The "L" word is obvious

"We are friends..." I explain slowly. Alice squints her eyes at me with a frown on her face.

"How long have you know her?" She asked again.

"Just recently…"

I realized my answer does not satisfy Alice's curiosity as she keeps asking everything about my relationships with Alex. The more Alice ask me about Alex, the more I grew suspicious of their relationship.

'Is she always like this?' I ask the ball and Alex inside my head while handling Alice's more and more questions.

["Yeah! After I change my treatment towards her, she has become suspicious of my relationships with other people. She doesn't even want me to talk with other girls or too close with any boys! She always controls my food intake, my daily life! She also wants to know my location every time I wasn't home! I can't go home late because of her!"] Alex explained with a hint of anger in her voice.

'…' [….]

'What did you do to overwrite original Alice's past enmity with Alex?' I asked again.

["I try to get close to her by giving her flower to ask for forgiveness. I even bought her many gifts, every day and many on her birthday. I even sing her birthday song. When she was sick last time, I took care of her the whole day and night! I sing her a lullaby when she cries in her fever so she can sleep better! Yet, this is how she repays me!"]

'When you said she doesn't allow you to interact with other girls and boys, are they good-looking?'I asked.

["Huh? Yeah… kinda."]

My suspicion is growing stronger.

[What kind of food Alice didn't allow you to eat?] The ball also asks Alex a question.

["Why do you even ask that? She didn't allow me to eat fast food or any street food. She doesn't even want me to eat the cooker's food in our house. She only wants me to eat her cooking. And I mean, ONLY HER! I admit her cooking is delicious, but don't you think she is too suspicious? I believe she put a drug inside to make me addicted because I can't accept others' cooking now. Even the 5 stars chef can't beat her cooking!"] Alex explains angrily.

"...…." [...….] I don't even need to ask why Alice wants to know Alex's whereabouts.

'You heard that ball.'

[Loud and clear] the ball replied.

'It's the "L" word.' I said to the ball.

[It's the "L" word.] The ball repeats.

["What is the "L" word? Does it means loser?"]Alex asked.

"Hey! Are you listening?" Alice calls me when I don't respond to her for a long time.

"Hm…" I look at her without any expression. "So…" I paused for a second to block Alex's connection to our conversation before continuing. "You like Alex."

"YOU!" She stands up and raises her voice at me.

From my position, I can see blushes appears on her face. This is the first time I see a different expression on her cold face.

"What are you talking about?" Alice seems to realize what she has done and tries to control her tone. But, the blush on her face still betrays her.

"You know what I said is not a question." I smile at her. She looks at me differently this time. If before she looks at me with confidence, right now she seems to be scared that I will use this information to blackmail her.

'I won't, though.'

"How…how did you know." She asked with a forced smile on her face before sitting down again. Her palm is clenched, and I can see her jaw is tense.

"It's obvious." I support my head on the table with my arm and look at her face while smiling. 'Now I understand why Alex's said that Alice will not let her go anywhere if Alice knew she was injured. Alice is worried about her wellbeing.'

"You are jealous that she slept in my house yesterday." Her body flinched, and she glares at me. "You are worried that I will take Alex away from you." Her glares are becoming more intense.

[Don't tease her.]

'Since when are you kind?'

[I'm always kind. You are just an ungrateful little whiny baby potato sack.]

'tsk,' I clicked my tongue. In my head, of course.

"Don't worry, I meant no harm to your crush." I try to coax her so her anger will be reduced. "I also don't have a crush on Alex," I add that last sentence when I see Alice looks dissatisfied.

[You don't have a crush on anyone.]

'Not important. Shut the Fuck Up

[Tsk!]

"Then, why did she sleeps in your house yesterday!?" Alice asked with a frown on her face.

"Don't you already know the reason?" I look at her with a tilted head. "She passed out yesterday."

"HUH! WHAT! WHAT HAPPENED!?" She raised her voice again. But, this time, she doesn't try to control her expression and the way she acts. 'IS SHE OKAY? WHY IS SHE SICK? SHE LOOKS OKAY YESTERDAY!" Alice grabs my hand in panic as she forces me to answer her.

I was a little taken by her sudden change in personality. To think it's easy for her to drop her demeanor for Alex. 'Love really changes a person.'

[Alice lost her mother at a young age. The person who loves her unconditionally died. Even her own father is partial and only wanted a son. Her stepmother, will of course, not cares about her. Even the maids had done a lot of mistreatment until Alice finally can protect herself. Love is not a part of Alice's life until Alex gives her what she has always craved. Love.] Alex's system explains.

'You know about Alice's feeling for Alex?' Alex's system has been quiet since yesterday. The system only talks when there is something that should be said. The system is the silence type which is different from the ball. At least, they are capable.

[Yes. It's obvious.]