[Music Recommendation: "Usui Takumi" theme (Kaichou wa Maid-sama 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 ~

The next day, Crystal woke up early to fly to the Land of Love. She brought along a few chaperones with her. Callan took the same flight with her seeing he came over to fetch Crystal before going to the airport.

And so, we bid our farewell to Crystal. Saying our goodbyes to her felt heartbreaking even if she said they would only stay there for one to two weeks. Still, not having her around felt weird. We got used to being with her even if we were only together for more or less a month. Anyway, hopefully, she would remain safe and enjoy her trip.

Crystal's flight was around four in the morning. Though it was early and we still had time to sleep, Hora and I just busied ourselves with our own stuff. We couldn't get ourselves to sleep anymore. For me, I checked out a few chapters and wrote and re-read them, editing the manuscript along the way. For Hora, she caught up with the book she wanted to finish last week.

Later on, the sun came up and we prepared for school, ate breakfast, and took Kaiden's car to school as usual. The only thing that was unusual was Crystal's missing presence. She just left today and I'm already missing her so badly. Talk about separation anxiety. It wasn't just me though, Hora felt the same way.

While sighing to myself on the way to school, I thought of texting Crystal. Hopefully she could read it once their flight was over.

"Hi Crystal! How are you?" I typed in my phone. "We miss you already. Is that weird? I hope you're doing fine. Keep safe, okay? We love you."

Aaaand send.

Not even a few minutes passed and I started typing again.

"Crystal, you know, I just thought of something," I typed in again. "The three of us are like 3in1 coffee. Are you familiar with that? It's an instant coffee we had back in our country and it's pretty popular. You see, it tastes really great with all three main ingredients combined. Remove one and it doesn't taste the same. Ha-ha-ha! Ignore me. I'm just having separation issues right now. T_T"

I thought for a moment if I should send it or not, but then, Kaiden's sudden break made my finger tap on the send button. Oh well, at least it helped me decide.

"Sorry about that," Kaiden apologized. "This car in front of me sucks at driving."

"It's alright. Just keep your distance from it if the driver is that bad. That's what dad always does if he's driving for us."

"Yeah. I should do that," he agreed. "By the way, Senara. I have something to discuss with you later, after class."

"Hm? Sure. What is it?"

Kaiden glanced at me. "Ahh… I'll tell you later."

Though curious as to what it was, I simply nodded and shrugged my shoulders. I would find it out later anyway.

But then again, I didn't have that much patience when it comes to my curiosity. Because of that "thing" that Kaiden said he wanted to discuss with me, my mind flew elsewhere the whole morning! Ugh! And I was supposed to be studying!

I groaned to myself come lunch time since I didn't even get to focus on a single lesson. I took lots of notes though. Good job me. At least I could review them later once my mind had been freed from the clutches of curiosity. Haaaah… amazing tactic to distract me, Kaiden!

During lunch, it was only me, Hora, Kaiden, and the sly fox Verrill that gathered on our usual spot at the cafeteria. Because of that, we looked like two couples double dating at school. I could feel the prickling stares of the other girls towards me and Hora from miles away.

If looks could kill, they probably stabbed us both to our deaths. Kaiden might have protected me from bullying, but not from the glares of these envious little girls. Oh well, they could glare all they want. I won't let myself be affected by it.

Lunch ended early for us so we had half an hour free time to do what we wanted. Verrill seemed to look forward to having an alone time with Hora so he asked permission if he could bring her along elsewhere. He used that angelic smile on me but it didn't work anymore.

'The audacity! After you tricked us with your slyness, you think I'm gonna fall for that again?'

But then, Hora pleaded to me saying there was something they needed to discuss. And at the same time, I had something to discuss with Kaiden.

"Haaah… Fine. Just be careful, okay?" I gave in and hugged Hora. While hugging her, I shot glares towards Verrill, obviously trying to communicate with him through my eyes since Hora would tell me I'm being rude if I say it to his face.

'I'm warning you, Verrill. If you do anything more nasty, I'm gonna kill you.'

I put my right hand across my neck, signalling that I'll cut off his neck—though I'm not really gonna kill him, that's illegal. He just smiled at me cheekily as he always did. Hmf! Sooner or later, his patience would run out on me. Then I could fight him with all my might.

And so, Hora and Verrill went somewhere I didn't know, while Kaiden and I headed out in the opposite direction. I'm bad with places so I wasn't so sure where he took me—just an empty room with fancy furniture somewhere inside the school. It looked like a lounge of some sort and we're the only people there.

"Sit down," he said, pointing his hand towards the empty couch.

I did as he said, and he sat across me, holding a folder in his hands. He took it from a drawer at the table located at the center of the room. Seeing that table suddenly made the place look like an office of some sort. Like the one dad had back at home, and we were seating at the receiving area.

Then, I didn't know if it was just me but… his aura and tone suddenly changed into a professional one—like a businessman, a big boss, or a CEO in my imagination. And with that tone and demeanor, he told me:

"Senara Lee. I'd like to offer you a deal."