Eve ultimately has to go home a few days before the new semester starts.
That day, Lucian shed tears, non-stop, grieving as if he is a father sending his daughter to death instead of the next continent. His incessant sobbing nearly choked him and his flowing tears half-blinded his walnut eyes.
How could Lucian not grieve?
His darling daughter Lin Lin would be restricted by that humongous prick once again.
Lucian can already anticipate that nasty person dropping his calls, not letting him be in touch with his child. He can already hear that man's taunts telling him that he has no daughter.
Oh, the agony!
Just imagining his annoying face makes Lucian want to punch the iceberg's face to a pulp.
Despite Lucian's emotional journey, he did not forget to chide Sylvius in his mind and sneer that he is waaaaaaayyyyyyy, 100x, to the nth power more handsomerrrrrr than him.
Carla, who leaned upon the doorway with arms crossed before his chest, merely sent Eve off with his signature despot smile.
As always, following his cousin, the goddess of luck, revived his dying wallet. Spending days with her was also thrilling and full of fun. Hell, she's practically on par with his divine driving skills. Fortunately, she is too lazy to drive, letting him secure his DK title.
He had an idea of following her to Xia but, he had things to do, bastards to hunt and an unlucky mastermind to catch.
Tess, who stood by Carla's side, calmly watched everyone's reaction after bidding his farewells.
He has long been observing this "sister" of his.
From her seemingly gentle facade to her closeted mad side, he had secretly watched it all.
She is indeed a graceful beauty but, she is equally ruthless to the bone. Nodding in affirmation, Tess surmised that when his impulsive father chooses to adopt her one day, he will agree.
After all, she has every trait a Cross should have.
Patricia, on the other hand, refused to send her off.
He was reluctant to be in public because of the brand new, tantalizing "bald spot" on his head. Not afraid of courting death, he waged another bet against Eve, wanting to get his former name.
He believed that his cousin won due to a fluke that day. Hence, he was adamant and even waged his luscious hair.
At first, being called Patricia by her is okay. Nonetheless, the scoundrels at home dared to address him that way too. Of course, he is unwilling and engaged in a fiery dispute with the three evildoers. However, to no avail, they continued to be audacious bastards. Hence, his only way to redeem his name is to win against Eve.
The result- he doesn't know if he is upset being called Patricia or baldie.
Regardless, Patricia still watched the commotion from his room using binoculars. Tears welled in his eyes, unknown whether he was emotional or unreconciled once again.
The siblings may differ in their ways of saying goodbye but, one thing unites them at that moment- contempt. They watched in disdain as their father wailed as if cutting his flesh.
Good thing he did not screech like a dying pig, like last time.
Letty also sent Eve with tears in her eyes. With a heavy heart, she could only make sure to let Eve accept numerous boxes of exquisite desserts and fancy dresses. She originally wanted to send her to the airport but fears she will board the plane and fly with her, never to come back.
***
At the Helios castle:
Xaphael, who is sitting behind his desk, gazes at his phone. He watched as the red dot slowly moved across the screen. Smiling wryly, he mused,
[ That girl didn't even say a word of goodbye. Again.]
But what else could he do?
[Alas, it seems what they say about the first one to fall is the loser, something?]
[Damn, how could I, Apollyon, be a loser?]
[Surely, it wasn't me who fell first.]
Xaphael deemed Eve fell for him first.
After all, she was the one to propose sleeping with him when they met. Obviously, Eve had long coveted his beauty.
Glancing at the study room and making sure he is alone, Xaphael proceeded to take out his wallet from his desk drawer.
He opened it and ran his finger on a portrait.
It's a photo of a girl sitting sideways on a picnic cloth with a bitten cupcake in her hand. She turned her head to him with a familiar soft smile. It's the smiling expression she has after calling his name.
As to why he has it, he will not admit to secretly taking her photograph and was caught, alright.
Don't ask.
He just felt possessed at that time and did it.
[ Just you wait. I'll come and settle the bill with you.] Xaphael grinned as he recalled the brief kiss they shared.
Soft, fragrant, and sweet.
Similar to the marshmallow he ate when he was a kid.
Rubbing his lips with his fingertip, he reminisces that it wasn't the first time their lips touched.
On the plane that day, they kissed.
Naturally, the infatuated villain has an add-on filter that deleted his memory of calling it a brawl between her teeth and his lips.
Only the memory of Eve threatening him filled his mind.
Eve's lips, covered with crumbs of chocolate, mumbling she'll punish him with her mouth.
He couldn't help but chuckle when recalling that absurd moment.
Realizing his guffaw, Xaphael shook his head for losing his image. Good thing he is alone at the moment. It would have been bad if someone saw him laugh his ass off. So much so for his devil's child image.
In the end, Xaphael continued working as if nothing had happened.
Of course, Eve didn't know his intentions. She is now in the middle of her sleep, dreaming about desserts as she flew in the sky with Judas and additional provisions in tow.
***
A week has passed since the start of a new semester.
Eve cupped her chin while staring at the horizon in a dazed manner.
The way the sunlight shone on her isolated figure as she sat languidly made her seem otherwordly- like a person in her very own world.
Peaceful, distant, and can only be viewed from afar.
As to why she is seated in the supposedly last rank of their class, they have thoroughly adjusted.
You know their class advisor nearly convulsed when he learned Eve purposely left half of her answer sheet blank to secure the bottom line. She did so after learning that first place meant she had to sit at the very front.
Apparently, she disliked that position and couldn't care less about their notion.
After that, they decided to give her the privilege to sit wherever she wanted, provided she tops the rank.
They thought that was the end of it but, viola!
Sarien Lu ignited his competitive cells and tightly secured spot number two.
Then, nobody knew what strings he pulled, but he successfully followed Eve and sat beside her.
Fortunately, that dude Ulfius couldn't follow because he was at the tenth spot.
Now, in addition to enduring the all-day-long PDA, which they don't mind watching, really, they also have to watch that Chen act like a deposed concubine. The way he threw pitiful glances now and then to the last row challenged their inner peace, okay!
The girls are alright but, it doesn't give them, upright and vigorous young men, justice!
Instead of concentrating on their class, they focused on calming their nerves instead, or else they'll drag him and beat him senseless! Kidding, they will just put a sack or paper bag on his head at most then beat the shit out of him.
Going back,
If there is one thing they can't get used to, that's Eve's gravity.
She pulls their attention, and they become lost in thoughts. They couldn't help it.
Just look.
Some of their classmates couldn't help but take a glimpse of her at the corner of their eyes. They had gotten along with the famous top-ranked student for six months, albeit the contact isn't much. What can they say? The school heartthrobs Lu and Chen have been guarding her all the time, and they can't even approach her. From the initial adoration for the two, now, they felt unreconciled and despised them.
When they saw the familiar figure approach Eve, their lips twitched, rolled their eyes as they mused, "Figures.". They, nonetheless, took their popcorn to watch.
" Is something wrong?" A gentle voice called Eve, followed by the sound of a seat moving.
Sarien, who sat beside Eve, pushed the unruly twirl of hair on her cheeks behind her ear smoothly, as if having done a hundred times.
She did not respond but merely met his eyes as if lost in thoughts.
Seeing this, Sarien thought something was amiss.
He moved his seat closer to her and asked once again with a solemn expression,
" Eve, what's wrong?"
With a faint smile, Eve answered rather nonchalantly,
" I'm just wondering when they'll come." Then she looked out of the window again.
Scrunching his brows, Sarien questioned, "Who?"
Then came a soft chuckle that only he could hear, she said,
" My sibling and her mother."
[ Sibling and her mother? Is Miss Iris pregnant and moving to their house?] Sarien contemplated. The gossip this past few weeks has been intense, speculating when they will get married.
" Don't worry. They will come sooner than you think." Sarien consoled Eve, believing she yearns for her future stepmother.
A gentle touch on her cheek compelled Eve to stare at him. When she heard his good words, she responded with a smile,
" Well, I hope you are right."
Sarien was about to say something when the bell rang.
The teacher came in with a powerful voice asking their attention. He has no choice but to smile at Eve then sit properly, facing the podium. Unknown to him, Eve, who did not shift her gaze, has found something interesting behind his ear.
The teacher merely spoke a few words before turning around to write.
A few seconds later, a cold sensation caressed Sarien's skin.
Sarien: !!!
Before he could turn his head, a warm breath neared his cheeks.
" Sarien, you have a mole behind your ear." A familiar chuckle sounded just after she uttered those words. At the same time, she did not forget to mischievously poke the said mole.
Sarien could feel his cheeks burn in shame and excitement.
He could only lower his eyes to hide his agitation.
From such a close distance, Eve could see his eyelashes tremble. Not knowing what shame and holding back is, her evil claw softly flicked them.
" Eve, don't." Sarien muffled his protest as he gripped the naughty girl's wrist.
Fortunately, most of their classmates have been facing forward, and Eve's voice was akin to a whisper.
If not, they would see his beet-like face and crumbling expression.
Of course, unbeknown to him, his class fellow beside him has already set his gossip heart on scorching fire. He even nearly pinch off his seatmate's skin just to share the exciting scene.
The class continued, and so did Sarien's sweet torment.
***
MINI THEATRE
Sarien: Dear Diary, Today Eve caressed my face and teased me. Should I confess? *cheeks blush
Xaphael: Dear Diary, Today I dreamt of that cunning girl's chocolate-laden lips. They said dreaming of a person meant he/she misses the dreamer. Does it mean she misses me? *ears blush
Halfsie: Dear Diary, Today the host seemed to have fully forgotten about my existence. I admit I've been lowkey since I have no news of Mother Qin. Should I brush my existence? *reverse blush