He hit the table without having any resistance or wanting to stop it, let the gravity pull his head down as it pleased. He continued to hit it multiple times until his forehead was marked with the painful red of his mistakes.

-Let me guess: exams today? - A voice called him without showing any concern for his actions.

-Aham… - The boy mumbles some words, confirming the question.

-And how did it go? – Another voice called him as if it was mocking his current state.

-How do you think I went? – Responding with sarcasm, the boy lifted his head up and looked at his friends.

It was the lunch break and, as usual, Chris and the other two were together on the same table. All the exams of today were finished, ending his suffering even if for a little, but the results weren’t very positive, Chris was quite sure of it.

The only questions he knew were thanks to the homework he did during his one-week absence, but that was just about one-third of the total he answered. The rest of the answers he marked were all according to his logic and luck.

It was disappointing to know something as simple as an exam could be the cause of obstructing the investigation of the school. Remembering the things that happened this morning, the boy sighed.

-Seriously, I don’t want to have mock exams…

-Hey, look at the bright side. At least you will understand the subject then.

-…You are really not letting go of yesterday, huh, Max?

-What? I don’t know what you are saying. I’m just happy that my friend will be doing his best to learn more subjects!

Chris saw Max with a great smile looking down on him, open even more the wound he got earlier.

-Stop that, Max. Our exams are coming soon, you know?

-C’mon, David, just look at him. I bet he didn’t even study because he was playing with a certain someone at night.

-...I would appreciate that someone that never had a relationship stops commenting on my life.

-See?! See?! I know what happens! The two alone in his room, getting real comfy, with the heater on, slowly, they would take out their sweaty clothes, and then Chris couldn’t hold himself anymore and would push her down, with both their faces closing in and-

-What are you saying in the middle of other people, you idiot!

Max was being too delusional in his own fantasies about a boy and girl living under the same roof, but his voice started to attract the attention of other students who were looking at them with a bit of disgust, thinking they were talking about an adult game.

-…Is it true, Chris?

-Of course not, David! There is no way I would do that with her.

How would he force himself on her? With the girl’s strength, she would easily stop him at the moment. No, maybe she would accept him if tried to. Rather, it would be her that would take the initiative if that were to happen.

-I’m not like a dog in heat that would confess to someone in their first meeting.

-Hey, Chris, I will not that one pass!

-Shut your mouth! If you want to relief your anger on someone, go find a mirror!

-Chris, you!

In a blink of an eye, both of them were over the table, locking their hands while their heads were almost touching. If you were to say it, sparks could be seen going out of each other eye as if this was something relevant to do.

-Stop, both of you.

With a chop using both of his hands, David made Chris and Max return to their seats while holding the back of their heads with pain.

-Let me tell you…Chris… - While still trying to resist the tears from falling from his eyes, Max glared at Chris – I would rather have the courage and confess than never confess at all! You never tried to do it even once after having many girls you liked since middle school, while I had my heart shattered multiple times!

For more than he didn’t want to admit when it came to love affairs, Max was already miles ahead of Chris, even if he didn’t have a girlfriend on his many attempts.

-That doesn’t mean you don’t need to have some restraint from times to times!

-But the point if being ready to face reality! Just look at me! How much time do you think it will be for me to recover from a rejection? I can do over a day before if I want to!

-This is one of the saddest things I had heard from you.

His friend was bragging about how much he could handle a rejection while keeping a proud look on his face while everyone in the cafeteria could hear him, with some students even going to other tables far away due to the embarrassment. As someone close to him, Chris was feeling a bit of pity.

And then, his so-called friend laughed.

-You don’t understand anything, little one…the most satisfying of the confessions is…the one you get after many had failed.

To this point, Chris wasn’t really paying attention. For him, Max already had this brain overheated and nothing that came out of his mouth would make sense. Rather than that, he was curious about David, that didn’t say anything this whole time and was eating his sandwich like this was common.

But, perhaps he misjudges Chris’ look as if he was asking for his opinion on this matter, so David swallows what was in his mouth and cleared his throat to say:

-Don’t know. My first confession was accepted and I was really happy.

-Don’t take this opportunity to show off your girlfriend!

It was a noisier than usual, this day in the cafeteria. Chris just wanted this to be just one calm and relaxing time with his friends to forget about this morning, but instead the peace of mind he wished for was switched for…this.

(Seriously…Why did we reach this topic?)

Max wouldn’t stop arguing with David, that was going on and on about his girlfriend and was turned into a discussion to see which one of them was right about the whole confession idealism. It would take a mirage to stop them now.

And then, they stopped, but it was not because of a mirage. A sound was heard, a familiar sound any of them could remember. They all looked at the direction it came from and were speechless.

On one side of the table, there was a girl holding two food trays with a smile on her face.

-Excuse me, is this seat available?

With just a question, silence filled the table. All that discussion was easily finished like it didn’t ever happen from the shock they felt. Slowly, each one of them started to react in their own way.

-S-S-Sorry, I gotta go! – While holding his stomach, Max dashed out of the cafeteria.

David could only watch as he left, leaving him behind together with the girl. After that day, there was something with her that he didn’t want to deal with, but it would be rude to just ignore her so he was in a dilemma in his mind about how to act.

-Max, wait up! – David went after his friend. It wasn’t to escape from the girl, his friend was sick and he wanted to help, that is all.

Just like that, there was only Chris and the girl left at the table. She then looked at him and innocently asked:

-Mind if I sit down here?

Her face didn’t contain ill intentions, with a smile so pure that would enchant anyone who saw it, but Chris could see it the real intentions behind that mask. She wanted to sit and would continue to ask that to the point would be like a broken record.

-S-Sure, go ahead.

He gave in after realizing there was no chance of him winning that fight. With his acceptance, the girl sat down on the opposite side of him. He waited for her to start talking but she was beginning to eat her lunch innocently, taking her time to chew as she was enjoying the food.

(Wait, this is bad!)

Her pressure made him unconsciously agree with her, not even taking notice of where they were! Chris didn’t need to look to know many students were staring in their direction. Gazes filled with curiosities and jealousies were directed at him.

-Huh, why-

-Ops, how could I forget!

Wanting for this to stop, Chris wanted to know why she had come to him but the girl interrupted him before he could finish. Then, in his front, came the other food tray she had by her side.

Chris was looking at the food tray, with a simple set his school’s canteen offered over it, with confusion. Holding that same expression, he looked at the girl.

-What? Not hungry?

-No, that is not it…but why?

He didn’t like to spend money on this since he had a homemade lunch he brings to school almost all the days. In fact, the two of them had the same lunch today. But, that wasn’t the true meaning of his question.

-C’mon, don’t be like that. It was hard to come up with something to repay you, you know?

-What?

The girl acted as if his reaction displeased her, looking at him with a bit of annoyance.

-The notebook, you dummy! Don’t you remember it?

(So that is what she meant.)

It was something he didn’t think straight back then. There must have been a less embarrassing way than shouting in the middle of everyone, but he was too tired to do so, leaving him with a wish to forget about it.

-Besides, that way we can talk normally, right? - Finishing with one of her eyes blinking, as if a child planning a mischief, the girl whispered for only him to hear.

-Wait…

(It can’t be…!)

She lost her notebook due to her clumsiness; Chris returned it, thus making a good deed towards her; now she wanted to repay him. Thinking like this, it didn’t feel weird at all for them to be together even if others were watching.

-But why didn’t you wait for later?

If it was for a casual conversation, they could do it during classes. Chris was planning to continue the investigation since the exams were done, so there was no point of risking the contents of their talks to be heard by the students around them.

But then, the girl changed.

-Do you want to die?

In a brief moment, her eyes became sharp and her tone was dead cold, with a voice so low that was like a reaper sentencing him to death. There was no bluff in her words.

It was the same look she had when they meet that night, making Chris almost jump off his seat in fear. His mind became blank, his back was shivering. All of his instincts were telling for him to leave but his body wouldn’t obey his will to move.

-I think I got your attention now, but I wish if you could take a look at your surroundings first.

Just like that, the girl returned to her cheerful self and resumed to eat like nothing had happened. On the other hand, Chris was at the edge of his seat with a terrified look on his face. It didn’t take long for him to notice some students looking weirdly at him and control a bit of his composure.

-What were you thinking?!

That little prank of hers did scare him. For a moment, he had forgotten he was in the school and would run for his life.

-I’m sorry if I scared you, but I couldn’t help it!

Being happy for some reason he couldn’t understand, the girl holds her face as if trying to contain her excitement. It looked like she was just doing it because it was amusing for her.

-Besides…I needed to make sure you understood how harsh this is. – With an assuring tone, the girl said while looking directly at Chris’ eyes.

Her eyes were fixed on his with an unwavering feeling within them, making him flinch in surprise. After a week of living together, this was the first time he had seen the girl making that face.

-…What do you mean?

She tried to answer him, but each time she opened her mouth, the girl would retreat, struggling to find the correct words to tell him or even preparing herself for what she was about said.

-Chris… - She manages to spill the first word out of her mouth, even with some difficulties. – The truth is, earlier today, I-

And then, a loud noise happened, interrupting the girl. Something was forcibly placed on the table the two of them shared as if it was announcing it had come there. When they turned towards the direction it came, they saw someone else had taken a seat with them.