attempted to entertain her?'

A problem presented itself against Keith once more.

But a while later, Natallie tapped the table while her eyes wandered around before calling out, "Keith!" as if she had just gained the courage to do so.

"Yes?"

Keith immediately responded.

"... than… m…. Ere…"

Natallie timidly said while she fiddled her fingers. Her voice was so low, it would only be audible if the person she talked to had a sound amplifier or a hearing aid.

'Why is my voice so low!' she wanted to hit her head as she couldn't say her thoughts out loud when she needed to.

"Oh, umm, I didn't do anything special… but you're welcome."

Natallie's head perked up upon hearing Keith's reply.

"You heard me?"

Keith nodded, "You said, 'Thank you for inviting m-'"

"Ahh-! Okay, I get it, don't say it. It hurts!" Natallie flusteredly waved her hand while her face turned red. After some time, she responded to Keith's reply.

"For me… this is very special… ugh…! Sorry for being so awkward…."

Hearing this, Keith chuckled behind his mask.

"Me too." he honestly replied.

This made Natallie convulse in embarrassment.

'How could he straightforwardly reply to that!? It would've been less embarrassing if he just laughed at me….'

Although she thought that, she could feel something in common with Keith. At least, they are both awkward, though Natallie is aware of it while Keith is not.

"Hehehe…" realizing this, Natallie could only giggle softly as the food arrived. It was odd, but she found trust in this mysterious person.

"Let's eat!"

Then, she went back to her energetic mood as if nothing had happened.

"So little…" Keith mumbled after seeing his meal. He had already expected this, noticing the plates on other customers' tables, yet, he was still disappointed.

A plate then slid into his side. He looked and saw Natallie pushing her meal to him.

"You want mine?"

"Yes, but you wouldn't have anything to eat, so I'm fine with this."

"What I find something about you the most is your honesty." Natallie smiled before giving her some of hers, "Why don't we take half of each other's food? Though this wouldn't increase your meal, you'll get to taste two."

"Good idea, thank you."

But before Natallie dug into her meal, a thought popped out of her head. She hasn't seen Keith's face at all. He wouldn't eat with a facemask, right? In other words, she would get a peek!

'I'm just curious and want a little peek….'

Natallie focused on Keith while not making it so obvious. Eventually, Keith removed his mask and ate the first spoonful.

'Hm..?' she suddenly found something strange.

"This has no taste…." Keith commented before Natallie asked-

"Keith, is it not your intention, or are you trying to hide your face?"

Keith paused while chewing. Since Natallie has been kind to him and she's a potential friend, he didn't mind answering the truth.

"It's intentional."

"Why?"

"Because… most women act differently when they see my face. It's a little bothersome and uninteresting."

"Oh, okay… but, can I see your face? Ah, if you don't want to, it's fine." Natallie was a little pushy but drew her line.

"It's fine."

Fortunately, Keith doesn't mind if it's her. He took off his hood and his shades to show his bare head.

Natallie has already seen his neatly combed mid-long hair and piercings on his ears. However, coupled that with his slim eyes with dark-brown crystal clear pupils within, his thin eyebrows, sharp nose bridge, red-tinted lips, chiseled jaw, and light smooth-looking skin, Natallie was blown away.

'What the…!? He has a face of an idol! No, better than that. It's not surgery since it looks natural too! How is he possible!?'

Natallie found Keith was too bright and questioned his existence.

Before anyone could look at his face, Keith covered it up with his hood and glasses again. Although his red-tinted lips and chiseled jaw could still be seen, it only makes less than half the impact.

Natallie fell into a dilemma.

'It's good that he's so good-looking, but… girls will surely flock around him! He's the perfect bad-boy type.' she knitted her eyebrows, 'What if he forgets about me once he becomes popular?'

She envisioned the life of being alone again, and Natallie found fear.

'Maybe… I should support his idea of hiding his face… yeah….'

"Keith, I think…." Natallie paused once she got Keith's attention, "... I think…."

After some time, she continued, "You shouldn't hide your face that much. Other's will get to know you more with expressions."

But what came out of her mouth was the opposite of what she planned.

'I couldn't say it! Keith is just like me. Why would I stop him from getting popular so that he might have more friends?' she tightened her fists with a sad expression.

"That's a good point."

"Yeah…"

"But I don't want to risk it." Keith replied as he thought, 'The less attention I have, the easier it is not to spill the truth.'

Keith was given a condition so that he could freely enter a school. That condition is to keep his true identity and where he came from a secret. Although he prioritized his questions earlier and got some attention, he wants to stay inconspicuous as much as possible.

Meanwhile, upon hearing his reply, Natallie internally celebrated.

'Yes!!! No girls will flock around him!!'