Their Parallel Universe ✓

Chapter 15

There is no way he can call the guy 'ugly' because anyone who knows him would definitely object to the tiniest criticism on his face.

In the past, he let Gaele in on that little secret. What he didn't tell his online friend at that time is that among those people who would disagree is none other than himself. Not that he is ever going to admit it to anyone.

He doesn't know how to explain it exactly because descriptive words are not his strongest suit. Besides, he doesn't think there is a perfect adjective to define the guy's appearance. But if he has to do it in his own way, then he'd say that Eujae Nigel Castillo is like a male character who had stepped right out of an aesthetically pleasing anime.

Huh? Why does it feel like this is not the first time he had thought the same thing?

Poll hears someone clear their throat, snapping him out of his reverie. He straightens his neck to return his gaze forward and then winces, feeling light-headed at the sudden movement. Turning to his left where he heard the sound, he sees Cloud with a lopsided smile while looking at him. At them.

"Excuse me, you two," Cloud starts, brow quirking, as he looks back and forth between Poll and Eujae, "I don't really know what's going on here but I just want to remind you that you're in a public place. Can you tone it down with the PDA?" He grins, looking proud for being able to throw Poll's earlier words back.

Poll glares at him, before regarding their other friends. Aside from Cloud, they have all gone silent. Risa and Nick are gawking at them and looking as if they have seen a ghost. Tem has a blank look on her face despite the hard stare that she's giving them while Lia's expression is a mix of puzzlement and relief.

A chuckle comes behind him and Poll resists the urge to turn around and look at the person again. There is another light, quick touch on his head which surprises him. Embarrassed, he feels his face heat up. Why does the jerk keep doing that? It is as if he is being taken for a child.

Frowning, he whips his head so he can ask Eujae what is wrong with him but the guy is already rounding the table. Poll follows him with his eyes, lips sticking out in displeasure, until Eujae settles beside his cousin.

Their friends are still not saying anything. It seems as though they have forgotten about lunch as they have found something more interesting than food. Poll notices the ones across them staring at Eujae with bewildered looks on their faces.

Ignoring them, he gestures to the box of muffins and asks, "What's this?"

Eujae looks at him as if he just asked something stupid and answers in a deadpan, "Chocolate muffins."

"No shit, Sherlock." Poll narrows his eyes as Eujae puts on a straight face. He has always thought he can't stand that expression every time they get into an argument, but Poll finds it more infuriating now that they are not fighting and Eujae is behaving in a contradictory way. He can't figure out what exactly he is planning. "I was asking what these are for."

A smile slowly crosses Eujae's lips again, making Poll more confused. Confused by how the guy is behaving. And confused by how he feels about it.

"Sorry that it's late. I also planned to make a flan in a cup to make up for the delay and since it's easier to make than an actual crème caramel but I ran out of time last night so I was only able to make those. I still have the ingredients for the flan though so I'll make it for you next time." Eujae pauses and shifts his eyes sideways, looking as if he's trying to recall something, before returning his attention to Poll. "Oh, and it was my first time making sweets so please cut me some slack if it's not very good."

He failed to give heed to it earlier because he was too distracted with a lot of things to listen well, but now that he can hear Eujae better, Poll notices the hoarseness in his voice. Additionally, from this clearer angle, the guy's eyes look glazed.