‘Should I just give up?’ Maria thought to herself in a lonely mncholy.


    Maybe that was for the best. She knew there was only a small chance that he would choose her.


    So, perhaps it was better if she let go before she got too attached.


    ‘But, can I really do that?’


    Maria knew within herself how attached she was to the boy in question.


    Her sole motivation for growing stronger had been because of him.


    She wanted to be by his side—to be his!


    Abandoning that emotion at this juncture… was it even possible for her?


    No, it wasn’t.


    Before realizing it, Maria had be too intertwined with Jared that it was next to impossible to pull away.


    Yes, she had reached a point of no return!


    ‘So, what now…?’


    Was she simply going to watch in silence and drown in frustration as Jared got pulled away by a newpetitor?


    NO WAY!


    ‘I knew him first!’


    Before Freya. Before Aloe. Even before Ana.


    She had been the first to meet him. Jared Leonard was even the one who approached her.


    That meant she had dibs.


    “I won’t lose to any neers!”


    Just as she was steeling her resolve, a shadow crept upon her.


    “That’s the spirit.”


    Maria instantly froze.


    The voice that suddenly came from above her… was awfully familiar.


    Slowly, she raised her head, and her clear blue eyes met his.


    “J-Jared…?”


    As her cute lips parted, and her expression disyed slight shock, the girl’s inner consciousness was in turmoil.


    ‘Ehhhhhhhh???!!!!!’


    How long had he been standing there? Did he hear everything? Just how much did he see? Was she appropriately dressed for a meeting with him? What was he doing here? Why was he… here?


    Myriads of thoughts rang through her mind. Maria didn’t know which to pick. Her heart simply raced, and she felt overwhelmed to an indescribable extent.


    “Maria, can we talk for some time? I… can’t sleep.” He smiled at her.


    His smile and gaze were too charming to be real. Maria thought she would just let go of her facade and melt before him.


    However, she couldn’t do that.


    ‘I’m still mad at him for ignoring me for so long… right?’


    Maria wasn’t even sure which card to y at the moment.


    All her anger had melted upon seeing him.


    “I-I see…” She managed to croak words out of her mouth, looking at the ground.


    Jared’s face didn’t allow her to articte her words for some reason.


    “Then, I hope you don’t mind if I sit.”


    Before she could speak, he sat beside her, almost close in proximity.


    As they both sat on the fountain’s terrace, silence enveloped the area.


    The cool night air now felt suffocating, and Maria wondered what to say to Jared.


    All through their journey, she had hoped he would approach her. Now that he was right beside her, she was nk.


    “You seem a bit distracted, no, more like… sad. Do you want to talk about it?”


    His question seemed odd.


    Had he been watching her for some time? Just how long? Maria’s cheeks flushed pink a little.


    “I-it’s nothing…” She murmured.


    “Is it because of me?”


    Why was Jared being so direct this night? He went from 0 to 100 really fast.


    How was she supposed to handle such radical change?


    “M-may-be…” Maria attempted to be cold, but failed woefully.


    “I see…” His voice trailed.


    Even though Maria wasn’t looking at Jared’s face, she was trying as much as possible to gauge his expression based on words alone.


    But, that wasn’t enough!


    She so desperately wanted to see his face! But, the fear of what would happen if she did, crept up on her.


    She could end uppletely losing her cool, after all.


    “I’m sorry, Maria. I didn’t pay you enough attention. Even though we’re friends, I neglected you and was too focused on the mission ahead of us.”


    Her cheeks blushed even brighter.


    Even though Jared had added the word ‘friend’ to his statement, Maria felt incredibly happy and omitted that word from her head.


    “A-as long as you understand…” She replied, curious about what he would say next.


    “I actually wanted to talk to you many times, but I thought I’d be disturbing you. You’re not exactly easy to approach. Even now, you don’t seem to be into this conversation…”


    Jared’s voice sounded distant.


    His tone contained a trace of sadness.


    It was now Maria’s turn to feel guilty.


    ‘No! That’s not it! I just… this is just how I am!’ She sharply turned to look at Jared.


    Her eyes contained desperation. She didn’t want him to get the wrong idea about her.


    “I was just—” She stopped midway, once again rendered speechless by Jared’s charms.


    He was smiling at her, a contrast from what his tone suggested.


    “I understand, Maria. That’s just how you are. But, you should be more expressive of your emotions, you know? If you want something, or if you feel like talking… you can talk to me.”


    Her heart was racing faster than before.


    “I’m your friend. I’m here for you.”


    Omitting the word ‘friend’, Maria kept looking at Jared with intensifying emotions.


    “I can’t read your mind, you know? Though sometimes I wish I could…”


    ‘J-Jared…?!’ Maria’s heart was going to burst at any moment.


    And then, as if all his words weren’t enough… Jared ced his hands on her shoulders.


    His warm hands sent sensations coursing through her body.


    “Maria… It’s a terribly long night…”


    She fought to keep her trembling body in check.


    “… You wouldn’t mind us keeping each otherpany…”


    She gulped, wondering how Jared could be so bold as to suggest such a thing!


    ‘We’re not… old enough for that yet…’ Maria knew she would have to refuse, but had no willpower to open her lips in resistance.


    “… So, should we talk for a bit?”


    “O-Oh…” Maria’s voice appeared, holding a tinge of disappointment and relief.


    Her racing emotions plummeted. It seemed she had gotten worked up for nothing.


    “Sure. I could also use somepany…” She smiled, already limating to the feeling of seeing Jared’s face up close.


    For a moment, silence prevailed between the two. Maria’s body trembled once more as she ufortably stared into Jared’s eyes.


    “Ah, sorry about that.” The boy withdrew the hands that were on her shoulder, and then…


    “Here.”


    Out of thin air, he summoned a dark coat and covered Maria’s body.


    “You must be catching a cold. You’ve been trembling for some time now.”


    As the silence broke, both friends smiled at each other. Slowly, they were getting used to talking.


    The awkward atmosphere slowly dissipated.


    “Thanks.” Maria ribbed the cloak and smiled.


    If had a lovely scent attached… just like Jared.


    Even though the night had begun ufortably for both of them, Jared and Maria soon forgot about their troubles and became drowned in conversation.


    Before they realized it, they spent all night together—talking, and nothing more.