Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 10

Eujae can't believe what he's seeing as soon as he comes back from the restroom of the coffee shop that he often frequents during their break time. At the table next to his, Poll is dining with a woman who is presumably his classmate. Eujae recognizes the woman as the same one he'd seen with Poll in their college building last week.

That time, when Eujae saw them talking happily with each other, he thought they were really close. Now seeing them together again, Eujae wonders if there is something more to them than being good friends. It seems like they are here on a date.

"Eh, choosing the most expensive cake they have here, you didn't really hold back, huh, Poll?"

"Hey, you were the one who promised to treat me to anything if I helped you carry your art materials. It's too late for you to regret it now."

Or maybe not, Eujae muses, sighing inwardly. Anyway, it's not any of his business if they are just friends or more than that.

"What are you even planning to do with those paints and that huge canvas?"

The woman's reply is lost on Eujae as he is more focused on returning to his seat without being noticed by the pair of art students. Luckily, there is a tall plant divider in between their tables that perfectly hides him from the two when he sits down. Be that as it may, it does nothing to muffle the voices of the people on the opposite side.

Eujae tries to go back to the book that he was reading earlier, but he finds it hard because his attention keeps on straying to the conversation at a certain table near him.

"Anyway, why did you give my full name to the attendant when you ordered for me? It was really embarrassing when he called it out loud earlier."

"I don't see anything embarrassing about it. I mean, your real name sounds nice. Why do you hate it? Also, I've always thought it suits someone with a bright personality like you. You're a ray of sunshine, Poll."

Upon hearing the remark, Eujae scoffs. The name suits him alright, but not because of his bright personality. As far as Eujae is concerned, the name is perfect for him because he is hot-tempered. Rather than a ray of sunshine, Apollo Helios is a ball of fire.

"Are you trying to hit on me, Ivy?"

"Nah, as I told you before, Poll, you're cute but you're not exactly my type."

No more pretending to read the book, Eujae picks up his iced coffee cup from the table and drinks from it.

"Yeah, yeah, because that Eujae is more of your type, right?"

Eujae chokes on his coffee and then fakes a cough to cover it up when the old woman on the table in front of him looks over her shoulder to check what is going on. As a response to her curious gaze, Eujae smiles at her sheepishly.

The old woman raises a brow and then shrugs, before turning back to her table.

Eujae sighs. What the hell is he even doing, eavesdropping on others' conversations? Deciding that he's heard enough, he stands up and starts to gather his stuff.

"Well, whatever. Let's just get back to the original topic. I don't wanna talk about that crush of yours, Ivy. I don't even understand what you saw on that guy for you to like him."

I can hear you, idiot.

"Back to the original topic then. So I asked you earlier why do hate your real name?"

"Why, it's weird. I don't know what was running through my parents' heads when they named me that. If they wanted to make it unique, they should have chosen other gods of sun to name me after, instead of those Greek gods."