Sentience

25

"I don't plan to interfere in someone's problem but... I know Arabelle so well to tell that she will never open up."

The last word he told Belle's father yesterday when he did the ambush at the parking lot somehow made him wide awake at night. 30% of regret flooded his head at the sudden boldness he got from talking to Mother while another 70% was fear. Especially when he knew he would be seeing Belle the next day.

The father-daughter duo must have talked about it at home. After all, that was what the father planned.

"Thank you, Changmin. If it's not for you, I'll forever be oblivious," was what the older man said.

Standing in the hallway across from each other after their respective class dismissal, Changmin didn't think he was ready to see Belle. But they were now looking at each other; how could he just leave? That way, he would be looked more suspicious, and Belle would be more enraged, saying that he just wanted to run away after messing up with her.

Oh no... Changmin unknowingly gulped upon seeing the subtle smirk on Belle's face even from a distance.

When she and Amy started to take the first step to approach him on the other side, Changmin swore his soul had left his body. Amy absolutely knew nothing, considering that she excitedly waved her hand.

"Did you and Belle fight?" An unexpected question from Kevin next to Changmin.

"N-No...?" He replied but unfortunately sounded unsure making Chanhee on the other side lightly laugh; he immediately slapped the pretty boy on the arm. "Shut up!"

"Kevin made a good guess," Chanhee said, still holding himself back from rolling on the floor. "How could you tell anyway?"

At that, Kevin breathed in, flickering his gaze from his friend to the girl who was now nearing. The answer would always be one.

"It's rare to see Changmin not excited to see Belle. He would always run to her."

The said boy then gave a judging look. Did his gesture; even the smallest, would give any difference? Why did it matter if, this time, he did not run to Belle even after spotting her appearance? How could they simply conclude that he and Belle were on a bad term just from the nonsense speculation?

"Hello, gentlemen!" It was Amy, springing on her feet as she took a halt, Belle was still trailing behind her. "What are you guys talking about?"

At that very moment, if any one of them were really meticulous, they could've seen how Changmin tensed up, and he couldn't even look ahead, knowing that Belle's gaze was piercing through his skull. He just wandered his eyes everywhere, as long as not at the girl.

But, yes, in a circle with various colours, there must be someone who had the crown. And that was Chanhee. He bit his lower lip to hold back the laughter, feeling so ticklish inside upon seeing Ji Changmin chicken out. He would want to see this drama prolonged, but deep down, he thought the pair could settle things out nicely.

So, Chanhee made a move.

"I heard there is a limited edition ice cream at the store," suddenly he announced, all eyes were on him. "They said... watermelon flavour."

"No way, it's watermelon!" Amy gasped, a hand on her chest before she tugged on Chanhee's sleeve. "Let's battle this!"

The next second, Amy was already ahead dragging Chanhee with her. The pretty boy took the opportunity to glance back at Kevin who was frowning at everything that had unveiled so damn fast.

"C'mon, Kev!" Chanhee beckoned, and, to his surprise, Kevin dashed forward almost instantly like he had been waiting.

Up until here, was it clear what Chanhee had planned?