Chapter 54

As the clock struck two in the afternoon, marking the end of their class, Edward bid James farewell and made his way back to his apartment.

The day had been long, filled with complex lectures on derivatives and heated discussions about mathematical theories that left him mentally drained.

Upon unlocking the door, the quiet emptiness of his apartment greeted him, confirming Patricia's absence.

Thinking that she must've gone back to her unit, he didn't dwell on it too much and let her have her space for now.

He took off his uniform, the fabric clinging to his skin from the day's heat, and walked into the bathroom.

The soothing rush of water was like a welcoming embrace, an escape from the relentless sun that had beaten down all day.

The sound of it was comforting, easing the knots of tension in his shoulders and allowing him to let go of the day's worries.

After the shower, Edward changed into something more comfortable and made his way to the music room, where he carefully started preparing for the recording session.

About 30 minutes later, a soft knock echoed from the door, interrupting his equipment preparation. He walked over and opened the door, revealing Patricia on the other side, who appeared to be in better spirits compared to earlier.

"Are you feeling better now?" Edward asked with raised brows seeing she was walking completely fine now.

"Yeah," Patricia nodded slightly and gently patted her hips, indicating a sense of relief, "a bit uncomfortable, but not as bad as before."

"That's good."

"Yeah, fortunately, you're not big, otherwise..." Patricia let out a sigh, then paused, as if realizing how her words might be taken. The room was filled with an uneasy silence, the implications of her words lingering in the air.

"I-It's not what you think. I mean, it's not as large as those in those videos," Patricia blurted out, her face turning crimson as she spoke in a panicked rush.

"..."

"N-no, I mean, it's not very big..."

He continued to stay quiet, allowing her to clarify further.

"N-no, listen, what I'm saying is that it's fortunate it's not gigantic; otherwise, I might've broken it already... I mean, I'm small too."

As Patricia stumbled over her words, desperately attempting to clarify her earlier comment, a sense of discomfort permeated the conversation.

On the contrary, rather than feeling good, Edward felt worse the more he listened.

The explanations were getting awkward, adding to the complexity of the situation.

But then again, thinking about size, he couldn't deny that he was average. Being Asian, the average size tends to be smaller compared to many other regions, but still...

"Should I purchase one of those enlargement products?" Edward's mind raced with the sudden idea, finding it oddly feasible.

Sighing, he paused to think. After shaking his head, he concluded that with numerous pressing matters on his mind, it wasn't the right time to tackle this particular issue.

Looking at Patricia and seeing her face flushed with embarrassment, he sighed and decided not to dwell on her comments.

Time passed.

Gradually, they managed to put the previous awkwardness and discomfort behind them, fully engaged in the recording process.

As they record, Edward did not forget to explain each step of the process to Patricia, elaborating the details about the logic and reasoning behind each steps.

And so the day went on, similar to before.

The next day arrived, marking the first day of the month.

Edward got up from his bed and followed his usual routine.

Around eight o'clock, he left his apartment and knocked on Patricia's unit.

After a few seconds, her door opened, revealing a girl in her school uniform holding a suitcase in her right hand and a backpack on her back.

Seeing her still carrying so much, he couldn't help but comment.

"Why did your luggage increase again?"

"I... I bought some books at the bookstore and wanted to read them at school when there's free time."

"... Don't you think you should reduce your workload?"

"Why?"

"So that you can ease yourself?"

"Ah?" Patricia hesitated and then shook her head; "It's not about making myself go through hardship. In fact, I really don't like bringing a lot of things."

"Oh?" Looking at her with confusion, he gestured for her to continue.

"Well, it should be like this, when I stop bringing my stuff, everything will be messed up... Like I can't do anything correctly."

"I see, that's why," Edward's eyes lit up, nodding as he understood what she meant.

In a way, it is her way to discipline herself.

It's like him, for example, doing his morning run, etc. He didn't like it, to be honest. It was tiring, boring, and doing it every day made him feel monotonous, but he had to do it.

Why?

Because of discipline.

Having grown accustomed to this routine, both his body and mind had adjusted to it.

The satisfaction it provided him in the end was something he had become accustomed to, and stopping it would leave him feeling disoriented and disrupt his productivity.

In essence, it wasn't just about enjoying the tasks. What truly satisfied him was the ability to endure hardship and maintain consistency, showcasing his dedication and determination.

This sense of accomplishment boosted his ego and confidence, creating a cycle that became addictive.

Taking a wide view of humanity, a common theme emerges: people willingly tackle routine work, facing its challenges for the fulfilling satisfaction it brings.

Amidst this routine, we willingly endure the hardships—long hours, physical strain, mental fatigue—viewing them as an investment.

This investment pays off in various ways: a sense of achievement, financial stability, or the joy of a job well done. It's this gratification that motivates us, pushing us through the laborious moments.

"Oh well, give me that, I'll really carry it for you," Edward said, sighing as he shrugged and gestured towards her backpack.

She had brought a lot today, and he really doubted her small frame could handle carrying it all.

"... b-but."

"It's fine."

"O-okay."

At around 8:02, the two arrived at the campus. As they entered the classroom, it was empty.

Edward was already accustomed to this, so he simply went to his seat and then turned to Patricia, who was hesitating.

"Sit beside me," he said.

'O-okay,' she replied, blushing a bit. She nodded and went to his side, attempting to divert the embarrassment by asking, "So, is this why you arrived at the campus so early."

"Yeah," Edward nodded, "how about you? I think you also woke up early, considering the distance from your village."

"Y-yeah, but not as early as you. I usually wake up at 6:00 to 6:30," Patricia explained. "Then, the morning routine and commuting also take time. The fastest I can arrive at school is around 8:30, but usually, due to traffic and other factors, I arrive just a few minutes before nine."

The two sat beside each other, engrossed in conversation. The morning sun, streaming through the windows, cast a gentle glow across the classroom.

As their classmates began to filter into the room, various expressions unfolded around them—some wore bemused smiles, intrigued by the unexpected closeness, while others playfully teased, nudging each other and exchanging knowing glances.

"Flirting so early in the morning, don't you two know how to respect us single dogs?" teased K, prompting laughter from the group.

"That's right, learn some respect, darn it!" chimed in S, joining the playful banter.

"Go somewhere else private if you wanted to flirt," A, the bitter single dog bark.

As their classmates bantered with teasing and envious remarks, the classroom echoed with laughter, setting a cheerful tone for the day.

Edward remained unfazed, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he observed their playful banter, enjoying the envy flickering in their expressions

No way, he had also been a single dog in the classroom during college the previous timeline. The memories of watching his classmates flirt in front of him had left a bitter taste in his mouth. But now it was gis turned, he felt a sense of validation.

He sat there, a subtle smile playing on his lips as he observed their playful banter, the envy flickering in their expressions only adding to his newfound contentment.

Unfortunately, Patricia beside him had a different reaction. Her cheeks turned a shade of pink, a clear sign of her embarrassment as all the attention was on her.

She appeared both flustered and somewhat puzzled by the banter of her classmates, a rush of emotions sweeping through her.

Edward couldn't help but notice this, and he subtly leaned closer, offering an encouraging smile to ease her nerves, a silent reassurance that they were in this together.

A few moments later, James too arrived, and like most of his classmates, he wore an envious expression, his eyes lingering on Edward and Patricia.

He had missed the bus earlier, but the sight before him made the delay seem insignificant.

Edward, catching James's eye, offered a friendly nod and an inviting smile, quietly savoring James's envious expression amidst the subtle undercurrents of envy in the room.

"Damn, how could you date a girl before me?" he exclaimed.

"Because I'm just that good?" Edward replied with a grin.

"F*ck you! I swear, I'm going to ask a girl out later."

"Who?"

"Do you know G in the next class?"

"The girl with braces?"

"Yeah, her. She's in the volleyball club, and I often see their practice on the volleyball court whenever I go to the restroom."

"You're going to ask her out?"

"Of course!"

"How? Are you going to wait for her after class?"

"Obviously not, that's old-fashioned, bro! I'm going to text her. I got her number from another friend of mine."

"..."

Soon, Professor A came in, and the class commenced as usual. However, unlike before, he had a seatmate who he could discreetly observe during quizzes and recitations.

He chuckled to himself, reflecting, 'Dating a nerd is really good... even though I'm technically paying her.