Chapter 24

"I haven't really found a spot to keep using for lunch," Ariel said as they headed outside. "Those girls are normally in the cafeteria, but even avoiding that isn't enough. They actively seek me out to torture me." Ariel sighed. "That's the rock I tried to use one time, and that's when I got seriously injured." She pointed at the boulder by the tree.

"But this is so out of the way." Jade shook his head. "How pathetic can they be? Do you think they'll still bother you if I'm right here?"

"Probably. Or they'll try to wait for you to use the bathroom and strike. They have too much time on their hands that would be better spent studying."

"Agreed."

"And this is the picnic area that I tried to use last time."

"Seems okay."

"But you never know when unsavoury people might join you."

"Unsavoury? Did someone try something?"

"With you here, it should be fine." I'd rather not tell him some other guy at his food.

"Hey Ariel, did you bring another one of those fancy lunches?" Andy approached the two of them from behind. He was about to put his arm on Ariel's shoulder, but the glare from Jade made him back off.

"One of those fancy lunches? Are you saying you ate the lunch I made?" Jade asked.

"Y-yeah. B-but it was just because she was full, and I was still hungry. No big deal, right?" He stepped back more. "I'll find somewhere else to eat." He took off with his brown paper bag in hand.

"Is that who you were talking about yesterday when it came to lunch? You didn't tell me he ate your food."

"Didn't think it'd be good to tell you, and there was more than I could eat. But for reference, I didn't offer it to him."

"It's fine, I suppose. You should've told me it was too much food; I'm used to feeding a man who eats a lot. I thought I adjusted portions, but I'm still learning."

"I just felt bad and wanted to eat it all. I wouldn't want to waste."

"You can bring the leftovers home to eat later; I won't be insulted. Anyway, it looks like this table has cleared now." Jade sat down and shifted down on the bench for her to sit beside him.

"Honestly, I think we'd be better in a less populated area, where there wouldn't be people staring at us. Seriously, I just want to eat in peace."

"Ignore them. They'll get bored soon enough."

"I'm not sure about that." Ariel couldn't help but look around at all the people staring at them. Maybe they're all staring at Jade again.

"Oh my, that looks so good." Janice popped up on the other side of Jade and sat down next to him. "Did you make that?"

"Yes." Jade continued eating and motioned for Ariel to eat as well, but she shuddered.

Why her? Suddenly, I'm not hungry anymore.

"Can I try some?"

"Do you not have your own food?"

"I do, but I'm curious how this tastes." She twirled her hair around her finger.

"It's best not to be greedy and intrude when someone is eating their meal."

"Oh..." Janice glanced back at her friends and motioned towards Ariel. "But a small bit won't hurt anyone, right?"

A shadow cast over Ariel as Pat and Cherry approached her. Ariel stayed still, staring at her food. What do they want now? Isn't Jade enough to keep them away?

"Ariel, can we talk to you alone for a minute?" Pat tapped on her shoulder. "It's super important."

"No," Jade replied for her. "We only have so much time, and you're disturbing our meal." He glared at the girls, and they stepped away.

"S-sorry."

"Tch." Janice waved them away and bit her lip.

"And can you leave us alone, please?" Jade asked her.

"But... Sure thing. I'm Janice, by the way. We've met already."

"If you say so."

Janice was about to say something, but held off, wondering if he valued his lunchtime too much, and she'd be hurting her chances. "We'll see each other soon. I hope you enjoy your meal." She patted him on the shoulder, and his sharp gaze landed on her from the corner of his eye. "Oh." She stumbled away, tripping on the bench on her way back over to her friends, lingering by a nearby tree.

"See? I don't think it's a good idea to pursue him," Pat whispered to Janice.

"Tch, what do you know? You've never even had a boyfriend, loser."

"And when's the last time you had one?"

"Face it; I'm the only one good with men." Cherry nodded to her own comment and preened.

"Shut up, Cherry. I could get any man I want if I tried, but why would I do that? I have high standards, and that handsome man is the only who has qualified recently."

"But he turned you down. In fact, he didn't seem interested at all. He didn't even remember your so-called fated meeting."

"Cherry, shut up, or I will end you."

Cherry pouted, but kept her mouth shut.

"And that's because Ariel was still around to distract him. You two useless foods couldn't even get her away from him."

"Would you want to mess with her when he's right there?" Pat asked. "Who knows what he'd do to us? Serious vibes off of him. He could probably charm the school and turn them on us."

"Ha ha, that's not going to happen. I'm the one who will charm him with my feminine wiles."

Pat and Cherry kept their mouths shut, their gazes averted to anything but Janice.

"Tch, you guys are supposed to be my friends; act like it."

"They're gone now; you can eat." Jade rubbed Ariel's back.

The tension in her shoulders released, and she sighed. "I'm so pathetic."

"What? Why would you say that? Don't talk about yourself like that." He brushed her hair behind her ear. "Am I to take your reaction to mean they're your bullies? Or are there more of them?"

"They're the bullies. As harmless as they look—"

"Looks don't matter; how they act does. Janice... I think I've heard the name before."

"She said she met you."

"I don't remember her at all."

Ariel couldn't help but smile a little at that.

"Do you think you can eat now? Don't worry about finishing, but I want to make sure you're eating."

Ariel took a deep breath and nodded.

"Good." He leaned back, and his eyes swept across the other tables and nearby, in case the girls were still lingering. "You know, I'm surprised she had the audacity to approach me when you're right beside me."

"Because she sees me as an insignificant bug to be squashed under her shoes. She was probably hoping to find a way to humiliate me in front of you." Ariel picked at her food, that she was sure was delicious, but couldn't enjoy.

Jade rested his hand on hers. "No matter what happens, I'm on your side. I suppose you can't help but feel embarrassed if they do something, but come to me no matter what. I'll do my best to be beside you, and to protect you. Also, I don't think they're as popular as they think. Based on others' reactions, they find her appalling, but fail to do anything. I wish people would learn to stand up not only for themselves but also for those in need. Someone has to." Jade picked up a spoonful of her rice and held it up to her. "Please, eat."

"I-I can feed myself." He inched the spoon closer, and she opened her mouth.

"I know you can, but I want to be encouraging, and I've never fed anyone before." He smiled at her and continued to finish off his own food.

"Thanks, Jade."

"Anytime."