Chapitre 30: Chapter 30
"So, you're going to Akita?" Shonn asked as he had breakfast with his brother. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room, mingling with the warmth of their shared morning routine.
"Yes. Wanna come? You totally can," Levi retorted, his eyes glinting with excitement. He had always loved Akita, the serene landscapes and the peace it brought to his otherwise hectic life.
"I'm not rejecting the offer yet, but thanks," Shonn replied, his tone noncommittal. He swirled his spoon in his cereal, lost in thought.
"So, do you wanna come?" Levi pressed, sensing his brother's hesitation.
"Can my friends tag along?" Shonn asked, looking up.
"Friends or girlfriend?" Levi laughed, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Urgh, alright, alright. Mason, Jacob, and maybe her. I don't know," Shonn admitted, a hint of a blush creeping up his cheeks.
"Won't you have class?" Levi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Just two this week, not much harder courses. The faculty is on a project, so we're not focusing on class that much now," Shonn explained, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Alright. Come then. I'll get you four tickets," Levi said, nodding.
"Thanks, but I don't think we can go tomorrow. Mason is coming back from the Singapore tomorrow; he went there for a competition. So maybe a day or two later," Shonn replied, looking apologetic.
"Alright. Not a problem," Levi said, understandingly.
"By the way, why always Akita? Don't you go there every year?" Shonn asked, curiosity piqued.
"It's beautiful; everyone loves it there... Oh, shoot," Levi said, glancing at his watch. "I'm already late. Gotta go." He sped up to the front door, his movements hurried.
"Levi," Shonn called out as Levi was putting on his shoes.
"Hmm?" Levi responded, the sweetest 'hmm' ever, a sound that always melted Shonn's heart.
"I still haven't promised if I can go or not. I'll talk to them first." Shonn smiled, trying to reassure his brother.
"Not a problem. Talk to them. If it's a no, let me know by 5 PM today so I won't have to buy the tickets," Levi softly smiled at his brother, the corners of his eyes crinkling.
"Alright, thanks," Shonn said, feeling a warmth spread through him at his brother's understanding.
. . .
At the office, Levi and his squad were having lunch in the cafeteria. The air was filled with the clatter of trays and the murmur of conversations. Tiffany wasn't with them; she dared not to. After what happened the previous day, she was having a hard time getting close to Steven. She was trying to make up with him, but the squad kept giving her looks.
"Hey, Ethan," Steven said, breaking the tension at the table.
"Hm?" Ethan looked up, his expression guarded.
"Sorry, I should've asked sooner. Did you have a good talk with Spencer?" Steven asked, concern lacing his voice.
"Yes. Don't worry about it," Ethan replied, shrugging.
"Thanks. Why did she do that anyway? She seemed pretty well-mannered to me," Steven retorted, frowning.
"Who knows? Let's not dig into it anymore since everything is solved," Ethan said, diverting his eyes from the guys to his food. He stabbed at his salad, clearly still agitated.
"She is seriously shameless. We could find someone better if we waited," Liam said, gathering attention from everyone. They all laughed it off because it was true, but Ethan reacted.
"What the fuck! You're seriously talking like this, Liam!" He stood up to leave, his face flushed with anger.
Levi held his hand and stopped him. "Finish your food before you go. And Liam, say sorry. Even though we laughed, that wasn't a good attitude."
"I'm sorry, guys. I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry." Liam apologized quickly, genuinely remorseful.
"Everything good now? Ethan, sit down," Levi said, his voice gentle but firm.
"No, I've lost my appetite already." Ethan left, shaking off Levi's grip. Maya noticed from her table that something had happened, her brow furrowing with concern.
"Ah, shit. Ethan is really mad, isn't he?" Liam said, frustrated, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Have a good talk with him later, okay?" Steven suggested, trying to smooth things over.
"I should. But I've never seen him act like this before. But don't you think he overreacted a bit?" Liam asked, his eyes wide. Steven and Levi exchanged a look of admitting.
"But you were right, though. Everyone calls her a bitch," Kevin said, his mouth stuffed with food. The guys looked at him in sync and sighed.
"What's wrong? Why are you all sighing?" Kevin was confused, but the guys averted their attention as they heard a sound beside their table.
They saw Maya on the floor as Tiffany just passed by. The food tray was on the ground, and leftovers were spreading everywhere. Both Levi and Steven rushed to the scene. Steven kneeled beside her and held her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes." She tried standing on her own, but Steven supported her. Levi stood there with a bitter expression on his face. He noticed a cut on her leg and whispered to Steven, "Watch her leg. You should send her to the infirmary. Everyone is looking at her."
Levi stepped back and turned his head to see Tiffany. She had a disgusted expression on her face, seemingly mad. She quacked off, muttering "SHIT," and left the crowd.
"Larson, you should go to the infirmary. Steven, don't just stand here. You should go back to your room. Ms. Evans!" Levi called, his tone authoritative.
"Yes, Thompson," Nira responded, hurrying over.
"Take your friend to the infirmary. She got a cut on her leg," Levi whispered, his voice gentle.
. . .
At night, everyone went home earlier than usual since the next day was big for them. Maya was checking through the files Steven gave her, sitting on the couch at their apartment. The room was quiet, the ticking of the clock the only sound.
Her phone rang with Sara's call. "Oh, sis, you're still awake?"
"Yes. Why are you calling so late?" Maya asked, a smile playing on her lips.
"Oh, that. Sis, why didn't you tell me that you're going on a trip tomorrow?"
"I'm so sorry. It was just all of a sudden. Work piled up, so I couldn't contact you after coming back… Wait a second, how did you know?" Maya wiggled her eyebrows, playful.
"Shonn told me. He actually offered me to go too, but I enrolled in some extra courses, so I can't go," Sara explained, her voice tinged with regret.
"Shonn? Is he going then?" Maya asked, surprised.
"He's not sure. His friends are kinda busy. One came back from the Singapore today. I'm not sure about the other one. He's not a social person, you know. So I think if his friends don't go, he won't either," Sara said, sounding thoughtful.
"You could have come, by the way. Since he's not social, as you said, and he offered you, so he wanted you to come, don't you think?" Maya asked, her tone gentle.
"Yeah, but I really don't wanna trouble you there, sis." Sara seemed a little down.
"Trouble? What trouble? So I am the reason then," Maya teased lightly.
"No, no, I didn't mean it. I meant…" Sara trailed off, embarrassed.
Maya chuckled as her sister spoke. "I know what you mean. Don't worry, you can come if you want. You don't have to if you don't want to. Shonn needs to get out of his zone anyway. Sooner or later, he'll need it. I was just joking," Maya said, her voice warm.
"Anyway, anything happen between Steven and you?" Sara asked, her voice curious.
As Sara asked, Maya's face turned red. She started coughing, trying to hide her blush.
"Anything? What do you mean?" Maya stammered.
"So you're still not dating. Hmph." Sara sighed.
"Sara, you shouldn't joke all the time," Maya admonished gently.
"Oops, sorry. Sis…" Sara hesitated.
"Yes?"
"Don't make him wait anymore… Goodnight." Sara's voice was soft, almost pleading.
Beep beep beep. The call ended, leaving Maya with a blank expression.
She sat there for a moment, lost in thought, then rested her head on the backrest, facing the ceiling. An upside-down Steven popped out of nowhere. Maya didn't even flinch. She just smiled at him while he wiggled his eyebrows, a playful glint in his eyes.
"Why are you smiling?" Steven asked. "Wait, am I seeing things? You're creeping me out." He leaned down to her face. As he leaned down, Maya's hands held his face. Steven's cheeks turned red, and she pulled his face even lower to hers. His heart started beating faster.
Maya gently rested his forehead on hers. Only a soft sound from Steven broke the silence in the room: "Maya."
"Thank you, Steven."
"Why?" he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper.
"For loving me."
"Does that even matter?" Steven spoke as he placed his palms on her hands. He gently broke her grasp and stepped back. "Does that even matter, Maya? It's always been one-sided. It doesn't matter if love doesn't come from both sides."
Maya sat back straight and said without looking at him, "It matters. It does matter, Steven. Because it's the start of everything."
Steven widened his eyes, hearing this from Maya. He felt a little comfort in his heart. As he was about to ask her what it was all about, she was already walking upstairs to her room.
Start? Steven thought, confused yet hopeful.
The next morning, Steven scanned Maya as she came out of her room wearing formal clothes for the trip. He chuckled, unable to contain his amusement.
"Why are you laughing?" Maya raised her eyebrows, puzzled.
"You're seriously wearing formal clothes on a trip?" Steven asked, his tone light.
"What? I thought VISHO is all about being formal…" Maya started, defensive.
"Well, it's a trip, Maya. Everyone wears informal or casual clothes here. Get changed already if you don't want to get laughed at. Hurry up. We should hurry," Steven said, shaking his head with a smile.
"You're going with me to the airport?" Maya asked, surprised.
"Yes, don't worry. I'll drop you off early. Now go," Steven urged, waving her off.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone