Five minutes passed…and Heos still found himself standing still, unable to move an inch.
"Uh…" Heos gritted his teeth, feeling as if he was peeking at someone else…no, no, this is too weird, what if Nova misunderstood…
Looking at Nova reading a book in silence, he hand tucking his hair behind his ear, flipping the book back and forth with her eyes focused on each page.
So beautiful…but!
Maybe…maybe I should stop…
Another five minutes passed and Heos was still standing still near the public water dispenser.
He bitterly clenched his teeth tightly…maybe saying he liked Nova "just a little" was a lie…sorry…Cupid…
If Cupid saw this scene, he would probably smack him on the head and say "What are you looking at, if you can't get closer to him, then get your ass back home!"
No! Stop imagining, now is not the time to send your brain to the sky!
"Y…you are…"
Heos jerked his whole body up, turned to look at the person who called him and said in panic what was on his mind: "Oh no…oh god…" then he was startled again: "Ah…ah! I didn't mean anything Nova! I mean because…because…" I don't even know…how to explain this…
"You are…Heos…class A-1 right?" Nova gently put down his book and smiled.
Oh my god! Nova's smile is so adorable!!!
No Heos, no! Stay awake…stay awake…He lightly slapped his cheeks, imagining something else…well…what about Cupid's angry face…uhm…
Less than a second later, he felt his cheeks heating up again and his mind was filled with joy at the phrase "Nova's smile is so cute!". No, that's not working! Imagine something else…
He suddenly remembered the day he questioned Cupid about their friendship and remembered the "uhm" sound that sounded like Cupid's laugh…laughs! He started to feel cold, if Cupid smiled at him, if he did something wrong to Nova, wouldn't it be like a wild animal baring its teeth at him…
He took a deep breath and exhaled: "Yes, that's me!" His cheeks were still burning like a furnace but luckily he was happy thinking about Cupid standing behind him and smiling, helping him escape from that dreamy space with that horror or else he would have stood there staring at Nova forever.
"You…"
"Sorry! Just now…I mean I came here to return the books for the class but I didn't expect to meet you and I accidentally stood there looking at you for a while because I think you're a student of class A-2 if I remember right…ah…" Heos said it all at once without taking a breath, confused about whether he had said too much, Heos quickly shut his mouth, opened his eyes wide and held his breath looking at Nova.
"A…ahaha…" Nova laughed but this laugh sounded tired: "Ahahaha…"
Did he said something funny…or…did he do something wrong…? Cupid please help…why is he so pathetic when he's facing the person he like. Cupid told Heos that his strength was enough but he felt like his heart was about to jump out of his chest just by standing near Nova…hic…it's so bad for my heart, Cupid, helpppppp!!!
"Sorry…" Nova then stopped laughing: "You… called my name just now…"
"Ah…!"
"So you're his friend?"
"Ah… Yeah…"
"You are… I mean you're Cupid's friend?" Nova also looked a bit confused, maybe because it was the first time Heos suddenly approached? It also because… the two of them had never talked to each other before, this was the first time ever. Nova can't just act like he knew Heos before…it would make things even weirder…
"Uh…" Heos broke out in a cold sweat and nodded his head because he remembered that he was imagining that there was a god of love smiling and blessing him right here, then he was startled, shook his head and said: "Cupid and I are just friends! That's right, friends."
"Ah… yeah… I know…?"
"I only met Cupid because I wanted to be friends, and also because he played badminton so well, who would have thought he would be so cold and…" Heos suddenly stopped, he can't just continue to talking without listening to what Nova said.
"Ha…ahaha." Nova then suddenly laughed so cutely: "Cupid is always like that…" sighing, Nova said with a troubled face: "I did told Cupid to smiling sometime, but Cupid refused, everyone said Cupid had a dull face but back then, he also knew how to smile, he just don't do that often, not anymore.... Ah…I'm sorry, I got a little off topic…" Nova stopped when he saw Heos walking closer, with sparkling eyes staring at Nova.
"No…it's okay. You…if you want, just keep talking, I'm listening!" Heos couldn't remember much about what Nova said just now because in his mind, Nova looked so cute when he was excited…he was also adorable when he was talking to someone he liked, and he was incredibly beautiful when he was concentrating on reading…
The school bell rang suddenly, interrupting the conversation between the two.
"It's time to go back to class…" Nova seemed disappointed, he nodded quickly to greet Heos and gathered his books: "Uh…thank you very much for chatting with me."
"…it's nothing."
Nova walked out of the library step by step, almost tripping after going out the door, but luckily he was still able to stand firm and took a deep breath, running straight from the library to the familiar corridor of class A-2.
He slowly leaned against the window, nervously, catching his breath.
The window near where Nova was leaning suddenly opened, and a familiar figure sticking his head out, his hand leaning on the window frame, he asked: "Are you alright?"
Nova tilted his head, burying his face in his shoulder and continuing to catch his breath.
"Come on, just two more class. Let's go home and make some tea and tell me the story later." Patting Nova's head, Cupid had guessed what just happened to Nova, but he sure want Nova to tell him about the detail of it.
After days of trying to escape Cupid, and it seemed that Cupid had let him continue to escape without any intention of asking why Nova kept avoiding him, it was fate that forced Nova to be the one to burst into tears and run back to Cupid.
Funny how this had also happened in the past, it just all over again isn't it?
-o-
"So, that's what happened?"
"I'm…sorry…"
"There's nothing to apologize for, but…don't you two have anything else to talk about, why do you have to use me as the topic?"
"I'm sorry…" Nova lowered his head to look at the ground.
The two of them were walking out of the school gate step by step
"I didn't think I'd meet Heos so soon…" Nova gloomily said
"When are you planning on meeting your crush?"
"W…when we graduate?"
"Too long!"
"Eh…?! Just two more years…"
"Two years is short for you?" Cupid sighed tiredly.
"Haha…" Nova chuckled to herself: "Sorry…for…avoiding you."
"No, it's my fault too, you told me not to meddle in your business but I…" Cupid quickly shook his head, he couldn't be told that Heos came to him first…"I was just a little curious."
"It's okay…I knew you would find out eventually. A genius at observing, noticing everything, that's Detective Cupid!"
"Will you stop that already…"
"Hahahaha." Nova laughed out loud, then remembered that Cupid had always been a scary person to bullies…or simply those who showed annoyance towards Nova, of course he would observe what kind of person Heos was after that badminton match that day. There was a time back then…I don't know if Cupid still remembers but he used the base of a book to hit another boy's head because he dared to bully Nova.
"Oh…Yunne." Cupid suddenly stopped, he immediately took a few steps back when he saw the familiar figure of Yunna appear.
"What's wrong Cupid? Ah?" Nova was startled when he saw someone approaching him, oh no…he laughed a little too loudly just now…I wonder if she heard him: "Ah…so it's you, Yunne."
Yunne approached with a basket of cakes and a small pink letter inside.
"Here…I want to give you this!" Yunne pushed the basket into Nova's arms.
Too bold… Cupid stood behind and wanted to clap his hand for Yunne a few times, but he held back.
"Thank you? Isn't this a bit much? I'm not sure I can take it all…"
Oh my! This is Yunne's first challenge, Cupid nodded, cheering Yunne on from behind: "Do your best." he whispered.
"You can take it, I made it for you."
Great job Yunne!
"Really… it's a lot… I wonder if I can eat it all, can I share it with Cupid?"
Nova! No, no, you idiot. Cupid secretly gritted his teeth and shook his head, opening his mouth to say: "It was given to you, wasn't it? I can't just eat it like that."
"Th…that's right!" Yunne quickly rushed over, silently thanking Cupid: "This is all for you, don't…"
Come on Yunne! You can do it!
"Don't let anyone else touch it…okay?" Yunne spoke her mind frankly, but she quickly lowered her voice when she realized she was a bit loud.
"Ah… okay, if you put so much heart into it, thank you for giving it to me." Nova nodded his head in thanks, he found Cupid a bit strange because he usually had the habit of walking sideways or standing behind Cupid, why was it Cupid's turn to hide behind him now? "Let's go Cupid, thank you, Yunne."
"Ah… yeah…" Yunne stood still in place when she had to endure all the power of Nova's smile.
When Cupid passed Yunne, he nodded and raised his index finger, well done Yunne.
Yunne smiled and whispered to Cupid: "How was it? Did I do well?"
Cupid nodded, causing Yunne to smile with satisfaction.
Ah… maybe… Cupid should let Yunne dream a little more… the little dream of a teenage girl. He wasn't the kind of person who would destroy such a beautiful dream… dream while you still can, Yunne.
After they got to Cupid house, Nova saw the letter that Yunne written and open it
"Enjoy your meal… oh." Reading Yunne's little letter, Nova tried to eat one: "Uh! This is so good! I really admire people who know how to make cakes like these…"
"Yeah…" Cupid rolled his eyes, Nova was commenting on Yunne's cake as a chef, not as a high school student who got a cake from someone who liked him…can you mind putting more thought on it…
"Cupid… I forgot, there's something I need to say."
"Uh?"
"After today, I won't be able to come to your house anymore, just bear with it for about a week!"
"Huh…what…student exams?"
"Yeah! It's next week."
"Ah…do your best then." Patting Nova on the shoulder, Cupid immediately heard his phone vibrate. He quickly opened it to check, it turned out…it was a message from Yunne…she was asking Nova how the cakes were. He said they were delicious, Cupid replied and turned to ask Nova: "Then why don't you go home and study today?"
"Hey! Can't I come over and make the last meal! If I lay my eyes off of you, you only eat fried rice or fried eggs!"
"Uh…you caught me."
"It would be strange if I didn't find out!"
"Oh…"
This time it was Nova's phone that vibrated.
"A call."
"Ah…Dad is calling…"
"You answer the phone, we'll talk later."
"It's okay…Dad is probably calling to ask where I am."
"Huh? Didn't you tell your dad you came to my house?"
"No…it's just that, the gifted student exam is coming up soon, so dad is a bit worried…"
"Oh…" Cupid frowned and whispered, "Then you go home first."
"What about dinner?"
"I can cook it myself or order takeout, you go home first, be careful not to get scolded."
"Haha…I know."
Cupid rolled his eyes, thinking that he was afraid that Nova's dad would really scold him, and pushed Nova out the door.
"See you tomorrow, Nova."
"Ah… Okay! See you tomorrow."
Cupid sighed, standing in front of the closed gate.
At this rate, Yunne should just write a love letter… Nova… he was indifferent to everything except studying, he couldn't see other people's feelings, a good person but not good at empathizing with others, that was the Nova he had always known.