Chapter 23

[Ivan: btw should I just stay here? lol]

To be honest I didn't want to wait until people started arriving.

"?" I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned my head towards the source.

It was a young lady. "Hi," she smiled and waved her hand.

"Oh, hello," I greeted her and felt my phone vibrate. Tempted to check the message, I put my phone back in my pocket.

"How are you doing? Are you the first person here?"

"I'm doing just fine, thanks. Yes, we're the first guests here."

She tilted her head "..Ah. To be honest I came here just to see if anyone I knew was here, but I'll go back with my family in the reception hall."

I nodded, "That sounds fine. I'm pretty sure people will be arriving in a few minutes."

"And what are you doing here all by yourself? What's your name, by the way?"

"Ivan. I came here with a friend but they went out to do something," I smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Ivan. I'm Martha," she smiled and held out her hand.

I shook it.

"Don't stay here alone," she tapped my shoulder, "Come with us."

"Haha, thank you. Let me see," I looked down at my phone.

[Alice: I'm bored can you come here?]

"Yeah, sorry. My friend's waiting for me," I smiled and tapped her shoulder back, "We'll meet you later."

I wonder if Alice knows Martha?

She pulled my shoulder, "Oh c'mon. Don't make excuses…" she said playfully.

"?" I stopped stiffly.

"Teehee," she grinned, "C'mon. Don't be scared! I want to get to know you."

Yeah, well. Completely different to how I expected high class women to act.

I felt a lonely feeling behind Alice's message and smiled at Martha. "Hehe, sorry. I don't want to leave my friend alone. I'll tell her to come meet you too."

"Oh… Okay," she nodded satisfied. "But get here soon, Ivan! I'll be waiting for you."

I walked away with quick strides. "Wait!"

"..." I turned around.

"One last thing, what time is it?"

I pulled out my phone. "Eeek!" I heard a yell and looked up to see her tripping towards me.

Steadying her with space between us, I quickly let go of her once she balanced herself. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"No problem," I said stiffly.

"I've embarrassed myself too much… I'm sorry Ivan, we'll see each other soon," she quickly ran away.

I sighed, wiped my eyebrows, and combed my hair.

I shook my head and reached into my pocket for my phone to text Alice that I was on my way.

Noticing the abundant space in my pocket, my brain cells immediately connected the dots.

A diminutive burst of irritation crossed my heart and I let out a breath.

With long strides and a quick pace, I quickly walked over to where I had seen Martha leave to.

Did she really pretend to fall just to steal my phone??

Really? Are we fourteen-year-olds?, I thought with a bothered heart.

So troublesome…

…

…

…

"Alice?" I walked into the room winded and combed my hair back into place after having rushed to the room immediately.

My heart fluttered slightly at seeing her refined and delicate appearance.

The previous irritation and annoyance from being messed around with was forgotten. I smiled, seeing the person I wouldn't ever get tired of seeing.

At this time, I hadn't consciously realized the butterflies that I felt, nor the surge of dopamine in my system. It was until after that I realized this.

"Hey," she cracked a smile.

"Sorry," I scratched my cheek, "I was dealing with some annoying stuff…"

"Oh," she raised her eyebrows. "What… What was it?"

"Well, do you know anyone named Martha?"

She paused slightly, looking at the floor. Then she suddenly looked back up at my eyes. "Yes."

"Oh, is she your friend?"

She hesitated. "No," then she grew more confident. "No. She is not my friend. Rather— she's trying to ruin my life…"

I raised my eyebrows immediately feeling surprise. I had questions that I kept quiet as she continued speaking: "Martha is the daughter of one of my father's friends. Did you meet her?"

"Yes. To be honest I didn't expect that from her… Why's she trying to ruin your life? What's she doing?"

She seemed to not want to talk about it any more. Rather, she seemed a little bored of our conversation.

"Hmm… I'll tell you later…"

I slowly nodded. Her past excitement of a few hours ago seemed to have drowned away.

Well, she did send me a message saying she was bored… And considering I took some time to get her, she probably got sleepy.

"What's wrong?"

She considered my question. "Nothing," she nodded.

I waited, expecting her to elaborate but she seemed too tired to. Or rather, she seemed distracted by something else.

That faraway look she had in her eyes was something I had never seen from her before. I was used to focused, sharp eyes always concentrated on something important to do.

"Is… there anything bothering you?" I trod carefully. My manner of confident speaking lowered a little, sharing the same energy as Alice's.

She considered me.

"N—..."

"..."

"Yes," It felt as if a barrier inside of her had broken and she spoke with more honesty.

Knowing she would open up, I chose to stay quiet and wait for her to formulate her own words.

"I don't know. I'm just— I guess… I'm a little bothered because…" she paused, "I'm being very sentimental… and I'm not used to it."

I looked intently at her while nodding as she spoke. I waited as she formulated her own words.

"It's just unfamiliar."

I nodded

"Mmm, okay… and why do you think it bothers you?" I asked a guiding question.

She considered it. "I don't know…"

Continuing, "I don't like to depend on others…" The words came hesitantly.

As I was bout to ask another question, she spoke up again and I closed my mouth. "Also… I don't know… What would you feel like if others also went back in time like us?"

I frowned.

"Well… it depends on what type of person it is…"

"Like what?"

"Like… if it were a stranger or a person I know. A criminal or a person that has the cure to everything."

She frowned. "Oh. I don't know… Maybe someone we know."

I considered my thoughts. "As long as it doesn't bother us I won't really care…"

She tilted her head. "I… I started getting a little anxious thinking what I'd do if someone else also came back with us…"

My hand held hers, sending warmth and reassurance.

"I don't know why I got so bothered about it… It's stupid."

She smiled weakly. An expression better than the one before.

"Ivan."

"Yes?"

She held my hand tightly. "Nothing."

"Hmm?"

"I just like saying your name."

"I love my name too."

"Okay?"

"I'm not going to be changing my name any time soon."

She laughed, "what are you even saying?"

"What? Wouldn't it be cool to change my name to A.S. Muncher?"

"You're so stupid."

"Anita Bath would not be bad either."

"Anita Bath?"

"I need a bath."

"Pffft, you're an idiot."

"Yuri Nator."

"Hahahahaha—"

"You're the type to hit others when laughing, huh?"

She smiled, amusement dancing in her green orbs. "Only you make me like this."

Critical hit. My heart beat quickly.

Her grin reached her eyes, "Don't go all shy on me now, Yuri Nator"

We began laughing. "Really? I was kidding when I said I'd change my name to that."

"A.S. Muncher" she giggled. "You should change your name to that."

"Yeah, no way. Imagine being Muncher in roll calls," we cackled.

"Dear A.S. Muncher…" she snickered.

"Yeah, no way."