[Music Recommendation: "Usui Takumi" theme (Kaichou wa Maid-sama OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter

[Please note: Back by popular demand XD - This chapter is written in Kaiden's POV - that Saturday morning that Callan visited to make ice cream for Senara]

'Those tears…

Falling from her eyes…

I hate it!

Whenever I see that…

It stings… in my heart.'

"Ugh," I grunted as I woke up from a bad dream. "It's that dream again."

Ever since that day, when I saw Callan and Senara fighting, and that moment she cried when he whispered something to her… I kept on having these nightmares of her crying. It wasn't like that moment where we first met—when she fell on stage and landed in my arms.

Badump!

She was scared that time, too, but not in pain. Then, that time with the car accident. Ugh. How my blood boiled knowing something worse could have happened if Senara wasn't so lucky that time! I still couldn't forgive that man. How reckless! And that recklessness could have ended someone's life! And not just someone—Senara's an important friend. She…

Badump!

'Weird. Why have I become so emotional lately? Am I getting palpitations? Or did I eat something wrong?'

Nonetheless, it was good that he's expelled from school. That's one less danger for her. And as a countermeasure, I made sure she had plenty of bodyguards hidden around, ready to protect her any time—even inside school. Apparently, there's no safe place in this world.

No longer sleepy, I got up from bed and stretched my body. I peeked over my clock and it was almost lunch time. I wondered if Callan arrived yet. He texted me yesterday saying he's coming over to make ice cream for Senara. It seemed to be his punishment of some sort. Senara's too kind. She should have him run around 1000 laps in the field. Even if he was my friend, Senara's my friend, too. He shouldn't have made a girl cry. Ugh. I wanted to punch him so bad the moment he touched Senara.

Badump!

"Haaaah…" I sighed deeply. "This is the first time I want to punch him in the face. He's been a jerk many times but I normally just laugh it off when he bullies others. He was just protective of me, like everyone else is."

'Yes. That's true. But why is it that this time, I got angry? I don't understand myself.'

Brushing everything off of my mind, I decided to go out of my room. When I opened the door, Mr. Wei was just about to knock on my door.

"Young master, you are awake," Mr. Wei bowed his head. "Mr. Callan asked me to wake you up to taste his creation. He seemed to be quite pleased about it."

"Ah, yes. The cheese flavoured ice cream."

"Indeed. They are currently in the main kitchen right now. The dessert should be ready by now so you will no longer have to wait."

"They? Who else are there?"

"For now, only Mr. Callan and Ms. Senara. I will be on my way now to inform—"

Not even letting Mr. Wei finish his words, I found myself striding fast towards the main kitchen. Why? I wasn't exactly sure. It's just that… somehow, I didn't like the idea of Senara being alone with another man? Besides, Callan dared to touch her—covering her mouth and pulling her close to him. Urgh.

Badump!

"Irritating…"

It was such a fine Saturday morning and I'm already getting grumpy. And the worse part, I didn't know why.

It didn't take me long to arrive at the main kitchen. When I did, I saw them laughing at each other. It seemed that they already made up. That's… good. Yeah.

Badump!

I walked towards them after but they didn't notice me. Whatever they were talking about, it must be something funny since Senara was laughing and smiling so beautifully.

"Hey, what are you a kid?" Callan suddenly shouted at Senara.

"Huh? What now? I'm not a kid," she cutely pouted.

"You got somethin' on your—" he said, pointing his finger to his cheeks.

"Oh, I have something on my cheeks."

Senara tried wiping it off, but she missed the spot. I chuckled seeing her trying to wipe the ice cream off her cheeks in vain. Before I knew it, I was already walking faster towards her.

Then… Callan reached out his hands towards her.

Badump!

My eyes widened, and I felt my blood boil in an instant.

Next thing I knew, I was already beside Senara and I slapped Callan's hand away from her.

'Don't you dare touch her!' was what my head kept screaming out.

'What the… why am I like this? Callan is my friend.

He was just apologizing to Senara since he was a jerk and hurt her.

He was just trying to help her clean her cheeks but I…

Since when have I become so greedy?'

I breathed deeply, trying to calm myself. I shouldn't be too grumpy in front of Senara.

"It looks like you two are enjoying yourselves," I said. Ugh. My tone. It sounded rude.

To my surprise, Senara offered me some of the ice cream.

"He made ice cream! Cheese flavour! Try it, Kaiden, it's delicious."

She offered me a spoonful of ice cream, as if trying to feed me. Seeing her smile like that… all my anger was gone.

Badump!

"I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

She slowly put down her hand that was holding the spoon. She must have thought I didn't want to be fed. But no, it wasn't like that. I was just… mesmerized by her smile.

Badump! Badump! Badump!

Ugh. My heart kept beating loudly again. If this continues, my face would redden. Trying to hide my emotions, I took it—the ice cream she was trying to feed me.

Chomp!

Staring at the spoon in my mouth, I suddenly realized something.

'This spoon… wasn't this the one she was using earlier?'

My eyes widened again.

'Did I just… accept—but wait, isn't this an indirect…'

Badump! Badump! Badump! Badump! Badump! Badump!

'Oh shut up, heart! Stop going wild! I should get this checked up later.'

Though, strangely enough, I wasn't disgusted with what happened. I never allowed anyone to feed me but… hmmm. I kept acting weird lately, too.

'What is it? What is it with her that keeps on making me… do weird things? Is it because I'm just being careful since she's my first female friend? And she's not family, so I can't treat her rudely like my sister and mother. Hmm… yes, that must be it.'

I chuckled thinking all that.

'Who am I kidding? I guess I'm at that stage already, huh?'