Chapter 3

Wendy's expression shifted slightly. She looked stunned before putting on a mocking look. "You want to break up with me? Do you think you can scare me just by saying that, Fabian? How could you possibly live without me, especially with those delayed reflexes of yours?"

I stated flatly, "I'm not trying to scare you, Wendy."

Wendy turned away and threw her handbag onto the couch. "That's enough, Fabian—stop throwing a fit. I'll send you the details for tomorrow's lunch spot later, so make sure to be there on time."

She walked straight into the bathroom without turning around, and before long, the sound of running water echoed from within. She had completely tuned out everything I said through the frosted glass door.

I still went to the restaurant the following afternoon. Sawyer had genuinely put a lot of effort into helping me find a place, after all, and my upbringing had dictated that I had to thank him for it.

Wendy and Sawyer had already arrived when I pushed open the door to the private room. They were sitting next to each other on one side of the long table, leaning together as they looked at a phone screen, laughing over whatever they were talking about.

There was something oddly deliberate about the way three seats were arranged. Wendy and Sawyer sat side by side, their shoulders nearly brushing, while I had no choice but to pull out the single chair across from them, feeling like an out-of-place spectator.

"You're finally here, Fabian!" Sawyer instantly flashed a wide grin. "Wendy thought you might still be mad and not show up! What's there to apologize for anyway? We're all friends here! It's no big deal, so just laugh it off and move on!"

I merely said, "Thank you."

I glanced at the table. Wendy and Sawyer both had iced shaken lemonades sitting in front of them, while the space in front of me was completely empty.

Wendy would always order a warm drink for me first whenever we ate together in the past. She knew I had a sensitive stomach and couldn't drink anything cold. She didn't even bother doing that for me at this moment.

"I'll go get something to drink."

I walked over to the counter and ordered a cup of hot milk. I turned around and walked back toward the private room while they prepared my drink.

It was then that a server, carrying a hot casserole dish, came rushing over. "Be careful!"

I heard the server's warning, but I was always a bit slow to react. I managed to pull my foot back a little, but the boiling soup had already splashed onto me—more than half the contents landed on my lower leg and the top of my foot.

I instantly felt a sharp pain searing my skin, leaving my mind completely blank as I stood there paralyzed.

Just then, Wendy and Sawyer stepped out as the private room door opened. She didn't rush over to help me. She snickered instead. "When are you ever going to fix those delayed reflexes of yours, Fabian? How do you not know to get out of the way when someone that big is walking toward you?"

Sawyer stood beside her and laughed along. "You're way too slow, Fabian. If that had been me, I would've dodged it right away. Your reflexes are slower than a sloth's!"

Wendy chimed in, saying, "If he was half as quick as you are, I wouldn't have to worry about him all the time."

In the meantime, a horrifying red swelling began to spread across my leg as a searing pain spread through me, as if drilling deep into my bones.

I suddenly recalled what happened during high school. I fell during PE and scraped my knee.

It was only a small wound, and there wasn't much blood, but Wendy got to me faster than the teacher did, helped me up, and lectured me in the infirmary. "You can't even take a few steps without getting yourself hurt. What would you do if I weren't around?"

Wendy was shaking so much back then that she could barely hold onto the cotton swab. Sawyer patted my shoulder back then, too, telling me he'd keep an eye on me whenever I went for a run.

Yet, at this moment, as they looked at the blisters forming on my leg, they just found my clumsiness hilarious.

I looked up, meeting their gaze. "Is this funny to you?"

Wendy's smile faltered slightly. "It was just a joke. Is it really necessary to make such a big deal out of it?"

Sawyer chimed in from the side, saying, "I was just trying to ease the atmosphere, Fabian, so please don't take it the wrong way. I've burned myself while cooking before too. I just put some ointment on it, and it was good to go. It's really not a huge deal, Fabian."

Wendy sounded completely impatient. "Did you hear that, Fabian? Go to the restroom and run some cold water over it—don't just stand there like an eyesore."

I took a cab to the hospital by myself, and after getting my wound treated, I sent a message to Luna. "Does the offer you made earlier about me helping you out at Losenia still stand, Luna?"

Luna replied almost instantly. "Of course, it does. I've even set aside a room for you, Fabian. Did Wendy give you a hard time?"

I sniffled and replied, "I just suddenly realized how much I missed you, Luna…"