"Fine, do you want to eat with us?" Ace asked Kaoru. 'Wait, it's that easy?' "You don't know anyone except for Elle, right?" Kaoru looked at me as if asking for permission. He already acted like he knew me, so why is he asking permission now?
Since he's here to guard me, I'll let him do whatever he needs to do. The four of us made our way to the cafeteria, and I couldn't help but hold onto Ace's hand while walking. Is it just my imagination, or people are really staring at me?
"Is it just me, or Ellie's being weirdly passive today?" Andy suddenly said as soon as we arrived in front of the cafeteria. Passive? Me? Is it because I've been hiding behind Ace the whole time?
We entered the cafeteria, and Ace asked Andy back. "What do you mean?"
Andy pointed his finger somewhere, causing us to look in that direction. "Night's so near, and she's not squealing like a pig." He said. It's indeed weird for them, but it'll be weird for me to start acting like before. But if I don't, Ace will look into it, and she'll continue to doubt me.
"I-It's because I'm shy after not seeing him for a while," I said as an excuse. I'm slowly getting better at lying, and it scares me. "You know what happened to our family, and I can't focus on stalking Night right now." Indeed, I shouldn't focus on that. I need to study my butt off to get into a good university. But knowing that Kaoru's hearing all my excuses makes me annoyed that he'll assume I still have feelings for his young master.
Andy placed his hand on my forehead. "You don't have a fever." He said as he looked at ace. "I don't think this is the Ellie we know. Who are you? Did you fall in love with somebody else? Don't tell me there's someone even more handsome than Night? Introduce him to me." They start speculating random things about me, and it's getting annoying. If they do this, I would rather act as if I'm still obsessed with that cold jerk!
"I didn't know Ellie could easily forget—"
"Okay, fine! I still love Night!"
All eyes went to me after I said that aloud. 'Oops. I'm so stupid; my emotions got the best of me.' "I-I mean, I still do like him b-but," God, this is so embarrassing. "I-I need to focus on something else right now that is m-more important."
Andy giggled as we sat at the nearest table with our food trays. "I knew it. It's impossible for the Night's stalker to suddenly lost interest like that." He said as if he was proud to humiliate me in the whole crowd. Although it's all my fault for raising my voice like that. "If you need help, Ace and I are always here for you anyway. You can just act like how you used to be." If I can do that, I'll probably shame myself again. Now that I'm finally thinking straight, I realize how embarrassing I used to act.
"Stop telling Elle what to do. It's better that she's focusing on her studies than becoming Fuentes's wife." Ace said as she started eating. "She's finally thinking straight. Until when do you think she should run around saying that her dream is to become Fuentes's wife? My niece dreams better than that." What Ace said is true, but isn't she dissing me too much? I know it was foolish to dream like that at this year and age, and I know that I could only dream like that before because of my parents' wealth.
"I know, but should you really put it that way? Don't make fun of Ellie's dream." Can they just please stop talking about that already?
Ace shrugged. "I'm not. I'm just saying that she can dream bigger than that. Noelle is an athlete. Why would she settle with serving a man for the remaining of her life?" She has a point. I didn't focus on becoming an athlete because I was too busy trying to catch Night's attention.
"Hey, don't belittle the housewives. Just because you're someone's wife doesn't mean you have to serve them all the time. It's a give and takes relationship, not only give or take." For the second time, can't they just please stop talking about this already? "My mom said that becoming a housewife isn't easy, and I understand that since she always has to take care of her children while his husband goes to work."
"See? Why can't the wife go to work and the husband take care of the children?" Ace said. I chose not to say anything, and Kaoru's probably confused because of this situation. "I hate how men always make women do the household chores and care for the children when they can help their wives too."
"Who said men don't help in household chores?"
Why are they arguing about this? "Stop it already. Your voices are getting louder." I told the two of them. Ace calmed herself down because she realized she was not acting like herself. Did something happen to her? She's usually calm and collected, unlike this. "Let's eat, okay?"
We finished eating, and my eyes automatically went in Night's direction like a force of habit. He's surrounded by girls and his classmates again. They don't even know that he's a liar and lies about everything in his life. Even though I hate him now, it became a habit to follow him with my gaze.
"See? Ellie's clearly in love with Night." Andy said. "Love prevails in the end." I don't know why does it even matter at this point? Even if I love Night, it doesn't mean he'll love me back, that's already proven throughout our high school years, and he hates me more now.
"So the lady really loves the young master?" Kaoru whispered, but I smacked his hand to make him stop. "That hurts, Ellie." He said, making my eyes go wide open. I told him to call me by my name but didn't allow him to call me by my nickname.
"Stop calling me that," I told him as we walked out of the cafeteria, following Ace and Andy in front.
"Why not? Ellie sounds cute. I should be acting friendly towards the lady, right?" Kaoru said. I didn't know he could be this annoying. "Ellie!" He raised his voice catching Andy and Ace's attention, making them turn to us.
I quickly grabbed Kaoru and head-locked him. "D-Don't mind us. Kaoru's just asking where the restroom is. I'll go with him. You two can go back to our room." Andy and Ace didn't bother asking, even though Ace raised an eyebrow, and they walked away while I pulled Kaoru out of people's sight. "Can't you please stop making things harder for me? It's hard enough to keep lying to my friends, don't add more."
"Eh? I'm making things hard for the lady? I'm so sorry!" Kaoru bowed before me and tried to bow on the floor if I didn't stop him. "I shall receive punishment for what I did." He said as he was about to kneel to the floor, causing me to panic.
"What are you doing?"
I looked to my right. "Young master!" Kaoru shouted as he rushed towards Night, but Night pushed him away. He then looked at me— no, he glared at me.
"Stop making Kaoru do stupid things." He said as he walked away. What the— what was that for? What is his problem?! I'm not the one making Kaoru do stupid things. He's the one doing it on his own! That jerk just really wants to get on my nerves.
I took a deep breath. "I'm begging you, Kaoru, stop garnering attention more than this." It's the first time I begged someone like this. "I don't want to get any more attention, please."
Kaoru nodded. "Then, if I may ask one last question."
I sighed. "What is it?"
Kaoru smiled from ear to ear. "Why is the lady called 'Night's stalker'?" I almost slapped my forehead because of that. Isn't it obvious? I'm literally Night's stalker. That's why I'm called like that. I mean, I used to be. Why is he even asking this? I don't feel like answering. "Also, does the lady still like our young master? How did you come to like him? Was he kind to you?" I thought it was his one last question? What's with all these, then?
"I thought it was only one question? Don't you realize you're bombarding me with many questions right now?" Kaoru scratched the back of his head. "I don't like him anymore. That's what I want to clear. But I will still act like I like him because my friends will find it weird if I change suddenly." I don't know why I'm explaining to this guy about any of this.
"Then why did the lady lose his feelings for the young master? Is he not handsome in your eyes anymore? Or is he not kind to the lady anymore?"
Why is he asking too many questions? I sighed. "I don't know." It's not like I really don't know, but it just feels wrong to say it.
How did I even act before I learned Night's secrets?