Chapter 40 Sleep with Me
Genesis's POV:
My belongings were neatly organized by Forth. He had even thoughtfully categorized and packed everything in storage containers.
I thanked him: \[Thank you. Yesterday I... encountered some trouble, but it's all resolved now.\]
Forth's friend nudged him from the side.
"Forth was worried about you all day yesterday. He wouldn't let the teacher start the bus and kept calling you..."
Forth shyly pushed back at his friend, but I lowered my eyes.
I knew why Forth would do this, but there was absolutely no possibility between us.
Especially now that Eli was inexplicably interested in me. Once he found out about Forth's feelings, Forth's life would be in danger!
"Thank you for packing my things." I looked at Forth calmly. "Actually, you didn't need to go through the trouble. You could have just had Shakti bring them to me."
As soon as I said this, the classmates who had been laughing and chatting immediately fell silent.
My words were essentially a clear rejection of Forth.
Forth also looked at me with hurt, his eyes full of disbelief.
I avoided his gaze and said nothing more.
"It's okay. I'm just glad you're safe." Forth said dejectedly, then turned back to his friends, pretending nothing had happened as he chatted with them.
I opened my book and studied seriously. Now with Eli's situation, I had to ensure I could get into a foreign university and get far away from him.
At three in the afternoon, I received an iMessage from Forth: \[Where should we go for tutoring after school?\]
I hesitated for a moment, then replied: \[Sorry, I have other arrangements this afternoon. Let's skip tutoring for now.\]
Actually, what I needed to do wouldn't take long, but thinking about his behavior before calculus class, I decided it was better to avoid him for now.
Maybe I should cancel his tutoring altogether. Given our current relationship, avoiding each other would be more comfortable.
But if I did that, my behavior would be too obvious.
The unit test was in two weeks. Forth had been making fewer mistakes lately. As long as he got good grades on the unit test, I could take the opportunity to tell him he no longer needed tutoring. That would be a more natural way to end things.
Having thought this through, I took the key Video Production had given me and went to the multimedia classroom.
As Class Representative for Video Production, the teacher had given me the key to the multimedia classroom.
I decided to submit my application here so the Martinez family wouldn't discover it.
If I applied on the computer at home, they would find my destination through the records after I left.
I found a computer in the corner and submitted my application to Novien University of Technology.
This university was one I had been eyeing for a while. The school was located in Novien, the capital of Erysia in the Southern Hemisphere.
Because it was in the Southern Hemisphere, their academic year started in July.
I carefully checked my materials one last time, confirmed everything was correct, and clicked submit.
Just as I was about to delete all local browsing records, a male voice suddenly spoke.
"What are you doing here?"
I jumped, startled, and quickly shut off the computer monitor.
I looked up in panic. It was actually Forth.
I glanced at the computer to make sure the screen was off and relaxed slightly, taking out my phone to answer: \[I needed to look up some information.\]
Forth walked around to my side, placing one hand on the chair back, his eyes showing some hurt. "You're deliberately avoiding me, aren't you? You even canceled our tutoring session!"
I pressed back against the chair and shook my head: \[I'm not avoiding you. I really had something to do.\]
"The something you had to do was submitting an application to Novien University of Technology?" Forth looked meaningfully at the computer.
I stared at him in shock.
Forth had actually seen it!
Forth sadly lowered his head with a bitter smile. "Do you hate me that much? To avoid me, you're not even planning to apply to Walton University that you've been preparing for so long, and instead running far away to Novien University of Technology?"
I knew Forth had misunderstood. I wasn't changing my plans to avoid him, but maybe this was a good opportunity to make things clear. Forth and I were impossible.
I shook my head: \[Actually, my family was always planning to send me abroad for university. Walton University was never my first choice. We're impossible.\]
Forth excitedly grabbed my hand, then realized it was inappropriate and let go dejectedly.
His deep blue eyes were full of sadness as he said quietly, "Even a long-distance relationship would be fine. I could fly to Novien to see you often. Or..."
I knew what he wanted to say, but I raised my hand to stop him.
\[Actually, I've always considered you my friend. Thank you for helping me so much.\]
My words finally made Forth understand.
He said bitterly, "I get it. I won't bother you anymore."
I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that Forth was completely different from Eli. Even after being rejected, he had no intention of making things difficult for me.
We walked out of school together. At the school gate, Forth was still sad.
He asked quietly, "Can you give me a hug? This is my first time being rejected by a girl I like. I'm really heartbroken."
I couldn't help but laugh: \[Being the first girl to reject you is quite an honor. Thank you, Forth.\]
With Forth's smile, I opened my arms and gave him a light hug.
Beep beep beep!
Sharp car horn sounds suddenly blared, startling both Forth and me into instinctively letting go of each other.
I looked toward the sound of the horn. It was actually Eli's car!
I didn't know how much of that scene he had witnessed, but he would definitely misunderstand!
Thinking of this, I didn't dare delay. I gestured to Forth: \[My family is here to pick me up. Goodbye.\]
Ignoring Forth's calls from behind me, I hurriedly ran to Eli's car.
As soon as I got in, Eli angrily grabbed my chin, his face terrifyingly dark. "Is this why you rushed to school this morning?"
How could he make such wild assumptions?
I shook my head with difficulty to deny it: \[I really didn't check my phone this morning. It has nothing to do with him.\]
"Nothing to do with him?" Eli sneered. "Let me think, what was that little punk's name? Forth? He was also the one who put the band-aid on you at the school gate last time, right?"
How did he still remember the band-aid incident!
I didn't know how to explain. If Eli really misunderstood the relationship between Forth and me, Forth would definitely be implicated because of me.
But at this moment, Eli had already moved closer, staring at me with aggressive eyes. "Are you secretly dating someone at school?"