Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 79 - The Proposal

Chapter 79 - The Proposal

Fei sat in the cafeteria, her shoulders trembling as silent tears traced down her cheeks. She barely moved, her hands resting limply on the table beside her untouched meal—a warm meat bun and a bowl of congee that had long since begun to cool. Even the scent of comfort, the nostalgic aroma of soft dough and savory filling, did nothing to ease the weight pressing down on her. She simply stared at her food, eyes glassy, as if willing herself to eat but unable to muster the strength. The quiet, rhythmic drops of her tears landing on the table felt louder than the bustling chatter around us.

I swallowed hard. I had no idea how to comfort her. What do you even say in times like this? Especially to a girl? I'd never really been close to one since high school, and the thought of fumbling through some forced words felt suffocating. Instead, I turned to Remuel, hoping he'd have some sort of plan, but he only took another bite of his meat bun, chewing lazily before giving me a halfhearted shrug. "Just stay quiet," his eyes seemed to say.

I sighed, wishing Myrrh, Cindy, or even Dianca were here. Myrrh—I hadn't spoken to her all day, and there was a gnawing restlessness in my chest because of it. Cindy? She hadn't even shown up to class. As for Dianca, she was in another class entirely, and I hadn't caught a glimpse of her either. Without them, it was just us three, sitting in this suffocatingly awkward silence.

To make things worse, the cafeteria was drowning in saccharine displays of holiday romance. Couples were everywhere—whispering sweet nothings, holding hands, giggling like they were in their own world. Right next to our table, a couple fed each other bites of cake, oblivious to how nauseatingly lovey-dovey they looked. 

The queue for food wasn't any better; pairs clung to each other, fingers intertwined, basking in the glow of some absurd "Christmas Lovers" meal deal. Buy two meals for the price of one—but only if you had a significant other. Orbital Tech was getting more cringe by the second, and honestly, I was ready to leave.

Then, cutting through the thick air, a familiar voice rang out—gentle, warm, like the first breeze of spring after a harsh winter.

"Oh! Zaft! Remuel and Fei are here too!"

When we turned toward the voice, we were met with the sight of a stunning woman with cascading blue hair and vibrant emerald eyes. Dianca stood before us, dressed in an ensemble adorned with elegant purple ornaments that shimmered under the cafeteria's lights. Glitter dusted her sleeves and neckline, catching the glow like tiny stars. Had she come from some university event? A performance? Whatever it was, she radiated a liveliness that contrasted sharply with the heavy atmosphere weighing down our table.

"Dianca," I muttered, almost as if her presence wasn't entirely real.

"Oh, Princess Dianca!" Remuel exclaimed dramatically, raising his hands as if he were a knight pledging fealty. "Have you come to offer me some X-choco, my lady?"

Dianca didn't even spare him a glance. With a flick of her shimmering cape, she strode past him, her gaze locked onto Fei. The playful energy in her expression dimmed as soon as she took in the sight before her.

Fei had wiped her tears away, but there was no mistaking the redness in her eyes, the slight puffiness of her cheeks. The evidence of her sorrow clung to her like an unseen weight.

"Fei." Dianca's voice softened, her brows knitting together in concern. "Are you okay?"

"I-I'm fine," Fei replied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. It wobbled, fragile, like a glass about to shatter.

Dianca didn't buy it. She turned to me and leaned in slightly, lowering her voice to a whisper. "What happened?"

"It's about Neil," I muttered, keeping my words brief.