World After Worlds-Chapter 409: β SOMEONE I JUST MET β
Chapter 15
There were multiple times that Hansel treated everyone in the department to some extremely expensive pizzas or burgers, milk teas. Sometimes he would bring the juniors to some cafe and have some chat there. πππππ¬πππ·ππΏππ‘.ππΈπ
Everyone was fighting for the position of becoming his girlfriend. So, whenever someone was linked to him it would be sensational and talk for some time to their department. And his action now might spark some misunderstanding.
"About yesterday..." He stated- not minding everyoneβs eyes watching them. Gale raises her brow out of curiosity.
Yesterday he said, what about it? About her best friend?
"Yesterday?" She asked, and he nodded. She frowned hearing this. Whatβs this? He is interested in her friend? Whatβs with yesterday other than the interaction with the three of them?
"Do you want to talk about it here?" She asked with a serious tone. Itβs not like sheβs interested in Hansel to be hurt knowing he likes her friend more than her. Her life is not in the situation that she could handle a romantic relationship right now. And although she admires Hansel for having everything - she doesnβt admire him romantically.
Her concern was, if it began to spread that Hansel likes Yanarym, it would be a disaster for her friendβs situation. Yanarym has a boyfriend and they live together. Although Yanarym admitted that she doesnβt have any romantic feelings with her companion, sheβs living comfortably. Hearing no news from her since last night. It seems like Yanarym and her boyfriend have fixed their issue.
"Should we have lunch together? My treat." Hansel smiled at Gale, he turned his head to look at their classmates watching them. He was aware of the eyes of onlookers and also mindful of Galeβs perception. Itβs not like he was desperate to know the girl that piqued his interest. Itβs just fascinating how a woman manages to catch his eyes.
During the second period, they sat together on the second row when they had transferred to the classroom for a different subject. Soon, the professor came, they both focused on listening upfront and did not bother to talk with one another.
Exactly after two hours of discussion and recitation, the Professor left an assignment and group work for the next meeting. Since it was a voluntary choice of groupmates, Hansel asked Gale if she could be his co-member, and she agreed. They did not even have trouble choosing someone to fill out the six members group for this subject group work.
Gale asked for each oneβs email address so she could message everyone regarding the materials of the topic that their group picked out. Precessing after the meeting, they took a walk to a well-known cafe near their university to have some talks regarding the matter about this morning.
Picking a table for two, Hansel ordered a coffee latte and iced americano with some cake for food.
"Do you prefer to have lunch in a restaurant?" Hansel asked when he saw Galeβs reaction.
"Not really, isnβt this expensive? I plan to pay you but my lunch money is not enough." She said bluntly. He chuckled at this statement, from observing her last-last week, he seemed to notice how she always distanced herself from the rest of the department.
Somehow, from the beginning of college to now, it is the very first time he treated her for something. While any other of his department, whether a senior or a junior, he had already treated them with his money. This girl never took initiative to be close to him.
Why wasnβt she interested in him? Why does she always distance herself? Those questions always occupy his mind when he sees her.
Last night was different though, his mind was being occupied by someone he just saw for the first time. She left quite an impression on him, itβs not that he likes her but he wondered why he was aroused just thinking of her.
"Itβs alright, itβs my treat." He said brightly with a comforting smile.
"Is...that so? Thanks." She picked up the mug and took a sip from the cup. Itβs good...
For a minute silence could be heard between them. Hansel puts his mug down, revealing a soft aura he lifted his lips to form a smile.
"Last night, I was hoping to clear the misunderstanding. I did not expect that she would take it the wrong way." He laughed remembering what happened. Gale smiled with embarrassment and also put her mug down to the table.
"I am sorry for making it awkward for you but my friend is just like that, I will try to tell her that you donβt mean no harm." She said apologetically, she is a little embarrassed by this.
She knew Hansel for almost four years now, he is always a warm and bright person to everyone. Some might dislike him for being so perfect but he is a really good man. Thatβs why Gale doesnβt understand why her best friend was disgusted or scared of Hansel.
Itβs not like Yanarym was harassed, right? Yanarym just doesnβt like him.
He doesnβt hurt anyone, always helping their classmates. Professors and assistant teachers like him. Heβs famous for being nice to everyone. Gale never even heard him curse someone. Even if he had to handle some irritating groupmates from some projects, he still smiles and teaches them with patience.
"Itβs alright, Iβm just really bothered why she hates me."
"Oh, no! She doesnβt hate you... I think..." Gale paused for a second, hesitating to tell whatβs on her mind but continued, "...she just doesnβt like you."
"Really, she doesnβt like me?" The smile formed on his lips slightly faded which made Gale panicked.
"N-no! I mean, why do you care anyway, right? Ha-ha..." Her awkward laugh was interrupted when he looked at her straight to the eyes.
"...do you like my friend...? Thatβs why you are concerned?" She asked in a serious tone, if itβs about clearing some misunderstanding, she might understand why Hansel is being proactive with this conversation.
If itβs about him liking Yanarym, itβs a little different. First of all, Yanarym already has a boyfriend. Secondly, Gale doesnβt want to entangle Yanarym to some problem on the campus.
Having a campus heartthrob is a headache but having another admirer from a different department with the same popularity might cause her harm.
"How can I like someone I just met Gale?" He asked while laughing boyishly, it was somewhat alluring and handsome. Gale blushed for embarrassing herself from that statement.
"If that is the case then itβs good." She nodded and picked up her mug then took some sips, hiding her whole face on the cup.
"It must be love at first sight." Gale choked her coffee after hearing this. She hurriedly took some napkins on the table and Hansel helped her wipe the table.
"What?!" She exclaimed to him and he just laughed again. Like a boy who was having his first love at high school. "D-did I hear you right? You said... love at first sight?"
"Why? She was really cute." He said... blushing?! Blushing?! Hansel is blushing?!
What?! WHAT?! This is a disaster!
"You canβt!" She shouted slamming her hands on the table. Some of the customers in the shop couldnβt help but shift their gazes towards them. Hansel tilted his head with this exclamation.
"What do you mean I canβt?" He asked with a bland tone.
"She has a boyfriend, they have been together for a long time. Also, you are not her type and I donβt see them breaking up in the future!" Gale said frantically.
"You must stop your feelings for her, she wonβt like you back!" Gale exclaimed but Hanselβs expression didnβt change the slightest.
"Why? Even married couples got divorced or annulled. They could break up, after all, I donβt think she belongs to someone else..." He smiled sheepishly and gaped at his coffee. "...but for me." He whispered fortunately, Gale didnβt hear that last part.
"...what?" Gale was speechless hearing what Hansel said other than the latter part. Looking at his bubbly smile but darkened eyes that she never saw before, she felt goosebumps on the back of her neck. Was Hansel this scary?
Hansel paused for a moment then laughed, erasing the bellicosity he had felt after realizing that the girl he fancied for the first time has a man holding her --- he canβt imagine that the skin he touched for a second was being loved by some man.
"Relax, okay? Iβm just joking." He said, still laughing. Seeing this reaction, Gale blushed again and sighed - for relief. Regarding the scary reaction she also saw earlier, she thought it was just an illusion.
"You seem revealed?"
"N-no, it is just that, I donβt want her to have any troubles. Sheβs the type of person who canβt really handle herself."
"Are you saying I will cause her trouble?" Hansel smiled like an angel gleaming his eyes on Gale, a face that could commit any crime.
