"Why so distracted?" Sally asked, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
Selene paused before smiling back. "What? I was just looking. Nothing more."
Sally immediately gave her a knowing look, the kind that clearly said I don't believe you at all.
Selene rolled her eyes helplessly. "After lunch, let's go to the library together. I want to check for a book."
"Alright," Sally said with a chuckle before returning to her food.
School ended not long after.
The three girls packed their bags together while the classroom slowly emptied around them.
Rhea was the first to speak once they stepped into the corridor.
"Let's go eat somewhere," she suggested eagerly, already full of energy despite the long day. "That café I told you about added a new recipe recently. I tried it last week and nearly cried from happiness."
She clasped her hands dramatically against her chest.
"The dessert was soft, the sauce was perfect, and the drinks were so pretty. I even took pictures before eating."
Sally laughed softly at her exaggerated expression.
Before she could answer, Selene spoke with an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Rhea. I don't think I can today."
She slung her bag over her shoulder. "I have something to do, so I'll leave first. See you tomorrow."
As she spoke, she lightly patted both their arms, almost as if afraid they would stop her.
Then, before either of them could ask further, she hurried away.
Rhea watched her disappear around the corner and sighed dramatically. "Where is she rushing off to?" she muttered. "I was really hoping to go with someone today."
"Then let's go," Sally said casually, already walking ahead.
Rhea blinked in surprise before quickly hurrying after her. "Wait, you're coming with me?"
"Aren't you happy?" Sally teased.
"That's not it," Rhea replied. "Isn't Rowan supposed to pick you up?"
"He is," Sally answered lightly, laughter already slipping into her voice.
Rhea slowed.
Then stopped.
Her eyes widened as realization dawned on her face.
"You're sneaking away?" she whispered in disbelief.
Sally only smiled, the corners of her lips curling upward with a rare hint of teenage mischief. "It's just one afternoon."
Then she continued walking as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Wait for me!" Rhea hurried after her at once.
The afternoon sun spread warmly across the school grounds as students gradually dispersed through the gates. Some climbed into waiting cars while others walked home in noisy groups.
Sally's eyes drifted toward the entrance out of habit.
Sure enough, she spotted Rowan standing beside the familiar black Toyota Avalon.
Without even pausing properly, she reached over and grabbed Rhea's hand. "This way," she said, pulling her toward the side path.
Rhea nearly stumbled from surprise but followed obediently, still glancing back once or twice.
The two girls blended easily into the crowd of students heading toward the side gate.
"Is this really okay?" Rhea asked after a while, lowering her voice instinctively. "Your uncle will definitely be upset."
Sally looked entirely unconcerned.
"It's just a meal after school," she said. "He's not guarding a national treasure."
Rhea burst into laughter.
"You really are getting bolder lately."
"Maybe I just suddenly wanted to rebel for once," Sally replied casually, though the smile on her face carried a trace of satisfaction.
Truthfully, even she did not know why she had suddenly decided to avoid Rowan today.
Perhaps it was because Dominic's watchfulness had become too routine.
Most of the time, she went out with Elena, or Rowan followed quietly behind her. Even ordinary outings somehow became supervised without anyone openly saying so.
It was not suffocating enough for her to truly resent it.
Still…
Sometimes she simply wanted to do something small without someone already waiting nearby.
Even Rhea, whose family dealt with all sorts of political matters, was never watched so closely.
Thinking about it too deeply felt tiring, so Sally quickly tossed the thought aside.
Today was rare enough already.
Why ruin it by overthinking?
Meanwhile, Rhea had already become excited again.
"We have to try the milk tea there too," she said enthusiastically while walking. "And the grilled skewers beside the café are amazing. Last time I stood in line for almost twenty minutes, but it was worth it."
"You say that about every place you eat at."
"Because they are worth it," Rhea defended seriously. "Good food deserves respect."
Sally laughed again as they continued down the street.
Not long after, they arrived at the café.
The place was small and lively, filled mostly with students and a few office workers stopping by after work. The air buzzed with chatter, and the warm aroma drifting through the café made the entire place feel lively and welcoming.
Rhea brightened instantly the moment they entered.
"See? Isn't it nice?" she asked proudly, as though she owned the place herself.
Sally glanced around before nodding. "It's nice and noisy."
"Exactly!" Rhea said happily. "Places like this are the best."
They found a seat by the window and settled down while Rhea enthusiastically flipped through the menu despite clearly already knowing what she wanted to order.
Just as Rhea had claimed, the food truly was good.
By the time Sally finished eating, she leaned back against her seat with clear satisfaction, feeling unusually relaxed. The café was lively without being overly crowded, and the noisy chatter around them somehow made the atmosphere feel comfortable.
Rhea, however, was an entirely different matter.
Though she had already eaten her fill, her eyes were still wandering toward nearby shops with unconcealed interest, like someone already planning her next meal while still chewing the current one.
"I told you it was good, didn't I?" she said proudly while sipping her drink.
Sally nodded honestly. "You actually didn't exaggerate for once."
Rhea gasped dramatically. "What do you mean for once? My recommendations are always trustworthy."
Before Sally could reply, Rhea had already grabbed her sleeve and stood up excitedly.
"Come on!" she urged. "There's another shop nearby selling freshly made egg tarts. And across from it there's grilled squid skewers. We can buy a little of each."
Sally stared at her in disbelief. "Didn't you just finish eating?"
"There's always room for snacks," Rhea declared seriously.
Unable to argue against her enthusiasm, Sally could only laugh and allow herself to be dragged along.
The streets around the café were lively with students moving in groups. Rhea moved from one shop to another with endless curiosity, stopping whenever something looked interesting enough to try.
At one point, she stood in front of a dessert display for nearly three minutes, unable to decide.
"They all look good," she muttered painfully.
"Which one should we go for?"
Sally shook her head helplessly.
Truthfully, she was enjoying herself more than she expected.
***
On the other side, Selene stood quietly near the corner of a road not far from the school.
Students occasionally passed by, some glancing curiously at her before continuing on their way. She paid them little attention, her gaze fixed farther ahead as though searching for someone.
Time passed slowly.
The longer she waited, the more restless she became.
Just as impatience was beginning to creep onto her face, the figure she had been waiting for finally appeared.
Chess was walking down the street with two other boys, casually bouncing a basketball between them. Judging by their appearance, they had likely just finished playing.
His school shirt was slung carelessly over one shoulder, leaving only a clean white T-shirt on him. Under the golden afternoon light, he looked bright and easygoing, carrying that naturally likable air that drew people toward him without effort.
The moment Selene spotted him, she quickly lowered herself, pretending to fix her shoelace.
When his footsteps neared, she stood up naturally.
Their eyes met.
"Hello," she greeted with slight surprise, lifting her hand in a small wave as though the encounter had happened by chance.
Chess immediately smiled at her.
It was the same open, uncomplicated smile he always wore, bright enough to soften his handsome features further.
Without meaning to, Selene found herself smiling too.
He turned toward his friends and muttered something quietly. The two boys instantly exchanged knowing looks before grinning shamelessly and walking away, one of them even bumping Chess lightly on the shoulder.
Chess scratched the back of his head awkwardly before finally walking over to her.
"Um…" he started, looking slightly embarrassed. "Are you busy right now? Do you have time to talk?"
Selene's heart lifted slightly at the question, though she kept her expression calm.
"No," she replied gently. "Since we happened to meet like this, why don't we walk while talking?"
Chess nodded almost immediately, entirely unaware that this "coincidental meeting" had been carefully waited for over half an hour.
"Sure," he agreed easily.