Chapter 8: The Encounter

Just as she walks past Theo, a masculine voice calls for her from behind. "Hey." Despite Azura's utter unwillingness, her steps stop, and her head automatically turns a little backwards. Once again, Azura's eyes were locked. Like, locked that Azura could not blink, move, or flutter her eyes. But something was fluttering in her stomach, if not her eyes, and she did not even know why! "Please, you can sit here. Next to me. With me." Not knowing how to react or what to say, Azura just kept staring in silence at the man. If one were honest, she looked kind of creepy with that enormous gaze of hers. How was Theo still comfortable With her? And why was Azura already thinking as if they were already together when they were not, and they were nothing! Nothing… Yet. ______ "Hey, hey. Are you alright?" Oka, ybt, was Azura lost in her thoughts that she didn't even realise that she was on the college campus, in the classroom alone with this very man, and she was supposed to be reverting, reacting, or acting? She could not just leave him hanging there, right? But guess what she goes with? Of course, with acted just like the silent saint she was. And so, the lady just shifts her face straight ahead and begins walking forward. The man, on the other hand, was just struggling to raise a conversation with Azura, especially when the girl was just a wisp. He couldn't get the chance to call for her again when more mixed noises filled the classroom. He glances at the entrance, and a stressful sigh instantly releases from him. The group of girls, precisely the duo, reached where Theo was standing. "Good morning, Theo. Seems like you got a little early today." As the subtle scoff leaves Theo's mouth, he purrs, "I am usually an early bird, Cindy. I appeared by the half time yesterday just because it was my first day, and I was instructed by the Dean to do the summit. So I hope you try asking people regarding their acts instead of just assuming nonsense, which is a reflection of yours." Out of all things, Cindy could think to reply to Theo's clarification was an elusive gasp. Her friend, besides her, was just as stunned. Theo raises his eyebrow as he waits for the latter's response. In an attempt to change her expression real quick, Cindy laughs awkwardly as if the man on her mind has cracked some joke. Well, even if he did, the jokes must be on Cindy. "You like to make jokes, I see." Perks Cindy. Nodding at Cindy's remark, Theo snaps, "Well, I do, of course. But that was not a joke. Joke's on you." Cindy hears her friend chuckling at Theo's joke as she glares at her. To avoid Cindy's terrifying glares, Leanne whispers, "Hey, Cindy. Did you notice that Theo is sitting at Azura's usual desk? What do you think? Is Azura trying to steal your man?' Cindy follows Leanne's wor,d s and only then does she notice the odd. "Seems about right, Li." The girl mumbles to herself before questioning Theo. "By the way, Theo. I believe you sat here mistakenly because this was not the place you sat yesterday, no?" "You're right. We were unfortunately paired together because of no alternative or extra space, but thankfully, today, as I got in earlier, I could find a separate and better place." Beams Theo to the latter. "Oh? Is that so? Well, no worries. I'll just get here then." Cindy sparks as she tries placing her backpack next to Theo's, but gets stopped by the young man himself. Both Leanne's, Cindy', and even Azura's eyes widened at the scenario. "Seems like you are not able to listen and comprehend what I'm signaling ng but I'm trying to stay away from you because you're a total headache, Cindy. Which I can't bear anymore." Now, almost everyone has their mouths agape. "Which is why you can't sit with me." The audacity that Theo had was just enough to boil Cindy's blood, and she didn't just up with it this time round. The appearance on her face starts changing from gleeful to galled. "You know what? Just have it on your own because you don't even deserve to sit with me. You're just an illiterate and undisciplined man from the lands of some village which doesn't even know how to treat elegant ladies like me because there are probably none." Cindy spat her rage out while the boy just nodded his head to her words nonchalantly. "Let's go, Leanne." "Leanne can sit here since she's not that much of a pain. Well, yeah, she does have a persona like you, but not as bad as you are, Cindy Sean." Now Leanne's mouth and eyes were wide open, and her steps began walking forward to have a seat next to Theo, but she wasn't able to move after one or two steps when Cindy gripped her friend's hands. "No, thanks. She's my friend, and we'll be at peace without you." Theo chuckles. "Or more like, want a piece of me." "Shut up!" And with that, Cindy rushes away along with dragging Leanne, to which Theo giggles and somehow he could even hear those subtle giggling noises from behind, which he assumes to be Azura's. However, it seemed to be a little late to look when he sees Azura just keeping her head down, probably avoiding any kind of eye contact, probably. But Theo will make sure to have that with her. Even if it means being bolder than he already was. ______ A few batches were passed, and students were now on break. Theo decides to explore the hallway rather than going to the canteen area for some obvious reasons. The best thing was, Cindy wasn't after him anymore, so he could explore this place and person he's been wanting to explore more properly and with peace. To his fortune, it did not even take him much to find the one he was looking for. ______ While everyone has already grouped with their fellows to hang out or for lunch during the break, Azura is here at her locker, nonchalantly placing and settling her stuff. Some nostalgia and memoranda come across her hands as she picks them out and admires them. She strokes her fingertips on the set of photographs she has in her hands as a smile of glee appears on her lips. "Is this a good time to talk to you?" Azura flinched at the sudden arrival of the noise, and all the pictures in her hands fell on the floor. She swivels back to look at the unexpected visitor, and by now, she was not surprised to suspect this Very person to be Theo anymore.