The Cadet's Origin

Chapter Thirty Three - Secrets Come to Light

Kenna wanted to bang her head into the table until she passed out. She had been studying for nearly five hours, and she was pretty sure that the words were starting to float off the page. Kenna just rested her forehead on the table and contemplated all of her life choices that brought her to this point.

"Maybe you should take a break," Marco said. Kenna could hear the concern in his voice.

"Maybe you're right," Kenna said as she brought her head up. She reached into her bag and pulled out a pencil and a sketchbook. "Thanks for suffering through being my study partner. I'm sure that you wouldn't mind it if literally anyone else was helping you right now."

"Don't mention it," Marco said. "I needed to get the study time in too, and I like the way you study. It helps me to focus."

"Glad I could be of some help," Kenna said as she opened her sketchbook. "I'm going to take like a ten minute brain break."

"Go for it," Marco said as he looked back at his book. "You definitely need it."

Kenna started to sketch out the general blocks of Marco's face. Kenna always liked to sketch Marco's face. His eyes were some of the kindest that Kenna had ever seen. Kenna's eyes glanced up at Marco without even moving her head. His eyes were no longer on his book. They were focused on something outside the window. Kenna went back to her drawing. Kenna drew out the outlines of Marco's eyes. She glanced back up to try and capture the look that was in his eyes.

The look in Marco's eyes made Kenna stopped drawing. She didn't move an inch because she didn't want to startle Marco. Marco's eyes were filled with complete love and admiration. It reminded her of how Reiner looked at her; it was probably the same way she looked at him.

Kenna slowly turned her head. Luckily, Marco was so lost in his own world that he didn't even notice her. The window of the library looked out towards the deck of the rec cabin. There was only one person out there.

It was Jean.

Kenna looked back at Marco. She tried to hide her surprise. Marco and Jean were almost always together, but she never imaged that Marco ever felt that way about Jean. She didn't think anyone felt that way about Jean: he wasn't exactly the easiest person to like at times, let alone have a crush on.

Kenna looked back out the window. Jean was still standing out there. She wondered what Jean would do if he realized that Marco was staring from afar. Mikasa came out of the rec hall. Kenna saw Jean strike up a conversation with Mikasa. Mikasa stopped and seemed to be interested in the conversation from here.

Kenna looked back at Marco. His eyes were back on the page of his book. From where Kenna was, she could see a look of defeat and embarrassment in Marco's eyes. Kenna looked back down at her sketchbook. Kenna pursed her lips as she rolled the pencil around her fingers. Kenna placed the pencil back in the sketchbook and closed it.

"Done with your brain break?" Marco asked as he looked back up at Kenna.

"Yeah," Kenna nodded. She smiled softly. "I was able to get a good sketch of you."

"You sketched me?" Marco asked with a smile.

"Yeah," Kenna said. "I saw you looking out the window. Didn't know you had such a thing for people with a brash personality who likes to get into arguments with Eren."

Marco turned a bright shade of red, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do," Kenna said. "I saw you staring when I was sketching."

"What?" Marco asked. "You looked up at me? I didn't see your eyes even move."

"It's a gift," Kenna shrugged.