After hearing Catherine sing a few times, Teren had concluded.

'How is this possible?'

But with his guide, she began with the very basics. Not that she was able to keep up with just one night. The first night was just for observation to see what level Catherine was at and how he should help her.

To his dismay, he had to think of a negative number just to properly assess Catherine's voice.

Two hours later, Catherine dropped onto the chair. She felt exhausted while her throat was kind of numb. However, there was this satisfaction of doing what you love.

"Let's go."

Teren took his bag and left the room. Catherine watched him with a questioning gaze.

'Let's go? What does he mean by that?'

Catherine took her bag and was about to exit and follow him when she realized that she's a mess. Her clothes were a bit messy while sweat covered her entirety. It was as if singing was not the only activity she did there.

'Shit! I was too into it that I moved too much!'

Catherine probably is just one of the few people who can be such a mess by just singing. When she exited, she saw Teren waiting for her at the counter.

"What took you so long? I already paid for the stay."

"How much? I'll pay all of it to you." Catherine didn't like the idea of being indebted to Teren.

"No, come on."

But if he said so, she can't do anything about it. She's just a normal high school girl. Money isn't her best trait so she guessed she can let it go.

"Where are we going now?"

Catherine asked. Without her knowledge, her cautiousness towards Teren decreased by a lot after that one session in the karaoke bar. However, as if it became a habit, she took some distance away from him.

"Hm? Where? I'll walk you home, of course."

Teren said as if it was obvious, he didn't even turn his head to her.

"Huh!? Why would you do that?"

"..."

Catherine received a glance from Teren as if she's the weird one.

"If you're going to walk me home because it's dangerous, don't you think that you're that danger?"

"... I guess you still think that."

"I guess?"

"But I still have something to say."

"What is it? And after that leave me alone."

"You're the only one who could talk to me like this in your group of friends. Even Mike can't communicate with me."

"He's too good to be talking to you."

"You have a crush on him?" Teren was suddenly interested.

"Well..." Catherine faced the other way around. Since it was already night, there were few to no people on the street. Even if they whisper with that distance, they can hear each other. Of course, if there's no vehicle passing by.

"... I had a crush on him." she answered.

"What happened?"

"Why would I tell you?"

"Nothing... I'm just curious about all of this romance..."

Catherine stared at Teren for a while before asking.

"Hey... you said you like Iesa before, right?"

With the conversation turning to him, Teren scratched his cheek and shyly nodded.

'This guy...'

Catherine inwardly sighed for some reason.

"Are you sure you should be walking me, another girl, home?"

Hearing this, Teren stopped and looked at him with a face of surprise.

"I-is that bad?"

Catherine stopped too and didn't know what to say to him. Instead, she asked him.

"Are you... an idiot when it comes to relationship?"

Teren replied in silence but afterwards, he nodded. It was true though.

'Relationships... I don't even know how that works in a family...'

"Well, you look like you're a loner so it should be expected."

Catherine had always been frank and honest. However, this time, she closed her mouth. She can act tough but she didn't want her words to actually insult Teren, simply, she didn't want to offend him.

But to her surprise, Teren sighed.

"You're right. My whole life, maybe I've only made two friends? And that two friends became mortal enemies who hate me so much, they will not let me live once they saw me."

Catherine froze. She thought they were just going to talk about some light stuff but she didn't expect to hear something like that from a high school boy. Also, since it's Teren, he must not be joking or exaggerating.

"I don't think... Nick hates you that much though."

Catherine thought back at the camp where Nick was still on Teren's side albeit so slightly.

"Nick? I don't he's my friend though. But is that what it looks like?"

"Yeah...?"

"Umm... how do you know if you're friends with somebody?"

Catherine suddenly received a complicated question. It would've been simple if this guy was simple. However, he may be the farthest from being simple, she thought.

"Now that I think about it, what are the factors that make you friends? I don't think there's anything like that. It's just that, if both of you thinks of each other as friends then you're friends...?"

Catherine answered unsurely.

"No, I'm sure that Nick doesn't think of me as a friend though."

"... I don't deny that. But how about you?"

'He probably sees you as his master...' Catherine inwardly added.

"To be honest... I'd like to have friends." Teren had a bittersweet smile. Although Catherine could not see it, somehow, she could feel it. So she wanted to peek and walked after him.

"You're saying as if you can't have one."

"Then, will you be my friend?"

Teren looked at her in the eyes, startling her.

"Umm... is that an order?"

"No, hypothetically, I asked you to be my friend. What would you answer?"

"Hypothetically... say that first... but I guess, yeah? That is if I don't know who you really are."

"So if you know you I really am?"

"That's a..."

Catherine felt like she walked into a trap.

"It's alright, I already know it. I'm just making you understand."

"..."

"Also, what I really want to say is that since you can talk to me, tell your friends that if they need help, tell them to you. Understand?"

"You mean, if they have problems, you will help? I'm pretty sure, you're their number one problem though."

"Can't do anything about that." Teren sighed.

"But, okay. I'll tell them."

Teren smiled.

"Thanks."

Right after that moment, a taxi stopped by beside them. Teren didn't seem surprised and handed a bill to the driver.

"See you next time."

Teren then walked away.

Catherine raised an eyebrow before being called.

"Miss, where to?"

The taxi driver asked.

Catherine pointed at herself and she only realized now why a taxi was here.

'I didn't see him call one. Is it because I told him to leave me alone?'

After a while, Catherine shook her head. She didn't want to feel guilty about it. But since the taxi was already paid, she just hopped in.