Sentience

35

Changmin's reason surprisingly had led Belle to have a reality check; in a good way.

She didn't know how his words could've affected her so much, but Belle found herself levitating once she heard it out of Changmin's mouth. Somehow the boy's clarification of how they could be friends made Belle feel appreciated; if it was valid. A loner tear unknowingly dripped from her eye as his comforting words registered into her brain in the corridor of the hospital and her legs almost lost all the energy to stand, creating a feeling that she was unable to describe the soothe.

He originally wanted to be her friend.

Belle was aware that she had been so distant after Brianna introduced both of them to each other. She didn't find any reason to befriend Changmin back in the day, though her sister always talked highly about the boy to her. If she needed to tell the truth, she wasn't really happy when she overheard the two talk about the deal they sealed. For, she felt like Brianna was trying to throw her away; Belle felt abandoned.

However, after her sister's sudden passing, she was really in a hard time adjusting and she honestly had no time to filter whoever approached her, sending condolences that were full of sympathy. But, she could confirm that she was glad that she didn't push Changmin away that time. For, she thought maybe she could give the boy a chance to prove himself about the deal he made with Brianna.

Words were not enough to describe how ecstatic Belle was upon finding out the truth; Ji Changmin was anticipating being her friend. Because she didn't lie that the boy had changed her mindset as they sailed through the days together; he wasn't an acquaintance of Brianna but Belle's new friend.

Of course, she never told him that. Because she was scared. What if he didn't think the same? She had always thought.

All night long, Belle had been crying; happy tears tainting her cheeks. Maybe, at one point, she could never move on from the fact that Brianna had left her, but on the other hand, she knew a small part of her should be thankful. If this unfortunate event hadn't happened, she and Changmin would never know each other.

And that, she was now trapped in a dilemma.

What should I do now? The question lingered around her head, running in circles and never leaving no matter where she was and what she was doing; like right now as she stared outside from the back seat of her stepmother's black MPV, the only thing snapped her back to reality was a soft shriek from her left side.

By reflex, Belle whipped her head and immediately her eyes widened. Jinwoo was having a cream bread in his car seat since they left their house and the bread fell on his lap; the cream tainting his school's shirt.

"Don't touch it!" Like she had been programmed to respond within one second, she grabbed the leftover bread laid on the boy's lap, obviously did not care if her hands would be stained with the cream instead. "Wet tissues..."

She started rummaging into her bag with her free hand, a bit frustrated that she couldn't find the packet; she softly groaned which didn't go unheard by the parents at the front.

The mother glanced from the front seat, "It's okay, Belle. I'll clean him up later."

"Why can't I find the tissues?!" She became more frustrated.

"Arabelle..." Then, her father sternly called, catching her through the rear mirror; slightly glaring. "It's not a big deal, why you're stressing yourself?"

She groaned again, her insides felt squeezed.

The mother then passed the bread wrapper which she kept after popping it up for Jinwoo earlier to Belle, asking her to shove the remaining dough into it. Belle was then drowned in her thought again as a faint don't touch the cream was heard for what she assumed was a warning from her mother to Jinwoo.

She slumped in her seat and eyes darted to her shoes, subconsciously admitting her wrongdoing for bursting, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Her mother asked.

"Anything..."

A short silence then fell, and the parents exchanged glances. The mother seemed to give an unspoken signal for the father to take over, probably because she thought Belle would've responded if it was him who talked.

And that, Belle's father started. "You looked different after going to the hospital with Changmin yesterday. Did something happen?"

Yes, something happened, she said in her head as she stared outside again.

"Nothing..." Her mouth lied.

"Why were you two fighting in the first place?"

Belle's breath hitched. The question thrown obviously was harmless yet she felt as if a machine gun was pointed in her direction and the shooter was ready to pull the trigger.

Her eyes flickered from her father to her stepmother, and an unsettling feeling engulfed her tight. How could she tell them that Changmin met her real mother? Especially when her stepmother was here in the car.

Belle had a promise she made up to herself on the day her stepmother welcomed her into their small family. That, not to mention anything about her real mother which she was sure she could fulfil nicely. For, this lady was too much better than her own back at home.

But, was she needed to break her promise now?

No, she had concreted her mindset.

"Not important," she said, unbuckling the seat belt as her father slowed down to the curb of the campus.

"Ah... seems like you two have reconciled," the mother then announced, sparking curiosity from Belle's stomach.

What does she mean?

And the answer had come to her in the form of magic.

At the curb, Ji Changmin was standing alone in a checkered red shirt with a sling on, obviously waiting for her arrival. Like usual. He was smiling ever so widely until the beautiful dimples popped out, waving his free hand at the car as soon as the vehicle pulled over.

He acted totally normal. Greeting Belle's parents, opening the back door for the girl to come out and attempting to take her bag. Like usual.

What was different this time was, that Belle didn't let him take the bag considering his injury. Her brows furrowed expressing her disapproval which did nothing but Changmin agreed; shrugging with pursed lips.

Bidding the parents and Jinwoo a simple goodbye, Changmin; still with a smile on, glanced over at Belle. He must have been studying her thoroughly to let a soft gasp out as he darted his gaze at her hand.

"Why there is cream?" His one hand started rummaging into his pocket, pulling out a handkerchief and swiftly wiping the beads of cream from her fingers. "Jinwoo must have been enjoying a cream bread."

Other people might have found it creepy to have someone correctly guessed. But, it had never been the case of Arabelle. While the boy cleaned her up, she took the precious time to just skim every corner of his face thoroughly, letting the unsettling feelings inside her bloom even wider.

"How's your photography project?" She found herself asking as soon as Changmin kept the handkerchief back. "You're running out of time."

The boy dragged his gaze to the sky; head tilted. "I've changed my concept and I'm working on the new one."

"Why?" The question came out sounding too stern, catching the attention of students passed by who had just assumed that the two were having a love quarrel.

"Hmm... You aren't comfortable with it," Changmin started to walk, knowing well that she was following closely behind. He then halted, turning around to find her face. "But... you are still my model. However! I won't tell you what I've planned. It's a surprise."

Belle remained silent, her face was blank. The only thing that lingered in her head right now was, how?

How things should be going from here?

He'd done his part, obviously. He was trying his very best just to have them back to normal; supportive best friends. And now, what was left was Belle's part.

And that was how Arabelle found herself taking a few steps closer to him until she could reach the sleeve of his checkered shirt.

"I want to tell you everything. About my past."