CHAPTER 1.3

When Ciel went out of the bathroom, fully dressed, he saw Raffy sitting on his bed again. But unlike a moment ago, Raffy was not eating a banana fritter anymore and was just quietly sitting while staring and scrolling at his phone, which was abruptly stopped as well the moment he felt Ciel's stares on him.

“If you're going to ask for the banana fritter, I already ate it. Since it seems that you don't want it anymore anyway,” Raffy said when Ciel started walking towards the bed.

Ciel sat beside Raffy before dragging the table to be in front of him.

“How did you enter my room? As far as I remember, I locked my door,” Ciel asked, ignoring what Raffy had just said.

But Raffy seemed to not mind that at all and just answered Ciel's question. “The usual. I borrowed the spare key from Lala.”

“I already told you to stop doing that. Stop bothering Lala.”

“If you answered right away after I came knocking on your door while calling out your name, then I wouldn't have to bother Lala for the spare key. You got me worried.”

“I was in the bathroom, so I didn't hear you,” Ciel reasoned out, not minding anymore the fact that Raffy opened and came inside his room.

If it was the first time, Ciel would definitely be mad because, as he said, he values his privacy so much. But since it has happened too many times already and Ciel knew Raffy does not mean any harm and was only genuinely worried, though he was just being nosy most of the time, Ciel did not care anymore. Besides, Raffy is a beta, and that was more than enough for him to not be posed as a threat to a recessive omega like Ciel.

“I know that now,” Raffy answered and tried to take a piece of the banana fritter again, but before he could do so, Ciel had already caught his hand and slapped it, causing Raffy to whimper.

“Don't touch anything,” Ciel said while giving Raffy a warning and deadly stare, which made Raffy pout.

After that, Ciel gathered all the materials he needed in making a report, which includes a second-hand laptop that he bought using the money he had been saving since he was in high school, a USB, his notes, and a pen. And with all the things he needed already right in front of him, he finally started doing his report while simultaneously eating the banana fritters and drinking the soda.

Raffy was quiet for a few moments, which made Ciel feel glad as it made him focus on doing his report. But Raffy's silence did not last.

“Will you really not come with me to Andrew's party?” Raffy asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes,” Ciel immediately answered.

“Why? Because you don’t like going to parties? Because you don’t want to be in the same place where the alphas are in?”

Ciel did not answer anymore, making Raffy sigh.

“You know you can't do this forever, Ciel. You cannot keep avoiding alphas. It might be fine for now because we are still studying and your world is still limited, but what if you start working? Once you become a functioning citizen, you will certainly encounter alphas. What are you going to do by then?”

“I’ll cross the bridge when I get there,” Ciel answered nonchalantly.

“But it’s still better to be prepared and get used to it. And Andrew's party is the perfect start for you to slowly get used to being around alphas.”

“Still, no. I have a report to finish, Raffy, and you are well aware of how little free time I have. And I’d rather use this free time that I have in finishing my report than to go to that party, which wouldn’t benefit my grades.”

“If it’s your report, then I can help you. As a matter of fact, I can do your report on my own since I have a lot of free time anyway. You don’t have to worry about it. So, how about that? Would that be enough to make you come with me to Andrew’s party?”

“Can you also magically remove the existence of alphas in that party? If you can do that, then I’ll consider going with you.”

“Ciel!”

Ciel finally stopped writing his report to turn around and look at Raffy. “Just why do you want me to come with you so much? Is there anything you’re not telling me?” His voice was suspicious as he asked Raffy that question.

“No! There’s none! I just…” Raffy paused for a while and sighs before he continued to speak in a defeated voice. “I just want to do things with you that are normally done by friends. I want to hang out with you and have fun with you.”

“We’re already hanging out right now. And we’re always together during classes. What more hanging out do you want?” Ciel asked.

“Not this kind of hanging out! The kind of hanging out that I meant was going outside of this room and drinking and eating lots of food!”

“You know I’ve got no time for that.”

“Then, could you spare at least this day for me?”

“...”

“We will be busier next year, so going to these kinds of events would be much harder, Ciel. This might even be the last time we’re going to have the chance to attend such a party.”

“...”

“Just for tonight, please. And I promise not to bother you with something like this again till the end of this year. And we don't even have to stay very long. We can eat, stay for at least 30 minutes, and then leave. Let's just see what kinds of parties those pampered affluent alphas throw.”

“...”

“I won’t leave until you agree to go with me.”

“...”

“I swear I won’t be going anywhere, Ciel. I’ll keep bothering you here to the point that you won’t be able to concentrate on making your report. No matter what you say or do, I am not leaving this room—”

“Alright! Okay! I’m going with you!”

Raffy's eyes widened, and his face turned brighter. A smile slowly appeared on his face as well.

“Really?”

“You want me to take it back?”

“No!” Raffy immediately shouted, making Ciel roll his eyes.

Ciel knew Raffy better than anyone else. He knew Raffy would actually carry out his threats, and it would be very bothersome. And once it becomes so annoying, Ciel is likely to have no choice but to agree with Raffy. So, rather than wasting their time and saliva on something whose outcome appeared obvious, he chose to just agree to end the conversation. Besides, they’ll just have to stay in the party for at least thirty minutes. He could even go earlier than that.

‘Surely nothing will happen within those thirty minutes, right?’ Was what Ciel thought.