Chapter 9

"President?" Clary raised an eyebrow when August didn't respond.

"Senior August?" She called again, "Are you there?"

August just looked forward blankly, not showing any reaction.

Clary repeated for the third time, "President! Are you listening?"

August was startled and almost jumped in his seat. He cried, "W-what?"

Clary smiled apologetically and said, "I'm sorry for startling you, senior. It's just..." She trailed off before hesitantly saying, "-You're so out of it today. Is everything okay?"

August hurriedly nodded before picking up a random book and opening a page, trying to look like he was intently reading it. "Yes, everything's alright, Miss Clarence. Thank you for your concern, but everything is okay-"

"Uh, senior, the book is upside down."

"...Oh, my mistake."

He inverted the book and continued staring at nowhere.

"Actually, the book was the correct way up before."

"..."

August put the book down, not pretending to read anymore.

Clary bit her lip at his behavior. Since yesterday, he's been so distant, even more than usual. He occasionally sighs before looking at his phone hopefully, seemingly waiting for something. Eyes shining with eagerness, he'll check his phone every 10 minutes, as if waiting for a message that never came.

"President, if you don't mind-" Clary spoke nervously, afraid she'll overstep. "-Shall we go out for some fresh air? Like, a walk or something?"

August wanted to decline, but couldn't bring himself to. This girl was looking at him with such hopeful eyes and he knew she sincerely wanted to help him out. He didn't want to disappoint her because he, out of all people, knew just how painful ignorance without a reason can be.

"Let's do that, miss Clarence."

Clary, who was already half prepared for the more than familiar rejection, was surprised. It was a proposal she just made on a whim and wasn't expecting it to be actually accepted. Senior August really was strange today.

As strange as it was, it's still an opportunity for her. She knows she has no chance with him, but what's the harm in trying? Even if it's not romantically, she'll still like to be close to him.

"Okay!"

They wandered around aimlessly for some time. To be honest, August quite....liked it. Just walking around without any definite direction or a place to be, without any regard for time. It was peaceful and strangely calming in its own way.

"Senior! Let's take a picture!"

"Huh?" August asked, surprised.

"It's the fountain! If we come by here, taking a picture is an absolute must," She winked at him cheerfully and beamed, "-And bragging to my friends that I was with senior August is just a bonus, okay?"

August could tell that she was trying really hard to cheer him up. No one else was taking pictures. Still, he appreciated her efforts and decided to go with it. "Okay, Miss Clarence. Shall I?"

Clary grinned and posed beside the fountain. August took out his phone, intending to take the photo, but stopped when he saw he had a new message. Edward finally contacted him after 3 days.

'Can't talk, busy with family.'

Even though the message was very short and careless, August's dull eyes finally lit up.

Clary waited for the click sound of the picture, but it never came. Her smile vaned when she saw August smiling at his phone. Still, she tried to smile as she walked to him. "What happened, senior? That special someone finally replied?"

August's face felt hot as he explained, "N-no...It's just a friend."

"Oh come on, senior. You really expect me to believe that?" Clary spoke comfortably now, like an old friend. Although August was still formal, she could tell that he opened up to her. The former stiffness wasn't there, and he even spoke more than usual! Once, he even replied with an 'yeah'!

That's such a development, okay?

"It's just a friend, Miss Clarence. Really."

"Who waits for their friend's message like that?"

August laughed awkwardly. Clarence was a good girl. This whole time, she tried to cheer him up so much. Even though he replied very little and wasn't very participative, she still maintained the lively atmosphere by herself and didn't let it get awkward. As long as he doesn't tell her who it is, it should be okay.

"Alright. I do have a person I like."

Clary's face didn't give anything away as she continued to smile, even faking some curiosity. "Ooh, so it's like that? Who is it, senior?"

August shrugged, "-Not telling you."

"Come on, that's so unfair," Clary whined, but didn't ask again. To be honest, she didn't really want to know who this person was. Although she has decided to give up and be a friend to him, deep down, she's sure she would hate the person who has August, the one who can make even a guy like him wait so desperately. She's afraid that unwillingly, she'll end up detesting the person August cherishes. Clary wanted to be a source of support and warmth for him, not someone who gives him more things to worry about.

"Oh? Isn't he that new kid?" She curiously peered at the window of the cafe over the street. Two men were sitting on a table, looking rather intimate with both of their faces quite close. Although they couldn't see their expressions, the shorter boy whispered something in Edward's ear, making the situation look rather ambiguous.

"-Who?"

"There, at that cafe," Clary pointed at them discreetly. She muttered, "Isn't he the kid Kaitlyn has been hanging around lately?"

August stopped in his tracks. His expression froze as he confirmed the person she was pointing to really was Edward. With another man. So these were the 'family matters' he was busy with.

His breath felt hitched as he just stood there, rooted to the spot. He wanted to turn away, act like it's nothing, but he knew he couldn't do that. He wanted to storm in and question Edward but he can't do that either. His heart won't let him do the first one and a 'friend' has no authority to do the second one.

He could only watch from afar, every moment digging deeper and deeper like thorns in his heart.

August didn't want to be like this. He hates himself for being so overly possessive. He hates it when he finds himself looking unfavorably at everyone who approaches Edward. Edward is allowed to have as many friends as he wants....what is he even getting so worked up for?

Why...why couldn't he just not like Edward and be comfortable friends like before? Just why is he the only one like this-

"Senior!" Clary fumbled around her purse to fish out a napkin. "Why're you crying? Oh my god, are you alright?"

August lifted his hand to touch his face and felt wetness on his cheeks. He....he was crying? But why?

Still, he should give her an explanation. It'll be a disaster if she somehow connected the dots.

He tried to act as nonchalant as possible and said, "It's windy, something got in my eyes. Sorry for the trouble."

"-Should we, uh, go somewhere else?''

August bit his lip harder as that man continued to lean close to Edward. a sharp pain spread in his mouth, but he couldn't care less. His teeth dug deeper with every moment the boy spent leaning towards Edward, eventually going numb. August didn't want to be a crazy person like this, but we can't always have the things we want, right?

He tasted something metallic in his mouth. His lip was already numb but blood continued to seep through.

Clary looked carefully at his expression. Logically speaking, senior August should have no reason to look so troubled in this situation. But then again, since when did the matters of the heart play around logically?