Two pairs of eyes stare at him curiously as he marches on the campus pathway in a grumpy mood. Ignoring them, Poll keeps on silently fuming while remembering how another weekend was ruined because of a certain jerk who thinks he is all that.

Two weekends. Eujae Castillo has already messed up Poll's two weekends in a row. As if the weekdays spent in University aren't enough, does he have to ruin the weekends too? Granted, they have not seen each other for a couple of days, but it doesn't mean Poll suddenly wants to run into him in random places, much less on their days off from school. And why is that jerk always in a place where Poll is anyway? What's his deal?

"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Risa points out while they're walking, and turns to Tem, a confused expression on her face. "So... what happened?"

Tem heaves a sigh, pushing her eyeglasses up, as she shakes her head. "Honestly? I have long given up on trying to understand him. He has been like that since Saturday after we went to the mall with Cloud. Earlier that day, he was screaming in his room one minute and the next he was grinning like an idiot. He was also like that the other weekend. Though I think it's easy to guess the reason why he's gotten his panties in a twist again."

"Can you, guys, stop talking about me like I am not here to hear you?" Poll scowls at his twin sister and his friend. "And I don't fucking wear panties, Tem." He is already upset and these women are not helping him feel better at all.

"Sure, sure. Then you can go away somewhere you won't hear us so we can keep talking about you and I can ask Tem privately if your claim about not wearing panties is true," Risa replies, unfazed by her friend's crankiness, and then sighs when Poll pulls a face. "Alright. I understand, jeez. Stop taking it out on us, Poll. So except for avoiding you for the whole week, what did Eujae do this time?"

Poll gives Risa a look, his eyes drawing a question mark.

As if reading his mind, Risa rolls her eyes and explains, "How can I tell? We can tell. C'mon, Poll, how long do you think we've known each other? It literally has been since we were in diapers, right? I may not be your twin sister but even I know. Aside from having an artist's block, what else, or in this case, who else can make you this frustrated?" She looks him in the eye when he doesn't say anything. "Or am I wrong?"

Their childhood friend isn't wrong. As a matter of fact, those are exactly the two things that have been driving him up the wall since Saturday. When they got home from the mall that day, Poll went straight to his mini art studio next to his room and grabbed his materials in the hope that painting would distract him and help him forget about the encounter with that jerk. Regrettably, the opposite happened.

Poll found himself unable to focus on his work because he was too distracted as he kept remembering the thing with Eujae. His dull mood killed his artistic muse and it extended the following day. As a result, he ended up throwing his paintbrush in disgruntlement and cursing Eujae in his mind until he was satisfied.

On the upside, he had a good conversation with Gaele but that was the only good thing that happened on his weekend. It made him wish again to have more people like Gaele around him in lieu of some good-for-nothings like those who are specifically named Eujae Nigel.

"Let's get this straight first, Risa, I'm not frustrated that the jerk has been avoiding me, if that's what you're trying to imply," Poll says, his frown never leaving his face.

"Then what's the problem?"

"Well, I did run into that jerk at the mall–"

Poll ignores his twin sister when she mutters, "Why am not surprised?"

"–and he had the nerve to act like the conceited bastard that he is, pretending like he could have cared less about my existence."

Lifting a brow, Tem interprets, "So he ignored you."

"He did, that arrogant prick. Who does he think he is? What the hell was–" The curious looks that the women are giving him stop Poll from rambling. "What?" he demands.

Tem and Risa look at each other, before the latter sighs. "So you were saying you are not frustrated that Eujae is avoiding you, but it pissed you off when he ignored you. Aren't you contracting yourself, Poll?"

Realization crosses his face, words failing him for a moment, as he tries to think of an excuse. And even when he finds his voice, he ends up fumbling for the right words. "That's not it! I mean, I was annoyed with the way he acted like a stuck-up asshole and it was not because he ignored me!" He hates how desperate he sounds. It gives the impression that he is being in denial when he is merely telling the truth.

"Good morning, guys."

At the time, Poll can never be more grateful for the interruption. Turning around, the three of them return Lia's greeting.

It seems like the topic about Eujae has been forgotten as they continue walking with Lia. That is until Risa asks, "Did you come to school alone, L.A.? Where's your driver?"

"Eujae was with me a minute ago, but..." With a helpless smile, Lia gives Poll a meaningful look.

"Why do we still have to ask?" Tem says quietly at the same time as her brother grumbles, "Freaking dramatic."

They soon reach the main buildings and they split into two groups, according to their courses. On the way to their lecture room, Poll turns to Lia and says, "I'm sorry."

His friend smiles at him softly. "I don't think I am the right person you should be apologizing to, Poll. Although I know you're not solely at fault here." Looking ahead, Lia adds with a sigh, "It's just that I wish for the two of you to stop being stubborn and make up already, you know?"

There is no way he is going to apologize to that jerk. It is not his fault that Eujae is a drama queen. And 'making up' is only for friends, something that he and Eujae are not, and something that they will never be.

Poll wants to say those words to his friend but keeps them to himself instead. He remains quiet only because he doesn't have the heart to make Lia upset more than she already is.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Gaele: How was the weekend?

Ten2: i'd say peachy but that would be me being sarcastic. i had planned it to be a good time for painting but shit happened,

Gaele: Oh, you paint? This is the first time I'm hearing it.

Ten2: yep i love it. i usually use other media like graphite and colored pencils too but Im more into painting so my medium is acrylic paint

Gaele: Sweet. People who can draw and paint always amaze me with how talented they are in creating a nice picture from scratch. I can't even draw a decent stickman figure to save my life. I have some artist friends and they're really great.

Poll leans his back against the windowsill of the hallway in front of their room as he stares at the reply. This is the first time that Gaele talked about something personal without being asked. If not to answer Ten-Ten's questions, Gaele's usual part in their conversations is to give his opinions about Ten-Ten's stories. It only reinforces the fact that Poll has always been the one who likes to rant to Gaele while the latter just listens. And now, he suspects that it's because of their conversation this past Saturday that Gaele is trying to make him feel less guilty about talking a lot by starting to open up a bit about himself too.

The idea that they have become a little closer puts a smile on Poll's face. He wonders how much they can learn about each other, how far this virtual friendship can go. Will they ever personally meet each other?

Poll would really love to meet Gaele, to know the kind of person he is outside the internet, but he knows it's still early to bring that subject up. They will get there one day. For now, he is content with the kind of relationship they have.

Ten2: how bout you? something you love doing? i get it you dont play games that much so what do you usually do for your pastime?

Gaele: I am not as talented as you are so I read books as a hobby. And I don't know if you can call it a pastime but I like cooking.

Ten2: couldn't be me. i dont have enough patience to read books coz i feel sleepy when i stare at the texts. I only read manga because there are illustrations. i like looking at drawings and i draw anime sometimes. So you cook? well i love eating.

Gaele: Who doesn't love eating? I had no choice but to learn to cook for myself since I live alone.

Ten2: that's cool though. i'm an expert in cooking instant noodles and heating foods in a microwave hehe. do you bake too? My mom is really good at baking because she knows how much i love sweets

"Hey isn't that the Business Ad student whom you have a crush on?"

"Aw, where?"

Poll looks up from his phone and at the window next to him where his female classmates are looking out. He stares at them, amazed that the girls have no qualms about having loud chats about stuff like this.

He shakes his head and turns back to his phone, hoping his classmates will dial it down. He doesn't want to eavesdrop on people's conversations, not especially if it's about someone's crush, although it seems like the women are not too keen on keeping it a secret.

"Yay, it's him," his classmate squeals, "He looks really cute today too."

"Isn't he Lia's cousin? What's his name again?"

Ears perking up and grip tightening around the phone, Poll still refuses to admit that he is secretly listening to others' conversations. In his defense, his classmates are too close to him and their voices are loud. There is no way he could avoid hearing what they are talking about.

He keeps telling himself that it is not because he is interested, that he doesn't care about that last bit of information. Yet when one of the girls answers, "Eujae", he automatically whips around and looks out at the window to confirm if it indeed is the guy.

On the planter box around the mahogany tree not too far away from their college building, the person in question is sitting in a figure four lock pose, weight leaning on his left arm as his hand is pressed against the concrete planter box. He looks laidback with his head slightly angled to the left while he's busy with his phone in his right hand.

Scattered lights are filtered through the tree leaves and bounce off his brunette hair. There are softness and warmth in the person's expression as he fiddles with his phone. Even at a distance, anyone with a 20/20 vision can see the adoration in his eyes and the smile tugging on the corner of his mouth. One can't help but wonder what or who causes him to make the face that screams affection.

Poll shifts, unconsciously taking in the scene in front of him. The view stirs something in him but he can't quite place it. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knows that the same thing had happened before, that it's not the first time he felt whatever he's feeling now.

"God, he's a sight to behold. What I wouldn't give to have him as my drawing subject."

He is relieved to realize that the words didn't come out of his mouth, but at the same time, irritated with himself for even thinking that. "What's so good about him?" he asks out loud, the displeasure in his voice unchecked.

"Ehhh?" The girl with a crush on Eujae looks at Poll in surprise. "What do you mean, Poll? Hey, aren't you friends with Eujae?"

"I mean I don't see why someone would have a crush on him," he answers, ignoring the last question because he finds it a hassle to explain that he and Eujae don't get along despite having the same group of friends. To digress from the point, Poll decides to play it off as a joke and he smiles at his classmate playfully. "I am a lot cuter than him, won't you agree?"

It seems to be effective when the woman laughs. "Oh yeah, sure, you're really cute too, Poll. Let's just say Eujae is more of my type though."

"Ouch. Cut me to the heart."

"Oh c'mon, Poll, we both know I am not your type too," his classmate says, still giggling. "Well, it's not like I have a chance with Eujae either since it seems like he has a girlfriend already."

Curious about both statements, Poll is going to ask her what she thinks his type is and what made her say Eujae has a girlfriend. If the last part is true, he sure has never heard either Tem or Lia talk about it. Not that he wants to know.

Before he can say anything, however, their other classmate cuts in, "Hey, guys, it's almost time for Sir Nieves to arrive. Aren't we going in yet?"

"Oh, yes. How about you, Poll?"

Poll smiles. "Yeah, I'll be there in a minute."

He waits until his classmates are gone to their room before his gaze darts back to his phone. He didn't realize that Gaele has already replied.

Gaele: I think I can learn to bake if I actually want to do it, but I am not fond of sweets so I have not cared much about it.

Distractedly, Poll looks back at the mahogany tree outside, unsuspecting of the sight that awaits him. His gaze stops straight into the eyes of the person whom they were talking about earlier. Surprised, he almost drops his phone. He straightens up, heart skipping a bit, as Eujae continues to give him a look that is both cold and intense.

The heck? Since when has he been staring?

Gone is the previous affection on Eujae's face and in its place is an unreadable expression. No glow in his eyes anymore, there is only indifference.

Poll wants to do something, to glare at the guy, to look away, but it is as if his whole body has gotten a mind of its own and won't listen to him. It feels like he's trapped by Eujae's eyes and he can't tear his gaze off them.

He can't determine how long they have been staring at each other, and when the other art students come running into their room, yelling, "Mr. Nieves is here," Poll finally snaps out of the trance.

Fully aware now, Poll gives Eujae a dirty look. He turns away, ignoring the warmth that's starting to creep on his cheeks, and follows his classmates inside their room.

What. Was. That.

"Hey, Poll, where have you–" Nick stops mid-sentence, only to look at his friend skeptically. "You're red. What in the world have you been doing? Were you caught peeking at your crush or something?"

Disconcerted, Poll grumbles a denial and takes his seat. Someone was caught staring alright, but it was not him. More importantly, that person is someone else's crush, not his.