MACARON MELEE

"All this crazy stuff happened, and you're telling me now?

''And who was the mysterious figure?" Arthur asked, getting serious.

The gravity of the situation was not lost on me as I opted to lighten the mood with a chuckle.

"Well, who knows? It could have been David himself, for all we know."

''So where is he?"

"Currently⸺'' I grabbed some delicious fried chicken, ''he's on the run, and we don't know where he's headed.

''Will you help me figure out all this mess?"

He looked at me skeptically as I shamelessly surrendered to the sinful pleasure of devouring finger-licking fried chickens.

"What do I look like, a detective?"

"Well, with a mind as sharp as a knife,''⸺ a big grin spread on my face⸺ '' and a sense of humor that could slay, it's possible that you might be what I require."

"Well, I am flattered, but I should warn you that my sharp mind sometimes has a mind of its own. Are you sure you're ready for this level of wit?"

''Let's then join forces and conquer the world, shall we?"

''Have I ever turned you down?'' A chuckle escaped from him. Our glasses lifted in the air as we made a toast to our partnership. Nothing can stop us from conquering our goals now.

A voice from behind disrupted our peaceful meal, causing a sudden shift in the atmosphere.

"This crazy guy still hasn't gone to his own house?" It was Belle, eyeing her brother with a hostile gaze.

"Why are you staring at him? It's my house too, and I have just as much right here as you do.'' I said as I continued eating my chicken nonchalantly, pretending not to notice the tension in the air.

"What?" Arthur arched an eyebrow and his arms crossed over his chest like a barricade.

"So you're just tossing our friendship away like old trash?" My expression shot daggers.

"What Friendship? Seems like that bridge had already burned. Now get out," Belle stated flatly, her finger jabbing towards the exit.

"Fine, I'll leave," addressing Arthur, I pushed my chair back and stood up. "And don't even try to mend that bridge because I've finished building it...

–I am seriously going, and don't even bother trying to call me back because I won't answer!"

''Hey, wait up!'' Arthur shouted after me with a slight grin on his face.

My step halted.

''I knew you wouldn't let me go-''

"Well, if you're leaving, can you at least pass me a soda on your way out?" Arthur's face showed that he was desperately trying to hold back his laughter.

I grabbed the soda can and threw it at him.

"Go shove it, man!"

"Wow, what a catch!" The soda can was seized by Arthur's expert hands, feeling proud of himself as if it were a trophy won in a competition. His sense of accomplishment was visible as he grinned from ear to ear.

''Look, I'm going, don't stop me now...

It's too late.''

''No one's going to stop you. Get the heck out.'' Her annoyance is a raging wildfire that engulfs the room, leaving me suffocating in its thick, acrid smoke, leaving me no choice but to storm out.

The audacity of her arrogance is like a peacock spreading its feathers in all its colorful, extravagant glory, oblivious to the world around it.

Well, I am certainly not going to let that slide.

What does this girl think of herself?

A sly smirk crept onto my lips as it dawned on me that something had slipped my mind that made me go back inside.

''Can you believe this guy? Belle grumbled, her eyes rolling with disbelief. "I mean, seriously, does he even have a home of his own?

He just came here and started mooching us off?''

''Belle! That's bad, don't say that. Just because he always shows up only to eat that doesn't mean-''

"Excuse me?" I stood facing Arthur, my tone icy.

"What has been uttered from your lips?— taking a deep breath—

''Never in my wildest dreams did I expect such an insult directed towards me by you,'' a look of disbelief spread across my face.

''Did you call me a freeloader?''

Arthur couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.

''Oh, so you're still here? I thought you would have bolted by now.''

His teasing words, accompanied by a playful smirk, were delivered in a manner that left me both irritated and amused.

''Oh well, you see? I forgot something.''

Both siblings looked at me, their confusion evident.

I strutted over to the dining table, snatched a piece of mouth-watering fried chicken from Belle's hand, and dramatically popped it into my mouth, the remaining chicken legs clutching tightly in my hands. ''I apologize for forgetting to mention earlier that it would be great if you could teach your ill-mannered sister some manners!'' I said to Arthur, who was quietly enjoying the drama as I waggled the chicken in her sister's direction.

"I'm leaving now,'' I said, snatching the soda can from him, ''and I won't come even if you beg me to!" And with that, I dramatically strode away, leaving them with jaws dropped.

As the sun rose on this beautiful day, the students scattered across the campus for their classes. Some looked thrilled, all set to conquer whatever came their way, while some looked dull and dreary, probably thinking they would rather stay in bed.

Just like me.

Everything in my life seems messed up.

I was walking towards my classroom, wondering if all these are exclusively reserved for my life, or do we all hold a Golden Ticket to the Misery Tour? when Arthur popped up out of nowhere and dragged me to the side of the cafeteria.

"I told you not to talk to me," I hissed, feeling a bit peeved.

"What did I do? It was all Belle's fault," Arthur said, shrugging his shoulders.

"You didn't even take my side for once. Do you know how embarrassed I felt in front of that girl? Don't talk to me," I snapped.

"Okay, fine. Let's not talk," Arthur stated before teasingly holding some macarons in front of my face. "But I brought some amazing macarons, and I guess I'll have to eat them all myself."

I gazed at the macarons, my stomach telling me I should probably reconcile with Arthur, but my mind said otherwise.

"Oh please, as if I care about your stupid macarons," I huffed.

"Oh really? Because these are raspberry and lavender-flavored, your favorite." He continued to taunt me. I rolled my eyes, trying not to give in.

"You know what? Arthur, talking to you is the equivalent of eating a macaron that's gone stale.

Hard pass."

''Okay, suit yourself.'' He climbed onto a wall, his feet dangling on it, swinging back and forth. How on earth did he manage to perch his bum on that towering wall? Did he suddenly transform into a daredevil monkey or something?

Lost in my thoughts I heard a voice coming from behind, startling me.

"You're lucky. Do you know that?'' The dude came over and sat next to me.

''Lucky to have made it out alive that day."

Great.

Just what I needed.

And, as luck would have it, that was the one thing I didn't want to hear.

Well, who wants to be reminded of a traumatic experience, right?

But being the sarcastic devil I am, I decided to give him a taste of his medicine by reminding him of his luck.

"Well, Leon, consider yourself lucky too. You still have both legs attached to your body to walk around!"

I must have hit a sore spot because he immediately lunged at me, grabbing my collar and threatening to beat me up. I mean, talk about being overly dramatic.

Leon needs to take a chill pill and learn to joke because if he keeps up this attitude, I might have to get a bodyguard!

''How dare yo—''

''Listen, Arthur!'' A smirk formed on my lips.

"Wait! I can't even joke around anymore, boy! Why are you calling him here?" His expression was priceless.

Watching him flustered was better than any stand-up comedy show.

"What happened?'' Arthur approached us, still holding the box of macarons, ''Weren't you mad at me earlier? Why are you calling me now?

"Mad? Are you two mad at each other?" Leon chuckled, oblivious to my irritation. It was one of the things that ticked me off about him.

Arthur looked at Leon with a smirk after giving me a puzzled glance, "Hey, Leon. Have you tried these macarons?"

"What?" He frantically got up to stand next to Arthur. His excitement was evident on his face, "Can I have some?"

"Absolutely!" Arthur replied, unfurling his trademark grin.

And just like that, they forgot all about me and went to sit on the other bench, leaving me all alone. To hell with them!

'Great. Just fantastic!' I hissed under my breath.

I couldn't care less.

As the two of them kept gobbling up macarons one after the other, continuously giggling between bites, it looked like they were going to eat the whole batch! And when did they become such good friends, sitting there cackling away like old pals?

They both chatted away while chuckling like hyenas.

I couldn't bear to watch them merrily feasting on those macarons while I salivated in envy, so I decided to make my way toward them.

"What happened?" they both turned to me with questioning looks as they chimed in unison.

"What do you mean, what happened? You guys are chowing down on all those macarons before my eyes while I sit and watch?"

''Are these your macarons?" Leon, with his mouth full of macaron crumbs, managed to mock me.

"No, are they yours?" I retorted as I snatched a macaron from him. The delectable taste caused my eyes to flutter with joy.

"Are they yours?" Arthur queried both of us as he got up to leave.

''We were joking around.''

''Yes, sit back!''

While we were eating, Leon started talking to me and casually placed his hand on my shoulder, causing me to let out a faint yelp.

"First of all, we're not friends for you to casually put your hand on my shoulder,'' irritation was visible on my face. ''And secondly, I have a sore spot on my shoulder."

Confused, Leon questioned further, "What happened? Did you get hurt?"

"Why should I tell you? It's none of your business.''

''Well, then don't tell—''

"It's not like we're close enough for me to share my details with you." But eventually, I caved in.

"I fell into the well of a jungle a week ago, and my shoulder still hurts from the fall."

As soon as Leon heard that, he stood up as if he had seen a ghost.

His eyes widened like they were going to pop out.

"So, it was you in the jungle that day."

Arthur and I glanced at each other in shock and asked in unison.

"What do you mean?"