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"It's a good thing that End came back here. I knew that he won't let Mayor Sting's wedding pass."

I kept on hearing the topic of his return from Sorano, from the other employees, from the girls who like End. From everyone.

"I'm sure he'll leave again after the wedding."

"Right. He'll just stay for a while for the Mayor's wedding."

From a distance, I can clearly see him chatting with the other employees while laughing. I wanted to ignore it all but I just couldn't especially since we've been going to Sinistra more often than before as the wedding neared.

End wasn't ordered to fetch me in school anymore. Vice Mayor got used to me taking the bus headed to Sinistra or to the estate in Dextera, it depends on her schedule. Despite that, I still get nervous seeing any SUVs on the school grounds.

Even if Dextera was far from Sinistra, Karen still heard the news about End's return. Maybe some of her schoolmates who were from Dextera told her about that. That's why she resumed nagging me.

"Hi, Cyan! Is End going to wait for you today?" she asked for the nth time since End returned.

"No."

"Hmm. He doesn't fetch you here anymore, huh?" she continued, "Is he busy?"

"Maybe."

"Yeah, maybe. It's Vice Mayor Agria and Mayor Eucliffe's wedding this Saturday, right?"

"Yes," I said uncomfortably.

"Such a shame that we aren't invited. Well, Mayor Sting isn't well known here so my parents don't even know him."

Karen continued talking, every word from her mouth were about End. She just stopped when she saw Hibiki walking towards our direction.

Ever since Hibiki learned to drive, he often offered to drive me home and I often decline his offer. There were just times, when it was raining or it was too late to take the bus, that I accepted his offer. That day, I can take the bus to Sinistra. We're going to have dinner there.

I wasn't planning on accepting Hibiki's offer but I didn't have a reason on declining it. They didn't have their last class that day because they were given time for their project. He said that he'll buy the materials he needed in Orientem which is the City after Sinistra. He offered to drive me home because Sinistra is on his way.

"What are you and Karen talking about? Is she teasing you about that freighter again?" he asked, irritated.

"It's nothing. Let's get going, you might get home late," I said while standing up.

My days passed quickly. We stayed in Sinistra from time to time and I often see End there. Nothing changed with how we treat each other, though. I didn't know how I should react with that fact. Every time we see each other, like before, he'll just stare at me. It was nostalgic, though. It was very like that before we started talking to each other. I guess that's the way everything ends, huh? Just like how it started? Though this time, his stares are usually filled with darkness and mystery.

"Have you thought about your internship next semester?" Hibiki asked while driving.

"My decision is still the same, Hibiki. I want to have my internship in a public school in Dextera."

"Why don't you want to be an intern at our school? We're the owner so I can make a way to make your work easier. The reports would still be written excellently, of course."

"Thank you for the concern but I've already decided. It's what I want."

Our small talk continued until we arrived in Sinistra. Mayor Sting's estate was wide and the mansion was in the center of the huge land so one would need to walk a couple of meters from the gates to the house. Beside their vast land were beach resorts. That's why they decided to held their reception at the biggest beach resort near the estate.

Hibiki parked his pick-up in front of the gate. I swallowed upon seeing some of Mayor's men in the court near the gate with some councilors. They were there to join the party. No matter how Mayor wanted to keep it intimate, he couldn't exclude his employees that he treated as his family so he included them.

They turned their heads to the pick-up truck and their gaze stayed on it until I exited the pick-up after saying my thanks to Hibiki.

My face heated when Sorano declared my arrival like it was not obvious. I saw End who's forehead was crumpled and with his arms crossed on his chest while staring intently at me. I started walking without a word. Nobarly greeted me with a joke after tearing his gaze away from the vehicle which made a turn to leave.

"Boyfriend?" he asked.

"No, Nobarly. That's Hibiki. He's going to buy something in Orientem so —"

"Oh! He's your rumored boyfriend, right? The son of the owner of a private school in Dextera?"

"He's not my boyfriend."

Nobarly nodded but another staff grinned at me, looking interested.

"Don't be shy, Cyan. That's just right. You're beautiful so your boyfriend should be at least his level."

"He's not my boyfriend."

"Girls, I swear, only thinking about money. Do you mean that if it was me who's not well-off, Aceto, do not have the right to have a girlfriend as beautiful as Cyan?"

"Of course! What's the use of a woman's beauty if you'll just waste it to a boyfriend who's not just penniless but also ugly!"

They laughed while Nobarly protested. I smiled and listened to their conversation. They continued joking about it until we finished eating our dinner.

There were six tables on the court behind the main house. Beside the mansion was a vast land and in front was the sea.

I was sitting beside Sorano while Nobarly sat beside me. End was far from me, he's surrounded by a more noisy group. It was eight in the evening when they took out the drinks to start the evening party. The honorable councilors blended with us and Sorano started the party.

"This is a special from Midnight!" she cheered, showing a transparent but yellowish drink. Midnight was Sawyer's brother who owns a famous bar in Caelum. The drink looks slightly different from what they used to drink.

There were some cases of beer under the table that they have been drinking for quite a while now. I couldn't accurately categorize their drinks because I don't drink alcohol and I have no interest in it. I was just contented in listening to their conversations and observing who's drunk and who's not.

"It's their special tequila!"

Sawyer unloaded his SUV with two cases of it. They all cheered and immediately agreed on how it will be drank. I laughed at them, confused with the words they were using.

"Body shots! Body shots!"

I do not have knowledge about drinks but because of the internet and books, I have a clue on what they were talking about. The grin on my face slowly faded especially when Daphne and Aceto started the game. I didn't know how they determine the order of the person who would choose but I didn't like their game.

"I want to do it to Cyan but she doesn't drink. Don't you want to try, Cyan?" Dan challenged after taking a shot.

He licked Aceto's hand for the salt. It seemed that it was drank with salt and lemon. That's how they agreed to do the body shots.

"I-I don't drink," I said while shaking my head.

The glass spun around the men while the women were chatting excitedly while waiting for their turn. I roamed my eyes and realized who'll have many body shots performed on him tonight. End was almost every girl's apple of the eye. I wanted to suggest to Nobarly to not play that game because all girls might just choose End for their turn. However, I realized that the men wouldn't mind if End will get most of the girls. The important thing to them is that they'll get to choose the girl they wanted to perform a body shot with.

It was a bold game. One that isn't for kids. I am the youngest of the lot so I understand why they like this kind of game. But as the game dragged on, I realized that I couldn't stomach it. Especially when it was End's turn to choose a girl!

Councilor Riko raised her hand and volunteered as a joke. Everyone cheered but I know most of the girls there secretly wish he gets to choose them. End just laughed after placing down the beer to accept the shot.

"Where are you going?" Sorano asked.

Before I fully realized what I did, I already stood up to prepare to leave the court. I didn't feel well since the game started and my feeling just got worse when End's turn came. I got a feeling that he will choose Aceto who isn't only pretty fair but also always has a nice clothes for her perfect slender body.

My world stopped for a while when I saw how End gripped a new staff of the Mayor who's as pretty as Aceto. His strong hand held the girl's wrist. She shrieked in pleasure and laughed. Everybody cheered and some expressed their dismay. I felt something pinch my heart. My knees were shaking as I turn my back on them and almost ran the distance from the court to the dark part of the path to the garden without answering Sorano's question.

My eyes were so wide. I didn't care that I almost see nothing as I took shaky steps. I let my familiarity with the place guide me as the darkness overwhelmed my senses. I can still hear their cheers while the image of the way End's strong hand catch the wrist of that girl played on my mind.

Physical pain attacked my heart when the reply of him catching the girl's wrist kept on playing inside my head. I never thought that he can do it to... other girls... I don't know anymore.

We have been distant. Ever since he returned, we've been avoiding each other so why am I feeling this way? I got used to him not being around! I also got used to us not having any interactions, but why does that thought made me feel irritated and angry?

My eyes were so wide and I could feel my tears forming. I was already far so I can just hear faint sounds from them.

I came from a tragic situation. I am in a foreign place with good people. I kept on reminding myself about that so, I couldn't understand why I'm this sad over a shallow reason. I cannot be sad just because of that scene. What's my problem with the thought of End liking other woman? Why am I taking it to heart?

Is this my ego talking? Because I've known him for years and felt that he liked me... more than those girls? But didn't I shoo him away before? So why am I feeling this way? This is definitely just ego! I wanted to think of it that way... because I'm scared to think that this is different. I'm scared to admit that I am feeling something, no matter how little that emotion is.

My eyes slightly adjusted to the darkness which made me faintly see the path towards the cemented bleachers on the garden. I wanted to stay there and cool off, alone. But I was stopped when someone grabbed my arm. I turned my head and recognized End's face despite the darkness. He followed me! I pushed him away.

I was so nervous. My tears were falling from the sudden burst of emotion and now he's here, trying to move on me. My two hands were placed on his chest to push him away but he didn't move even a bit.

"W-What are you doing here?" I stuttered.

My voice broke so bad revealing more of my tears. I got more scared for myself, I pushed him again and tried to strengthen my voice.

"Go back to your friends! Don't follow me!"

There was no sign of him deciding on what to do. He just stayed there, staring at me. So instead of sitting on the bleachers, I walked towards the lamp post and planned to leave the garden to distance myself from him.

In a swift move, he pulled my arm again and this time, he pinned me down on a column near the bleachers. My heart was beating to fast. My eyes were wide as I stared at him.

"Cyan? Where is that girl?" I heard Dan's voice.

End's hawk-like eyes looked at the group before pulling me to the next lamp post with no hesitation. He pinned me there again. I took his sudden move as an opportunity to get away from him but he caught my hand. His huge hand was firmly clasped on my wrist and pinned it to me side so I couldn't push him again.

A touch of his finger to my cheek confirmed what he saw in the dark when I looked at him earlier. Busted, I still managed to refuse his touch my pushing his finger away with my face in a desperate attempt to hide my tears.

"What's the problem?"

"I don't have a problem. Let me go and just go back to them! I don't play those games so I left," I said with bravery.

"I don't believe you."

Pissed at his conviction, I looked at him. His eyes blended so well with the darkness of the place. It looked like art. The consuming darkness and mystery lying in the depths of his soulful eyes.

"Then don't! Leave me alone and just go back to your girls! That's your crush, right? The one you held earlier? Go back to her because she might be looking for you!"

He sighed heavily and tilted his head. I blushed profusely and got more pissed.

"What do you really want me to do?" he asked coolly.

"Return to her! Don't you want to kiss her again? I'm sure that she'll pick you for her body shot so go back! Didn't you enjoy her kiss? Go back there! You like that, right?"

His lips twisted. I caught him staring intensely at my lips while I was saying my long speech.

I tried to free my hands from his but he's too strong. I knew he could do this if he wanted it. He could exert force without a sweat.

"I don't like it. I didn't kiss —"

"Bullshit!" I spat angrily, "I saw how you grabbed her. You were so excited so don't fool me!"

He twisted his lips again and cocked his head to the other side.

"So you're jealous..." he concluded.

My words that I was preparing to say got stuck on my throat. I was so stunned with his conclusion. Earlier, I couldn't admit it. I wanted to think that it's just my ego but now that he said that, it seemed that it's true. I want to deny it more but I don't know how.

"Just... Let me go! Go back to her!"

"No. I always do what you want but I don't like doing most of your orders."

"H-Huh?" I said, almost breathless.

He took a step closer to me as if there is more room in between us. This time, I can feel his body so close to mine.

"You're jealous."

"I am not jealous!" I insisted.

He sighed, "I'm also jealous when someone drove you here earlier. Who's that? Your boyfriend?"

"Hibiki's not my boyfriend and why do you care about —"

"Hibiki, huh? Him again. He was also who we talked about last time you shooed me away, right?"

I couldn't speak. That is, indeed, what we talked about before he left. But that was months and months ago. Why does it suddenly feel like it's just yesterday now? In the hurt tone of his voice, it seemed like what happened that time feels like yesterday to him.

"You don't want me to get you in your school because of that boy."

I don't think so. I think the root cause of my anger last time is me seeing him laugh with Karen. Karen, who's pretty, rich, and knows how to socialize and make friends. That was it.

"Who would like you fetching me if I'll see you flirting with Karen, huh? So, no, thank you!"

His jaw dropped while I intensely looked at him with anger. I wanted to prove a point but it seems like he's thinking about something else especially when he lowered his head with his eyes closed like he's defeated.

What now, End? You finally realized that you were flirting with Karen that day, didn't you?

When he raised his head, I noticed the amusement in his onyx eyes and the ghost smile on his lips. He licked his lower lip coolly as I remained my accusing stare at him. He let go of my hands but he imprisoned me. His arm extended beside my head to firmly plant itself on the concrete lamp post beside me as his head lowered dangerously close to mine.

"Jealous."

"H-Huh? I said I'm not jealous!"

He clicked his tongue and licked his lips again.

"Okay. You're not jealous."

I found it hard to maintain the frown on my face while staring at him.

"But me... yes. I'm jealous."

My heart jumped and it hurt. I almost put my hand to my chest just to confirm and try to understand why it reacted that way.

"I don't like that boy they called Hibiki. Your rich classmate —"

"He's not my classmate. He's from another course!"

"Fine. Your friend who's rich and the son of a private school owner in Dextera, right?"

I blinked. He's jealous? HE'S JEALOUS?

"Why? Do you want to work for him?"

My heart felt like it's about to burst. I couldn't understand why.

"Is that why you're close to him? Since it will be perfect for a teacher like you to love someone who owns his own private school? It's convenient —"

"I don't want to teach in their school. We're close but were j-just friends!"

He smiled but it wasn't a particularly friendly smile. There was no humor in it.

"I really... really like you," he hissed.

My world literally stopped. I realized now that his breathing is mixed with mint and alcohol. It was supposedly unpleasant but I don't know why it made me more nervous and excited at the same time. It intensified an unfamiliar feeling in me.

"Every time you get angry and shoo me away, I just want to leave and let you be, just like what you wanted."

I couldn't contain what I am feeling anymore. I was breathless as I stared at him without blinking. He lowered his eyes as he continued.

"To never come back," his voice slightly cracked.

I sighed heavily. My heart is shamelessly beating loud.

"But I kept on coming back... because I really... really like you."