74. Humiliation
"H-Hey, Gumi, I uh-" Len stutters, turning tomato red and darker with each passing second. "I- um, I really like you, so, would you go out with-oof!"
The startled boy is unprepared for the unexpected kick to his lower stomach. Clutching his middle and doubling over, Len can only let out a thin, breathy gasp as the green-haired girl rolls her eyes at him.
"Haha, no." She says, shaking her head. "Nerd." After her well-thought-out insult, Gumi turns on her heel and walks away, leaving the boy and his bruised ego behind.
Humiliated and feeling like he'd rather be stung by eighty angry bees than facing rejection of this caliber, Len straightens up slowly.
"She rejected you, huh?"
He sees a familiar girl standing beside him. Len blushes with mortification. "Yeah…" He says sadly.
Rin nods, her short strands bobbing up and down. "I figured. Gumi isn't really one for dating, anyway. You tried." She says, patting him on the back.
"I guess... " He says, seeming pretty depressed.
"Hey, now, don't let one little rejection get you down. Come on, Len; I'll take you out for ice cream." Rin says cheerfully, trying to brighten him up a little.
Len looks at her smiling face, and can't help but feel a little better somehow. "Alright. Yeah." He relents, offering a smile and attempting to recover.
Rin grins ear-to-ear at him, shining brighter than the sun. "C'mon. I'll make you forget about her," She promises.
Strangely, Len wonders if she can.