Chương 19: Grocery with Papa Conrad

For the next four days, Maxen didn't skip class and that meant Cosette didn't as well. But on the fifth day, the day before the weekend, Maxen did just when Cosette finally agreed to join her classmate to join them for lunch.

As soon as she realized he was gone, Cosette searched for him immediately. Her first thought was the rooftop.

'Was he just waiting for me to leave for lunch?' she wondered, barging into the rooftop and looking around. To her relief, Maxen was in his usual spot and sleeping.

A subtle smile dominated her face as she held her hand behind her, treading carefully towards him.

'He seemed exhausted since this morning,' she thought, bending over and her shadow covering his face. 'Wow… I didn't notice it since he is always looking the other way, but now that the swelling is gone, Maxen is really good-looking. I don't understand why no one noticed it. Was it because he has a bit of fat? Tch. Back on Earth, gaining weight is my wish.'

Cosette nodded while rubbing her chin, thinking of what she was supposed to do once everyone knew what Maxen looked like. The only reason other students didn't pay attention to him was that he used to hang out with the wrong crowd and his face was always bruised.

Those bruises had been his unintentional disguise.

"Hello," she greeted with a soft and sweet voice when he slowly opened his eyes.

Maxen let out a shallow sigh as soon as he caught the blinding smile on her beautiful face. Cosette hummed as she sat beside him, clearing her throat while pouting.

"I didn't mean to wake you up, but I was a bit worried when I returned to the classroom and you're gone," she explained.

"Out with it." Her brows elevated when Maxen assisted himself to sit upright, astute eyes on her. "Just tell me what do you want and what will it take you to stop following me like a creep?"

Cosette frowned as she looked at him dejectedly. "What I want is to be friends with you, obviously."

"Friends… hah. Ask another person for that." Maxen snickered as he didn't believe her — not a bit. "I will never become your friend, so stop. You're making me feel uncomfortable."

Maxen's eyes glinted while staring at her dejected expression. Friends? Everyone would be willing to be her friend, so she should stop wasting her time trying to befriend him. It was not like he was sincerely uncomfortable around her.

Honestly, his days had been oddly peaceful with her around. Although they didn't talk, looking back had slowly become a habit of his to check if she was still behind him. But he didn't like to get used to her because one of these days, she would get tired and stop.

'For someone like her, she will surely leave when she's not interested anymore,' He told himself, mentally nodding at this thought.

"Don't wanna." His brow quirked at her muffled reply.

"What?" he asked in irritation.

"Even if you don't want to be my friend, I still want to be your friend." Cosette mustered her courage as she raised her chin, staring directly at him. "It's not like I am bothering you."

"You are bothering me," he said in a dead tone, but she feigned deaf while averting her eyes. Maxen ruffled his hair in distress, realizing it was pointless to argue with her.

"Whatever. Just don't talk, I am sleepy."

"Won't you have lunch?" she asked before he could lie down and sleep. "For the past weeks, you never eat lunch. How can you go on without eating the entire day?"

"That's none of your business." Maxen only cast her a sharp look as he lay on his side, his back facing her. Cosette frowned, watching his back as this was starting to worry her. She was aware that Maxen was working at night to financially support himself. But to think he wasn't eating in school because he still didn't have money for it.

'Ah…' her eyes suddenly lit up while thinking about Maxen's circumstance. If she bought him food, he would surely refuse it because he was a prideful person. But she had a great idea.

A smug grin turned up on her lips as she giggled.

That day was just like any other day. Maxen slept until past five and went home while she followed behind him like usual.

*****

The next day was Saturday. Weekends had been her boring days since she wouldn't see Maxen for the next two days. But Cosette had a plan this weekend as she was determined to be friends with Maxen.

Cosette clapped suddenly, making Conrad flinch as they were having breakfast. The latter raised a brow, eyes on his daughter, who seemed to be on fire early in the morning.

"I need to do grocery!" she announced before setting her eyes full of determination to her father.

"Grocery?" he repeated while tilting his head. "I don't think we lack food in the house for you to do that."

Cosette frowned; she knew that. They had personal chefs to make their foods. All she needed was to request what dish she wanted and the chefs would make her the best meals. But that was not what she wanted.

"I want to learn to make lunch boxes,' she explained in a knowing tone, getting comfortable with her father as he had been easy to talk with these days. "In our school, students bring lunch boxes. Also, I want to make a healthy lunch box for the cat I was taming. It won't be the same if I asked the chefs to do that."

Conrad studied his daughter, a bit surprised at her reasoning. Cosette? Making lunchboxes? That was odd, but ever since she transferred to Winter Highschool, she had been more and more normal.

"Then, if that is what you want." He nodded as he picked up the cup of tea. He nearly choked at her next words.

"Are you busy today, Papa? Should we do grocery shopping together?" she suggested, after her careful consideration all night. "If you are busy, then I can't do anything about it. I will just ask Nanny Lucia to accompany me and…"

"I'm not." She couldn't even finish her sentence when Conrad replied. "I can accompany you if you really need help."

The corner of her lips stretched into a bright grin while Conrad cleared his throat and averted his eyes. Her father was concealing his happiness quite perfectly, but she could tell he was pleased. He had this faint blush on his distant expression.

"That's settled, then." Her tone grew soft as she could feel that the atmosphere at the dining table had become warmer and warmer.

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