Chương 50: Partnered With Arlo

Everyone in class already introduced themselves to all of the students in class. It was the first class of their first day of the semester and the students quite enjoyed it. They found this class lively and even the old students found themselves feeling excited like freshmen students.

At first, most students thought that World Literature class would be boring, but their professor, upon handling the class and upon showing what they are to expect from the class, the students seemed interested. For the first time, they don't dread going to class early.

Well, they hope it continues this way.

As the students were given time to finalize their learning contract, the professor wrote on the board "Hills Like the White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway.

Since Angeal was finished with her learning contract, she stared at the board then quickly noticed the author on the board then started feeling enthusiastic.

Of course, since the human girl kept reading books since she was a child, she is all too familiar with who Ernest Hemingway is.

Ernest Miller Hemingway was an American journalist, novelist, short-story writer, and sportsman. His economical and understated style—which he termed the iceberg theory—had a strong influence on 20th-century fiction, while his adventurous lifestyle and his public image brought him admiration from later generations.

Angeal read most of his stories, except for the one on the board. It was the first time she encountered the title.

As the professor was walking in the class, he gathered the papers of the students who finished the activity.

"Do not leave the class yet, as I have yet something to discuss. After you hear this, then you are free to go," he said and the students who finished the activities stayed in their seats, waiting for the professor to speak.

"Jot down the name of the author on the board along with the title of the work. This is the first story that we will discuss on," he started off then the students started taking down notes either on their phone or in their notebook.

"You will make a short story analysis about this. Its plot, characters, setting, symbolism, theme, and the like," he said then one student raised her hand.

"When will the deadline be," she asked and the professor smiled.

"It is obvious. It would be next meeting, Wednesday," he answered and there were already groans of complaints heard from the students. Professor Leon rolled his eyes at them then spoke again.

"I want you guys to focus on the dialogues of the two characters of the story. By the way, this is going to be pair work," he said finally and those students who groaned felt relieved as they talked to their seat mates.

"Angeal, wanna—"

As Frey was about to ask Angeal to be her partner, a thought flashed her mind.

She remembered that Angeal liked Arlo when they were in high school!

Frey instinctively looked at Arvid behind her then spoke.

"We're gonna be partners, baby," she said aloud, making the other girls present hear her.

Arvid raised a brow at her. "But—"

As Arvid was about to complain, she secretly pointed at the girls beside her, making the young immortal sigh in defeat.

Arvid realized that if he were to be partners with Angeal, the others would be suspicious as to why he chose her as a partner and not Frey, when they pretended that they were dating.

Arvid couldn't pretend to be a couple with Angeal either since a while ago, he said yes to Frey out of whim. The young immortal also couldn't see Angeal to be pretending as a couple with him...

He would rather be a real couple with her.

Arvid feigned a smile at Frey then spoke.

"Okay, babe. Let's do this homework together then," he agreed and for a while there, Frey forgot that they were pretending to be dating.

Her heart skipped a beat faster for a few seconds before she was reminded that this was just acting.

Frey smirked then rolled her eyes at him.

"Don't make me do this alone," she teased and Arvid nodded as he took a secret glance at Angeal who was writing notes on her phone.

Frey looked at Angeal, then back at Arlo, who was still finalizing his learning contract. The girl poked Angeal then whispered in her ear.

"Aren't you going to ask Arlo to be your partner?"

When Angeal heard this, she looked at her then blinked her eyes a few times. She raised an eyebrow at her and Frey already understood what she meant.

It was Angeal's look saying, "Why should I?"

Frey rolled her eyes at her then whispered again.

"What if that Dharvey—"

"Hey, Arlo?"

'Aaah... I knew it.'

Instinctively, Angeal and Frey looked behind and saw Dharvey standing beside Arlo. She wore her shoulder bag then smiled at him before she spoke.

"You don't have a partner yet, right? Want to partner up on this homework," she asked and just in time, Arlo finished his learning contract.

"Just a sec."

He stood up, walked quickly to Professor Leon, then passed his learning contract. Afterwards, he came back to talk to Dharvey.

"You were saying," he asked, making Dharvey internally scoff.

'Is this basketball guy an airhead?'

Shaking herself from her thoughts, she smiled then cocked her head to the side as she tossed some of her hair behind.

"I am asking if you have a partner already? If not, let's work together!"

"Oh!"

After being invited by Dharvey, Arlo looked at Angeal, who was busy looking at her phone as she bit her lip. She was already typing the other details of the homework, making sure she won't forget.

The boy smiled, looked back at Dharvey then answered her.

"Sorry. I'm already partnered up with Angeal."

When they heard this, Frey, Angeal, and Arvid looked at him with surprise.

They didn't talk about being partners yet, but Arlo told Dharvey that he would be working with Angeal on this homework!

Feeling bad for being rejected twice early this morning, Dharvey now found it difficult to contain her disappointment. She scoffed then spoke, her annoyance etched in her voice.

"You both lost your chance," she said as she looked at Arvid and Arlo. She then rolled her eyes at the girls then left the four of them alone.

'I was rejected when I asked to be seated beside the freshman. Now I am even rejected by a varsity player!'

Angeal looked at Arlo and she pointed at herself, curious why she was chosen to be his partner. Arlo smiled at her. He didn't know her well, but he understood that simple gesture of her.

"I think it would be nice to partner up with you and get to know you at the same time."

When Angeal heard this, her heart doubled its pace, as she remembered in the first place why he liked him when they were high school.

He was nice and he was the only guy who spoke to her.

The girl avoided his gaze, making Arlo curious.

"Did I say something wrong," he asked Arvid and Frey and Frey just giggled as she looked at Angeal, knowing that she is shy.

"No, nothing. She is fine. She just doesn't communicate much with other people," Frey reasoned making Arlo understand.

"I see," he commented then he sat on Angeal's desk, slightly surprising her. "You have free time later? So we could do the homework," he asked and out of the blue, Arvid spoke.

"We will get groceries later after our class," he said and Frey shot him a look.

'Don't ruin this for Angeal!'

"Hmm..." Arlo contemplated for a while then thought of an idea. "I know! I'll help with the groceries. Then afterwards, we can do the homework together. How's that sound? I want to finish this homework so I could focus on the others since I work."

When Frey heard this, she chimed in, agreeing to Arlo's suggestion.

"Sure! How 'bout this. Arvid and I would be bringing the groceries home then we would catch up to you guys. Where should we meet," she suggested then asked and when Arvid was about to object, she pinched the muscle of his back, making the young immortal stop.

"The Cafe Library would be nice," Arlo suggested then Frey nodded, reaching to their group's agreement.

"Okay then! The Cafe Library it is!"

Soon after, they heard the university bell ring, alerting the four of them. It was a signal for them to go to their respective classes.

"Then, laters! We all meet in front of the gate after classes for lunch then the groceries!"

Arlo suggested then bid them farewell. With that, the four of them had no choice but to go on their separate ways to attend their classes.

As Angeal walked to her next class which was in the third floor of the main building, she clenched on the hem of her clothing, not believing what just happened.

'I'm partnered with Arlo!'