Adrian and I walked slowly toward the cafeteria.
I was still trying to process the question he had asked earlier:
"Your relationship with Anto… is it real?"
I hadn't had the chance to answer yet.
The moment we stepped into the crowded cafeteria, the noise hit us all at once.
Barely two steps in—
Anto appeared from the right like an NPC given the wrong command.
He was carrying a tray of fried snacks, and somehow his expression looked torn between wanting to say hi and wanting to run away.
"Oh… you guys came together," he said awkwardly.
I nodded.
Adrian smiled politely.
"You already ordered?" Adrian asked.
Anto nodded quickly.
"Uh, yeah… this… it's for Rina too, actually."
He lifted a stuffed tofu like he was offering a sacred tribute.
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
"Anto… I never said I wanted that."
He panicked instantly.
"Oh—right?! Sorry! I just… thought… you like stuffed tofu…"
"Based on what?" I asked flatly.
"Uh… intuition? A feeling? Instinct?"
Tian appeared behind him, whispering to Juke:
"Confirmed, To. Stop using instinct. Your instinct also said Rina likes chicken intestines."
I wanted to laugh, but held it in.
Anto tried to fix himself—running a hand through his hair, straightening clothes that were already neat.
He tried to look calm.
Unfortunately…
Calm Anto was even funnier.
He stood too straight,
smiled too stiffly,
and…
kept holding that stuffed tofu like it was a certificate of achievement.
🪑 Sitting Together (Unplanned)
The cafeteria was full.
Very full.
Too full.
The only empty table had seats for three.
Adrian looked at me.
"Want to sit there?"
I was about to answer when—
Anto suddenly moved fast and sat down beside me.
Too fast.
Like a ninja who picked the wrong direction.
I shot him a look.
"Anto…"
He stared straight ahead, tense.
"I'm just saving the seat… if you want to sit next to Adrian, I can move…"
That tone…
Not angry.
Not dramatic.
Just… careful.
It was ridiculously cute watching Anto try to be a "gentleman."
Adrian sat down across from us.
So now the formation was:
Rina | Anto
Adrian
Anto's gang appeared at the next table, pretending to be regular customers—and failing badly.
Tey whispered to Kane,
"Anto's in 'elegant distance mode.' FAIL."
Kane noted,
"FAIL, but cute."
🍵 An Awkward but Warm Conversation
Adrian opened his boxed drink.
"Rina, you were going to explain the assignment earlier, right? Want me to help?"
Before I could answer—
Anto's chair scraped loudly as he jolted,
both hands shooting up like he was about to protest.
But he stopped himself.
Hands down.
Deep breath.
Then, in a very fake-casual voice:
"O-oh… yeah… studying with Adrian is good. He's smart."
Adrian smiled kindly.
"If you want to join too, that's fine, To."
Anto froze like a lagging computer.
"M-me? Join? Study?"
Kane whispered from the next table,
"Answer, To. This is your chance to look smart."
Anto nodded confidently.
"YES. I'll join!"
Then he looked at me and Adrian.
"What are we studying?"
I answered softly,
"Chemical reactions."
Anto stared blankly.
"Oh. That's…"
"…the one you said made you want to die yesterday?" Tian asked from afar.
Anto covered his face.
😳 A Small Accident That Silenced Everyone
I grabbed my straw.
Anto tried to move the stuffed tofu onto my plate—
Too fast—
The tofu flew…
…and landed plop right in front of me.
Three seconds of silence.
I stared at it.
Anto stared at it like it was a hired assassin.
Adrian lowered his head, holding back laughter—but still polite.
So polite it somehow made me feel embarrassed too.
Anto panicked immediately.
"OH MY GOD I'M SO SORRY, I'LL CLEAN IT—"
He wiped it frantically with tissues, but because he was panicking, he just pushed the tofu around the edge of my plate.
I finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Anto. Stop. I'll clean it myself."
He stopped.
Lowered his head.
"…sorry."
And for some strange reason…
I felt like smiling.
Anto glanced at me, his face a mix of embarrassment and relief.
💗 Rina Is Confused
That day ended with the three of us studying for a bit in the cafeteria—
Anto trying desperately to keep up,
Adrian explaining patiently,
and me…
I was busy watching both of them.
Adrian was calm.
A leader.
Neat.
Rational.
Anto?
Clumsy.
Messy.
Pretending to be calm.
But…
There was something warm in the way he tried.
Subtle, but present.
I wasn't ready to think about it.
But I did anyway.