Chapter 131: Jealousy

"What's wrong, dear?" Kevan asked while looking at me gently.

I stammered. "I’m confused about which seat is mine." While scratching the back of my neck, I pretended to look for my seat again.

Kevan chuckled. He pulled my waist closer until my body turned to face him. He placed both of his hands on my waist. My head immediately lifted quickly. Suddenly, cheers were heard from various directions.

"Look, there's free entertainment again!"

"I want something like that too!"

"Careful, the atmosphere is starting to heat up."

"Hot, hot, do you think it's hot tea!"

From the various voices that were heard, I knew that one of them belonged to Udin. Unfortunately, this time I couldn't reply to his words like I usually did when he started talking carelessly. Let alone fight back, it felt difficult even to move my head. I could only stay silent while grimacing stiffly. I really wasn't ready to face a situation like this.

"Do you want me to find it for you? I know where your seat is." Kevan lowered his head, observing me with a calm gaze.

Not long after, I smiled and nodded firmly. I accepted Kevan's offer without thinking twice. I carved a cheerful smile with a radiant face, like the beautiful colors of the morning sky. And indeed, it should be like that, right?

"Wow, Frel is cheerful again!" Udin exclaimed.

It didn't take long for me to immediately lower my head, take off my shoe, and throw it toward Udin.

Damn, my throw missed.

Udin's laughter grew louder. Shamelessly, he took my shoe and ran away with it. As a result, a chasing scene happened between Udin and me.

"Come here! Don't run away!"

The sound of our feet pounding against the floor broke the morning silence, creating quite a disturbing commotion.

However, suddenly Kenn stood up. Udin, who was not ready for the obstacle in front of him, immediately slammed on the brakes dramatically. He almost slipped if his hand had not grabbed onto the seat on the left side.

I stopped in my tracks. Udin was seen smiling awkwardly while scratching the back of his head. Meanwhile, Kenn, with his flat expression, immediately flicked Udin’s forehead hard. This made Udin rub the area that had been flicked while continuing to show an unclear expression.

Without needing to be told, Udin voluntarily handed my shoe to Kenn. I briefly saw Maya pinch Udin’s ear while pulling him back to his original seat.

“Ouch, Maya, that hurts. I’m sorry, I was just joking to make the atmosphere more lively.”

“That’s not the way, dear. Do you want to get beaten by Kenn?” Maya replied sharply.

I chuckled when I heard the funny argument of the new couple. They were in a relationship now. I didn’t know how the story went until Maya finally gave in to Udin’s persuasion. They were a unique couple, yet strangely, they always managed to show affection in their own way.

In the middle of my attention being absorbed by Udin and Maya, I didn’t realize that Kenn was already standing in front of me. He looked at me straight. Suddenly, Kenn crouched down with one knee touching the floor. He gently lifted one of my feet, then carefully put my shoe on. He also tied the laces thoroughly and patiently.

My body froze. I stood still, watching Kenn with my heart pounding uncontrollably. The room became silent as Kenn did that sweet act for me.

However, that moment only lasted briefly. As soon as Kenn finished putting on my shoe, whispers began to be heard again when Kevan suddenly stood beside me. My heart raced, and a sense of alertness began to attack me.

When Kenn stood up with both hands hidden in his pants pockets, their sharp eyes met again. Kenn was not affected at all. He even gave a challenging response through his flat expression.

I stood there feeling afraid. Panic began to overwhelm me. The atmosphere was still tense, and this time I had to act quickly before another argument happened.

“Kevan,” I said while holding Kevan’s hand. A smile bloomed on my lips. “Come on, you said you wanted to show me my seat, right?”

Kevan turned to look at me. His smile appeared and he nodded in agreement. Immediately, Kevan extended his hand to me right in front of Kenn. I accepted that outstretched hand with an unsettled heart.

Did Kevan do it on purpose?

Without daring to glance at Kenn even a little, I turned around with Kevan, who was tightly holding my hand. We walked toward the bench that was now the only empty seat there.

I quickly turned to Kevan, who sat down beside me. I frowned. “Why are you sitting here?”

Kevan smiled faintly while handing his seat number to me.

My eyes widened, and I almost gaped when I realized it. “We’re seatmates?”

“Yes, we’re seatmates,” he replied with a small chuckle.

I felt surprised, still unable to believe Kevan’s answer. “How is that possible?”

Kevan smiled amusedly while rubbing the top of my head. “Our numbers are both odd. Our pairs are determined according to the order of numbers on each class’s name list.”

I nodded after understanding his explanation. “Alvin, Ari, Dara, and Tomi aren’t in this room. That means they’re in the even numbers?”

Kevan nodded firmly. “They’re all in one room in the class next door.”

I couldn’t imagine what the situation was like there with Ari and Dara. Ah, luckily Alvin wasn’t in the same room as me. At least I could breathe a sigh of relief that there would be no more disturbances from him.

A few minutes later, the bell rang. At the same time, Mrs. Sari entered the room with quite a frightening expression, carrying a stack of exam papers.

Trying to act normal, I whispered to Kevan, “Do you know who Mrs. Sari is?”

He shook his head slightly. Naturally, I had heard that Mrs. Sari was indeed a new teacher at this school.

I whispered even more softly, “Mrs. Sari is our math teacher. She is the scariest teacher. Be careful, she can be fiercer than a lioness.”

Kevan immediately held back his laughter. I thought the atmosphere was starting to lighten. I was happy to see that his reaction had returned to being relaxed and calm.

Before focusing on the exam questions, I gathered my courage to glance toward Kenn. His seat was right behind me, only one desk away. I briefly saw his gaze sharpen and turn cold. His jaw tightened, with his hand clenched tightly on the desk.

His expression reminded me of what happened at the orphanage in the past. A flashback of the fire of anger that suddenly appeared in his eyes when my hand was held by Kevan. It was exactly the same as now.

Now I knew for sure what the cause was.

Jealousy. Yes, Kenn was jealous. Just like me when I saw him with Gita.

I smiled bitterly to myself. Forgive me, Kenn.

Finally, I refocused on the exam questions in my hand, trying to stay concentrated for the next five days.

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