Chapter 128: Face It Head-on
Andy started giggling making
feel embarrassed. "W-Why are you laughing."
"So you kissed Fuentes huh?"
"H-Ha!? I-I didn’t!" I stood up causing my chair to almost fall to the ground if it wasn’t for Ace who quickly grabbed it.
"Why deny it? We already know by your reaction." Ace said as she let
sit back on the chair. "So, you guys kissed yesterday and you didn’t hate it? Of course, you wouldn’t hate it. You like Fuentes after all."
"I-I don’t like him anymore... I think."
"I don’t understand why you keep pushing your feelings away. Although you got hurt before, Fuentes feels the sa now right? What’s the problem then?" Ace asked as if she didn’t warn
before and told
to only focus on my studies right now.
"If you want him, then tell him. I would rather see you being happily in love with him than see you miserable because you’re stopping your feelings for him."
What Ace said impacted the thoughts in my mind. Was I really stopping my feelings that I thought were gone now? That’s right, I’ve been telling myself not to fall for his tricks, but that might just be
being scared of trusting him again. Even though he doesn’t like
the first ti that’s why he doesn’t have to feel a burden about my trust being destroyed.
"I-I just feel really scared of loving him again. What if I can’t stop myself before I get hurt?"
"Wait."
We looked at Andy who suddenly raised his arm. He gulped as he stared at
with seriousness in his eyes. "You and Night kissed? What kind of kiss was it?" Ace slapped Andy’s back because of what he said.
"Ouch! Why are you hurting ?" Andy rubbed his back to relieve the pain because of what Ace did. "I’m just asking because I’m curious! How could Night just taint our angel like that? If it’s only a peck, then it’s fine."
"H-He asked if he could use his tongue."
"What!?"
"Shhh! Sit down." Ace said as she forced Andy to sit down and shut up. "You’re going to wake up that child over there." She pointed to Kaoru who was still peacefully sleeping even after all the shouting Andy did.
Maybe because he’s used to being in a loud environnt that this type of loudness doesn’t bother him at all.
"And so? What did you say to him?"
"I-I allowed him to do so."
"You did? Then you really liked kissing him huh." Andy said as he sighed. "Our angel is no longer innocent. I feel so old now." He said as if he was my father and I’m being married to soone he doesn’t like.
"What will Tito Maki say if he learns of this."
"T-That’s..."
Both of them looked at
with eyes wide. "Wait, Tito Maki doesn’t know?" Ace asked causing
to gulp due to nervousness.
"I-I really didn’t have the chance to talk to my parents." Now that reminds , how will my parents react? My mom knows that I’m being married to Night, but my dad’s still in a coma and it will surely surprise him if he learns of it.
"My parents are supportive so—"
"So you’ll introduce Night as your boyfriend? Or just so person you feel good kissing?"
I gaped after I heard Ace say that. ’T-That’s right. Night and I aren’t dating so we can’t kiss each other like that.’ "W-What should I do? I did sothing unforgivable even though I’m not dating Night."
"Then why not just date him already? You’re married to him right." Ace said as she pulled out her lunch from her bag. "What’s stopping you? It’s so unlike you. The Noelle I know would just face everything head-on."
"B-But I’ve been telling myself not to fall for him and I wanted to hate him but—"
"But you can’t? I think that’s how love works." Ace said as if she knows a lot about love. "I don’t understand why you’re forcing yourself not to like him when it’s obvious that you’re head over heels for him until now."
"Indeed, if it was the Ellie before, she won’t even think and just jump on Night if she had the chance." Andy laughed. "Don’t think too much about it and just go for what you want. That’s how you’ve always been right? It’s okay."
The burden I’ve been carrying all this ti suddenly felt light. Even though I keep telling myself over and over again that I shouldn’t, with just my friends’ words, I can feel that I am ready to face these feelings again.
’Am I really?’
"I-I’ll think about it. I should focus on the exams first! I shouldn’t get distracted just because of that." Ace patted my head after I said that. She’s smiling at .
"I’m proud of you and I’m glad that you’re not only focusing on one thing. You should pass the exam and beco happy."
That’s what I’ve decided to do. ’After the examination, I’ll face my feelings for Night.’
With that, I was motivated to study my butt off like I initially planned. I avoided distractions and the swimming club doesn’t have any training regin because we need to focus on the finals. If we don’t we won’t be able to join the finals of the swimming competition.
"Noelle, are you going ho now?" I was packing my things when Ryzen ca into the room.
Andy and Ace went to the student council room so they told
to go ho without waiting for them.
"Do you mind helping
bring these to the art room?" He asked as he pointed to the paintings at the back of the classroom.
Kaoru’s not here to help us since he told
he’ll go to the restroom first before going ho. "Sure." I guess I didn’t have a choice.
The paintings were used in our contemporary art class and they were used as examples. Miss Valencia told us to bring it back to the art room after use but I guess the others couldn’t bother and now Ryzen’s the one left to take them back.
’It’s hard being a mber of the art club, huh?’
"What are you thinking?"
"H-Huh?"
Ryzen smiled at . "It’s like you’re deep in thought that’s why I asked." He said as he put down one of the paintings when we arrived in front of the art room.
"Miss Valencia already locked it since we won’t be having club activities today." He used the key that ca out of his pocket and opened the door. "I really appreciate your help."
I nodded and smiled as I entered the room with the smaller painting in my hands. "It’s fine. You always help
before too so this is nothing." I said as I road my vision the mont we entered the art room.
It feels like it’s been so long since I last ca here. The last one was when I talked to Miss Valencia when I just got back to school. My life was a ss back then and I really hated Night at that ti.
It makes
smile that I survived this long and I’m handling my life well. I joined the swimming team just like Miss Valencia suggested, and now we’re on our way to the championship. Lots of things happened, and it was almost ti for
to say goodbye to this place.
"Noelle?" I looked at Ryzen and he was smiling at . "What are you thinking? You’re spacing out." He chuckled, making
scratch my head.
"I just rembered when I last went here," I said. "I was lost that ti and didn’t really know what to do. But here I am now, I’m hanging in there."
I felt Ryzen’s hand on my shoulder. "You did great." He said with a smile. "You should really go to that art museum I told you before after exams."
I titled my head. "Is it because of your painting?"
"That’s one of the reasons, but one of my friends wanted to et you." He said. "He actually saw the photo of you from the school festival. The one posted on the school’s social dia. You were in your costu there and he noticed the ring you were wearing."
The ring?... Does he an the garnet ring that my father gave
before? ’T-That’s also what Z is after.’
"Why?" I gulped as I could feel my hands getting all sweaty just at the thought of Z. Even though I told him that I’ll give him the ring, I don’t want to et him ever again if that’s possible.
I saw how Ryzen blinked innocently. "It’s because that ring was an antique and it was originally owned by the royal family in Italy." My eyes widened after hearing that.
’Royal family? Does that an Z is from the royal family in Italy?’
"M-My father gave
that ring. Does that an he stole it?"
Ryzen quickly shook his head and both of his hands. "If it’s your father, then maybe he got it from an auction." He said. "My friend was an enthusiast when it cos to antique things that’s why he was interested. If only you let him see, then I’ll tell him."
"I-If that’s what this is, then I’ll go but I can only show it to him."
Ryzen nodded. "That’s fine. I’ll be grateful enough for that."
I agreed but I felt like I shouldn’t have. ’But there’s no way I could take that back now when Ryzen’s looking all excited about it.’ I sighed.
We walked out of the art room and as we were on the way back to the classroom, I saw Night walking with his classmates.
"Oh? Isn’t that Night? Noelle’s crush."
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