106. Crisis level - 99
IAN FINALLY NOTICES AIDEN'S WEIRD BEHAVIOUR--
Ian kept explaining robotics theory to Marcelline as they walked toward the classroom.
But he wasn't dumb.
He had eyes.
And those eyes definitely caught Aiden:
peeking from behind a pillar
pretending to tie his shoelace (twice… with slip-on shoes)
stalking them like some discount secret agent
glaring at Ian as if Ian had stolen his entire life savings
Ian pushed up his glasses.
"…Is your friend always this… strange?"
Marcelline blinked innocently.
"Strange? Aiden? No, he's usually very sweet."
Ian raised an eyebrow as he watched Aiden hide behind a vending machine.
The vending machine wasn't even that big.
"Hm," Ian murmured.
"He keeps staring like he wants to… stab me or something."
Marcelline turned—
Aiden instantly pretended to be checking the cola prices very seriously.
Like he was making life-changing decisions.
Ian snorted under his breath.
"He's jealous."
Marcelline's eyes widened.
"J-Jealous? Aiden? No, he's just… being Aiden."
Ian smirked a little, finally understanding the dynamic.
"Oh. So you don't realize."
"Realize what?"
Ian smiled kindly.
"Never mind. Go ahead, your class is starting."
Aiden looked betrayed when Marcelline said goodbye and walked in with Ian.
He whispered dramatically at the door—
"I'm losing my girl to a robot nerd."
A random student beside him said,
"…Bro, that guy is literally top 1 in the department."
"THAT MAKES IT WORSE!"
---
AIDEN TEXTS CHLOE — AND GETS ROASTED ALIVE --
Aiden dragged himself to the finance block like a war victim.
The moment he sat, he grabbed his phone and opened Chloe's chat.
Aiden:
Chloeeeeee
Emergency.
Big one.
Crisis level 99.
Sound the alarm. 🚨
Chloe:
What did you do now, dumbo?
Aiden:
There's…
another guy.
Chloe:
…another guy for YOU?
Impossible. You attract zero women.
Aiden:
NOT FOR ME YOU IDIOT
For MARCELLINE 😭😭😭
Chloe:
Oh.
Ohoho.
Tell me everything.
Let me get popcorn.
Aiden aggressively typed:
Aiden:
This Ian guy
Tall
Smart
Nerdy
Robotics genius
He's in her class
He talks to her
He explains chapters
He walks with her
HE BREATHES NEAR HER CHLOE
I AM NOT OKAY.
Chloe actually choked on air laughing.
Chloe:
So basically…
someone did YOUR job
and you're crying? 😂
Aiden:
CHLOE I'M SERIOUS
I think they're bonding.
He said she's "in good hands."
GOOD. HANDS.
WHO DOES HE THINK HE IS???
HER FUTURE HUSBAND???
Chloe:
Well at this rate he might be.
Because YOU clearly aren't moving.
Aiden clutched his chest.
Aiden:
Chloe that hurt
Emotionally
Mentally
Spiritually
Chloe sent an eye-roll emoji.
Chloe:
Listen, jealous hamster.
If you like her then ACT like it.
Because right now
that Ian guy is doing better than you
WITHOUT even trying.
Aiden: dies internally
Aiden:
So what should I do 😭
Punch him???
Switch departments???
Learn robotics???
Become AI???
Chloe plz help
Chloe:
First of all, don't touch him.
He'll break you in half just by thinking.
Second, stop being an idiot.
Third, TALK to her properly for once.
Aiden:
…
okay
I will try
maybe
after I finish crying
Chloe:
Good.
Cry fast. Class starts in 3 minutes.
Aiden shut his phone, face red, heart panicking, jealousy exploding.
And this?
This was only the beginning of his meltdown arc.
---