Travis fell into step with Mia, the chatter of the hallway fading into the background. She kept glancing at him, her curiosity barely masked by a playful smile.
"So… you really read the manga, huh? I used to read some webtoons back before you know who started becoming Hitler" she said , nudging him lightly with her shoulder.
"Yeah, I do. Didn't know you liked those kinds of stuff. Now that I think about it, we never really got that close" Travis replied, feigning indifference but smirking just enough to make her blush.
Mia giggled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes we never did. Maybe we can do that during our study,"
Travis tilted his head, pretending to ponder her words. " Maybe we will"
His eyes flicked briefly toward Eve, who was trailing a few steps behind, arms crossed, a faint pout forming on her lips.
Eve's thoughts raced. 'She's flirting with him! I didn't expect that.' She quickened her pace, stepping closer.
"You two seem awfully cozy," she called out, her tone light but teasing, trying to assert herself without seeming jealous.
Mia shot her a quick look, a challenge flickering in her eyes. "Just talking about manga, Eve. Nothing more."
Travis caught the exchange and chuckled silently, the thrill of the attention making his chest tighten. He loved the playful tension. " Yeah we're just talking ," he said, giving Eve a wink that made her cheeks warm.
Eve rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a small smile. 'He's so irritating… but in a good way,' she thought, shaking her head as she walked beside them.
The three of them continued down the hallway, the air charged with an unspoken competition, each trying to steal small moments of attention from Travis.
'This is going to be interesting,' Travis mused, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. 'Little games like this can be… fun.'
They made their way to their next class, Art. The room smelled faintly of paint and clay, sunlight pouring through the wide windows and reflecting off jars of brushes lined neatly on the shelves.
Once everyone was seated, Ms. Ross clapped her hands together, her voice carrying an excited energy.
"Good morning, class! Today we'll be doing some hands-on work, so get your hands ready. You'll all be handed some clay, and you can make a sculpture of anything you imagine.
Don't be suppressed by the limits you've set in your head—break free! Remember, no one's sculpture is better than the other; this is not a competition. Good luck!"
Students buzzed with chatter as she passed out blocks of clay. When she was done, she retreated to her desk and took a long sip of her coffee, the steam curling in the air.
Travis set the lump of clay on his desk, rolling it between his palms.
' Okay, what to make? he thought. In the game, I made a giraffe that made her happy, so let's do that.'
Minutes ticked by as the room filled with the quiet squish of clay being molded. Travis's fingers worked methodically, shaping a long neck, small head, and sturdy legs.
Finally, he leaned back, beaming with pride at the little giraffe standing on his desk.
Ms. Ross got up, heels clicking lightly against the tiled floor as she walked from table to table, offering comments and encouragement.
When she reached Travis, she gave his back a gentle rub as she peeked down at his sculpture, then moved on without a word.
Travis smirked, sitting up a little straighter. But his eyes drifted across the room—and landed on Judith. She was watching him, a strange look on her face. She smiled, giggled softly, shook her head, then turned back to her clay.
' She looks confident today. I wonder what made her change?' he thought.
Meanwhile, Judith's own thoughts were less kind.
' What was that? He must be thinking, "is this bitch crazy?" That book I read was a lie—confidence is not key.' She bit her lip, trying to refocus on her work.
Soon after, Ms. Ross called everyone's attention. Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she gestured around the room.
"Wow, I'm so happy with all your results! You've all made remarkable sculptures. Remember, these capture what you were thinking of in the moment."
She motioned for Travis to come over. He hesitated a second, then walked up, clay still on his hands.
"I really like your sculpture," she said, her smile widening. "It's very long and thick. It exudes character and wildness—something I'm quite fond of."
Travis blinked. ' It's just a giraffe, but okay,' he thought, scratching the back of his head. "Thanks, I guess."
Ms. Ross tilted her head, lowering her voice just enough for only him to hear.
"Now, Travis, I had a thought. Why don't I give you a partner for your private lessons? Do you mind?"
"Sure, that sounds cool," he said. "As long as it's someone I get along with, then I don't mind."
"Good! I thought about pairing you with Eve, but then I remembered she's busy with Ms. DeWitt's music class. So, I decided on Mia. What do you think?"
Travis's lips curved slightly. "She's great."
"Okay then! Why don't you ask her? Let me know when she agrees, alright? Now, go on, sit back down."
He nodded, heading back to his seat. Ms. Ross clapped her hands again. "Now, I'd like for you all to draw something—anything. It doesn't matter what it is. After that, submit the drawing. This is due tomorrow. Have a good day!"
The sudden clang of the bell rang through the room, startling a few students into dropping their pencils.
Bags were zipped and chairs scraped loudly against the floor as the class rushed to leave, the chatter spilling into the hallway.
It was now break, and Judith quietly packed her things, clearly intent on finding a corner where no one would bother her. She hugged her books to her chest, eyes flicking nervously to the busy cafeteria.
Travis noticed and made his way over, his steps steady, his smile disarming.
Seeing him approach, Judith froze, her lips parting slightly in hesitation. She adjusted her glasses, cheeks tinting pink as if already caught doing something wrong.
He stopped right beside her, close enough that she caught the faint warmth of his presence.
"Judith, what's up?" he asked, voice smooth, carrying a kindness that seemed to break through her nervous shell.
Her fingers fidgeted against her books. "Oh, hi Travis—oh, I already greeted you, sorry. U-um, I'm good." The words tumbled out, frantic, her voice soft but sweet.
"Nice. So, where you headed?" he leaned a little closer, eyes locked on hers. "I'd like for you to sit with us during break. You know, now that we're friends and everything."
His skill: Smooth Talker wrapped each word like silk, carrying a natural confidence that pressed against her walls of shyness.
『Affection +19』
Judith's lips parted again, caught between protest and a quiet, fragile hope. "Oh… um, sure. Only if your friends will welcome me," she murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Travis smiled, tilting his head just enough to soften his gaze. "Don't worry, they're pretty chill. Let's go."
Before she could overthink, he reached out and gently took her hand. Her body stiffened at the contact, warmth shooting up her arm as his grip lingered, not too tight but confident enough that she followed his lead.
Her eyes widened, glasses sliding slightly down her nose as Travis tugged her towards the cafeteria. She let out a small, nervous laugh that was almost a whimper, the sound slipping out before she could stop it.
'Travis is such a good guy,' she thought, biting her lip as she glanced at his back. Her chest fluttered with a strange heat she wasn't used to.
『80→ 99』
TO BE CONTINUED