"What in the world was that?!" Adelai yelled in disbelief at me as I slump further into the booth.
The nearby cafe from the campus wasn't as packed as it usually was during school days, and the unusual silence in the cafe brought a sense.
"Here you go, enjoy the drinks!" The two sweet beverages were placed in front of us.
"I don't know! She asked and I couldn't just tell her to get lost," I cried in frustration as I aggressively scratched my head with both hands. Adelai was just as stunned as I was with my own actions and he shook his head, taking a sip of his black forest frappe. Aggrieved, I turned to the barista who served our drinks. "What do you think, Isolde?"
Isolde smiled with confusion, her purple eyes squinting at me as if to ask the very obvious question, "What happened, exactly?"
I opened my mouth to tell her what happened but Adelai made quick haste to beat me to it. He stopped mid drink and raised his head. And in the most disappointed and fed up tone, he said, "Jayus is helping a girl get with Hera,"
"You did what!?" Isolde asked in disbelief, the tray falling from her hands was sent clanging repeatedly on the floor.
"I did not!" I defend myself, ruby red eyes staring wide at Adelai's misinformation. That man knew what he said was wrong, so he looked out the window, avoiding my piercing gaze. When Adelai refused to acknowledge me, I sighed and turned back to Isolde, who's purple hair was now disheveled from the moment of shock as she pushed her hair back from her face. Mouth wide open and eyes wide as saucers.
"Don't react like that! That's the type of reaction you should make when someone pushes me down seven flights of stairs!" I grunted. In fits of frustration, I took deep sips of my own drink, avoiding everyone's looks. Beside me, Isolde snorted, "You may as well have, at this point." She sat down right next to me, forcing me to move closer to the window as she shoved her face close to mine.
"Are you trying to be cupid or something? Do you want to set Hera up with someone else? Think, Jayus. Think!" Isolde scolded, her hand grabbed my drink from my own and she took a long sip. After Isolde left the glass half empty, she slammed the glass on the table with a satisfied sigh before getting right back into my face once more.
"Do you know how many people line up just to see a strand of hair from him? I've been working here since the beginning of the year and all I hear about is Hera this, Hera that. I haven't seen the guys but I already know more about him than I do on how to work the ice cream machine!" She said with much indignation.
Hearing this, Adelai paused midsip from his own drink. A long thought process crossing his mind like a loading screen. His lake green eyes shifting on all corners as if trying to catch a thought. "Hey..." He said, a dawning realization seemed to strike light into his eyes. "Is that why you never let me buy any Ice cream sodas!?"
At this moment, a group of customer walked in the cafe. Isolde, refusing to answer Adelai's truth-bearing accusations, made quick haste to escape the situation as she jogged back to the counter. "Oh, a customer! Let's talk about this later, you two!" Isolde said with relief, a sweat trickling down her face as she walked away.
With that, I drop my head back on to the table and let out a muffled cry. What am I going to do if that girl does make a move? It might not have been the first time someone has taken interest in Hera but the mere recollection of that girl. She looked so sweet, and pretty, and she's in the same course as Hera. Who wouldn't fall for that?
Right across me, I could feel Adelai's growing concern burning through my skull.
"H-hey! Let's think positively," Adelai said, "You never know, Hera might not even be into her." He said, nervously in high hopes. Still, I couldn't stop thinking about it. "But you've seen her. This time might be different."
Adelai let out an airy laugh, "You've said that about the last five people who've shown interest on Hera."
"But this time might actually be different, though?!" I said, beginning to sound nervous. Adelai could only shake his head at me. As if he found me to be amusing. A cluttering sound on the floor took us by surprise. On the floor, a spoon fell from the tray of the person moving pass our booth, and it seems she noticed it too, as she stopped.
Adelai picked up the dropped utensil and moved to pass it back to the girl when he suddenly froze. As if stung by a wasp, his face turned hard as stone as he made contact with eyes purple as hyacinths. Long hair like white lotus were tied back into double french braids, and for a moment, a look of familiarity crossed between them.
The girl opened her mouth to thank him when her eyes met lake green ones, and her expression too, turned hostile. She shut her lips into a thin line without hesitation before giving Adelai a disinterested look. The hand that moved to take the spoon from his suddenly closed in on itself and pulled back before she walked away with her friends as if nothing had happened.
I watched this all unfold and turned to the frozen Adelai with concern. "Jeez, what's her problem?" I said but Adelai never responded, he merely stared at the spoon he had picked up. Now I was growing worried the more he remained quiet. It was as if a switch had been flipped in him and the atmosphere around our booth had turned heavy.
"Adelai, are you okay?" I asked. The worry in my tone seemed to snap him out of his thoughts. As if he had just remembered where he was, he set the spoon on the table and shook his head. "Yeah, I'm okay. What were we talking about again?" Adelai laughed, hoping to brush off that awkward interaction but I wasn't having it.
"What was up with her? She was so mean to you for no reason! Do you know her or something?" I finished the last sip of my drink, in frustration. "People can be so rude sometimes." I glance at Adelai, hoping for a reaction, some audible loud agreement to my statement or something. But I received nothing of the same energy. Adelai merely played with the droplets of water around his glass, his vacant eyes staring into space.
"Hm? Yeah..." Came the only answer from him before he shook his head once more. "Let's just forget about what happened. Things happen, you know? Anyways, what are you doing after this?" Adelai asked, taking deep sips of his drink.
I stared at him with a baffled look. But pressed on the matter no further seeing as how he looked desperate to change the subject. "Well, I'm probably gonna start my papers tonight to get a head start. I don't want to end up forgetting them before Hera's birthday next week."
Adelai nodded in acknowledgement, "Oh that's right. You're throwing him a surprise. Sucks I won't be there since I'll be leaving the day before the party," Adelai slumped down the table, his head resting on his palm. "I still want to help you set up for it."
I smiled, grateful at his lending hand.
"Then meet me at my place this weeked. I'll have the materials with me then," I stretched my arms, my smile growing wider than before. "Thank you so much, Adelai. I feel so much better, already."
Adelai stared at me, and at my gratitude, with a blank expression, "Don't thank me yet. I'm doing this as a favor."
He smirked, his eyes wandering about as he tapped his chin with his finger, "I'm thinking of... chocolate mousse cake."
My eye twitched at that, but I sighed in resignation as I took out my wallet. "Fine by me."