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What an awful day. First, Idia was kidnapped by some ghost lady, then he was promptly dumped by the same person in front of practically the whole school (okay, technically it was much less than that, but still!), and to make things worse, someone took the last slice of cake from the table of food at the center of the rushed afterparty (everyone agreed it would be a waste of decorations not to hold a celebration).
Frankly, it was all a big L, like some god was out to get him for staying up too late the other day playing his favorite game. Sitting down on one of the benches at the side of the room, he sighed deeply, mumbling under his breath.
“The #1 cost of being tall and attractive—getting dumped by a ghost lady that’s living an RPG dating sim…”
It was only when he heard a small ‘pfft’ from his side that he realized there was another person sitting on the seat, and he slid to the very end of the bench, eyes widening.
“Oh my Hades, I didn’t see you there! I’m so sorry, NPCs have the habit of turning invisible—urk, Sevens, please ignore that and, um, don’t kill me thanks??”
The person to his left only stared at him oddly, still laughing, his ginger hair tucked behind him as he too apologized. “Sorry, sorry, IDK why I’m laughing so hard but you’re just so funny!”
“Cater?” Realization flew over Idia’s face as he uttered the name, recognizing his classmate’s face anywhere. “Aren’t you gonna, y’know, enjoy the party? That’s kinda what most extroverts are doing…”
“Ahaha,” Cater’s smile seemed almost forced as he shook his head. “I kinda just… wanna chillax for a bit if you get what I mean? Like the party’s cool and stuff but RN I just need some alone time.”
So even someone like Cater needed alone time? “Y-yeah, that makes sense.”
Cater only nodded, looking off into the distance with a small smile. Idia felt the awkward tension in his soul, shifting in his spot and glancing anywhere but Cater, which felt like playing a game on impossible mode, his eyes naturally drawing to the ginger’s face. He couldn’t exactly help it—Cater was one of the top-most handsome students in the school, and combined with his extreme social skills (™), he was pretty much everyone’s crush at one point, including Idia’s current one (a terrible idea if you asked him).
But here Idia was, in dead silence with Cater, trying to find something to talk about. Maybe it was hard always having to carry on conversations. Damn, now Idia felt a little bit bad for the ginger. Talking to people was hella annoying.
His eyes moved to the plate in Cater’s lap, widening as the slice of cake on it dug itself into Idia’s brain. Wait a second…
“Cater, isn’t that the ultra-rare centerpiece cake that’s pretty much all gone now!?”
Cater blinked. He looked down at the cake and slowly nodded. “Uhhh, prolly? Dude, IDK, someone gave this to me cuz they didn’t really want it.”
“Do you want it, though?”
“…Not really?”
“Then…” Idia felt his palms sweating but he bit back his nervousness. “Can I have it?”
A few tense moments passed before Cater burst into a smile, practically shoving the plate in Idia’s hands as if he’d wanted nothing other than to get rid of it. “OFC, OFC! Thx for taking it off my hands, Idia!”
Idia could never get over how Cater could comfortably refer to people in such a close manner. Granted, he was a third-year, which meant most of his peers were either the same age as him or younger, but Idia was also a third-year, and yet he never (ever) referred to others in a similar way.
But whatever, Idia didn’t stress much about those thoughts, taking a large mouthful of the cake and smirking. It was just as good as he thought it’d be. To think he’d managed to secure such a limited item…!
“Is it good?” Cater asked.
“Maybe a little —okay fine, it’s really good; I mean, what kind of blue cake isn’t good?!”
Cater shrugged. “Well, I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
Idia just nodded, continuing to stare at Cater. He still didn’t understand why the ginger had given away his cake so easily. Did he not like sweets? Or maybe something was wrong with the cake? Was it poisoned? At the last part, Idia paled, looking down at the cake. Impossible; he refused to believe the cake was poisoned. It was just too good! How could it be…? Then again, poisoned cakes weren’t supposed to seem like they were poisoned…
But then if they weren’t poisoned, why would Cater be looking at him so guiltily like that? Did he change his mind? Maybe he actually wanted the cake but give it to Idia because he was just that nice?
Man… normies are so hard to understand.
Gathering some courage, Idia cleared his throat, looking away from Cater. “Do you… want a bite?”
“Ehh? Wait, you’re asking me? Didn’t I just give it to you?”
“Yeah, but…! You were just… looking at me and stuff?? Okay, um, didn’t mean to say it like that but you seemed like you wanted to try it?”
Cater laughed. “I think I’ll pass for now. But thanks.”
Well, if that’s how it is… Idia nodded, going back to the cake with a large smile. Now he could eat in peace, guilt-free. He scarfed down a few more bites of the cake, savoring the creamy frosting and moist cake, closing his eyes, and licking a few stray crumbs off his lips. Now this… this is the real deal!
Cater watched him all the while, head tilted with curiosity, a smile on his face as always.
“…cute.”
Idia stopped, mouth agape as he stared at Cater in surprise. “What did you just say?”
“ OMG! ” The ginger put his hands up. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t… I’m sorry, I really shouldn’t have said that! I can’t believe I just… Ugh. I’m really sorry.”
That only made Idia even more confused. “What? Why are you apologizing?”
Cater rubbed the back of his neck. “Some people don’t like being called cute. I shoulda figured you were one of those people.”
“But I’m not?”
“… Ehh? You’re not?”
“Yeah? What’s so wrong about being called cute? Just means someone’s complimenting me, so I’ll take the W.”
“Really…” Cater looked at him in disbelief, shaking his head with a small laugh. “I don’t really like being called cute…”
Idia shrugged. “I think you’re way more on the handsome side anyway.”
“… EHH? ” Cater glowed bright red, standing up from the bench. “Idia, did you…?”
Oh. Idia felt the tips of his hair glow bright red as well, his flames licking the sides of the bench as he sat still, mortified that he’d just said that. “A-ah, I mean, if you don’t like that you can just forget about it—!”
“No! No, it’s not that I don’t like it!”
“O-oh, okay then.”
Cater sat back down, fingers clutching his seat tight as he regained his senses. Idia couldn’t help but flush when the ginger turned toward him once more, a genuine smile on his face.
“…cute.”
Aaaaaand, that was it. Idia hid behind his hands with a groan. “Cater…”