When Eve was about to return from the powder room, the furball notified her of unexpected news.
( Host, it's Saino and Yohan.) Halfsie gave her a heads up.
She gazed at the two figures in the corridor. It seems they have just exited from the nearby men's room.
( Who?) She has no idea who they are but felt their names were familiar.
The furball inwardly rolled its eyes, condemning the host's subpar gossip cells and reminded,
( The third and fourth fishes, host.)
[ Oh.]
Eve had nearly forgotten that the Heavenly being is celebrating her birthday in the same establishment.
In truth, it is the reason why she invited Sarien out. She wanted to see if fun things will transpire now that she dragged the hero to where the heroine is. The heavenly being is currently savoring her day with her knights. What would her reaction be if her secret love saw her with the bunch of fish?
Such drama, of course, she won't miss.
She even occupied the private dining room beside theirs only to catch up to the play.
It's a shame, though, that she can't see beyond the walls and a pity that all she has is a nonsensical spouting creature who reports 10% essential information and 90% meaningless talk.
Well, it's better than nothing, she supposed.
Eve glanced at them as she passed by, not hiding her curious eyes.
Not surprisingly, to be qualified as the heavenly being's man, they should possess outstanding looks, long legs, and brilliant minds. If ever they are handicapped in one aspect of their lives, there will be a compensatory mechanism in which they'll be having exceptional capabilities in another department.
[ They look okay.] She mused. For looks, her eyes have already adjusted to the three men acquainted with her, especially the villain. No one could contend with El's sinful face and evil charm. Hence, Halesia's fishes, for her, are so-so.
And despite having those playful grins that exude some evil intentions, they can't compare to the ultimate villain's kind.
In short, El is still the best.
Her interest in them died soon after. She was about to take her gaze back but, the twins had already caught her sight before she did.
Thus, three pairs of eyes met in the narrow corridor.
Not wanting to be rude, she let out a polite smile. After that, she looked away and headed forward.
The twins, nonetheless, stopped on their track and asked,
" Who was that?" Saino asked,
" Beats me," Yohan answered.
But, tacitly, they believed that that girl was a little different.
Being twins, they shared the same line of thinking, and the way they perceive things is connected.
And they felt that the blue-eyed lass with such a gentle smile was radiating an incongruent aura.
Like, if Halesia lets out an atmosphere that makes them desire to tyrannize, then that person makes them aspire to be closer and...prostrate themselves to her.
[ What a very peculiar reaction.]
They both shuddered at such a concept.
" The fuck you stumbling like a bunch of idiots that you are?" Freon, who just exited the men's comfort room, happens to witness their dazed state.
The twins were awakened by his rude call.
They narrowed their eyes and scrutinized the scum who looks more flowery than a bouquet of smelly blossoms.
This dude has been rubbing them off since earlier. In fact, since the moment they met, they found him annoying but, his annoying factor heightened a while back.
As a matter of fact, every male in that room irritates them to death, but Freon takes the number one spot together with that person.
However, dealing with that person is tricky, and fortunately, they see him less often.
That's why the fall guy became him.
The displeasure that accumulated due to both of them was all piled up under his tab. That's why just being near him takes a lot of self-control, or else they'd turn him into a punching bag in a heartbeat.
What could they say?
The way he brazenly sticks to Halesia, the way he moves, the way he talks, the way he breathes, and just the thought that he breathes the same air as them are all very irritating.
In other words, everything about him is exasperating.
Especially that revolting pair of eyes and mouth of his.
That's why they decided to give him a little "heart-to-heart talk".
Freon glimpsed at the piece of suspicious white cloth in one of the twins's hands and chuckled,
" Damn, you trying to do something nasty?"
Seeing the cat is out of the bag, Saino impassively threw the "evidence" away.
After knocking him out by using either chloroform or chopping his neck, they planned to send him to No Man's Island. However, their momentum got shaken off.
" If you want some of that, I can send you some. What character do you want? The scholar type like that Ryle? Maybe a delinquent like that Rhamsen or some goody-two-shoes like that whats-his-face Kyle something? It'll be on me. Consider it as a parting gift from your once rival." Freon kept on talking like a considerate older brother, not minding the darkening faces of the two.
A sneer replied to his deriding speech.
" You know a lot, huh. You must be well-versed in that department." Yohan spat back.
" Yo. No need to hide it. If you're looking for a front, don't drag Halesia into it." Saino also threw one.
Freon nearly choked because of the two-hit combo.
These carbon copy bastards are truly the worst.
Before their quarrel could escalate, a soft voice caught their ears.
" You guys! What's taking so long?" Halesia seemed anxious that they haven't returned after some time. Therefore, she went to look for them herself.
The three collectively turned around after glaring at each other.
Of course, they instantly switched to their "law-abiding, pacificist under God's request" modes and welcomed the birthday girl.
And the simpers that bloomed on their faces got momentarily awkward upon seeing a familiar figure beside her- the abomination incarnate.
" Thanking big brother Maxilleam for taking care of Halesia, as always." Freon hid daggers within his charming grin.
" It's so fortunate that you are always around her, big bro." Yohan came to assist.
The two seem to be in the same court, even crispily gnawing the word "always".
Halesia, needless to say, remains blind to their hidden dispute.
Saino, on the other hand, silently lowered his face, concealing the evil glint that flashed his eyes.
Naturally, Maxilleam isn't dumb of their intentions. These bunch of wolves wore pigskin to dangle around a kind-hearted girl, apparently hiding their evil intentions towards her. He knew full well of the purposes revealed within those defiant eyes but hidden beneath their "kind" facade.
Too bad Halesia has yet to realize what their true faces are.
Fortunately, he found her before everything is too late. He will protect her and continue the promise he made when they were young.
" It goes without saying." Maxilleam smiled, then looked at Halesia as if not wanting to continue interacting with them and said,
" Let's go, Halesia."
The girl who glances to and fro between the males couldn't point out anything wrong and could only respond,
" Alright, big brother." She looked at the three males and added,
" Let's go together!" Her beaming face dazzled them into following the pair back to their room.
***
( Host, it's a shame you missed the drama!) Halfsie criticized its host, who turned a deaf ear towards its broadcast.
Eve snubbed the gossipmonger and continued to relish her strawberry shortcake.
( Ah, those fishes are all equally nasty, host. And that Maxilleam fish, acting like a hero, huh, but, obviously, it takes one to know one, right, host?)
(Host, are you listening???)
Eve continued to ignore the furball's chatter.
She doesn't give two shits about Halesia's fishery. What she wanted to witness is Halesia's epic one-sided love story for the hero who became her guardian/snack provider.
With that insight, she glances at Sarien, who somehow got busy with his phone.
When Sarien noticed Eve faced him, he hurriedly placed his cell on the table and asked,
" Is something wrong, Eve?" His voice is gentle as always, and his smile, beautiful.
Looking at such a hero, Eve kind of understood why he became Halesia's white moonlight.
Then she recalled the time she fell, and Sarien helped her out. The furball said the heavenly being was ogling at him and blushing furiously, meaning she fell in love with him.
She seemed to have asked Sarein back then if that truly meant falling in love.
However, she couldn't recall his answer.
Maybe she forgot?
Well, in any case, she'll test the waters first.
" Sarien." Eve mounted the fork near the plate of cake and continued,
" If someone loves you terribly, will you love her back?" Such direct words she uttered while looking so serene.
"...what?" Sarien doubted his ears. Maybe he was hallucinating.
[ Was I inaudible?] Eve pondered, clueless of what plight she pushed the other into.
So, she stood up and went towards him. They have sat on the same side of the long table, with seats only a meter apart. Hence, when Eve came over, she was only a foot away from Sarien. She did because she doesn't want to speak louder. Speaking so loudly, after all, is unladylike.
If Halfsie could hear Eve's mental activity, it would roll its eyes so far back it would see its brain. If it has one, that is.
" I said if someone loves you terribly, will you love her back?"
Despite Eve standing, she only reached up to match Sarien's sitting height. Hence, their orbs met at eye level.
How could Sarien maintain his normal thought process? The first question got him dumbfounded. The second sent him to melt, unable to think further. His brain cells were all busy processing the visual stimuli before him.
Eve is too near that he could count her lashes and see how they curl up at their ends.
[ Ah, it's her scent. I knew it.] After detecting the subtle floral scent that emanated from Eve, that thought flitted his mind.
Sarien stayed rooted in place, speechless, and totally caught off guard.
Detecting that something is wrong with him, Eve considered if he is unwell.
She placed the back of her hand against his forehead and tried to sense if he has a fever.
However, she can't detect any difference.
( Halfsie, you should know stuff about medicine, right?)
[... huh, what? I do??] The popcorn eating system, which was busy watching the romantic scene, was summoned back by its host's query.
( Sure do, host!) It quickly answered.
( So what's wrong with him? I don't think he is feverish.)
( Host, you are doing it wrong. Your forehead should be against his forehead to feel it better.)
( Or better yet, use your lips!) The furball's abacus is clanging loudly. Pity, Eve did not recognize its calculation.
When out of nowhere, Eve touched his forehead, Sarien only staggered. He doesn't know why she suddenly tried getting his temperature. Nevertheless, he tried to normalize his breathing as if meditating, suppressing his flustered soul. He also considerately sat still, not wanting to distract the lass from whatever she wanted to do.
However, when Eve's face neared him, his breathing momentarily halted.
Then his eyes trembled upon observing her closed eyelids. And the feeling that her fingertips buried gently through his hair at the back of his head caused him to stop breathing altogether.
Sarien, overwhelmed by the various stimuli that Eve gave him, shut his eyes tightly.
He is fazed and is secretly hoping.
But, what welcomed him was a cool sensation on his forehead.
Sarien opened his eyes but shut them a second later.
He somehow expected it and could only smile helplessly, contemplating that he still has a long way to go.
( Hmm, really nothing.) Eve surmised as she validated that Sarien doesn't have a fever.
However, separating from the hero, and seeing how red his face is, made her doubtful. His cheeks were flushed, and his breathing is labored.
So, she consulted Halfsie once again but surprisingly failed to get its response.
How could she know that Sarien is heavily breathing because he stopped breathing for a full minute and a half when she densely perturbed the poor man's heart.
And, how could she know that the degenerate creature has long passed out due to too much stimulation? Before witnessing their foreheads meet, the amount of brain supplement that weaved its corrupted mind was too much and directly shut it offline.
In the end, Eve gazed at the hero and concluded it wasn't a life-threatening condition. Hence, she opted to let it be. She went back to her seat and resumed eating her dessert without a care in the world.