RIVAL | Levi Ackerman

ix. PIECES OF REMEDY

CHAPTER NINE
PIECES OF REMEDY

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      "Rough night?"

      Heavy lidded eyes and stifled yawns fell upon Freya as she scowled at the bright sun that dispelled an impious shine down on her face from the open window. A worn down fatigue and lost state of mind. A second. Another. It fully took her a moment to register those words directed at her before she snapped her head towards the voice and immediately glared at Oluo who snickered to himself as he sat down on the bench from across the table, laying down his food tray in front of him. Immediately, Freya snatched his half sliced loaf from the side and bit into the warm dough. She sighed in savory.

      "You could say that." She chewed, laying her chin on the palm of her other hand, elbows on the table, and stomach ceasing its incessant growling.

      "I heard what happened." Oluo started, reaching for his steaming teacup and holding it up by the rim. Pursing her lips at the familiar action, Freya wondered how Levi could tolerate the constant impersonation from Oluo.

      Shaking her head, she looked at him skeptically. "Why are you speaking to me?"

      "Believe it or not, you're not that all scary as you thi–" Wedged between the small gap of his middle and ring finger that now lay flatly on the table was a butter knife. The blade penetrating deep into the wood as Freya was now leaned forward whilst holding the handle. Oluo squinted his thin eyes, mouth dry as he resentfully underestimated her. Something about being belittled irritated her into painful antics that she just had to attest them to think otherwise.

      Cautiously, Oluo pulled his hand back from the knife and tugged on the collar of his shirt, throat bobbing as he swallowed, displeased. "I regret sitting here."

      Freya plopped back down on her seat, removing the knife from the table and aimlessly twirling the silverware between her fingers before tossing it to the side. "You're starting to realize that now?"

      "This is why no one likes you."

      "I'm so hurt."

      Petra sat down beside Oluo. Her food tray in her hands as she settled down and immediately dug into her rice meal, unaware of the spiteful tension between the two. That, or deciding to ignore the two's frivolous quip for the time being. "You better have that treated."

      Freya averted her glaring eyes from Oluo to Petra who had a finger pointed towards her clenched fists. A shade of violet and red. Knuckles bruised and skin scraped, white gashes scratching the very bone. Freya glanced down at them for a second, gnawing the insides of her cheeks before giving a subtle shake of her head. "It's practically nothing." She brushed it off, dismissively waving her unsightly hand.