The incident from last night keeps replaying in my head.
I didn't expect that I would snap at him and tell him he actually needed a friend.
I let out a sigh.
Maybe I was being stupid—acting like I knew everything about him.
He probably hates me now because of what I said and yelling at him.
I haven't told my friends about what happened yesterday, and they haven't asked either.
I feel like they're waiting for me to talk when I'm ready.
"Are you guys prepared for next month's exam?" Fyna asked as she walked toward our table.
We were having lunch together in the cafeteria.
Just like Fyna said, next month we would face the school exams, so we needed to focus on studying if we wanted to pass.
Anyone who failed would have to retake the test during school break.
"Is the schedule out yet?" Efan asked.
"Yes. It'll be posted on the bulletin board next week."
"I'm scared for when that day comes…" Vyne groaned weakly.
"Don't be like that, Vyne. You can pass if you try," Fyna encouraged her.
"Hey… How about we study together until exam day?" I suggested.
They all looked at me, and I raised an eyebrow at them.
"That's a great idea, Ren! I'm totally in!" Vyne said excitedly.
"Whatever," Efan replied, as indifferent as always.
"I'll join too," Resa said.
"Then starting next week, let's gather in the dorm lobby after school," Fyna concluded.
We all agreed.
Next week would be the beginning of our busy days preparing for the exam.
After school, I decided to visit that place again.
I walked down under the bridge and found him sitting there, just like always.
"What do you want?" he asked, sounding irritated.
"To see you. And…" I sat about two meters away from him, "to be your friend."
"Tch. You're seriously annoying and stubborn."
"Sorry… but that's just how I am," I said cheerfully.
"Tell me—how long are you planning to keep asking me to be your friend?"
"I won't stop until you say yes."
"And what if I keep refusing?"
"Then I'll keep coming to see you."
"In that case, I won't come here anymore. That way you won't see me or wait for me again."
He looked at me with a challenging gaze.
"Then I'll keep waiting here every day until you show up."
"Fine then. Do what you want. I'll never come back if you insist on waiting. I don't care."
He stood up and turned around as if ready to leave.
"Is that really true?" I asked quickly.
"Is it really true that you don't care?"
I stood up and looked at him. "I don't believe you're someone who doesn't care about anything."
He stopped walking—but didn't turn around.
"If you really didn't care, you wouldn't have helped me or carried me back to the dorm when I fainted that day. But you did. You did that because you care."
"I did it because I felt guilty for kicking you out earlier!" he shouted, turning toward me.
"Isn't that exactly what caring means?
You pushed me away, and you felt guilty.
Doesn't that show you do care about other people?"
"What do you want from me?!
To corner me with your lectures?!
To make me accept your pity?!
I don't need any of that!" he yelled.
"I'm not lecturing you, and I'm not pitying you.
I just want to be your friend."
I was so stubborn about befriending him, even though a guardian with a partner shouldn't need that.
Guardians already had someone who stayed with them.
But to me, humans and guardians were the same—they both needed friends besides their partners.
He turned away again.
"… Are you really that stubborn?
Is your resolve really that strong…
even after I rejected you and told you to leave me alone?" He still didn't look at me.
"Yes! I'll keep trying until you accept me as your friend.
I won't give up until you accept me as your friend." I said with serious tone.
He fell silent and looked up at the sky.
I thought I heard him whisper something, but I couldn't catch the words. I still wait and didn't say anything.
"… Fine," he suddenly said.
"I'll do what you want.
I'll be your friend." He still not want to see me direct and giving his back.
"R-Really?" I asked, unable to hide my happiness.
"Yes. I'll be your friend."
"So that means I can meet you here again?"
"Yes… Now go home. It's getting late."
"Alright! I'll come back tomorrow, then."
I smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Yue… See you next time!"
I ran back to the dorm with a full heart, leaving him alone under the bridge.
I didn't know…
that the moment he turned his back on me, the moment he looked up at the sky and agreed to my wish—
was the moment he shed tears.
He told me to go home first because he didn't want me to see him cry.
And I…
I never realized it at all.
---
End of Chapter 7