Despite all the things that happened after New Year's, life somehow slipped back to it's normal rhythm, though I can't say I managed it alone, Anathasia had a lot to do with that.
Even now, I still feel the gnawing dread of that girl's hold over me, a presence that lingers despite her absence. Yet, somehow Anathasia's company was enough to sooth those thoughts, sometimes even dissolve them with her antics.
It's been almost a week since that sudden breakdown I had, the one that only subsided when Anathasia came to my side, distracting me from the spiral I was caught in.
I still feel like she ripped me off when she "forgot" her wallet that day. Though, maybe she actually did bring it and just didn't say so. If that's the case, I'm grateful. At this point, It feels like she knows me by heart.
Despite her silly, overdramatic nature, she's actually pretty capable. Well-except when it comes to memorization. But when it's about something she wants, or even I want, she somehow knows it almost instinctively.
Maybe she just remembers the things she wants to remember? After all, she still can't recall half of our classmates' names, even after talking to them multiple times.
I guess she's just like that.
Either way, things have more or less gone back to normal. As I listen to our professor's lesson, it feels like my mind's become sharper-more focused than usual. I'm not sure why, it's made concentration and taking notes a lot easier.
Glancing to my side, I see Anathasia looking focused on the lesson too. And for the first time in a while, she's gone more than thirty minutes without saying a word. A new record for her.
"Hey, you're thinking of something rude, aren't you?" she murmured, giving me a sidelong glance.
"No? I just thought you were really pretty, that's all." I smiled wryly. "Not that you're not always pretty, I just mean you're especially pretty right now."
Her expression went flat as she stared at me, clearly not buying it.
"Sure. Whatever you say."
She scoffed, then went back to taking notes, brushing it off.
Minutes passed in a flash, and before I knew it, class had ended. Lunchtime already.
Our classmates began packing their things as soon as the professor left, so we started gathering our books too.
"So, what's our next period this afternoon?" I asked, slinging my bag over my shoulder as I stood up, watching her pack her things.
"I think it was... Understanding the Self?" she tapped a finger on her chin, trying to recall our Wednesday schedule.
"Don't we only have 5 courses today?" she added, glancing at me.
"Do we?" I tilted my head, crossing my arms over my chest as I tried to remember.
She began listing them off. "Lit 102, Understanding the Self, Literature for Children and Adolescents, erm... Mathematics in the Modern World, and..." she paused, frowning slightly.
"Ah, right - PurCom. Seven p.m. later."
I hummed, then nodded as I gently placed my hand on top of her head.
"Anyways, what should we get for lunch?" I asked as we walked out into the hall.
"Hmm..." she rested her chin on a finger, thinking. "It's cold out so maybe... A warm soup or something?"
I paused, then nodded. "Alright then," Then, a thought struck me. "Your treat-"
She immediately pinched my cheek, not liking the suggestion.
"No. Your treat." she said it firmly, leaving no room for argument.
"Yes ma'am..." I mumbled, gently rubbing the place she pinched as we walked.
"Then good, you're starting to improve." she added.
I didn't know if that was supposed to be a compliment or an insult.
"You're strangely stubborn when it comes to spending your own money, aren't you?" I muttered, my expression flattening as she walked beside me.
As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help overhearing a few of students from our program talk about us.
"Hey, think those two are dating?" a girl whispered, stealing a glance at me.
"Maybe? They've been together since the first semester, weren't they?" another replied.
A few guys, the same ones who'd tried to flirt with Anathasia before glanced our way. One of them scowled, though I didn't pay much attention. I couldn't care less.
I'm not sure if she noticed though...
Then again, why wouldn't she? She's something close to a god roughly, it'd be harder to believe if she didn't.
Ignoring the rumors that had begun to spread, we left campus and ducked into one of the small family restaurants nearby.
Once there, Anathasia and I placed our orders and sat by the window to wait.
As I glanced around the room, I caught sight of Noah walking past outside alongside a girl I didn't recognize.
"His girlfriend?" I murmured under my breath, then immediately shook my head. No, don't assume things. I can't afford to jump to conclusions these days.
A moment later, our eyes met by pure coincidence, but enough to catch his attention. He smiled, waved, then entered the restaurant with the girl.
After placing their order, the two made their way over to our table.
"Yo, how's it going you two?" Noah grinned.
"All's good," I said. "You?"
"Eh, could be better. I flunked my tests again." he laughed awkwardly, scratching his head before glancing toward Anathasia, who was quietly reading the book I'd bought her before Christmas.
"Ah right - this is Angel." he gestured to the girl beside him.
She smiled politely. Calm, poised. The kind of beauty people usually notice. And yet... There was something faintly off about her. Something I couldn't quite place.
I glanced at Anathasia, still absorbed in her book, then offered my hand to Angel.
"Nice to meet you," I said. "Kyle Ruzen Abe."
"Angel Sinclair." she said, taking my hand.
Sinclair?
I froze for a heartbeat. The name stirring something in the back of my mind, faint, half-remembered. But I brushed it off and forced a polite smile.
"This is Anathasia." I said, gesturing towards her. "She's normally not this quiet, but I hope everyone gets along."
They both took their seats, Noah slid beside me while Angel sat next to Anathasia, who hadn't said a word since they arrived.
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.
Her expression hadn't changed, but something about the way she held the book which seemed tighter than usual, made me pause.
I decided to ask her about it later.
A few minutes later, our orders finally arrived. We talked for a while longer, then we went our separate ways after finishing our food.
Angel, as it turned out, was from France, thus explained her surname, Sinclair, and probably why it sounded so familiar. I decided not to dwell on it. No point in overthinking things and driving myself paranoid again.
On our way back, Anathasia finally spoke.
"Stay away from that Angel girl."
Her tone was cold, sharp in a way that made me pause.
"...Why?" I asked.
"She..." her voice faltered for a moment, then hardened again. "You'll know soon enough. Just don't get near her, understand?"
"But-"
"I said DON'T which part did you not understand?!"
Her sudden shout froze me mid-step.
Then, as quickly as it came, the anger drained from her face. She turned, reached out, and gently cupped my cheek.
"I mean... Just stay away from her, okay?"
Her eyes softened, but the tremor in her voice lingered, a kind I'd never heard from her before.
Back home, she continued acting like herself. The usual easygoing, overdramatic, and forgetful her. As if what she had said earlier never happened.
Maybe I should've asked again... but something in her eyes told me not to.
Whatever was in her mind, I hope she'd at least let me in...
Back at their place
"Things have gotten quite annoying... Even so, I'll take you on, Marianne."
The Outer God thought inwardly, maintaining her act in the boy's eyes.
"So give me your worst."