Arriving in the cafeteria, the two sat in a cold place near the AC. While Vincent was buying food, Ryan was trembling in her seat.
The AC was blowing straight to her.
While caressing her arms, Ryan glanced at Vincent and murmured, “How will I handle that guy? He never listens.”
At last, a group
Finally, a group of male students sat behind Ryan and covered the Air conditioner.
"Hoooo~" she sighed.
"You're crazy, Slyvester. I almost died laughing earlier," she heard from behind.
Slyvester?!' she gasped inwardly.
Even though she admitted that she likes her for a long time, her chest still beats every time she hears Slyvester’s name.
"I really didn’t know anything, believe me," Slyvester laughed. He sat down, turning his back to Ryan.
‘Slyvester is sitting behind me,' Ryan cheered inwardly. She was smiling with joy as she bit her lips firmly.
“What happened?" asked a friend of Slyvester who was with them at the table.
"Slyvester gave his report in front of the class earlier. He used the example of people who use wigs."
"Oh? Isn't sir Jethro wearing a wig too?"
"That's right," laughed one. "This stupid Slyvester had no idea!"
"I didn’t know that our professor wears one. Really," Slyvester explained seriously.
“Idiot. All of our classmates knew that. Don’t you remember when his wig accidentally fell when he was tying his shoelace?”
“Really?! Maybe I was sleeping at that time!” Slyvester replied.
"So, what did sir Jetro say while Slyvester was reporting?"
"Well, his hair fell out."
Slyvester’s friends laughed together; even Ryan who was listening secretly was also laughing.
Since the school festival, the two haven't been able to talk properly. Because Ryan slept at her parents' house and when she returned to the boarding house with Chaylen, everyone was already asleep. This morning, Slyvester left early because he had a meeting with his friends in the group project. But Ryan received a chat that Slyvester wanted to meet after class; at about 4 pm.
‘I thought I would hear your voice again at 4 pm. Now that you suddenly appeared, I missed you even more,' Ryan said inwardly. She wanted to take a look at the back but was embarrassed because Slyvester was with his other friends.
"Yes, by the way, I heard you have a girlfriend?"
"Me?" Sylvester asked while removing the cucumber from his burger.
"Ah! That beautiful girl at the school festival!"
"That's not my girlfriend!" Slyvester stubbornly refused. "Don't remind me of that thing. I'm terrified. Eeew~"
"Why not? She's beautiful, rich and most of all, sexy. You won't find anyone that perfect on campus."
For some unknown reason, Ryan looked at the body. 'I'm sexy too,' she praised herself.
She even touched her chest and the student at the other table who saw it almost spit out all the food she was eating. Who would suddenly touch her chest in a public place? Only Ryan.
"If you only knew how evil Giselle is," Slyvester whispered. "Anyway, please help me get rid of that rumor. I like someone else. I don't want her to worry because of this."
Ryan froze. Slyvester’s words were simple, but she was really touched.
"You have a crush on someone?! Legit?!"
"Woah. Congrats, dude. Welcome to the club of boyfriends who needs to take care of their sulky and moody girlfriends.”
"I tend to feel sulky more than Ryan," Slyvester laughed.
"Ryan? Is she your roommate at the boarding house?"
Ryan’s eyes widened. She didn't know if she should be happy that she became the main topic of the conversation.
"Yup. You know my Ryan?"
"She was my classmate in high school, Brother Slyvester."
Now, Ryan’s mouth went open. Even though her back was against them, the voice of Slyvester’s friend who had just spoken earlier was familiar to her.
"Really?! Do you have a class picture? Give it to me~" Slyvester pleaded, like a child asking for candy.
"She wrote me a love letter before," continued Ryan’s ex-classmate.
[Emily, that crazy] Ryan mouthed. Because she remembered her bff Emily’s prank. The truth is, Emily actually wrote the love letter and gave it to the man because she knew Ryan had a crush on him.
Slyvester suddenly fell silent, at the same time as his companions laughed.
"Hey, hold Slybester. Smoke is coming out of his nose!" joked one.
"Jealous dude, oh."
"Don't touch me," Slyvester grunted. "Why should I be jealous? I'm happy because they didn't date. But, hey...what's wrong with Ryan? She’s cute and fun to be with. So why did you reject her?"
"Yes. Ryan is really cute. Boys often flirted with her in high school because she was cool. I almost flirted with her..."
"But?"
"It's mom and dad, they don't want me to date someone who isn't on our level."
Ryan’s eyebrows met at what he heard. Even Ryan was surprised because she only found out about this now. 'What does he mean?' Ryan even asked herself.
"What level are you talking about?" Slyvester asked in a serious tone.
"No one else at our school knew about it before. But what I heard from Dad that Ryan was only adopted."
Ryan was never ashamed of being adopted. Until this time, Ryan was proud because she was loved more than her biological parents. But...
"Is Ryan adopted?" repeated Slyvester’s question, seemingly in disbelief.
When Ryan heard this from Slyvester, she was hurt. Why did she feel ashamed when she knew that Slyvester would love her despite everything? Maybe, what Giselle said before, maybe added the possibility that Slyvester’s parents won't accept Ryan in the future.
Ryan stood up from her seat.
He walked away with her head bowed, so she didn't notice Vincent who had been standing by and listening. She passed him until she reached the outside of the cafeteria.
Vincent looked at Slyvester’s back. He dropped the food on the table and followed Ryan. There in the hallway, he caught up with the girl who was walking quietly.
"Ryan," he called her.
But Ryan kept on walking.
"Hey." Vincent couldn't stand it anymore, so he grabbed her hand. He turned her around and was surprised by what he saw. "R-Ryan."
She was...crying. Maybe Ryan’s annoyance with Giselle and shame with Slyvester were the reason why she burst into tears like this.
"Contact lenses," Ryan murmured. "The contact lenses just make me tear up."
When Vincent and Ryan first met in a café, Ryan cried because she was wearing contact lenses. But now, she's using it as her excuse.
"Hmmmm," Vincent mumbled, while slowly letting her hand go. As he watched Ryan walk away, he clenched his hands tightly.
He took a deep breath before turning his eyes back to the entrance of the cafeteria.
Suddenly he walked towards it again. He reached out to Slyvester, who was still talking to his friends.
He stood so close to them. "Slyvester," he called.
Slyvester looked back and stood up. “Hey, Vincent. Why are you…”
'Bam!'
Vincent punched him and Slyvester fell to the ground.