Just admiring your friend

Celestine, engrossed in her thoughts, nearly collided with another student.

"S-sorry..." she apologized. Fortunately, the woman was able to avoid it immediately.

Her recent discussion with Veronica flashed across her mind.

—**

"Oh, it was Zach… isn't he?" The girl giggles when she mentions that name. She looks at Celestine with those expectant eyes.

"You know him?" Celestine furrows her brows. As she stares at the girl, she convinces herself that maybe she’s not that innocent like her looks.

"Well, yeah. He's my—"

—**

‘Aaah! I must be crazy to remember that. But, I’m curious~!’

What great timing Kathline had, she came when Veronica was about to tell her something. Her curiosity is killing her, and it was enough for her to be spaced out, again.

This time, she really bumped into someone.

"You spaced out a lot, don't you think?" Celestine almost jumped in that sudden voice. Zach's smiling face was the one who greeted her when she looked up.

‘Speaking of the devil.’

She didn't know that Zachary was watching her for quite some time. Zach saw that she had not noticed him, but he still didn't step aside. He even purposely bumped into her.

Celestine curiously asks him, "What are you doing here… again?"

There's a hint of displeasure in her voice.

"Clarence's sister is here and we’re about to meet her." He even pointed out the guy he is talking about.

Celestine follows the direction he's pointing out by her gaze. She's shocked when Clarence walks to their table and talks to Veronica. He was holding a tray of food, then sat next to Veronica.

Zachary found her expression, somehow cute.

After recovering from the shock, what matters to her the most was her friend, Kathline. Judging by what happened last time, she knew how Kathline's mood changed because of that man. She even complained to her all night. She thought Kathline wouldn’t stop talking about him.

Celestine nervously goes back to her chair.

She's nervous as she doesn't have any idea what might be going to happen this time.

Zachary quietly follows and sits beside her. He felt that Celestine was bothered by something, but he doesn't know what it is.

To ease her nervousness and the unbearable tension that she's sensing, Celestine picks up the book she was reading earlier and focuses all her attention on it. She’s hoping she could distract herself.

Kathline was silently eyeing each one of them. Clarence and Veronica were talking while eating their food. Even though she's annoyed with that man, it can't be denied that his sister is her friend.

Then, here's Zachary, he propped his chin in the palm of his right hand and focused his gaze on Celestine who was busy reading at this moment.

Celestine read the same line in the book for the nth time because she can't focus. She's uncomfortable by Zachary's stares. Before she could speak up to him, Kathline spoke first.

"What do you think you were doing, Zach?" Kathline's voice was fierce and there's a hidden threat in it. She sharply looks at him and even raised her eyebrow, but Zach didn't feel threatened by her. Instead, he smiles and didn't look away.

"Nothing. Just admiring your friend." This answer was so straightforward that even the siblings stopped eating.

Shocked was written on their faces as they heard what Zachary had stated.

Clarence drinks his water first, then stands up to hit Zach's head. Maybe that would clear up Zach's muddled head.

"Fuck! What the hell? What was that for?" Zachary also got up from his seat. He's mad from the sudden hit he received. Why do they love violence so much?

"Don't you think it doesn’t suit your image to daydream? I think you’re sick that you feel delusional. The words coming out of your mouth creep me out!"

Clarence remembers the way Zachary smiled earlier and it makes him feel goosebumps all over his body.

"Do you think you can just hit me because of that?"

Before he could do anything to Clarence, two things hit his body. The water bottle that Veronica threw and a can of orange juice from Kathline.

Celestine was speechless. Obviously, she's surprised by how things unfolded before her eyes.

'Ugh, guys? Can you refrain yourself from violence?' She awkwardly tells herself but doesn't dare to voice it out.

Celestine looks around and sees that they are gathering so much attention.

"Don't mess up with my friend, man! Find another victim!" Veronica, who was quiet and like an innocent child, could not stand it either.

"Why do you have to throw me those things?"

"Because you creep us out!" Kathline shouted. He clenched his teeth as he couldn't believe what was happening.

Is he not allowed to change? He really admired Celestine. What's wrong with that?

"I only disappeared for a few months for some vacation. But I guess some accident happens and you hit your head pretty hard. If you weren't my friend, I might have believed what you said earlier. Tell me, does my brother as a womanizer influence you in some way?"

“Hey don’t drag me into this problem!”

“Technically, it’s your fault.” Kathline annoyingly talks to Clarence.

Zachary and Clarence were childhood friends, so Veronica already knew him. He knows his friend's behavior; thus, he's also surprised by his behavior today.

The way Zachary treats Kathline and Veronica was the same as how he treats Clarence. And no one expects him to be like this towards Celestine.

That's why they are really surprised. He treats Celestine differently. He never shows interest in any woman, but this time he clearly and directly admits that he's interested in her. They even thought that he might be gay that's why he didn't associate himself with any woman.

Kathline even warned her friend, because she actually thought that if Celestine liked Zachary, she would end up crying. She sets her mind that Zach is gay.

Gosh, forgive her for what she thinks all the time.

"Why the hell that it’s now my fault?”

"Of course, because of your disgusting hobbies in life, Zach might be getting infected with your virus."

“You're saying that I'm a virus?”

“Yes. Isn't it obvious?”

Their conversation would lead to nothing. Celestine senses some trouble if this continues.

"Ahm…” Celestine raised her right hand. They stopped arguing and turned their attention to Celestine. "Can we... Can we calm down first?" Celestine asked hesitantly. She did not know why it all turned out this way.

People around them were curious about what was going on.

Kathline and Veronica sighed and then returned to their seats. Clarence and Zachary were left standing.

Celestine looked at them seriously. Upon seeing how serious Celestine’s face was, Clarence also went back to his seat. While Zachary remained standing.

"Aren't you guys overreacting about this?" Celestine asked.

"Nah, it's normal."

"Seriously girls, you’re always overreacting."

"Because you’re not freaking normal." Kathline annoyingly said to Clarence.

Celestine massages her temple. She feels she’s getting a headache.

"Can we all let us pass what happens today? It’s not a big deal anyway."

Her gaze turns to Zachary. "Can we talk for a bit?"

Celestine had already stood out of the canteen. They made their way to the garden. Luckily, only a few people were there in the garden at that time.

Zachary silently follows her lead. Celestine found a nearby bench and sat there.

Kathline and Clarence stop bickering. They could only follow them through their gaze.

They were thankful that their cafeteria had a glass wall. They could see what the two are doing, sadly, they can’t hear what Zachary and Celestine were talking about.