Zein's Point of View
Days passed since Matt admitted how he felt, but nothing really changed. Things weren't awkward at all. If anything, we got closer. Our friends already knew what happened because, of course, they were eavesdropping outside.
"Look who's coming, baby," Jerome hummed. I looked behind me and saw Supremo approaching, walking with his hands buried in his pockets. He was with... Angel.
I immediately looked away. My friends all turned to me, grinning like total idiots. "What?" I snapped, rolling my eyes. Jerome was trying so hard not to laugh that Vanessa had to elbow him.
"Can I join you guys?" Angel asked with her sweet, angelic voice. Why not?
Meanwhile, Supremo sat beside me. Even without looking, I could sense him staring, his brows probably drawn together. Maybe he was wondering why I was ignoring him. I know you so well, Supremo.
"Sure!" Matt told Angel, even going as far as pulling out a chair for her. I finally looked at Supremo when he nudged me. His eyebrows were still knit together, his mouth slightly hanging open.
"What?" I asked him coldly. He cleared his throat before glancing at my plate, which was piled high with nothing but vegetables. Oh, not again!
"I'd be happy to bring you some Bermuda grass," he said flatly, "if you would just tell me."
Jerome choked on his water and burst out laughing. "I didn't know Supremo could also be savage."
"What's Bermuda grass?" Mia asked, looking confused.
"Ah, Supremo? Zein is on a diet," Jerome said, still laughing. "She only eats vegetables lately. I don't even know if she's getting enough nutrients. Talk to her, will you?"
I shot Jerome a look. "I'll take care of this one," Vanessa announced before dragging Jerome by his shirt out of the cafeteria.
I winced when I caught sight of Supremo's serious face. He was scary when he looked like that, as if he was holding back from scolding me. For a second, I actually wanted to thank Jerome for what he said.
"What's Bermuda grass, Dave?" Mia asked again. "Do they have it here in the cafeteria?"
"I'll tell you outside," Dave replied, leading Mia away as they held hands.
"Uh, Angel? Want to go for a stroll?" Matt invited her.
"There's nowhere to stroll around here," I cut in.
"There is," Matt countered. "At the park."
"That's not a park for strolling. Just stay here," I suggested, mostly because I didn't want to be left alone with Supremo. I felt like he was going to eat me alive. Yikes.
"Let's go?" Matt stood up.
"Ah, sure!" Angel agreed with a smile.
My eyebrow shot up when Matt grabbed Angel's bag to carry it for her. I couldn't even remember him ever doing that for me. Friendship over!
"Matt!" I yelled, but he ignored me. I was about to follow them when Supremo spoke. "Are you going to sit down, or am I going to tie you to me?"
I scowled and slumped back into my seat. "Look at me," he commanded, his voice cold. With a dry throat, I looked up at him, feeling painfully self-conscious as he scanned me from head to toe. "You're too thin now."
His words left me speechless, but I eventually found my voice and let out a blunt, "Fuck you!"
"Really?" he smirked.
"I am sexy!" I protested.
"Angel is sexy."
I snatched a fork off the table and pointed it at him threateningly. "Take that back!" I hissed. There was no way I'd let him think Angel was sexy. My body was international-standard! Supremo must be blind, or this must be one of his ways to annoy the hell out of me.
"Why would I?" he said with a chuckle. "Angel is sexy because she eats whatever she wants."
I slammed the fork down and called over a waiter. "May I take your ord—"
"Give me every dish you've got! Pork, chicken, beef, buffalo, goat, dog, ca—elephant!" I shouted, leaving the waiter speechless. "That's it. Thanks."
Everyone turned to look at our table when Supremo suddenly erupted into loud laughter. My cheeks puffed out in frustration. If I could've thrown a tissue at him, I would have. But everyone was watching, and I didn't want people gossiping that I was hurting their precious Supremo.
"Watch me," I said, pointing from my eyes to his. Soon, the table was covered with everything I'd ordered. Just looking at it made me want to gag, but I wasn't backing down. I had to prove myself.
"I'm watching, Zein," he said, smiling. He leaned his arms on the table and rested his head on them, watching me with a tilted head and a grin. I swallowed hard. I felt like throwing up after just one bite, but I didn't stop. Eventually, Supremo picked up a spoon and started taking food from my plate. He helped me finish it all—well, he actually ate most of it.
"Finished!" Then I raised my hands like I'd just won a bet.
"Good job."
"Oily food really is the best," I added, rubbing my stomach.
"Cute," Supremo murmured, tilting his head.
"Am I sexy now?"
"I'll answer that later." He picked up the spoon I had been using and started using it himself. "I'm still hungry."
"There are plenty of other spoons, you know."
"There are, but you used this one," he replied nonchalantly while chewing. "It adds more flavor to the food."
I faked a laugh and looked away, feeling my cheeks flush again. "Do you believe in indirect kisses?" he suddenly asked.
"I don't."
"K."
I just watched him eat. He seemed to be really enjoying the greasy food. "Too much oil is bad for you," I reminded him. He just nodded, clearly not listening. Annoyed, I swatted him on the head with a plastic plate.
"Ow..." he groaned with a wince. "That hurt." Wait, was he trying to be cute? Hmph!
"Didn't you hear me? I said too much oil is bad for you. You might get heart disease."
"You hurt my heart more than oily food does!" he countered. "You're always getting into trouble. Every time I hear about a fight, my heart races because I know you're probably involved!"
I bit my lip. What the hell was he saying? And why was I blushing like shit? "Like this!" He grabbed my hand and pressed it against his chest. I could feel his heart thumping. "You're the only one who can make me lose my composure. Every damn time."
I looked down, trying to hide my smile. How could he say something like that so casually? Like he didn't mean it at all? Like he was just saying it for the sake of saying it, not to catch me off guard?
"You might want to let go of my hand now." I turned pale when I realized he had already let go of my hand, but I was still holding it against his chest. I pulled away instantly.
"I told you. You can look at my body, but I never said you could touch it."
"Shut up! You're the one who put my hand there!"
"Whatever. Let's go."
Supremo stood up, so I followed suit. I waited for him to grab my bag the way Matt did for Angel. "What are you waiting for?" Supremo asked, already standing at the exit. "You want to order takeout?"
"No!"
I grumpily grabbed my bag. Didn't he have a gentlemanly bone in his body? At least Matt carried Angel's bag. Ugh! Ace probably noticed I was ignoring him as we walked, so he asked, "What's with the face?"
"A beautiful face!" I snapped back, walking ahead of him.
"Crazy," he said with a chuckle.
"Thank you."
"What?"
"Thank you."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"Thank you!"
He pulled on my arm and forced me to face him. He looked genuinely annoyed. Aha! What a short-tempered guy! "Thank you," I repeated. His grip on my arm tightened. I didn't realize he was so easy to annoy.
"I don't understand," he said, looking truly confused. "Why do you keep saying—"
"Thank you."
"Damn!"
"Thank you."
"One..."
"Thank you."
"Zein Shion!"
"Thank you."
"You are sexy."
"Thank—huh?"
"Nothing."
He started walking ahead, and I scrambled to catch up. I heard what he said, but maybe I must have misheard him. "What did you say?" I asked.
"Thank you."
I stomped my foot in frustration because he was using my own method against me. "Supreme!"
"Thank you!"
"Seriously, what did you say?"
"Thank you."
"Fine!"
I rolled her eyes and turned to walk away, but he grabbed my arm again. "I just don't want you to think that what you eat affects how people see you. You're good, Zein. I like you even better when you don't give a shit about what people think. I like you the way you are."