Alexi and the others watched the show unfold; Minerva seed to be enjoying herself, reveling in the drama, while Alexi observed with narrowed eyes.
Logan’s friend charged at them like an angry bull but Logan was not making a move, as if he was used to this kind of treatnt and was ready to accept whatever ca his way from his friend. And this attitude puzzled Hera.
"Logan, didn’t you say you were heading ho to clean up and study?" Despite the young man’s attempt to conceal his displeasure and maintain a friendly deanor, his tone betrayed his feelings, his expression shifting from anger to concern. "You know I’m only worried about you. You’re not as naturally gifted as I am in singing and composing, so you should focus more and go ho. Didn’t you say you wanted to compose and sing beautiful songs? How will that happen if you keep ssing around with girls like this?"
Hera was taken aback to hear Logan’s supposed friend publicly embarrass him, feigning concern in front of the entire student body. His words sounded hypocritical, causing Hera to frown in disbelief. This might be why Logan no longer wanted to participate and co with her.
As far as Hera was concerned, the young man was the one who had been flirting with girls earlier, while Logan had been minding his own business. She found it strange that the young man was ddling in Logan’s affairs as if he were an angry mother-in-law. His reaction to Logan talking to soone else made her wonder if this young man was like this every ti, regardless of who Logan interacted with. If that was the case, Hera worried that this guy might be isolating Logan from others intentionally.
Seeing the displeased expression on Hera’s face as she stood beside Logan, the young man turned to her and said, "I apologize if my friend has caused any disturbance. Please don’t be upset with him. He’s a bit socially awkward, but he ans well." He scratched the back of his head, giving off an endearing, slightly foolish charm that many girls would likely find appealing.
But Hera remained unmoved, her gaze fixed on Logan’s expression through her peripheral vision. He appeared visibly downcast and embarrassed. "No, I was simply inviting him to join for a al because he’s been very helpful," she continued, noticing Logan flinch at her words. Perhaps he hadn’t expected her to provide him with an opportunity to gracefully exit the awkward situation. It was possible he wasn’t accustod to soone stepping in to save him from embarrassnt, a situation where others might have pretended not to notice or even laughed at.
Either way, Hera couldn’t stand by while Logan was being put in a difficult position by his supposed friend. She began to question the sincerity of their friendship. Hera was unsettled by what she was witnessing and hearing.
"Really?! It’s a first that Logan could be of help to soone! That’s quite an achievent for him! Why don’t we all go for a al then?" His friend awkwardly interjected himself into Hera’s plan with Logan, without even asking if it was alright. Hera sensed he wasn’t being insensitive accidentally, but rather intentionally. For what reason, she didn’t know.
But if this is how he acted around other people, no wonder Logan has no friends. He seed to be actively pushing away anyone who tried to get close to Logan while keeping those friends for himself. Does he harbor a deep hatred for Logan? And why would he go so far as to treat Logan this way?
As a bystander, Hera felt it wasn’t her place to comnt on their friendship. However, from her neutral position, she could observe clearly what was happening between the two without bias or any preconceived notions. It’s often said that bystanders have a clearer view of relationships because they can see everything objectively, free from rose-colored or negative lenses that might cloud their judgnts.
Hera looked at Logan, towering like a lamppost yet quiet as a mouse. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t standing up for himself, but she also knew that she couldn’t force help upon soone who didn’t seek it. Despite feeling resigned to inaction, she struggled with the urge to do sothing.
Hera smiled at Logan’s friend. "No need. I was just treating him to the cafeteria since I had so extra. Maybe you could join those other freshn you’re with—they seem well-off. Perhaps they’d be up for treating so new friends." She gestured subtly towards Minerva, who she knew ca from a wealthy background. While Minerva didn’t catch Hera’s words, she sensed Hera nudging the guys in their direction.
After hearing Hera’s suggestion, the young man hesitated visibly, his expression betraying deep thought. "Then, senior, how about treating to a al too after this?" he finally asked, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
Hearing his bold request to be treated to a al by a girl he had just t once took Hera by surprise, montarily shocking her. Fortunately, due to her suggestion, the young man excused himself and returned to Minerva’s group. He didn’t leave until he glared at Logan, but his manner conveyed a clear ssage for him to go ho and not accompany Hera.
Hera found their interaction overly controlling. "Are they a couple?" she wondered silently. She glanced up at Logan, observing his reactions closely. When he caught her knowing gaze, he seed to interpret it as judgntal and felt he was unfairly wronged.
Hera observed that he didn’t appear romantically involved with his friend; instead, he seed insecure and lacked self-confidence.
eting Logan’s friend under those circumstances clarified Hera’s understanding of Logan’s deanor. While she couldn’t fathom the reasons behind his friend’s actions, one thing was certain: that guy wasn’t Logan’s friend.
After hearing everything he said to Logan, his subtle way of belittling Logan while elevating himself suggested that this was a regular occurrence. He systematically undermined Logan’s self-confidence under the guise of caring for him, effectively shattering his self-confidence and self-worth while isolating him.
If that was the case, how long had he been doing that to Logan? A year, two years, or perhaps even longer? Hera glanced at Logan standing quietly beside her, appearing a bit hurt but choosing not to speak up, almost as if he silently agreed with his friend’s disparaging remarks. He gripped his backpack tightly, clearly ready to leave without Hera.
Minerva and her cronies also departed, casting a mocking sneer on Hera’s way. Logan’s friend must have inford them about her suggestion to treat Logan to the cafeteria, which was likely why Minerva left with a satisfied spring in her step.
But Hera refused to give up; she wanted to trust her instincts that Logan possessed a hidden talent, and she felt she was uncovering a gem. Observing his friend’s actions only strengthened her belief that he might be undermining Logan out of envy for his talent. With this new perspective, Hera was increasingly convinced that this jealousy was a significant factor driving his behavior towards Logan.
So, she beca even more determined to bring him back with her to the company. When she saw Logan walking briskly away from her, seemingly heading ho, Hera clung to his arm like a child, her eyes starting to well up with red-rimd tears.
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