[ Date 2 ]

"If you gave up art, why would they still abuse you?" asked Geoffrey.

Ella's soft smile was surprising.

"I like the way you simply say what's on your mind without any judgement. I feel heard, at least."

"I'm curious," said Geoffrey.

"It's more than curiosity."

She used the small spoon to swirl the coffee around the mug, a metallic sound resounding every time she hit the edge.

She was in thought, as if she balanced things in her mind until everything was as straight as a line.

"I gave up art, but I was a failure at everything else."

I guess she won't say more.

"How about you?" she asked.

Geoffrey slowly exhaled. Ella's intense gaze was set on him, she truly wanted to know more.

"I let people down. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself, yet some people still went through great ordeals to save me. I didn't deserve saving, did not want saving, yet against my will they did."

Geoffrey took a sip out of his own cup, Ella's intense gaze hadn't simmered down.

"If they saved you, then why?" she asked.

Geoffrey smiled, a broken smile through which only pain came across.

"There's this emptiness..."

Geoffrey paused, then leaned on the table, getting closer to Ella.

"By any means necessary, I will try my best to save you too. Even if you hate me, or love me for it."

Ella's surprise was cute, and he didn't feel like he over-shared, yet she seemed touched. 

Maybe I said too much...

"After those friends helped you, you still felt this emptiness? I don't want to be rude, but..."

"Go ahead, you can't offend me," replied Geoffrey.

"I think your friends would feel let down if they knew they caused you to take your own life. They probably meant for you to live, and get through it. The same way you said you'd try to save us, how would it feel if we then took our lives?"

Geoffrey remained still, Ella's earnest expression was intensely trying to get him to see things her way.

And she wasn't so wrong, after all.

If they could see me, they would definitely feel let down. 

"You're probably right."

She brightly smiled. "Well, all we have to do now is win those trials, and you could live for them."

"True."

I will not make it out of here.

"Same goes for you," continued Geoffrey. "you could live for yourself."

She smiled, then slightly tilted her head.

"What is it?" asked Geoffrey.

"Levi... your assigned muscle..."

Geoffrey turned in his seat, looking behind him.

Levi was at a table that could seat 4, and was resting his head on the table while seemingly asleep. The table was empty, nothing had been ordered at all.

Some waiters were standing next to him trying to gently ask him to leave, but he was clearly ignoring them.

"I wonder why he's suggested himself as a bodyguard, considering he barely ever does anything in class."

"It surprised me as well."

I expected Jet to offer himself, but he probably wasn't even listening to the conversation.

"Who are you voting for?" suddenly asked Geoffrey.

She brought her index finger to her bottom lip, her eyes looking at the ceiling.

"Hmm."

She then smiled.

"For you."

"Ehh."

"Ehh? You're a great choice. And now that we've actually talked, it's clear you would do a great job, you seem to have our interests at heart."

"I'm not good in those roles. Everyone would most likely end up hating me."

"Hating you? You sound insecure... —Not that it's a bad thing, I don't mean—"

"—it's fine. Just, you shouldn't waste your vote on me."

"It's not a waste, and it sucks for you that I'm the one who has the final word on my vote..." she said, smiling.

The waiter arrived next to them, they wore a nice pastel-color outfit that matched the café's decor.

"Which one would you like to try?" asked Geoffrey.

"Huh?"

"The parfaits. You were looking at the ice-cream menu for a moment, I'm guessing one of them interests you."

"Oh, no. I was just curious..."

"We'll have one, please," said Geoffrey to the waiter.

"Which one?"

He looked at Ella, but answered before she could object.

"Strawberry, please."

"And for you?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's fine."

"Very well," he said, leaving.

"Ouch."

Ella kicked Geoffrey's leg under the table. It was a gentle kick, but he still acted the part.

"I can't afford more than a coffee!" she whispered.

"It's fine, I'll take care of it," said Geoffrey.

"How? It's expensive! We can't afford this at all..."

"Don't worry about it. Just focus on enjoying it," he said.

Ella's expression hinted toward pouting, however, the thought of that parfait was clearly brightening her mood.

She must've been eating the lowest-cost meals from the cafeteria until now.

"Are you not grade F anymore?" asked Ella.

"I don't know. I haven't opened my profile yet."

She arched both eyebrows, then frowned, trying to make sense of that sentence.

"Do you know anyone who's gotten to the E grade?" asked Geoffrey.

The flow of the conversation seamlessly changed, Ella now pondering his question.

"Hmm, not that I know of. Some people did talk about getting assignments on their profile. One person, I think Ryan, completed one."

"And he's still at the F grade?" asked Geoffrey.

"I believe so. I don't really hang out with them, so I wouldn't know much. But I do know it's important to check your profile for any optional assignments. It's an easy way to get a better grade."

"Yeah, maybe I should..."

While he verbally agreed, his mind wasn't tied to that answer.

Money was important, sure. It would play a part in future trials, he had no doubt about it. 

Money shouldn't truly be a problem as long as he had the white card, and even if he did lose that card, he'd find other ways to come upon money, so that wasn't a big enough reason to go out of his way to do optional assignments.

And everything grades offered seemed to fit the school aesthetics. It looks good, might feel good, but wouldn't do much for them and the trials. 

My time is better invested elsewhere.

Someone tapped Geoffrey's shoulder. He turned around to discover Levi.

"We need to leave..."

Behind Levi were a few waiters, standing with their arms crossed and an annoyed look on their face.

We?