Chapter 15

Awwwww

Someone accidentally tripped and spilled coffee on Teresa's uniform, and it was hot coffee that seemed to burn through her skin.

"Ouch, ouch, sorry!" The person frantically tried to wipe Teresa's shirt. Teresa looked at the person's face, who seemed happy and was grinning at her, even though the words coming out of their mouth sounded panicked.

Teresa hurriedly ran to the restroom in the mall because she felt the heat on her skin. She entered the bathroom and sprayed water on her shirt.

"Aaaa," Teresa groaned as she took off her shirt and saw her chest reddened from the hot coffee. Fortunately, it didn't hit her face.

"My shirt is soaked," she muttered, then took off her shirt in frustration and wrung it out to reduce the amount of water. "Do I really have to go out soaking wet like this?" Teresa went to the sink and looked at herself in the mirror.

Someone burst into the restroom, slamming the door open. It was Dona and her friends, including the person who spilled coffee on Teresa's shirt. That person was one of Dona's friends.

"Guys, we're soaked!" Dona exclaimed, chasing after Teresa. Teresa tried to leave, but Dona and her friends blocked her way.

"Is it hot?" Dona said, noticing Teresa's reddened chest. "Imagine if I had poured that hot coffee on your face."

Teresa was held by Dona's friends. She tried to struggle, but she couldn't because she was alone in there, and they were in a group. Two people held Teresa's arms, and Dona started approaching her. Teresa shook her head, trying to avoid the hot coffee. The coffee was still steaming.

Dona laughed as she continued to approach Teresa, ready to pour the coffee on Teresa's face.

"Noooooo!" Teresa screamed.

*Crashhhhhhhhh*

The coffee was thrown to the side, and Dona's hand was slapped away by someone—Kenzo. Kenzo entered the restroom and pushed Dona's hand away.

"KENZO!" Dona was shocked to see Kenzo approaching them. The man gave Dona a sharp look and then pulled Teresa out of the restroom.

Kenzo took Teresa to a clothing store and picked out clothes for her, then told her to change in the dressing room.

"Here, change your clothes."

"B-but I don't have any—"

"Just go change," Kenzo said, pulling Teresa toward the store's dressing room.

Soon after, Teresa came out, having changed into new clothes. Kenzo approached Teresa and noticed her chest was still red.

Teresa covered it up because Kenzo was looking at her chest seriously. "Hey, why are you staring?" Teresa said.

"Your chest is blistering," Kenzo remarked.

"It's fine," Teresa replied. "Oh, about the money for these clothes, I'll pay you back, but I'll have to do it in installments because they're expensive. I don't have the money to replace them."

"No need," Kenzo replied.

"B-but—"

Teresa's phone rang; it was a call from her group project friends.

"Oh no, I forgot!" Teresa was startled when Amel told her they were waiting for her to study together.

"What's wrong?" Kenzo asked.

"I have to go to a study group with my group today. They're already waiting for me," Teresa said in a panic.

"I need to go, thanks!"

Teresa then ran off, leaving Kenzo behind. She ran out of the mall but got confused about which exit to take because the mall was so large. She had circled around several times but still couldn't find the way out. She asked a few people there, who pointed to the left, but when Teresa walked in that direction, she still couldn't find the exit.

"Ugh, I must be getting lost on purpose by this mall's evil spirit," Teresa said as she paced back and forth, looking for the exit but unable to find it. "It's not even on the map."

"Still haven't found it?" Kenzo suddenly appeared next to Teresa. He started walking, and Teresa followed him. She felt embarrassed because it was obvious she looked clueless in front of Kenzo.

"Hehe, this mall is just too big."

Kenzo took Teresa to the basement where his car was parked. He opened the door for Teresa and told her to get inside.

"Get in."

"B-but—"

Kenzo only responded with a blank stare. Teresa smiled awkwardly and then got into the car. As the car drove out, it started raining outside.

******

Kenzo's car stopped at a café that Teresa had mentioned. Teresa was a bit surprised to see that the café was actually quite fancy.

"Ahhhh, they're here," Teresa nodded, unsure of what to do next.

Kenzo got out of the car and walked into the café.

"You can go home," Teresa said to Kenzo. As usual, Kenzo responded with a blank stare. He walked up to the cashier and ordered a coffee and hot chocolate.

"I'm not ordering anything," Teresa whispered.

Teresa looked around the café but couldn't find her study group friends. She was confused about where they were.

"TERESAAAA!" Amel called out when she spotted Teresa and approached her. "Oh, Kenzo?" Amel looked puzzled at the two of them. "Did you two come together?" Amel asked softly.

"Y-yeah," Teresa replied, feeling confused.

"Okay, let's go. Everyone's been waiting."

Teresa followed Amel. They entered a private room in the café that they had apparently reserved beforehand. 'No wonder,' Teresa thought as she looked around the room.

"We're studying for our physics group today."

Teresa nodded. 'No wonder Kenzo joined in,' Teresa thought as she entered the room and sat next to Amel. Gabril, who was sitting across from her, waved at Teresa and greeted her.

"Did you get caught in the rain?" he asked quietly.

Teresa smiled and shook her head, then opened her book and started studying together.

Suddenly, a hand placed a drink on Teresa's table. She looked up and saw that it was Kenzo who had put the drink there.

"KENZOOO!" Bianca called out as Kenzo set the drink on Teresa's table. Kenzo then walked over to his group.

Teresa saw him sit next to Bianca.

"Teresa, can you solve this?" someone from the physics group approached Teresa.

"Ah, I'll try," Teresa said, working on the problem. She noticed that the material was the same as in the new book Kenzo had given her. She opened her bag and took out the book.

"Here's how you do it," Teresa explained to the person.

"Can I borrow the book?"

"Sure, no problem," Teresa replied, lending it to them.

Everyone was busy studying and working on their respective problems. They all seemed serious and ambitious.

Teresa glanced over at Kenzo and noticed how close he and Bianca were. They looked very comfortable with each other and were exchanging ideas.

"Teresaaa..."

"Tereee..." Gabril called out.

"Oh, yes? What is it?" she asked.

"You can go home with me later," he suggested.

"No need, I'll just take an ojek," Teresa replied with a bit of body language.

*******

"I'll go home with Teresa. Coincidentally, our houses are in the same direction," Gabril said after the study session ended.

Teresa glanced at Kenzo, and their eyes accidentally met. Teresa quickly turned away and followed Gabril.

They both headed to the parking lot. Gabril's car was parked next to Kenzo's, which Teresa just noticed. Kenzo walked past them.

"Kenzo," Gabril called out.

Teresa saw Kenzo stop but not look back before continuing on his way. Gabril also stopped and stared at Kenzo.

Kenzo then left first in his car. Teresa looked at Gabril's face and noticed a slight hint of sadness in his expression.

"Are you okay?" Gabril suddenly asked.

"Huh, yeah, I'm fine," Teresa replied.