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“Dear, is it really necessary to expose your shoulders and back? It's rather revealing…”
“Oh?” Layla raised an eyebrow, “sounds like you’re jealous, Faru.”
“Hm! I suppose your hair does cover most of it…” Faruzan mused, ignoring Layla.
“Faru, if I’m revealing, then you’re ten times worse.” Faruzan scoffed at that. The days when men would line up at her door with flowers in hand were far behind her.
“But then again…” Faruzan started, leaning back slightly to eye Layla’s back, ”your back is rather easy on the eyes, I wouldn’t mind sitting behind you at all…”
Layla hunched over, trying to focus on her paper. “Faru, I’m reporting you to the Matra. This is borderline harassment…”
“Don’t you enjoy it, love?” Layla’s face flamed red. The library exit was looking quite enticing right about now…
“Faru, I’m begging you, please stop.” Layla didn’t even remember how they started down this topic.
“Hm?” It was Faruzan’s turn to raise an eyebrow, and perhaps smirk a little, “That wasn’t what you said last night…”
“Faru! Where did you learn to say that!?” Layla was practically steaming at the ears, but nonetheless still diligently ignoring Faruzan and attempting to write her paper. Was it her or is it getting hot in here? Layla angled her body away, trying to pull her hood lower so as to cover her shoulders. Faruzan laughed at that, reaching over to adjust the hood herself.
_
The House of Danea allows students and researchers to talk freely, but the ruckus Faruzan and Layla caused would have resulted in them being thrown out. Just when Faruzan was reaching the peak of her teasing, Layla caught something in the corner of her eye.
“It seems you two are enjoying yourselves, mind if I join you?” Kaveh set down Mehrak next to Faruzan’s abandoned stack of portfolios. Seeing Kaveh as a scapegoat, Layla immediately scooted away from Faruzan, patting the space between them for Kaveh to sit.
“Layla! I’m hurt! Don’t you want to sit next to me? Are you mad?” Faruzan pouted, trying her best to look wounded, lips jutting out and all.
Laughing good-naturedly, Kaveh sat down between them. Layla immediately buried into his side, trying to hide from Faruzan’s relentless teasing. Giving Layla a pat on the head, Kaveh sighed, “Madame Faruzan, what did you do to her this time? Surely, your teasing can’t be that bad…”
“You make it sound like I’m bullying her!” Faruzan harrumphed, summoning her mechanical device to tinker with. Compared to other days, her temper was quite tame actually. On some days, she would practically explode when faced with statements like those.
Muttering something incomprehensible, Layla opened her thick astronomy textbook, trying her best to concentrate. There were exams coming up…
“H-hey! You guys! Don’t use me as a wall!” Kaveh’s indignant cries were ignored, as Faruzan and Layla buried themselves in work on either side of Kaveh. His presence was the perfect excuse to focus on work, and ignore others, it seemed like.
The awkwardness was thick in the air. Kaveh could’ve sliced through it with his greatsword if he wanted. And for the first time, he found himself wishing for Al-haitham to break the silence. Please Al-haitham…come on…heed my cries dear housemate…!
“Kaveh, Madame Faruzan, Layla. I didn’t expect to see you here.” Kaveh’s eyes lit up. His pleas were answered!
Al-haitham parked himself by their table, nodding his head in greeting. Kaveh widened his eyes pleadingly, willing Al-haitham to take a hint.
Al-haitham, surprisingly, took the hint. “Layla, could you come with me for a moment? I have work to discuss with you. Your recent request for a joint research has not been settled yet.” Ah. He did not take the hint after all.
Kaveh screamed internally as Layla got up to follow Al-haitham to the corner of the library, and the screams deafened as Faruzan set down her papers to look over at Layla.
In his attempt at loosening the tension, he blabbered. “So, uh. Madame Faruzan! Why are you, uh, so angry?” Faruzan’s eyes narrowed, lips pressing together.
“What are you talking about, youngster? You must be dreaming.” Faruzan focused on her papers, leaving Kaveh wholly confused. But nonetheless, Faruzan smiled softly at the sight and thought of Layla. This fleeting look didn’t escape Kaveh, it did make him want to squeal, though.
“Good luck, Madame Faruzan…”
“What…!? W- what are you implying!?”
“Oh, you know what I mean…”
Faruzan was left spluttering, cheeks flaming red at what Kaveh was implying. This was nonsense! Her feelings for Layla were completely platonic! Sure, she put Layla on a slightly higher pedestal than most since the elf was going to live as long as her in the end…but that was it, right…?
“Just some friendly teasing, Kaveh. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Kaveh’s eyebrows lifted slightly, almost wanting to laugh at how immature a hundred year-old could be. Seriously, it was funny how in denial both girls are with their feelings. Kaveh smirked at the thought, in denial? Pah! He could most definitely do better in such a situation.
“Madame Faruzan, I still beg your pardon. However…I think you’re in denial.” Kaveh managed, trying to sound as polite as this silly situation could give.
The response Faruzan gave was as expected. The usual combination of blushing and a fair amount of screaming. She waved her hands around frantically, trying to convey something to Kaveh.
“I- I’m not in denial! My feelings are sincere and true, Layla deserves nothing more…A- anyways! I have no such feelings for her! She’s just a dear friend of mine. And after all we share common interests…”
Faruzan came up with a myriad of excuses, ranging from a strong attraction to Layla’s work to wanting to find out if the girl was a cat or dog person. Kaveh scoffed at these excuses, and on the other side of the library, Alhaitham did the same.
-
“Layla. You know what I mean.” Alhaitham raised a questioning eyebrow, folding his arms. He wasn’t quite sure how he ended up here, but this served as a good source of information if he ever needed to exploit Layla or Faruzan.
Despite Alhaitham’s not-so-pure intentions, Layla still held a great amount of trust in him. But even so, she wasn’t willing to spill. Keeping her mouth shut, Layla looked through her documents, scribbling down something from time to time.
-
Kaveh cradled his head in his hands, trying desperately to wriggle some information out of Faruzan. He tried bribing (though he had no money), pleading and all variations of begging. But, Faruzan was tight-lipped. She flipped through a book, deflecting Kaveh’s questions as quickly as it came.
-
“Come on, Madame Faruzan! I could help you, y’know…”
“Layla, this is vital information. Please tell me.”
““I- I’m not quite sure what you mean.””