First Encounters.

Denzel and Leia got out of the University gate and moved along a pathway. They stopped to cross, waiting for the pedestrian traffic light to turn green so they could cross to the other side of the road.

Soon the traffic light turned green and passengers began to cross. Just ahead of them was a restaurant, owned by their University named 'The L.U restaurant'. They got in and the place seemed to be a little empty. Lots of people had already vacated the school premises so it was only natural for it to be so. Moving side to side, they moved to a free table and Denzel signalled for the waiter to come. They requested a chilled cup of water and then took a pamphlet which was placed on the table to pick what they were going to eat.

"Denzel, what are you gonna pick?"

Denzel placed his palm on his cheeks.

"Dunno, probably pasta and sauce, what about you?"

"I will go for the same but more since it's on you."

The two of them said to the waiter and the waiter nodded, turning his back to return to his stand. When the waiter had returned, Leia turned her head front to look at Denzel.

For about five minutes, everywhere was silent. Denzel and Leia kept staring at themselves and none of them said anything. . Leia then closed her eyes and opened it back.

""I...""

They both said at the same time and paused. It was Awkward. Denzel scratched his head and finally opened his mouth to talk.

"You go first."

"No, you first."

"You have to go first, it's said to be Ladies first for a reason."

"Hmmm", Leia sighed and spoke out.

"Denzel, Thank you, I really appreciate you for everything you've done for me. I am sorry for leaving suddenly after everything. You have done a lot for me."

"Leia, you make yourself look like you always fault everything, I mean, the apology you just gave isn't necessary..."

Leia bent her face down.

".....Don't get me wrong, I ain't saying it to insult you or anything, I mean that for dumbheads like me, you don't have to be shy. You can be the way you were when we first met, I don't care as far as we are great friends. I really do like you so I don't find a fault in what you do."

"Uhm, I am sor-"

Denzel placed his index finger and his thumb on his forehead.

"Leiaaaa, just be yourself."

The silence broke out again, and this time, it was longer than the earlier one.

"Okay, since you are someone really so close with me, I will try and fix myself."

Denzel nodded and smiled at Leia.

"By the way, Denzel, we have been together for two years. I am happy that we have Ted and the others as friends. How did you get to be friends with them or How did you meet them? I know I and Ariel were friends before I met you, but tell me how you became friends with the others."

Denzel placed his two palms on his chin. Whenever he did that, he claimed he was going to switch to Story mode, and all his friends made him into a weirdo.

"You know, it's only Ted that knows I am a Beast, I think Carter might know or maybe all the others know if Ted told them that is..."

Leia was shocked, she thought no one else knew about Denzel's case but to some extent, she expected that.

"...Well, I am the kind of person who hates to see people suffer for a reason because I feel it makes no sense. Carter was hated because his family relations expected more from him, Rocco was Carter's friend since childhood and no one except him stood Carter's ground. Carter who we all know has no atom of sense, tried becoming everyone's friend on the first day of school and what he got in return, Five guys who also study the same course with us took him to a secluded alley and dealt with him. Well a hero known to be me saved the day, no one knew it was me though, I was like invisible, no one even noticed me, Ha ha ha..."

He paused to be sure Leia was listening to him. Leia kept laughing at his story. When Denzel was sure that he had her attention, he continued.

"...The next day in class, when everyone insulted him, it was me who helped him and that got me closer with him, and then Rocco."

"What a story, Carter must really be dumb"

"You just stated an obvious fact, if you are just finding that out now, then there is a problem. Well well, Ted on the other hand wasn't just liked because he was very smart. People made him into someone who acts like a god. And also, people were jealous of his father's wealth, his dad owned the biggest library in Masan. I didn't get it, is it a sin for someone to be smart or rich? Well, when I encountered him, he said I was trying to pry into what didn't concern me and that I hadn't experienced shame he provoked me into telling him my secret and guesses what he said.."

"What did he say?"

"He told me, 'Why do you trust me?' Funny isn't it? well, after lots of deliberations he agreed to be my friend. Not Like I kept disturbing him though he came the next day and sat near both me, Rocco and Carter frowning his face. Funny isn't it?"

This time he didn't get any response from her, he was done with his story anyway so he didn't really point that out. Denzel looked at Leia's face as she yawned, Even Leia got bored of his stories.

'Wow, and I thought Carter was bad', Leia thought, shaking her head as she noticed Denzel's eye was locked to her face.

"You know Denzel, I actually expect you to have questioned me about something."

Her tone had changed, but Denzel was just a dolt, he noticed the change, but he felt it was because he had told her earlier to be free with him.

"What's that about?" Denzel asked, smiling with his palms still placed on his chin.

"Well, you should have questioned me about why and how my character is a lot different from the first day we met."

'That's true, Leia, your character really did change a lot."

Denzel said to himself, that was when he realized that the way she spoke with him then wasn't the same with that day. He placed his face on the table with his chin, holding his face up. He thought about that day, that very first day they met.