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Agott really hated her, Coco concluded. Even much more whenever Tartah is with Coco. She'd always send a subtle glare towards them every time Coco's brainstorming things with Tartah—she couldn't help it, as someone who hasn't gone under a witch training but still get exposed to their daily lives, he have a way to simplify things for Coco's perspective.
If she hadn't known any better, she'd think that Agott would have a crush on Tartah. A sudden sting strokes her chest the moment she thought of it. Hm, what if she tries to lessen their time together—maybe that'll appease Agott?
But then again, it'd take an effort for Coco as not to make it noticeable to Tartah. Then an idea dropped on her head. Ah! What if she tries to be a cupid for them? That'll work!
And by the next visit, Coco already has her moves planned out. When Coco noticed Tartah by his workspace, she approached him with that jovial tone.
"Tartah! Have you finished it?"
Tartah only took a glance to her before looking back on his work as he scratched his head with his stylus. "Hey, Coco."
He leaned on the side to let her look at what he's working. "I was about to but I can't pinpoint any marks for placing the spells," he said.
Hm, if I could take time to study this then maybe—"Oh! Maybe Agott could help."
She noticed a hint of displeasure from his mouth but soon replaced by a tight smile that doesn't reach his eyes. "I don't know, it's not like you can't—"
"What about me?"
They turned to the deep but feminine voice. Agott was already on the door with her signature look. Coco brighten up, "Agott, good timing. Would you like to help Tartah on his work? Your feedback would be really helpful."
Coco clasped her hands together as she looked at her pleadingly. She noticed how Agott would always acquiesce when she does this gesture. She watched Agott's face from souring to reluctant then a sigh—a sign that she'd given up.
"Fine, but you do the dishes tonight."
Coco nodded, a little too enthusiastic that Agott found it weird. She only ignored Coco as she strides the room.
Sensing her plan worked, Coco goes for the door. "Then I'll go help Tetia in her shopping," she said as she pretended to close the door.
She watched them work together through the gap—their voices muffled. This reminds her of the time she sneaked a peak of Master Qifrey's spell-casting for the first time.
Seeing how they smoothly exchange ideas, Agott's relaxed face that she only rarely see and how Tartah easily evoke it from her, something within her dropped. Like a weighing scale tipping off slowly.
But before she could feel the heaviness in her chest, a voice so close in her ear made her stiffened. "Coco."
Coco waddled her hands in the air in a panic before seeing Richeh crouching with her. "Richeh…!" she whispered.
"Is this a new game?" Richeh voice's so soft it made Coco relax for a moment. "No…? It's just that I never seen them together alone so I left them."
Richeh watched through the gap. "She rarely teaches a full-fledged witchling. Did you put her up to it?"
Coco only put her chin on her knees, "Yeah, they'll be in there for a while." Richeh didn't fail to catch the sad look on Coco's face.
Richeh was about to ask something before a gradual scream comes in their left. "Cocooooo!" A voice so high it probably flew past them. Then they simultaneously looked up to see Tetia in her sylph shoes hovering over them.
"Are you playing hide and seek?"
Tetia's voice dripped with curiosity. Knowing it could get rowdy, Coco softly clicked the door close. Unknowingly avoiding the tension brewing behind the door.
"No, let's leave them for a while," Coco said as she stood up. Tetia brighten up by the idea of the two having free time. "Oh~what about we haggle some food before we go back?"
Now this got Richeh's attention as she nodded once with that shiny eyes of hers.
Coco lingered by the door for a while. She should be glad that her plan worked. But there's this mucky feeling inside of her that she couldn't name it. She could've swore it's starting to pile up now.
"Coco!"
Tetia's high voice interrupted her from getting deeper. Coco only shook her thoughts away as she catches up with them.
"Ugh, you kids are gonna bankrupt my business at this point."
The favorite vendor that Tetia like to haggle seemed to be happy at least even after losing probably half the profit the kids had bought.
"Thank you as always!"
Tetia send a enthusiastic wave before taking a walk back to the Starry Sword with the other two.
"Say, what were you hoping to achieve when you left those two alone?"
Richeh started once she finished one of her meat on her pointed cap pastry. Coco smiled, "I was hoping they'll get along better."
"Hm? Is that why you two are by the door back there?" Tetia asked. Coco nodded. "Well, that's rare. She never really had any interest with him before."
Coco stopped chewing, "What do you mean?"
Tetia put her fingers on her chin as she crossed her arm over the other. "When we first visited the store, they never really interacted with each other unless it's something about the store."
"Like a dealer on a shady alley…" Richeh softly commented.
Tetia then brightened as if she realized something. "Oh~maybe it's because of you!"
Coco only laughed at the idea. "Even if it was, it wouldn't make that much of a difference when she always does things in her own way."
Tetia contemplated before answering, "Hm, true."
Once they arrived the store's door, something about Richeh halted the duo.
"Are you fine with that, Coco?"
Coco looked at her, "Fine with what?"
"Them bonding."
Coco smiled at this, "Of course! This way we'll have more fun in getting feedback."
Sometimes Coco gets nervous whenever Richeh was like this. She's rarely an active observant but when she does, it was like a hawk trying to peck its prey.
And Richeh right now is already pecking. "Then why the sad face back there?"
Ugh, Coco only closed her eyes as if she was caught. Once she opened her eyes, Tetia's big curious eyes were already onto her. Sensing she couldn't get any opening, she gave up as she sighed.
"Honestly, I'd be a little lonely if Tartah starts to spend time with her," she confessed.
Tetia waddled her way to Coco, then gave her a big hug. "That's okay, I'll spend time with you triple times to make up for it."
Coco only laughed at her declaration as she hugged her back. Richeh only let out a satisfied huff at them as she puts a thumbs up.
As Coco opened the door, something dropped within her as she saw Agott standing in front of her. The calm look on her face was already making her feel nervous.
"This will be the last time I'll help Tartah so don't worry about me taking up your time with him," she said in a matter-of-fact tone as she move past her.
"Agott, wait…!"
Coco chased her, leaving the other two to process what had happened. Not even noticing how Richeh held Tetia's cloak to stop her from joining in.
"That wasn't what I meant, Agott."
She tried to catch up with the fast steps Agott was taking. "I do not care for any of that."
"If you could just listen to me—" she gritted her teeth as she tried to hype herself up for what she's about to say.
"I thought you hated me...!"
Then a gradual stop. Coco let out a small sigh of relief. "I thought that if I let you two alone, maybe then you'll find me less to be hated for."
Once she said it out loud, she waited for her reply with a thumping heart. Agott then smoothly turned to face her.
"On what basis did you think that leaving me with Tartah would make me hate you less?"
Coco only creased her brows, "Do you not have a crush on Tartah…?"
Uh-oh, she must've pushed a button because this is the first time in a while she saw anger in her face. But before she could brace herself for her wrath, she instead was surprised by the sudden deep breath from Agott.
Once she looked at Coco again, the anger was gone. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
Coco was now unsure as she brought both of her index finger together. "Um, because every time we go to the shop you always seemed angry when we're together."
Coco looked down, her fingers tapped rapidly. "A-and I figured you wouldn't like me to get closer with him."
She already heard a long sigh from Agott, the dread now seemed to dig deeper within her as she clasped her hands together in a panic.
"If you think I'd be angry with you just because of some random boy, you're dead wrong."
Coco slowly looked up, Agott's hand was already on her head as if a headache overcame to her. "Then…"
"If anything, it's not you."
…
…? So if it's not me, then was she angry at Tartah? But why…? Coco's chest thumped once as she watched Agott's eyes widened.
Agott's face gradually becomes red at her own words before turning around with a huff, "Just go back in there already!"
Sensing she wouldn't be able to get the real meaning of what she had said, she grabbed her by the back of her robe. Agott stumbled back before looking back at Coco.
Her face is so red, she noticed. "Let go!" Agott protested. If this was a fight, Agott would've pull her robe back then leave. The fact that she didn't means she wasn't as upset as she seemed to be.
Coco's chest ached by this line of thought, subconsciously tightening her hold to her robe. "…What do you mean by that?"
She heard her own voice trembled for a bit. The dread that was festering inside her was already gone. Like a magic. Her words were like magic.
"Nothing, just let me go," Agott said as she tried to pull her own robe. Coco pulled it back in retaliation as she puts on her determined face.
"I will once you tell me."
She saw Agott's whole neck turning red and her gritting her teeth before Agott turned her face around, away from Coco's eyes.
"Fine! I was jealous, okay?"
Coco's heart beat twice. To think just a few words from Agott could bring her immense joy. "Now let me go," Agott said, her head now hanging down as she covered her face with her cap.
"…Please," she pleaded with that small voice. Something overcame her as she hover arms over to Agott's torso, stiffening the tomato girl.
Coco hugged her as she rested her face to her back—hearing a faint fast thumping that she herself couldn't hear apart from her own. The giddiness she felt was already getting to her to a point that she felt Agott faced her.
She looked up, her chin now rested on her back. As she expected, Agott's face was getting redder than ever, causing her to smile.
"I'll let go once your face stops getting red."
She can already see a vein popping out from Agott's forehead.
"I hate you!"
The sunset was much beautiful today. All the murkiness Coco felt that day went away just like that. A reminder that different angles in life can lead to something good or bad. Thankfully, she had the best outcome today.