Suddenly, Bertie's groan pierced the conversation, breaking through. "Ugh..." he grunted. "How will I be able to study if the thought of my father's illness plagues my mind?? My worry for my father will only hinder me from studying, and I might as well fail again, which will disappoint my father..."

     Jean glances at his brother, Bertie, and carefully studies his downturned face. As Jean's eyes fixate on his brother's worried countenance, a thought materializes in the roof of his mind. At first, Jean struggles to grasp that thought. Then, finally, he acquires the idea, a faint shine sparkling in his eyes.

"Perhaps all you need is inspiration so you can focus on your study," Jean supposed, regaining the will to smile as his concentration locked on another topic. "Do you have inspiration?" he asked eagerly.

"No," Bertie sighed heavily, his eyes fixed on the floor.

"Or perhaps... mhmh... do you have somebody as an inspiration?" Gabriel wondered, lowering the book from his face, revealing a bold smirk tugging at his lip.

"Ooh," the others giggled.

"That'll be sweet! And spicy!" George thought, grabbing Bertie's arm and pressing his palm against it.

     A line formed on Bertie's lips as his eyebrows arched to his hairline. Slowly, a faint tinge of crimson emerged on Bertie's visage, deepening with each second. Embarrassed, his heartbeat pumped like a lunatic, uncontrollable and swift. Sparks of electricity hastened across Bertie's palms and fingertips, capturing his senses.

     Bertie lowered his gaze, unable to make eye contact. His lips pulled back to his cheek, concealing his gritting teeth. As his breath trembled with humiliation and uncertainty, he scratched his head. Refusing to answer Gabriel, Bertie sealed his mouth and kept his words at bay.

"Uh, Bertie? Are you alright? Your face is turning red," Jean pointed out, noticing the scarlet shade appearing across Bertie's face.

Gabriel nonchalantly looked at Bertie's face and observed him. "Uh-oh, someone's face is turning red," he teased.

"Sh... shut up..." Bertie stammered, his brows furrowing.

"May I grab the sincerest attention of all around our desk, please?" Gabriel crossed his arms, trying to inject sarcasm into his posture. "I, as a person who possesses an undoubtedly high admiration for my lady," Gabriel began, wrapping an arm around Scarlet's shoulder, "can confirm Bertie, too, has an object of admiration, based on how he looks," he ventured, pointing an open palm towards Bertie.

"N-no, I don't..." Bertie brushed his elbow, looking away and refusing to make eye contact.

"You do," Gabriel claimed with a playful wink.

"I said, no, I don't!" Bertie growled, slamming his hand on the desk, his eyebrows furrowing deeply.

Suddenly, the voice of the surrounding students inside the library, with the librarian situated on her desk, echoed. "Shh!" they shushed.

Bertie's eyes widened as he lowered his head in humiliation.

"Well, I say, you do, hehe," Gabriel continued, lowering his voice this time. "Like, I'm sorry for bothering you, Bertie. I'm truly sorry, yeah. But just admit it, my friend, and we'll help you get that lucky lady," he smiled kindly, his voice taking on a more serious yet friendly tone.

"I don't have an admiration!" Bertie groaned, accidentally raising his voice.

"Shh!!" the surrounding students and librarian shushed, their voices clashing against the mighty walls of the library.

     With a hint of resignation etched across his face, Bertie rolls his eyes and rises from his seat. He then turns from the desk, away from his brothers and friends, heading towards the exit. Meanwhile, Jean, Kevin, Gabriel, George, and Scarlet observe silently as he departs from the library.

     Jean, Kevin, Gabriel, George, and Scarlet exchange glances, an unspoken conversation passing through their gazes. With a smirk on their faces, they shake their heads slightly and turn their attention to books. Then, they flip the tomes open and read quietly, though their minds brim with the question of whether Bertie possesses an object of admiration or not. However, all they can do is remain quiet, as they can get kicked out if they are caught making raucous noise again.

Scarlet leaned closer to Gabriel and whispered into his ear, "Back when you still fantasized about other girls, before you met me, you were never shy and always displayed your romance with great tenacity, unlike Bertie."