CHAPTER 82: CAUGHT

Days passed fleetingly after that disaster of a dinner with Keaaton's sister. Me and Malik think nothing of it, surely. But Keaton has been feeling bad for us ever since and he just looks so sad and pitiful as he tries so hard to please us both. It's both endearing and pretty annoying after a while.

"Keaton…" I sigh almost exasperatedly, holding my phone against my cheek and shoulder as I type on my laptop for the last assignment before winter vacation starts. "Forget it. Seriously. Me and Malik understand where your sister came from, okay? We get her worry and suspicions. We get that. And even though we don't like how she talked to us, they're just that, words. They meant nothing as long as I thought nothing of it, yes?" I try to make him understand once more.

Keaton makes no sound on the other end and I sigh again. He's really soft-hearted.

"Are you listening to me?" I ask, slightly raising my voice just to scare him a little bit.

"Yes! Yes! Sorry…" Keaton's startled voice makes me chuckle in glee. He's really cute.

"Anyway. Just forget about it, okay? Now, tell me, have you seen the painting I did of you? What do you think? Can I put it up for the auction?" I ask a little impatiently.

Yes. I did a painting of Keaton for the Winter Festival Auction. Dunno what came over me honestly. But I was struck with a sudden inspiration and I spent almost a week completing the piece and took a picture of it and sent it to Keaton, asking for his permission to submit it to the auction.

He was flustered when he got the picture and he immediately video-called me all red-faced and stuttering. So very cute. But he hasn't said anything about letting me submit it so I've been pestering him for the last few days regarding that. The deadline for the submission is in two days and I need to register and whatnot.

"I'm…. Are you sure?" Keaton asks after a while.

"If I'm not, why would I bother at all?" I roll my eyes although he can't see it. I just really can't help it.

"It's fine. I guess…"

"Then it's settled," I say in a hurry so he won't have time to change his mind. I hear Keaton chuckle on the other end and I also grin. "Thank you," I tell him sincerely.

"If you're sure," Keaton says gently.

"I am." For a lot of things. I add in my heart.

"Then I'll look forward to the finished product," Keaton chuckles again, sensing my pride.

*

With the painting's matter settled, I only have to finish touching it up and submit it to the committee and then… well… I have nothing else to do so I'm just gonna go around the clubs and see whether they need any help or not.

I'm not gonna take in anything big, just small things like delivering stuff, help with decoration and whatnot. I feel kinda lazy these days to do anything big. Also I've been uncharacteristically tired all the time now.

Not only because I have so many things to do, but also because Allen has been going at it every night for days now. No matter how strong I am or how good my stamina is, but having sex praticlly everyday for hours on end will still left me depleted.

My life is as messed up as it has been for the past few months and I really can't complain. December is coming slowly and I am busier preparing for the Winter Festival. I have finished my painting and only have to submit it and then I have to help check the decoration for the ball and help the cooking club and culinary major prepare for the menu and acquire ingredients for the ball. The tickets have all but sold out in just a few days after they went on sale.

I am so busy but of course I still make time for my friends. Especially Allen who has been very, very clingy and demanding ever since they all find out about my involvement with Malik and Keaton. Not that they know the details, but even the gist of it already makes them overly concerned for me and their overprotectiveness was tuned up a notch because of that.

Malik and Keaton have been actively accompanying me anytime they have time. Mostly we'd hang out at Malik's. Or hopping from one restaurant to another just to try something new. We didn't have sex as much as before, though. And I really don't mind, to be honest. They're great friends even before the sex.

We also go shopping a lot. My whole wardrobe has gone through a complete transformation. I donated all my old clothes and replaced them with what Malik and Keaton bought for me. Most of them were something I never thought I would even begin to think to wear. Especially not around Marsha and Chuck. But then I did. Wear them. In front of them. Imagine the look on their faces. Heheheheh. The dumb-fiunded horror-stricken faces were something I'll relish my whole life. Heheheheh.

I'm sort of unhinged right now. Don't know whether it's a good thing or a bad thing. But what I do know is that I've never felt as good as I am right now.

"You look peachy," Naomi pops up behind me, startling me. I turn around to give her a smile.

"'Sup," I greet her and we start walking again. Me towards the main hall and she follows me. "You're done with your clothes?" I ask her.

"Done," Naomi nods and throws her arm around me, "Pity you won't be wearing any of them," she shakes her head, sighing dramatically. I roll my eyes at that. I'm pretty much done playing mannequin. "You look idle," she inquires, looking me up and down.

"Haven't got nothing to do," I admit with a nonchalant shrug. "I've finished all my jobs and have submitted my piece to the committee, so, yeah. Very idle," I grin at her.

"Yes, yes, yes, go flaunt it," Naomi rolls her eyes as she puts me on a chokehold. "Unlike us mere mortals who are swamped for finals and projects, you who have been blessed by the deities with good looks and a good brain are truly infuriating," she says between gritted teeth.

"Yes, yes, yes I am infuriating. So much so that I'm your first choice for your every collection. It almost seems like I am your muse or something," I mock her back, grinning from ear to ear.

"What an ungrateful bastard," Naomi scoffs, messing up my hair in the process in anger but the corner of her mouth rises up so she's not really angry. She's nice like that.

"Why am I ungrateful?" I ask pretending to be hurt.

"The only reason you only take small jobs and mine especially also charging through them like a madman is because of your boytoys, so don't act otherwise," Naomi sticks her tongue out at me and I guffaw by the way she said 'boytoy'.

"What boytoys," I smack her arm lightly just as a little warning. "They're my friends and the fact that we have sex have nothing to do with it," I tell her.

Naomi stops suddenly and turns her body around to face me head on. With her hand gripping my shoulders tightly, she stares at me with a stern face. A little worry and apprehensiveness as well as confusion flickers in her eyes.

"Say it," I tell her softly, patting her arm, "lest it consumes you."

"I'm not one of your best friends. I am your friend. There are things even best friends can't or won't say to each other for a lot of reasons," she starts and I just stand there, patiently waiting for her to continue and get to the point.

"You've changed. So much so that a lot of people could barely recognize you," she says, releasing me from her grips but her eyes stay on me. "And people have thoughts. A lot of them. I personally think that this…. Transformation…" she halts, swaying her hands gesturing to me from head to toe, "is okay. Appearance-wise, it is pretty socling but otherwise, I see no major problems. You're an adult. You know what's okay and what's not okay. I believe you are also a responsible person and won't hurt others intentionally."

She says that so seriously I can't help to feel like my heart jumps a little bit in fright. Does she know something? Did I get caught? What should I do?

I clench my fist to stop myself from trembling and try not to give anything away and remain smiling. I guess it isn't successful since Naomi stares at me with pity right then and there.

"What are you trying to say?" I ask her and find myself choking a little bit. How embarrassing. Now that I've been caught, it really looks like I am a coward afterall.

*