In the noisy and chaotic atmosphere, I looked around and carefully peered into the depths of the classroom.
"Eh, he's not here."
I confirmed with my sight multiple times, but still couldn't find the target person.
Since the lunch break had just started, I thought he would be here, but unexpectedly, neither at his usual seat by the window in the last row nor anywhere else in the classroom could I find him.
"Has he already gone out?"
I had finally made up my mind to come here, but it turned out to be a futile trip, and I felt a bit frustrated. Helplessly, I sighed and turned to leave. But just at that moment, I suddenly bumped into a tall wall that shouldn't have been there.
"Mr. Ben, what's wrong? At this time."
"Wow, you scared me. Abel, I'm sorry."
I looked up at the person I bumped into in the middle of the corridor, and Abel was looking down at me with a puzzled expression.
Abel was still very tall. Blake was more than ten centimeters taller than me, and Abel was even taller than him. I felt a bit of pain at the back of my neck.
"Are you looking for Blake for something?"
"Uh? Well, sort of."
Abel hit the nail on the head, and I couldn't help but Laughing bitterly" means exactly, maybe "give a wry smile" or "force a bitter smile"). At this moment, Abel suddenly showed a troubled expression and frowned.
"Did he leave early?"
Seeing his expression, I remembered the scene in the morning, and Abel slowly shook his head.
"In fact, Blake has become an executive committee member."
Abel muttered helplessly, and I was momentarily confused. But then I finally remembered this matter and suddenly realized.
"Is it for the school anniversary? But, he has a part-time job, will it be okay?"
"Well, this time it seems to be using after-school and lunch break time. So Blake only participates in the lunch break part."
"Lunch break?"
Hearing this unexpected answer, I frowned, and Abel also tilted his head in confusion.
"This time Paul is involved, so I'm not too sure either."
Seeing Abel rarely showing a clear expression of likes and dislikes towards others, I couldn't help but widen my eyes.
"Paul is the third-year student council president Paul, right?"
Even if I have a bad memory, I can immediately think of Paul. He is a very noticeable person, especially prominent among the student council presidents in recent years. He has a handsome appearance and is very popular among girls. That kind of majestic posture and presence really don't seem like that of a high school student.
He and Blake both have a calm temperament, but they are different types of people.
"Do Paul and Blake have a good relationship?"
"Well, not very good recently. Until the middle of the second year, they were often together. I don't really like that guy."
"Oh."
Abel rarely expresses his likes and dislikes towards others so clearly, it seems that he really doesn't get along with Paul. Well, one is like a herbivore and the other is like a carnivore, it's normal for them to repel each other.
"Rather than this, has Mr. Ben had lunch? If not, let's have it together?"
"Uh? Well, not yet."
I still wanted to hear more, but was interrupted decisively by him, and could only respond vaguely.
I'll ask Zoe about it later.
Dragged into the cafeteria by Abel, because it was a bit late, it was crowded with students. Seeing the crowded crowd, I unconsciously frowned.
"Over here, over here."
Abel waved at me, who was standing still with a serious expression, and then walked forward through the crowd. For some reason, he passed through the cafeteria and walked towards the side door next to the kitchen.
"Where are we going?"
"Shh, don't talk, just follow me."
Abel put his index finger to his mouth in front of me, who was about to speak, and then slowly took my hand and walked. Abel opened the side door, and a cool and pleasant breeze blew in.
"Here is?"
The open scene in front of me made me tilt my head. I saw the green leaves swaying in the wind in front of me, and only then realized that this led to the outside. But the ground was paved with tiles, and the path continued to extend deeper through the woods.
"A secret place."
Abel looked at me, who was in a daze, and showed a mischievous smile.
"It can't be used on rainy days, but on a sunny day like today, it feels really great."
I followed Abel, who was striding forward, and walked along the narrow path. Suddenly, the view in front of me became open again. Looking around, there were several tables and chairs scattered around.
"Many people still don't know about this place, it's a niche and nice place, right."
I was quite surprised to see a few students having lunch here. I have worked here for a relatively long time, but this is the first time I know about this place.
"There is such a place here."
After carefully asking Abel, I learned that this place was built last year. Since I rarely use the cafeteria, I might not have noticed this place mentioned in the staff meeting.
"What to eat?"
"Uh?"
This is probably the back of the kitchen. Abel looked at the menu of the day hanging on the small window and tilted his head.
"Anything is fine."
"Saying this to a girl will make her hate you."
Hearing my answer, Abel smiled and then said to the person on the other side of the window that he wanted two set A meals.
Indeed, I have been disliked many times for giving such an answer. Women's hearts are like the bottom of the sea. Clearly saying that anything is fine, but in fact, it's not really anything.
"Is Blake very gentle?"
"Ah?"
As soon as I sat down, Abel smiled and stared at my face.
"Uh?"
I didn't understand why Abel would mention Blake's name here. But while I was confused, my cheeks suddenly felt hot. Indeed, I once thought for a moment that Blake didn't care about my troublesome and careless nature and could tolerate me.
Although it was just a momentary thought.
"Sorry, I know. Actually, I heard from Zoe before. About Blake saying that he likes Mr. Ben."
I looked around in a panic, and Abel lowered his eyebrows and looked at me with a smile.
"Ah? Is that so?"
It was probably when I got the business card that day. Indeed, my conversation with Zoe was a mystery to Abel, and it was normal for him to have questions.
"Well. But, since the beginning of high school, Blake has changed a bit, and I thought that's why, and I understood."
"Changed?"
I couldn't imagine what kind of change Blake would have, so I tilted my head. Abel looked into the distance, tilted his head and said.
"He smiles more, talks more, and is more interested in things."
"Eh?"
Abel's words were so different from the image of Blake in my mind that I couldn't imagine him like that.
"Blake often smiles and talks a lot. As for his concern for things, I'm not too sure, but he is very kind and gentle."
Although it's a bit embarrassing to say so, in my heart, Blake is very gentle, caring, often smiles, and loves to chat with me.
"Eh? He is like that in front of Mr. Ben."
Hearing my words, Abel's eyes widened instantly, and then he smiled and relaxed his cheeks.
"That's great."
Abel said softly, with a genuinely happy expression on his face. And for some reason, I also felt a little itchy and my face became hot.