1.14. Secret Crush

<Pu'er Greenwood>

He's been acting weird since yesterday. I can't wrap my head around why.

Both his deep miasma gauge and superficial miasma gauge dropped significantly two days ago. Which makes me worried because it means something big must have happened to him.

What is this miasma gauge thing I'm talking about?

It's an ability I had since birth. I asked my mom about it, and even went to scour the internet but there's no explanation to the two bars floating on top of someone's head.

I realised sometime in my childhood that this was something only I could see. A supernatural phenomenon. Like how some people are believed to have a third eye and are able to see ghosts, I'm able to see these weird gauges.

It took me some time to figure out what these gauges mean, but I think I've seen enough to make a rough guess.

I secretly took notice of him as he made his way to his seat. It was a few tables away from mine.

He then began to work on something. What is that..

[Pst, your crush hasn't completed his homework.]

Oh, I know! His homework!

Huh? He's planning to do it by himself this time? He normally borrows from me though..

Should I help him? He doesn't seem to be struggling with it.. or maybe he's struggling secretly? His grades were never good to begin with, and he has trouble understanding what's being taught.

There's this neat trick you can do with the camera to magnify something. Used properly, you can zoom in and see what others are doing from far away.

[Initiating stalking mode.]

He's doing algebra..

Ugh.. that's it!

"Avner, here.."

Can't he just open his mouth and ask if he needs the answers?

"Thanks.. no thank you. I can do it myself."

He pushed it away..

"Huh? Why.. oh. Okay then.."

W-W-Wha.. was he ever this good in algebra? How, what in the world? He's so fast?!

"I appreciate it."

"Yes."

Something is wrong with him..

He's not acting normal since yesterday. It's like he became a genius overnight.

"Did you always know how to do these?"

"Not particularly. I just know."

That's not convincing in the slightest!

"Did something happen to you?"

"I guess so. And just for your information, it's not because I was bitten by a vampire alright."

He turned to me.

"I'm not lying."

There's no way no one would suspect that you're a vampire.. please don't be a vampire..

"Everyone thinks you're acting odd."

You're the odd one, Avner. What happened? Tell me please?

"I know."

He knows? Then tell me what's wrong!

"You're.. really fine right?"

"I'm fine. I'm really fine, I need to get my homework completed."

He returned to his work just like that.

I was ignored.

I.G.N.O.R.E.D.

"What should I do.." I muttered in a whisper, barely audible for my AI, Lily, to hear.

[Maybe it's his family? Data I snuck in from various sources suggest that some conflict had been aroused recently.]

Not again..

Though.. it's comforting to know that I'm not alone. I know your pain Avner, can't you share them with me?

Eh?

What should I do? I can't just stand around..

[I suggest staying with him. A play hard to get approach may not work in this situation.]

Good idea Lily!

Terry's seat is wide open, I'll borrow your chair for a bit.

I sat down.

This is awkward.. he'll find out at this rate. I need to do something.

I know! l'll continue farming TinyArmies.

I've already claimed all the daily rewards, there's nothing much I can do for today except weed out spies from my friends territory.

Huh?

"You weren't online yesterday," I said.

"Exam is coming up, you know?"

"Because of your parents?"

"You know me well."

You were right Lily..

"My parents are like that as well."

"Really?"

My soulmate indeed! Eh, um.. please don't show up on my face! I can't let him know that I..

"I played it sneakily last night," I wink at him to hide my embarrassment.

"I didn't even touch it."

"The date hasn't refreshed yet, it's not too late to log in."

Avner thought about it, and only after some thinking did he decide to open his account. It's like he's more interested in algebra than this game he obsessed me about..

I only played it because you play it you know? Don't tell me you've lost interest.. that's not surprising. You're more into V-tubers these days.

Nevermind. I'll help claim the resources. You're busy with your homework.

"Thanks Pu'er."

Eh? Ah, sure.

"No problems."

The Avner I know shouldn't be like this..

===

Our eyes always meet, and that's how I can tell that he's interested in me.

But.. Avner left the class with Ares without looking at me like he used to. What's worse is that he didn't even turn around from his seat to look at me at all during class.

It was as if he's deliberately avoiding me.

W-Why?

[Something is wrong indeed. My calculations suggest that Avner has become much smarter.]

"What is that supposed to mean.." I laid across my table in resignation.

Is he playing hard to get because he realized what I was doing?

Avner.. what happened to you?

[Avner may be able to ace his exam this time around.]

"Seriously?!"

[WARNING]

Opps.

I can't forget that AIs are banned in school grounds. The only reason why I'm able to communicate with Lily is because I downloaded this application that creates a backdoor for AI.

I can't see Lily's avatar, but the AIs message shows up as tangible text and audio that's only perceivable to me.

"Pu'er, are you alright?" Julien waved hirs hand in front of me.

"I'm alright. Just worried."

"About Avner, isn't it?" Brunette said in a jest.

Shut up!