Chapter 05

To be honest, I could still manage to walk and carry the books with me despite committing a bit headache yet here we are. Aspen insisted to bring me at the clinic after we put the books to the faculty.

"I'm fine. You don't need to waste your time aiding my head here," I repeated but Aspen was lending deafened ears. That ball's impact was not even enough to lose my consciouness off. Although I was slightly walking in zigzag with the books and Aspen was behind me, watching if I ever lose balance. 

In the end, I succeeded from heading here with him since he insisted. Aspen's too worried, I just wanted to go home and squeal like the luckiest girl in town. 

I wast sitting on a minobloc chair while Aspen's busy finding the pain reliever ointment from the first aid kit. 

"Here, close your eyes and lean sideward," he ordered with a gentle voice. My lips even trembled in startlement when Aspen leaned closer to my face. 

I could clearly see his perfect face! This was embarrassing! 

I looked away and followed his words. "F-Fine. But I could actually do it on my own. Just let me apply it by myself." 

I tried taking the ointment on his his hand but he hoisted it upward. "I finally did it so there's no use if you decline." 

"It's okay. J-Just let me do it," I forced and kept on snatching the ointment on his hand until Aspen swiftly held my head's peak. "You're moving too much." 

My breaths became so tight and slow when he gently applied the ointment on my forehead. It's too cold, the ointment's too cold yet my face's temprature at this moment's contradicting it.

"Were you fine?" He ruined the silence and after applying it on my forehead, he put the aid back. 

"Yes, I am fine now. Thank you." I was about to touch my forehead when his hand held my wrist to stop me. Stop doing unexpected actions or I'll be left here dying in heart attack. 

"Oh, pardon." He smiled and let my hand go before sitting on the parallel chair. "I was asking if you're fine these past few days." 

Instead of contonuing to touch the part where he applied the ointment, I parted my lips and fixed my hair behind my ear. "A bit I guess so? It's awkward to talk about it now." 

My cheeks were till rising its temperature. The ambiance was getting heavier now that Aspen's eyes were all on me already. 

"I don't want to think about it again," I added. 

"You say so. It's really awkward," he answered. "You know, who would expect that you're going to confess from that moment." 

I bit my lower lip while staring at my red dress. "It's my fault for doing that carelessly and making you startle. Let's just forget about what happened that time." 

"And..." I intentionally whispered and turned my eyes into slits. Thinking that rejection moment will just become the total hindrance on the wager.

"And?" Aspen repeated that made me look at him. He's really darting his gaze on me. 

"And please, do not feel uncomfortable when I'm around. It's not that I will expect further thoughts, I will just get bothered forever if you will avoid me, ignore me or become uncomfortable." His lips pursed when I was explaining. "Added to this, let us not make my confession a big deal but honestly, I like you so much. It was so careless of me to confess too early like that." 

He stood up which made me do the same. Was there anything from what I've said offended him? 

"You couldn't just abandon your feelings like that after what had happened. Knowing you expected that I'll treat you negatively, you'll erase that by forgetting what was done." 

"I got rejected so that embarrassing moment will bug me longer," I responded but he jut walked towards the exit. "I didn't feel anything rather than getting surprised when you shout it out to me personally, to be honest." 

I widened my eyes at him when he smiled while saying that. He's serious, right?!

"But I'm not telling this to make you expect furtherer." He blinked. "You look really good on red." 

"Really? He did say that?!" Mezakiel reacted with so much dibelief so I only hugged my knees even more. To think that he honestly complimented me earlier! He did warn me to not expect further before saying the contradiction. I'll just fall for that guy even deeper!

Those moment we had earlier was likely decribed to be better than any dreams I had! 

Mezakiel leaned on my couch and crossed his arms. "I thought you'll be the one to offer a compliment to him instead of him doing so!" 

He added a 'pft' and took a cookie over the plate. I pouted. "I could easily compliment him if the image of embarrassment didn't keep on flashing!" 

"But the point that Mr. Aspen Medina really is attracted to women in red?" He confidently raised his index finger while munching the cookie. 

I then just hugged my knees and blushed. "That's indeed a fact. He reacted when he first took a glimpse on me. And that moment is something I would never get off of my head!" 

I just wanted to squeal right now but Mezakiel's still here. 

"Oh, really? Looks like you're the one who's enjoying the game here," Mezakiel stated in a bored tone while looking away. He suddenly looked bored.

I laughed to tease him. "Of course I enjoyed despite saying this is the first step, first attempt and the first day of our game," I responded but he only munched another cookie.

"Shouldn't you be happy that you'll just sit and relax, watching me do the work here?" I questioned with a knitting brows and it made him stop. 

"By just sitting? Come on, it's not as easy as it is to gather informations about our target Medina." He swayed the cookie. "Knowing what places he wants to go, what kind of foods he wants and he's allergic with, if he wants to watch movies or not and his hobbies." 

I puffed my cheeks due to how I interpreted Mezakiel's words as a rant. Compared to his role, mine's on another level. 

"Moreover." He leaned his elbows on his lap and pointed me using his cookie. "You must be happy that you're one step ahead to that guy you like." 

"Hah!" I closed my eyes and crossed my arms. "O-Our goal here is to win the reward." 

"Yeah, you can say it that easily." 

"Believe me! The reward is our priority!" I shouted but Mezakiel ignored my words, he pointed my head twice. 

"Your ribbon? Where did you put it?" Eh? My ribbon? I held my hair and tried cupping my ribbon but I could not touch any. 

My red ribbon! I lost it, I did not even take it off on my own meaning to show it loosened itself. 

When?! 

I began looking around my apartment while Mezakiel's watching me find it. It's better if he helps! 

Not in the bedroom, not in the whole apartment! Which means, I dropped it. 

"Stop looking for that. I'll buy a new one instead!" Mezakiel stated in a lazy tone but I shook my head. 

"No, that ribbon's special to me already. By just seeing that ribbon, I will remember the moment we shared together!" 

He just waved his hands like he didn't care at all. What would I say? All he cared about was the victory. 

"Then if I'll buy a new one, make new memories in it agai---" 

Mezakiel stopped from talking and we both glanced at the door when we heard three loud knocks and a very, very familiar voice. 

My heart joined a race once again when the voice was Aspen. Why was he here? And Mezakiel's inside my apartment!