Catherine went back to her friends with a snappy and sulky attitude. Mike and the others felt so much guilt that they catered to her the whole day but after just an hour, she was laughing hard along with Eline.

Meanwhile, Teren got out of the cafe as soon right after Catherine. The moment he got out, he was blocked by a pouting face.

Good thing that he didn't see her real reaction when watching him and Catherine.

"Iesa, you're here already."

Teren forced himself to greet without shying away. He was the one who invited her so he had to act like a man! He thought.

'And... is she in a bad mood?'

"Yeah, where's... Nick?"

Iesa felt more bitter when she said that name, oblivious to Teren.

"Ah, I'm here."

Nick took their attention, surprising them.

"You're tall, how come I didn't see you?"

Teren asked but didn't need an answer. Nick didn't want to say that he was there since the start. He would feel pathetic and he would also be dragged into the 'trouble'

So why are they together there, right now?

Everything happened last night when everyone got home.

Teren felt a massive hole in his chest. He opened his phone and tried past the time but nothing seemed to entertain him. Exercising did help either nor eating.

He was not bored, he was longing for something... no, someone.

'... I'm so pathetic!'

Teren thought. After everything he said, he was the one regretting his decision. But he really wants to see her.

I want to see her! I want to talk to her!

Like a child throwing a tantrum, he rolled in his bed.

"No... whatever it takes... I have to see her."

Desire was hard to control. Not even Teren, who's careful at everything, was able to restrain himself. Thus, he took out his phone and dialed.

Ring*

Ring*

The call picked up.

"Nick, I need your help."

Teren said and after a bout, they ended the call. Now, this time, it's the real one.

"Huu... okay."

Ring*

"Ah!"

Teren almost jumped when his phone rang before he even dialed anyone. She was one step ahead of him. Obviously, he accepted it.

[Hello?]

"Yeah?"

Teren tried to play cool but his chest drumming. On the other side of the line, Iesa was perspiring but didn't want to show it either. Oblivious to Teren, she was feeling this emptiness the moment he was out of sight.

I want to see him! I want to talk to him! I want to lick him again!

Her desires were one notch higher than Teren's.

"..."

But she didn't know what to say.

'I'm dumb...! I should've planned what to talk about first!!!'

[Actually, I was about to call you too.]

'Really really really?!'

Just like that, Iesa felt like giggling but she didn't let it sound.

[But I don't know what to say.]

'Me too!'

[Hm... I, hmm...]

'Say it! What is it!?'

[I actually regret what I said last time.]

Iesa immediately knew what he was talking about since that's what in her mind all this time. That's why she took a long time to call him too.

[Hello?]

"Ah, yeah, I'm listening. So... what part of what you said last time?"

Iesa feigned stupid.

[The one about... not talking...]

'I don't know the reason for that but I guess he wouldn't do it without a valid one. But I hope he's going to retract it!!'

[I don't want to retract that but I think we can still talk... like normal classmates. Ahaha... sorry if I'm confusing you but what I mean is it's fine that we talk normally?  Ergh-... w-what do you say?]

Teren punched the air out of cringe. However, his punches were too fast that it's actually whistling.

"Yeah... I think that's good too."

Iesa was not dissatisfied with it. Even if they're just 'classmates', in her mind, Teren is already hers... no matter what.

There was a brief silence which Teren then talked about some movie he saw which he actually just encountered the advertisement just earlier, trying to fill the void.

"Yes!-.. I mean, okay, I will come tomorrow."

[Okay, then we'll meet there tomorrow morning. I'll buy three tickets now so that we don't need to stand on line.]

"Hm? Three?"

[Ah... yeah, I invited Nick too.]

"... oh.. okay."

In Iesa's head, she had was already formulating the chances of Nick getting into an 'accident' so that he will not be able to come.

'No, no, no, Teren must've invited him becuase if it's just the two of us... it would be more like of a date instead of an outing between classmates...'

She understood.

But she was still frustrated!

Then when she arrived there and saw Teren waiting in a cafe, Iesa hurried but then, another girl sat in front of him.

'Catherine?'

Throughout the whole conversation, Iesa watched the two and focused on hearing Catherine's thoughts.

'Fool...'

'Fool...'

'Fool...'

That was her every comment towards Catherine's thoughts. That's why she didn't notice Nick beside her who have arrived long ago. Noticing what's happening and not wanting to further be pulled into trouble as he already was, Nick just feigned ignorance.

At the present, while going to the cinema, Teren whispered and asked Nick.

"Nick, do you think Iesa is not in the mood too?"

Nick could only nod.

"... do you know how to cheer a girl up?"

"No idea, Boss Hark."

"Just call me Teren."

"O-okay..."

"What should I do...?"

Seeing Teren be troubled, Nick offered;

"How about you sit beside each other during the movie?"

Teren raised an eyebrow, not getting Nick's suggestion.

'Isn't that a bit selfish? I should cheer her up not me. Of course, I like sitting beside her but I'll just be satisfying myself.'

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Ugh..."

'Sometimes, he's kind of stupid...'

Nick thought which Iesa strongly nodded after listening to their whispers.

'B-but, he's thinking hard how to cheer me up. Ahh... I'm so cheap, that's already cheering me up.'