"Harmony, is that what we think it is?" Beatrice gasped as she stared at Harmony.
It was lunchtime, and Harmony went along with them to the cafeteria without being asked if she wanted to join them.
From time to time, she still chooses to stay away from the group.
Not because she was simply avoiding more attention but because she had a whole load of things to do. With how busy it is, especially since she is about to graduate, she could not really spend time with them.
Though it was already not in her plans, the fact that she was spending time with them.
The four guys were looking at her with blank looks while Kathrine was staring intently at what she was holding.
"Why? Can't I bring my own lunch?" she asked in bewilderment, not understanding their reaction.
"Not that, but it was unexpected?" Beatrice was the one who replied.
Harmony furrowed her brows while looking around where other students were also eating their packed lunches.
Before returning her eyes on them as if saying that it was normal to bring your own lunch.
Kathrine laughed, "That's not it. But well, I guess it is refreshing to see that you are eating more now. Instead of having just bread."
Harmony most of the time eats bread for lunch and finishes faster than the rest.
They barely see her eating heavy meals. And the times that they indeed have the chance to eat heavy meals, just as Gabriel said, she barely touched her meal.
'It was not only him who noticed,' she thought.
Gabriel shrugged when she glanced at him, 'It was normal for anyone to notice it.'
"Are we eating?"
Unable to keep up with their stares, she could only ask.
"We're eating, we're eating," Kathrine chuckled.
They all got their meals and sat down to start eating.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
*MUNCH*
*MUNCH*
Harmony sighed before setting down her spoon.
While eating, other than Luca and Gabriel who were also enjoying their meals, the other four were staring at her while eating theirs.
"What is it?"
The four of them looked at each other.
"We… are curious?" Kenneth commented.
She tilted her head.
"Did you cook that?" Justin pointed at her lunch box.
It was a two-layered lunch box with rice in the shape of a triangle, the famous onigiri in Japan, and some egg rolls and vegetables.
"I did," she replied.
"Really?!?" Kathrine exclaimed, almost shouting.
"Hey, careful with our eardrums," Justin instantly complained.
"Who cares about your ears," she argued.
"I am a musician who needs my ears, will you take responsibility if you damage it with your shout?" Justin retorted.
"Hah, then go sit alone somewhere far from all these noises if you want to take care of your ears."
"And that's enough," Beatrice spoke stopping the argument before it prolongs.
"You really are amazing, Harmony. To think that you can also cook. It looks delicious," she then turned to Harmony.
"Do you want to try?" After a bit of thought, she asked them.
"But…"
Though she really wanted to try, Beatrice hesitated, even the other three.
"I made them smaller, so there are a lot," Harmony said, referring to the onigiris.
"And it is a lot, it won't be finished with you trying it," she added.
Since it has been a while since she cooked a variant of things, she also wanted to know what others think of it.
Beatrice smiled and took a piece of onigiri, followed by Kathrine. Then the others followed. They also tasted the vegetables.
"Wow," Justin's eyes widened.
"This is very delicious," Kenneth followed.
"It's great," Kathrine added.
"Yes, it's delicious," Beatrice said.
Her meal was simple, yet she managed to bring out the perfect blend of flavors from the ingredients.
Luca nodded, smiling at her, "Yup, you really cook well. It is just like before, delicious."
Gabriel nodded in agreement, recalling his conversation with her two days earlier about what he had heard from Luca—that she could cook.
The other four tilted their heads, all their reactions were the same. But the two seemed a little less shocked. Especially Luca's words.
"Just like before?" Kenneth furrowed his brows.
Luca looked at him, then at Justin, who has the same expression as him, before turning to Gabriel, who has no change in his face.
"Have I only talked about it with Gab?" he asked, using Gabriel's nickname.
"Talked about what?" Justin asked as well.
Luca looked at Gabriel, as if confused.
"I was the only one who visited," Gabriel said, continuing his meal.
Luca looked enlightened at his words.
"It is because you guys did not visit me when I was sick," he pointed at them.
"We have competitions. And it was you who pushed us to training instead of visiting you," Justin rolled his eyes.
"Did I?" Luca wondered before shrugging.
"Anyway, she came to help me back then. Cooked some porridge with some herbs. Other than it being nutritious, it was also delicious," he explained their earlier confusion.
"Unfair!!" Kathrine instantly complained.
They looked at her.
"Why did you get to eat what she cooked first?"
Luca was at first taken aback before he looked at her smugly.
Kathrine huffed before looking away, like a child who got mad at her friend for not sharing his treats.
Harmony blinked at their antics.
After some thought, she opened her lips to speak. But caught herself before closing them again, choosing not to say anything.
'I need to get ahold of myself. I can't get too close. If I do…'
She shook her head as she continued eating, ignoring the teasing surrounding her.
But Luca did notice the hesitation she displayed before giving up on whatever it is she wanted to say.
There was even a slight frown on her face as if not liking what she was about to say a while ago.