A sudden phone call interrupted Lariette during her break that afternoon. She had just settled on a seat in the cafeteria when her phone buzzed incessantly. With just one look on the screen, she could guess what the caller wanted to tell her.
"Maddie, if you scream—"
"LARI! Why didn’t you tell ?"
Lariette almost slapped her own face when Madeline cut her off, shrieking at the end of the line. She instinctively distanced the phone from her ear, unwilling to suffer from any loss of hearing because of her friend’s scream.
Thankfully, she was alone at the table and only less than five teachers remained in the cafeteria. Still, she caught the weird glances thrown in her direction.
"Lariette, are you okay? Is it a spam caller?"
Lariette’s lips twitched when one of the teachers, Ashley, asked. She put on a smile while inwardly scolding Madeline.
"It’s fine. My friend’s too excited about sothing."
Ashley asked nothing anymore. She and her seatmate, Gillian, stood up while picking up their phones. They waved at Lariette before walking out of the cafeteria.
"Maddie! I’ve told you not to shout!" Lariette hissed once she put the phone back to her ear, turning sideways, "Are you a banshee?"
Instead of being offended by Lariette’s retort, Madeline laughed out loud. The sound traveled clearly from the end of the line. Lariette couldn’t help but imagine her friend laughing like a madwoman in her favorite horror movie.
"Lari! You’re not fair!" Madeline huffed once her laughing ceased, whining at Lariette, "I wouldn’t know you’re in a relationship with my stinky cousin if not for him bragging about the flowers you gave him!"
Lariette was speechless, her jaw slacked.
How could Madeline call Ruediger stinky? The man was a walking air freshener. He always slled clean and minty.
And...
What did she say? He bragged about the flowers?
Madeline kept on ranting. She spoke quickly than usual as if spitting bullets from her mouth.
"That Rudy! He sent photos and said you surprised him with those flowers. Urgh! You don’t know how annoying he was!"
Lariette laughed awkwardly. She held back the urge to smack her own face as she imagined Ruediger boasting to Madeline, not just about the flowers, but also their new relationship.
"Ahem! It’s just so sudden. I didn’t have ti to tell you yet. I also wanna ask you questions, you know?"
Lariette feigned coughing. Still feeling awkward, she tucked her hair behind her ear before rubbing the back of her neck. The thought of getting lunch vanished from her mind.
Madeline clicked her tongue, obviously unsatisfied with Lariette’s answer. She said, "I don’t care. I demand a al at your apartnt. I haven’t been there since you and Rudy got married. Tell him to cook a feast."
Madeline’s words elicited laughter from Lariette. She couldn’t deny what her friend had just said. The last ti Madeline ca to her apartnt was right before Ruediger moved in.
"Alright, I’ll tell him. Let’s set a date."
"Ha! Don’t back away, okay?"
Lariette laughed again, to which Madeline joined along. The two friends chatted for a mont longer before they ended the call. A few seconds later, Lariette received texts from her friend.
[Maddie: I’m happy for you, but your feelings co first, okay? You both are important to ]
[Maddie: I believe you accepted his confession because you’re ready to start anew]
[Maddie: Let’s gossip soon. I so gonna leak Rudy’s dark and shaful past]
[Maddie: Muehehehehe >:D]
Lariette let out helpless laughter once she read Madeline’s ssages. It was evident that her friend was happy for both her and Ruediger while also emphasizing prioritizing herself.
Tapping on the screen, Lariette quickly replied to Madeline. Sohow, relief washed over her heart for her friend’s faith in her.
[Lariette: Thank you so much, Maddie. I’m still surprised, kinda]
[Lariette: Yeah, let’s gossip later. I wanna know more ;)]
After sending the ssages, Lariette opened her private chatroom with Ruediger. Madeline’s story about him boasting amused her. She shouldn’t let this go without teasing him.
[Lariette: A birdie told a certain soone bragged about his flowers to his cousin]
[Lariette: I wonder who]
Chuckling, Lariette put her phone down. She only brought her purse as she stood up, wanting to buy so lunch.
Lariette was quite busy today. Thankfully, had no lesson left. School hours would end in less than two hours, but she still had to stay to complete so tasks, so of them regarding Sports Day.
Despite the excitent for the annual school event, Lariette’s focus still leaned more toward the harvest festival. She hoped she and Ruediger could fully enjoy it, unlike the sumr festival before.
Carrying a tray of steaming beef noodle soup and a cup of hot tea, Lariette returned to the table. The autumn chill seeped into the air from the outside, making one crave so heat.
Lariette checked her phone before eating a spoonful of the flavorful broth, finding replies from Ruediger. She almost laughed once she saw the ssages.
[Eddy: A certain handso and gallant gentleman :)]
[Eddy: What are you doing? On a break?]
Tilting her head, Lariette decided in that split second to take the photo of the soup and tea. She just sent a simple image, but her heart thumping with excitent. Ruediger’s responses ca within seconds.
[Eddy: Quite a late lunch. I just had mine. Should take a photo too tho]
[Eddy: I won’t bother your break. Don’t choke on the soup ;)]
Lariette chuckled. She sent a sticker of an angry bunny, only to receive a sticker of a laughing red fox in return. Then, nothing.
’Grandpa would be surprised if he knew. I should visit him this weekend. Hmm... Maybe before Nate’s housewarming party?’
Lariette still rembered Nathaniel inviting her and Ruediger to his new apartnt. They hadn’t bought anything as a gift. Ruediger said they should go shopping soti this week.
Smiling to herself, Lariette anticipated going shopping with Ruediger. She quietly enjoyed her al, not realizing a pair of eyes watching from afar.
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