Good Guy

Part Twenty-two

The Waterside Esplanade was a circumferential park that went around the university's fish pond, a structure previously created for and used by pupils from the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences courses. Now that the two programs were defunct, it served as an open, income-generating outdoor cafeteria for not only the students from university but also the local residents. It was located on the very edge of the west side of campus, perfect for viewing the sunset.

The park, an elegant mix of winding brick pathways and colorful garden plots, was broken apart into sections by various food stalls that sold everything from donuts to grilled chicken gizzards. The place was a famous hang-out for people young and old, including the school's students themselves. It was no wonder that this was where Scotch brought Cleo in order to cheer her up.

They'd strolled along the pathway, passing joggers and dog-walkers that frequented the place during the late afternoon, before stopping near a food stand. The water's calm surface reflected the city lights and lamppost glows, which had just come to life, on the other side of the pond. A few couples loitered here and there, taking in the romantic night view.

"Feeling better?" he asked as he sat down beside her on a wooden bench and handed her some deep-fried tempura. He'd bought them from the nearby store, the snack still hot and steaming from having been freshly cooked not ten seconds ago. He hoped the sweet sauce was good enough to make her forget the incident at the parking lot.

"Yeah," Cleo said as she accepted the food and smiled. "Thanks for everything, Scotch. I feel so silly for acting out like that back there. I hope I didn't freak you out or anything."

He sighed in relief, glad that she wasn't as down as before. He'd hated seeing her that way, her crying only wanting to make him go back to Claravera's desk and demand that the old man go through his documents again. Cleo didn't deserve to feel bad about losing her homework by accident.

"Now that I think about it, I would've been more freaked out if you'd acted all happy and cool with everything," he said, trying to make light of the situation. He wanted her to not feel embarrassed or guilty about anything she'd done. Seeing her sad didn't sit well with him. "I would've assumed you'd been replaced by some impostor."

"That's kinda scary," she answered, an amused smile hovering on her lips and pleasing Scotch.

"How's the food?" he asked before he could swoop down and do something that would make them both blush.

"Perfect," she replied, spearing one of the cut pieces with a toothpick and popping it into her mouth. "I don't think I've ever tried eating at this place. We really should hang out here more."

Hearing her invitation made him grin. She probably wasn't asking him for anything remotely near a date, but it was a start. He'd take all the progress he could get at this point, after that unavoidable rejection a few days ago. "I'm up for it whenever you are."

Cleo nodded, and was about to eat another bite of her food when he sensed somebody approach them from behind.

"I'm surprised you're still able to show your face around here after what happened in Claravera's class," a girl said, clearly familiar with Cleo and what had happened at school earlier.

Scotch stood up and turned his head, even as Cleo tensed beside him. His paper plate and tempura lay forgotten on the bench as he took in the sight of Jackson and the girl with him, who clung to the former's arm like a burr. Out here on the esplanade, they looked like the picture perfect young couple, but he could sense something annoyingly malicious from the both of them, especially Jackson's date.

"I told you to stay away from Cleo, Jackson," Scotch said, still too much of a gentleman to warn the girl off. He'd seen her around campus before, but hadn't really gotten to know her because she and Cleo didn't seem to be close. Judging by the haughty way she carried herself, nearly flaunting every asset of her perfectly coiffured body, he could see why.