Fina and her cronies were stunned speechless. It seemed they still couldn't process what Larry had just said.
"She's your sister, Larry?"
Surprisingly, Richard Black was the first to respond. His eyes moved between me and Larry.
Under the warm orange lighting that sharpened the fierceness of his dark-red eyes, I swallowed hard when our gazes met.
It felt like plunging into a sea of red waves.
For sometimes, he didn't look away.
My heart started racing again, faster and faster.
Our eye contact broke when Larry pulled me behind him with a protective gesture.
I stared at him, puzzled. Was that really necessary?
Wasn't he afraid of offending the firstborn son of the Black Pack's Alpha?
"Brother Richard, did you come with Adrian?" Shannon asked, breaking the awkward silence.
Richard nodded.
"I want to greet him. Let's go," Shannon said with her sweet smile. She really was adorable.
Her blonde hair still shone even under the dim lights. Her blue eyes were crystal clear, just like Larry's. If not for that, they didn't look much like siblings.
In the end, we decided to go.
Larry glanced at Fina and her cronies, who were still frozen in place. He scoffed before following us.
I hadn't realized that behind Larry's silent behavior, never clear whether he welcomed me or not, he had this side to him.
I had been betrayed too many times. Especially by Oscar.
Honestly, that betrayal shattered my trust in people.
Stupid Oscar the monkey!
I ended up assuming everyone was the same, when there were people like Larry, someone who simply couldn't express his feelings in words. Someone you could only understand after he acted.
Without realizing it, a smile appeared on my face.
In the midst of that, my right cheek suddenly grew hot.
When I turned, Richard was looking at me again with those burning red eyes. A gaze so intense my heart kicked back into a frenzy.
What was happening?
Did I… like him?
But what did "liking" someone even feel like?
My feelings for Oscar were more like… gratitude for being there. Not love.
"Brother Larry, Sister Clarissa, do you want to greet Adrian too?" Shannon's voice snapped me out of my thoughts.
I shook my head. "I'll head back. Mom is waiting alone."
Larry followed me as well.
Shannon and Richard went the other way. That intense gaze finally disappeared.
I pressed a hand against my racing chest, shaking my head quickly.
My attention shifted to Larry, who had gone back to being the silent Larry.
"How did you two end up at the restroom?" I asked.
"Adrian told Shannon he was here. We were going to see him when we heard commotion coming from the restroom," Larry explained.
I nodded and let out a relieved breath.
We returned to finish our meal. Not long after Shannon came back from the Black siblings' room, we went home. Shannon herself left with the Black siblings.
"Shannon is engaged to Adrian. They've been close since childhood," Eileen explained, even though I didn't ask.
I already knew. Nadia had told me. Everyone at the academy knew those two families were close.
Not my business, anyway.
...
Mrs. Willette closed her book. Class had just ended, but she didn't move.
"I still have an announcement for all of you," she said.
The whole class groaned, annoyed that their break time was being cut.
But her sharp glare instantly silenced the room.
I chuckled quietly. It seemed everyone forgot how terrifying Mrs. Willette could be when she was serious.
"Stay quiet so I can finish this quickly," she snapped.
"There will be a Rookie Ae-Engineer Competition…"
My eyes widened with excitement. This was what I had been waiting for!
Ae-Engineers were Engineers who created devices using orb-extracted Aether.
Com-orbs, surveillance orbs, and countless other devices were their creations. By extracting Aether and connecting it to other mechanisms, they could build anything.
Long ago, long-distance communication could only be done by Alphas to their pack members using mind-link, and only within a limited range.
Now everyone could talk using com-orbs.
The devices were expensive, so not everyone owned them, but it was still a huge improvement.
As a child who grew up as an orphan, there were many things I never got to experience. I wanted people like me to feel less of that gap through devices I created.
"You can build any type of device as long as it uses Aether. Once you're done, submit it to me."
After saying that, Mrs. Willette left. The students scattered instantly.
"Do you have an idea already, Clarissa?" Nadia asked. She knew exactly how long I'd been waiting for this competition.
I nodded firmly.
This year's device would be an improved version of the one I made last year. Unfortunately, I lost back then.
But that was fine. Losing only pushed me to create something better.
After a little chat, we headed to the cafeteria.
We'd barely taken one step out the door when we stopped. Larry and Shannon were there.
Shannon cheerfully hooked her arm with mine. "Let's have lunch together!"
"I…" Before I could even think, they dragged me away.
I only managed to signal Nadia with my hand, telling her to go eat without me. I didn't catch her reaction.
The two brought me to the garden by the lake. It was beautiful and peaceful, but not a popular spot.
"We left from home this morning, mom packed lunch for you. She told us to eat together, Sister~"
Shannon held up the lunch box. Beside her, Larry nodded.
With the situation like this, I couldn't possibly refuse.
I helped Shannon unpack the wooden lunch box. It looked expensive. A deep crimson red, stunningly polished.
But the moment my hand touched it, something pricked at my fingers, like tiny needles.
"What's wrong, Sister Clarissa?" Shannon asked anxiously. "Are you… allergic to crimson oak?"
I knew crimson oak was a luxury wood used for food boxes and cosmetic containers to add fragrance.
But not everyone could handle it.
Luckily, crimson oak was expensive. Only wealthy people used it, and they usually knew their allergies.
Me?
"I don't know. This is my first time touching crimson oak," I admitted honestly.
"Then you really are allergic. Mom is allergic to crimson oak too."
"Then why did she use a crimson oak lunch box?" I asked, confused.
Shannon answered with sad eyes. "At home, only Mom is allergic to it. Dad, Larry, and I are all allergic to Rock Moon Mineral. So I thought you wouldn't be allergic either…"
"I'll buy lunch from the cafeteria." Larry cut her off before she could start crying.
He turned to me. "Don't eat this. Wait for me."
Without waiting for my reply, he walked off. Larry really was a good brother.
My gaze shifted to Shannon, whose eyes were already watery.
Even without her explaining, I could tell she was the one who suggested using the crimson oak box.
I patted my twin's shoulder. "It's fine. Don't be sad. I only just learned I'm allergic, how could you know?"
Shannon nodded like a little chick.
She really was adorable.
...