Fukuoka Daiichi High School Cafeteria
Francois was jealous that another guy was preparing his girlfriend's lunches and even bringing them to school to hand them over to her. Although he knew she was only helping him out of humanity, he couldn't help but feel jealousy.
" That's good! Now, let's eat!" Sarah and Anna opened their lunch boxes.
" Here's your lunch, Francois! Thanks again for offering to share it with me. That was very nice of you. Thank you!" Francois was in a daze as I handed over his lunch to him.
" What's wrong, Francois? Aren't you taking your lunch?" Anna asked.
" Obviously! Sorry, I was in a daze". He reacted to Anna's question.
" Is something the matter, Francois?" Sarah felt something was unusual about Francois and asked him about the latter.
" No! Everything's fine!" He acted as if everything was normal but his girlfriend didn't buy it one bit.
" Out with it?" He got startled.
" Hum?"
" You want to ask me something, don't you?"
" I-------------- I--------------" He dabbled out his words, unable to find closure.
" I know you better than anyone. When you have something on your mind, you're unable to focus or do anything around you. We're childhood friends and you can't keep anything from me. So spit it out!"
" You said it! I'm unable to keep things from you. It's just that I'm feeling insecure, that's all". He admitted.
" Insecure! What are you feeling insecure for?" I asked him straightforwardly.
" I don't appreciate that guy living with you at your house and making your lunches every day. I don't like it". He admitted.
Angelica stared at him and uttered: " What do you want me to do? Are you implying by your jealousy that I should kick him out? Is that what you're trying so effortlessly to tell me?"
" That's—--------- That's—---" He dabbled his words once again, unable to express his true feelings.
" If that's it, then let me tell you this now".
???
" I have no intention of kicking him out of my house, just so you know. If he came to me, it must be for a reason. I believe that nothing in this world is coincidental". I said assertively to him.
" I know your intentions are good but, what would the society say if they knew that a boy and a girl are living under the same roof, just the two of them? They'll start gossiping and say all kinds of nonsense". He explained his point of view to his girlfriend.
…
" I'm not saying to leave him with no roof under his head. I can arrange a place for him to stay. Whatever I'm doing is for you. I don't want your reputation and name to be stained all because of your good intentions". He states his point further in an attempt to make her understand.
" I'm out of here!"
Angelica stood up and dashed out of the school cafeteria without having her lunch.
" Angelica, hear me out!"
" What came into you, Francois?" Sarah questioned him.
" What was that all about?" Anna did the same as Sarah by questioning him thoroughly.
" I didn't mean to hurt her". He uttered in guilt.
" Whatever! You better think of a way to apologize to her. Let's go, Anna!"
" I'm coming too!"
" No! Give her some space! You may talk to her once she calms down. Let's go!" Sarah and Anna went over Angelica.
( Why did she get angered at me like that? I don't remember having said something worth getting angered over. I just propose to help her out by finding a new lodging for that guy she gave hospitality to. Was that wrong of me?)
Fukuoka Daiichi High School Rooftop
" Angelica, there you are!" Sarah and Anna found Angelica on the roof.
" How did you know I was here?" I asked.
" Every time you have something troubling you, you always come here to sort it out". Anna responded to the question asked by Angelica.
" I wish to be alone for a while. You guys leave!"
" We won't leave!" Sarah uttered.
" That's right! We won't leave you alone in that state. We'll stay right here with you". Anna backed up Sarah's statement.
" Don't drive us apart from your problems! Share it with us!" Sarah uttered to me in an emotional state.
" Sorry, girls! I didn't mean to drive you out. I'm sorry!" I sincerely apologized to them for my inconsiderate behavior.
" We understand, don't worry! Francois shouldn't have said that. That upsets you, isn't it?" Anna asked inquisitively.
…
" I know Francois's words upset you, but what he said wasn't wrong in the slightest". Sarah took Francois's side.
" Sarah, what are you saying?"
" What I'm saying is true. Society doesn't approve of a boy and a girl living together under the same roof without being legally married. Francois wasn't wrong at all in what he said and you know it. That's why you got upset at him".
…
" Have you thought of what would happen if your parents were to hear of it?" She asked.
…
" Think it through and you'll see that Francois's assertions weren't all that baseless". Sarah dragged Anna along with her and they left the school, leaving Angelica to reflect.
( If society will misunderstand my good intentions for something more, in that case, there's only one thing to do).
After School
" See you tomorrow, Angelica!" Sarah and Anna bid their goodbyes to me and left the school to head home.
Angelica gets set to leave the school as well when Francois comes to her at the last moment, preventing her from leaving.
" Angelica! Thank God, you're still here. Can we talk?" He asked.
" I don't wish to talk to you right now. Later!"
Higurashi Residence
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Angel heard knocks on the door and wondered who it could be. He heard three knocks and remembered what Angelica told him about the knocks.
( There were three knocks on the door which means it must be Higurashi-San, but just for safety, I need to make sure it's her before opening the door. How can I know for sure it's her? I can use this chair to check through the door).
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The knocks persisted. Angelica started wondering why he wasn't opening the door. Meanwhile, Angel, who had gone to pick a chair, stood on it and looked through the doorknob. When he saw Angelica through it, he felt reassured and relieved. He got off the chair and put it back in its place.
( He sure is taking his time).
" Welcome home, Higurashi-San!" He welcomed me with a warm smile.
" Thank you, Angel!" He took my bag as I came inside.
" What's wrong, Higurashi-San? You look upset". He asked out of concern for me.
" I'm tired. Nothing serious! The day has been long. I'll go get changed". I grabbed my bag and headed towards my room.
" I'll set the table!"
A few minutes later
Higurashi Dining Room
" Delicious as ever!" I praised his cooking skills.
" Thank you! You liking my food makes me happy". He smiled at the compliment.
" Who taught you how to cook?" I asked curiously.
" My dad!" He answered.
" Your dad? He's very talented! Your dad, I mean. You inherited his passion for cooking".
" Are you sure you're alright?" He diverted the topic back to me.
" You're worried about me. Why is that?"
???
" You're afraid of me, are you not? Why worry about what may happen to me? Why this sudden care for someone you're so afraid of?"
???
" Putting that aside, there's something I wish to talk to you about".
" What is it you wished to talk to me about, Higurashi-San?" He asked.
" It's nothing serious. The job you're doing regularly, I'd like to pay you for it".
…
" I know you're helping around the house to thank me for saving you but society won't see it that way. I don't know where you're from but here, it's unacceptable for a boy and a girl to live together with no adults around. I don't care about society's standards but for your safety, I can't overlook it. Also, I'd like for you to have an identity card". I explained to him thoroughly.
" If I accept your offer, can I keep living here?" He asked straightforwardly.
" Of course, you may!"
He asked another question that stated:" Weren't your original intention to kick me out?"
I responded to him just as straightforwardly and said: " I don't know what you went through until now, but know this: Never did I have the intention of kicking you out, and never will I in the future. I simply offered this solution to kill off everyone's suspicions".
…
" Think it over! The day after tomorrow, you're coming with me to have your identity card made".
Angelica left for her room the rest, leaving Angel there by himself.
The following day
Fukuoka Daiichi High School Exit
" Regarding Angel-Kun's case, have you thought it over?" Sarah asked.
" Yeah, I've thought it over and I made a decision". I answered.
" What decision?" Anna asked.
" I offered him a job at my house to which he hadn't responded to yet. When I get home, I'm taking him to have his identity card made".
" Job! Are you going to pay him for the job he's doing at your house?" Sarah asked.
" Are you going to give him a salary?" Anna asked.
" Why the long faces? I always wanted to pay him from the very beginning but as he was disoriented, I didn't push the matter further. Now, it's different. I'm willing to do everything it takes to safeguard his safety".
…
" By offering him a job, the matter will be solved and Angel won't have to leave my house. I hope my decision satisfies you".
" Yes, we are, and sorry! I hope you can forgive me for the way I acted earlier". Sarah felt apologetic.
" I'm not mad at you. More than anything, I should thank you for opening my eyes to society's standards. Thank you, Sarah!"
" Now that everything has been sorted out, let's go home now, shall we?" Anna suggested.
" See you on Monday!" Anna and Sarah left in the same direction while I took the opposite direction.