Chapter 24: A Deceptive Invitation

In class, while the lesson was in progress, Dara’s madness flared up again. She was busy sinking into her own world. From time to time she would daydream with a smile, then laugh softly for no clear reason.

At other moments, her hand was busy making circular scribbles like tangled threads in her notebook, accompanied by murmurs and small giggles that made me uneasy. Worse still, every five minutes she kept asking me the time, even though a wristwatch was clearly strapped around her wrist.

Because of Dara’s antics, my concentration completely fell apart. Not a single explanation from the teacher managed to stick in my head. Until finally, the sound of the break bell echoed, and just as I had expected, Dara became the noisiest person in the classroom once again.

“Hooray!”

Her shout shattered the atmosphere, making almost all the students turn toward us. Meanwhile, the culprit only grimaced without the slightest hint of guilt.

Oh God, what has possessed this child now? This must be because of that annoying guy sitting right behind me.

“Frel, Tom, let’s go to the cafeteria. Kenn is coming too, okay. I’m really hungry,” Dara said in an affected tone, sounding overly sweet and exaggerated.

I scoffed softly. She was really good at making excuses.

“Oh yeah, Tom, you promised yesterday that you’d treat me. You haven’t forgotten, have you?” I asked quickly, grateful that I still remembered.

“Yes, I remember. Let’s go to the cafeteria now. It’s on me,” Tomi replied casually.

My smile immediately bloomed. When it comes to being treated, there was no way I would refuse.

Tomi slung an arm around my shoulders, steering me out of the classroom. Every time a female student tried to come closer, I immediately snapped without pleasantries, “Back off. Today Tomi doesn’t have time for you.”

Tomi burst out laughing. “You’re outrageous. If this keeps up, my fans might decrease drastically.”

“Couldn’t care less,” I replied curtly.

I glanced back. Dara kept talking nonstop, like a vendor promoting merchandise on a television screen. Meanwhile, the guy beside her showed no response at all. His face was flat, nearly expressionless. He only occasionally shook his head or nodded faintly.

Truly a miserable fate for Dara. But who told her to like a walking statue like that.

By the time we arrived at the upper cafeteria, the place was already crowded and packed. I hesitated for a moment, confused about finding a seat. Then my hand was pulled by Tomi, guiding me toward an empty bench in the left corner.

While waiting for our orders to arrive, I deliberately let my gaze roam across the entire cafeteria.

That was when I saw several groups of students engrossed in their own conversations. It was not hard to catch the whispers of a group of girls that were growing clearer. The topic was never far from Tomi and Kenn.

Some of them looked at me with cynical stares, others wore mocking smiles without any shame. Even from just three benches away, someone was blatantly staring at me sharply, with a flash in her eyes that showed undisguised hatred.

I straightened my back, holding my breath for a moment. It seemed that sitting here would not be as simple as having an ordinary lunch.

I immediately glared at her. “What are you looking at?” I snapped irritably.

At once, the girl lowered her head. She pretended to stir the juice in her glass, then took an awkward sip, as if nothing had happened.

Such a cowardly mentality. Brave enough to challenge, but immediately shrinking the moment she was confronted.

“Enough, Frel. Just let it go,” Dara cut in casually. “They’re just jealous of the two of us.”

I snorted. Ever since the incident when Kevan held my hand and led me to the cafeteria some time ago, I had actually realized one thing. Many female students at this school had suddenly become hostile toward me. Every time I walked down the corridor, their gazes were always directed at me. Cynical, sharp, even full of hatred. It felt like being in the middle of a pack of hungry lions, ready to pounce at any moment.

But I was too lazy to deal with them, unless they were the ones who started trouble first. Like just now. That girl’s stare really bothered me. I felt like gouging her eyes out so she would learn her lesson.

What had I even done wrong? I did not even know her.

I shifted my gaze to the two boys in front of me. Tomi was laughing heartily, while Kenn sat back with an irritatingly relaxed posture. His arms were folded across his chest, his right ankle resting on his left knee. He looked far too calm, far too confident.

He stared at me sharply, accompanied by a cynical smile that made my chest boil.

I raised one eyebrow. “You too. Why are you staring at me like that?”

He snorted softly. “Stupid,” he said lightly. “You don’t even dare to stand up to someone the size of an atom.”

“What did you say?”

By all that is holy, this guy was truly infuriating. I really felt like swallowing him whole.

“Enough, stop it,” Dara cut in quickly. “Aren’t you tired of arguing all the time?”

“He started it, Ra,” I protested irritably. “How can I be compared to an atom-sized peanut? Annoying, right?”

Laughter immediately erupted. Dara and Tomi laughed at the same time, without the slightest hint of sympathy. My chest burned even hotter, but there was nothing I could do except snort in annoyance.

Not long after, our orders arrived. Without thinking much, I grabbed two glasses of drinks at once and lifted them high, as if about to splash them on them.

In an instant, their laughter stopped. Tomi and Kenn froze in place, looking at me warily.

I grinned in satisfaction.

Silence briefly enveloped our table. After that, without a single word being spoken, we began eating our respective meals. Yet for some reason, I could feel that this calm was only temporary.

“Oh yeah, tonight I’m inviting the three of you to my mother’s restaurant. Come, okay,” Tomi said casually.

I remained silent, not responding at all.

“Seriously?” Dara reacted over the top. “What’s the occasion, Tom?” she asked enthusiastically while leaning forward until her body almost bumped into the table.

Tsk. With acting that excessive, who would even believe it.

I was still enjoying my meal calmly when suddenly someone nudged my elbow. I turned. Dara was glaring sharply at me.

“What?” I asked, pretending to be innocent.

A second later, she stomped hard on my foot. I let out a small yelp and was met once again with her sharp glare.

.....................................