Days continued in much the same way, with Harmony spending some time with the group but mostly remaining as silent as always, blending into the background.
"You really love to blend into the background, don't you?"
One time, Luca couldn't help but comment. Harmony looked at him, her expression unreadable.
Luca shrugged, "I just felt like asking you why you're doing so."
Harmony thought about it for a moment before shaking her head.
"There isn't a particular reason. I just don't like the attention."
Luca nodded and didn't press her further.
…
On the way home one afternoon, the four boys were walking together as usual.
"Say, Luca, why are you showing so much interest in Harmony?" Justin asked curiously.
Luca shrugged, "I just feel like getting to know her."
"And… are you?" this time it was Gabriel who spoke up.
The other three turned to him in surprise, causing Gabriel to squint at them.
He raised an eyebrow, "Am I not allowed to ask questions?"
"Well, you're always focused on your books, so…" Kenneth trailed off.
Gabriel stared at him before turning his attention back to Luca.
Luca slightly furrowed his brows, sensing that Gabriel's question carried a deeper meaning.
"I don't think I am," he answered honestly.
"You're not really getting to know her?" Justin reacted, puzzled.
"I suppose you guys don't bother to notice, but if you look closely, you'd realize something's amiss with her," Luca said, referring to Justin and Kenneth.
Kenneth even pointed at himself, clearly not understanding why he was included.
"You feel at ease with her, and that's enough for you guys," Luca shrugged.
"Why does it sound like you're judging the way we befriend someone?" Justin complained.
"In the first place, do you genuinely think you're befriending her, or are you simply accepting her as an acquaintance?"
"We…" Kenneth started but couldn't finish.
"We can befriend anyone, but the depth varies. I genuinely want to befriend her for some odd reason; there's this pull. I want to get close to her even as we grow older. But can you guys answer this? How long do you want to keep getting to know her?" Luca asked seriously.
He didn't bother asking Gabriel, as he already knew his stance.
Gabriel was selective about who he befriended. During his entire time at this high school, he had chosen to befriend only the three of them. If he got close to others, it was for different reasons, often tied to benefits for himself or his family.
Gabriel's interactions with Beatrice and Kathrine, for instance, were largely influenced by the group's dynamic. As for Harmony, she was someone Luca had chosen to approach. Gabriel was merely spending time with her because Luca did so. Gabriel would never be seen approaching her first, though he did appreciate her help during Kenneth's final competition. But gratitude and friendship were entirely different matters.
Kenneth and Justin exchanged a glance before shaking their heads. They were simply going along with Luca. It wasn't as if they were making an effort to truly befriend Harmony or intending to maintain a friendship beyond high school.
"That's why you wouldn't notice," Luca said knowingly, then turned to Gabriel.
"But I suppose, being who you are, you've realized it."
"Realized what?" Kenneth asked.
"That you can't really tell if that's who she truly is," Gabriel replied, adjusting his glasses.
"Huh?" Justin tilted his head in confusion.
"It feels like we're in a play, and she's just an actor," Luca elaborated.
Gabriel nodded in agreement. The only times Harmony had truly expressed her thoughts were when she was accused of hurting Beatrice before the play and when she confronted Patricia over her antics. Even during the bullying, it seemed as though it didn't matter to her.
Kenneth and Justin exchanged another puzzled glance. They hadn't noticed anything unusual.
"To be honest, I think even Beatrice and Kathrine felt the same way," Luca added.
Then a thought struck him.
'That's right. Harmony feels like someone I know.'
"And you still wish to befriend her?" Gabriel asked.
"I do," Luca replied firmly.
Then he smiled, "Because I feel like she's someone worth befriending. Someone who can bring a positive impact on a person's life."
"Even though she's so cold?" Justin couldn't help but point out.
Luca chuckled, "As we were saying, even that part seems like an act."
Kenneth and Justin looked at them with obvious disbelief. It seemed surreal to consider that what they were saying might be true.
Luca shrugged, not needing to convince them.
…
Days later, Gabriel visited the city library on the weekend, a habitual retreat when he had nothing else to do. He often spent time there preparing for the course he planned to take.
And as usual, he found Harmony there as well.
It wasn't something he'd mention to his friends. They weren't exactly close, after all. Most of the time, they simply walked past one another. Since Harmony had started spending time with the group, they had begun to acknowledge each other with a polite nod when their paths crossed.
Gabriel looked around and noticed most of the tables were already full. He had arrived later than usual. Spotting an empty chair opposite Harmony, he decided to sit there.
Harmony was so engrossed in her reading that she barely noticed his presence. When she finally realized someone had sat across her, she moved her books to give him space without looking up.
Gabriel didn't mind. She seemed too focused to be disturbed—at least, until something happened.
*PLOP*
He looked up when he noticed her sudden movements. Harmony had raised her head and was trying to stop a nosebleed.
A drop of blood was on her notebook.
"Hey, you—" he started, but she looked down at him, her eyes widening slightly.
She only realized now that it was him who was opposite her.
Gabriel quickly handed her his handkerchief, which she reluctantly accepted. Then he stood up and extended his hand.
"Let's step outside," he said firmly.