C6 More Mysterious Part 1

My heart is still beating fast despite being in my favorite place for a long time. Yes, this is where I usually spend my rest time while eating the food prepared by my mother, under a large tree with thick leaves that make me feel at home sitting here for a long time. It's very cool and quiet here, besides that it's rare for students to come to this place.

I slowly opened the lunch box. I like mom's cooking because it tastes so good. Mom is good at cooking. That's why I prefer to eat your cooking rather than buy it at food vendors.

"Heeh… stupid girl, quickly stand up!!"

A shout that sounded suddenly from behind succeeded in making me gasp. I looked at the people standing right in front of me. They are already familiar to me, Alessia, and her two friends. I didn't want something like yesterday to happen again, so I obeyed their wishes.

"What did you say to Mrs. Carla earlier? Don't tell me you complained about what we did to you yesterday?" Alessia asked, snapping.

"I didn't tell Mrs. Carla."

"Lie!! Do you think we will believe your word?"

"I'm not lying. I didn't say anything to Mrs. Carla," I answered because I didn't complain about anything to Mrs. Carla. I told Alessia the truth.

"Don't trust her, Alessia. I'm sure she'll tell us to Mrs. Carla." One of Alessia's friends said that, making Alessia's face turn red because her friend's instigation swallowed her up.

"I didn't say anything. Trust me." I'm still trying to convince.

"You liar. Have you just confessed what you said to Mrs. Carla?" Alessia's other friends came to interrogate me.

I shook my head repeatedly, "No matter how much you ask, my answer is the same because that's the truth. I'm being honest with you."

"Don't trust her, Alessia. Think about it if you were in her position, surely you would complain about everything to Mrs. Carla, right?"

Alessia, who unquestioningly believed her friends' opinions, was getting emotional. I could see that from her blushing face. She clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her gritted teeth were another proof that she was holding back her anger.

Alessia returned to grabbing my hair after that, just like she did to me yesterday. No one passed by this place so I couldn't ask for help. The pain in my hair was so excruciating it made me want to scream out loud.

"Jeez, Alessia," I groaned, trying to free her hands from my hair. "I'm not lying. I didn't say anything. If you don't believe me, just try asking Mrs. Carla directly."

The more I begged, the more she grabbed me tight. My head hurts so much that it feels like my hair will come off my scalp.

"I meant what I said yesterday, so you don't need to hesitate to ask me for help."

In this situation, what Luigi said earlier suddenly crossed my mind. Luigi, why did I suddenly think of him? Could this be a sign that I need it right now?

"Kyaaaaa!"

A scream suddenly rang out as Alessia's hands relaxed until they finally let go of my hair.

"L-Luigi, let go of my hand, it hurts."

Hearing Alessia's moans made me wide-eyed. I would hardly have believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. Luigi was standing while his hand gripped Alessia's hand tightly.

"Promise you won't bother Serena again, then I'll let go of your hand!" Luigi insisted, with a sharp tone to his voice.

At first, Alessia didn't respond. She looked at me intently and looked angry because she saw me being defended by Luigi. She screamed again because Luigi seemed to want to twist her arm. As for Alessia's two friends, none of them dared to fight back or make a sound. They stepped back with terrified looks on their faces.

"Y-Yeah, I promise I won't bother her again."

Luigi let go of Alessia's hand. Alessia held her reddened hand where Luigi's grip marks were still there. It was clear that Alessia was in so much pain. After glaring at me momentarily, Alessia and her two friends left us.

"I told you, you have to fight. Don't stay silent if they hurt you."

There was annoyance in Luigi's voice. But I couldn't say anything to him. I just lowered my head and wiped away the tears that had been falling.

"Give me your cell phone," he begged. I frowned, confused about the course.

"What for?" I asked, demanding an explanation.

"Don't ask too many questions. Here, just give me your cell phone."

Luigi raised his right hand, and I followed his wishes without asking again. I took my cell phone in my skirt pocket and handed it to him. Luigi was seen fiddling with my cell phone, his fingers moving so fast and agile. Soon, he returned it to me.

"What are you doing to my cell phone?" I asked, but he did not respond. He sat down, and without asking permission first, he devoured my lunch. I stared at him, surprised not to play. My mouth was already open, about to protest. However, when he saw it, he was very hungry to eat the food.

Teeeet... Teeeet... Teeeeet...

I heard the sound of the bell signaling the end of the break. I rushed over to Luigi, intending to tidy up my food. However, my hand movement stopped because Luigi held it.

"I haven't finished eating it yet. It's delicious. Better than the food at this school Cafe," he said while devouring my lunch.

At this school, all students usually spend their break time at a cafe established to meet their needs. Various foods are available at an even more expensive price than my three-day allowance. Of course, that's a natural thing, all the students in this school don't mind. Maybe in this school, I'm the only one who needs help with the price of the food sold at the Cafe. This is one of the biggest reasons I chose to bring my mother's lunch. I prefer to save my money than use it to buy food at this school cafe.

"Hey, we should get back to class soon. The recess is over," I said, trying to remind Luigi that our recess was over and we should have returned to class. But Luigi ignored me and continued to eat my lunch. I could have just left him and rushed back to class. However, I feel comfortable watching him, who is so greedily eating my lunch, as if he hasn't eaten anything for days.

"Haah ... so full, do you eat this delicious food here alone every day?" he asked while leaning against the tree, his hands busy stroking his stomach that might be full. He eats all I rarely get because Mom makes too much of it. I kept silent while tidying up my lunch box, which was now empty without some food left.

"We should get back to class soon, the lesson must have already started."

Once again, I reminded him that our break time was over earlier, and now a teacher might be teaching in class.

"Leave it alone, it doesn't matter if it's even a little late."

"B-But..."

I tried to refute his words but immediately fell silent because Luigi pulled my hand, so I was now sitting beside him.

"This place is very comfortable, even more, comfortable than the rooftop. It's great that you found a place as comfortable as this."

I just looked at his face, now staring at the leaves of trees that grow thickly. He is handsome, and now I am even more amazed by my heart, which always beats fast whenever I am near him.

"Why do you keep looking at me?" he asked, without turning to look at me but successfully making me gasp. "Are you in love with me?" he added.

Instantly, I was nervous. I was embarrassed because I was too panicked. I don't know. I don't know what to say. My mouth seemed to freeze, and my tongue felt numb after hearing his question. Could he have noticed that I always get nervous beside him? No, I'm very embarrassed.