[Music Recommendation: "A Sweet Smile" by Yu-Peng Chen (Genshin Impact OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

"It seems my brother is not so stupid after all," Crystal flipped her hair smugly, clapping her hands slowly. "Great answer. Now, let me teach you how to properly court a woman later."

"No, thanks."

Leaning towards Crystal, Hora whispered, "So it seems I'll be winning the bet, huh?"

"Nuh-uh-uh. Don't be too sure yet. As I told you before, my brother is—"

I immediately glared my eyes at Crystal, signaling her to stop whatever it was that she was about to say—because it probably was, or better yet—definitely, the one I'm thinking about. Good thing she read my eyes and caught on.

Few minutes later, food arrived. Finally, we could all eat and stop the mind-blowing, heart-thumping, crazy conversation about romance. Despite my thirty years of living in my previous life, and reliving my life again, love life was still uncharted waters for me.

So yeah, I better keep myself safe for now by just enjoying my friendship with Kaiden. I had to admit though, I felt really hopeful with what Kaiden said. I guess it was okay to hope a little bit, right?

After eating, we headed back to our respective departments to attend our next subjects. Kaiden and Verrill had something to do, and Hora and Crystal's department was in an opposite direction of mine… so basically, I got stuck with Callan on my way back.

Ugh. Of all people, it just had to be him. It wasn't like I hate him per say but… okay, maybe I do hate him. I almost died back there from a heart attack! Though it ended up good… but still! If there's anyone who could make my blood boil easily, it's him—Callan.

"Haaah…" I sighed deeply as I walked with Callan back to our departments.

"That's the gazillion time you sighed," he complained, sounding extremely irritated. "I get it. You don't like me, and I don't like you, either. So the feeling is mutual."

My eyes widened and my mouth scoffed the moment he said that. I stopped walking and faced him eye to eye, glaring at him.

"What did I do to you that made you hate me so much?"

"I can ask the same thing," he shrugged.

Annoyed, I instinctively clicked my tongue—a trait I probably got from Crystal, damn it! Due to that, he raised his eyebrows and smirked.

"Soooo, you're finally showing your true colors."

"Huh? What color?"

'I really don't understand this guy. First meeting, he sizes me up rudely. During the barbecue party, it was either he ignored me, or laughed at me deliberately. Then earlier, he, without any filter or better wordings, asked Kaiden the most ridiculous question that almost killed me! Ugh. Everything he does is just so… urgh!'

"Don't play innocent with me."

"What playing innocent? I won't understand what you mean unless you tell me plainly. Like what you just did back there! At the cafeteria!"

"Hmf! I know the likes of you. Deliberately acting nice in front of Kaiden, then becomes the devil when he's not around." He looked at me again from head to toe.

"What? I'm only like this because you're so mean! It's as if you're doing it purposely."

"I am doing it purposely because I don't like you."

"Why? Don't tell me that the moment you saw me, you just decided that you hate me for no reason. Oh! Wait a minute. I think I get it now. You're gay! You like Kaiden, don't you? And since I'm his first female friend, your position is being threatened and—"

The disgusted look on his face couldn't be more apparent. He looked like he wanted to throw up.

"Eeeew! What did you—ugh, what the fu*k. For your information, I'm only protecting my best friend. I'm not… ugh. Kai is not the one I like." He shook his head and pressed on his temples.

Still not fully understanding him, I asked again, "Then… is it Verrill?"

"Woman, I'm a dude," he replied sharply. "I like girls. How stupid can you be?"

"Hey! That's rude, mister!"

'Wraaaa! Seriously, this guy! We repel each other with perfect repulsion! If you weren't Kaiden's friend, I would have punched you in the face! Argh!'

"Fine. I'll explain it to you in simpler terms so your puny brain can understand," Callan said as he crossed his arms. "First, the one I like is Crystal, not Kai. You got that?"

"Hmf! Yes." I crossed my arms, imitating him, hoping it would annoy him.

"Second, Kai has been my best friend since childhood and I enjoy the privilege of protecting him from hyenas like you."

"Huh?! Me? I'm not—"

"I'm not yet done," he interrupted me.

How dare this guy! He's a handsome devil!

"I've seen many girls like you, doing their best to flirt with him. I don't blame you all. He really is one heck of a guy, and extremely rich at that. That's why I flirt with the girls that try to approach him instead, to protect him. But you," he looked at me from head to toe again, "you don't qualify for girls I want to flirt with so I'm being mean instead. If you understand that, get out of their house and look for your own. Bring that friend of yours, too."

"Now, don't you dare bring Hora in this. Whatever this is, it's a fight between you and me, you got that? If you don't want your best friend touched, I don't want mine either."

"Huh! Alright. Just get away from Kai."

'Hmf! So he sees me as some flirty and probably, gold-digger kind of girl to his best friend. How could he! I admit that I like Kaiden, but its purely out of his kindness and so many things—not his wealth. I can earn money on my own just fine!'

"No! Kaiden is my friend, too."

"No. I don't approve of you."

"Then I don't approve of you for Crystal, too!"

"Heh. I'm more important to Crystal than you are. Being Kaiden's childhood friend means I'm also her childhood friend."

"Yes, you are. And as a childhood friend will you remain forever!"

His eyes widened in anger.

"Tsk! What did you just say, you little missy?" he asked in a threatening tone.

But I was never one to back down when it came to fighting with men. With women, I may, but not with men. And definitely not with someone like him!

And so, we glared angrily at each other's eyes like two lions preparing for battle. Until, someone's voice washed all our hatred away.

"What's going on?"

It was Kaiden.