In Between

Chapter 11

[On the phone]

"Yeah, my class is over. So can you go with me later? You can have dinner at my house then." Theo informed Vivian over the phone as he headed towards the hallway.

"I have a meeting to attend, brat." Vivian replied on the other end of the line.

"Then I'll wait. What's the problem? Vian, I need your help with something."

"About what?"

"About th- Oh, sorry... I'm sorry, I didn't notice you..." Theo's words were interrupted when he suddenly felt someone bump into him abruptly, causing him to face the figure in front of him and utter apologies. At some point, their eyes met, and they went into deep stares, recognizing one another as they felt a glimpse of electric current born between them when their skin collided and touched.

***************

After the call with Theo, she was confused about the sudden hang-up of their call. Meanwhile, Vivian had already headed to the south lounge area that Sira and Yna had mentioned earlier. She turned her gaze to find them settled at the reserved table, and she took steps to approach them. Yna and Sira greeted her once she finally reached them, pulling out the vacant chair and taking a seat.

"Where have you been? You're almost late, but thank God Red hasn't arrived yet." Sira teased, making Vivian place a small smile.

"Then, it's not a big deal, right?" Yna and Sira nodded their heads. After a while, Red arrived, heading towards them.

"Omoo... Red is here." Sira said, smiling cheerfully. Soon, Red reached the table and took his seat. The three of them noticed that he displayed a serious expression, while it was usual for him, it looked different, and he seemed bothered about something.

Engulfed in silence, as Red didn't bother to speak, he kept his posture while the three of them diverted their gazes from one another. What's the problem with him? "Why are you asking?" I'm just wondering. "What's the connection? Don't tell me you're concerned?" Why are you so mean to me? remember we're one, I am you and you are me... "Whatever, go ahead and throw the topic."

Vivian dared to clear her throat, getting their attention as she couldn't bear the silence that engulfed them. She also wanted to discuss this important thing and didn't want to waste even a single glimpse of time.

"So, are we going to distribute some tasks?" Vivian started, making him glance at her, realizing that he needed to focus on the meeting, as he corrected his posture.

"Yeah." he said sparingly, making them feel awkward towards his cold behavior. Sometimes he looked attractive with that behavior, but he also looked scary.

"Are you okay, Red?" Sira dared to ask him, making him look at her, paused for a moment before he nodded. Soon after tackling some necessities, Red regained his focus.

"Sira and Yna, you're both assigned to papers, and you, Vivian..." He said, pausing a bit, made Vivian turn her gaze to him as he continued.

"You belong with me."

"W-what?.. b..belong wi-ith y-you?" She stuttered before gasping, her words left her mouth as she felt a sudden heartbeat aroused inside her, disabled by his words.

"Yes," he said, then suddenly Red also recognized the unintended meaning of his words, making him clear his throat before he continued. As Yna and Sira stayed silent, just diverting their gaze to them.

"Oh, I mean, you're coming with me to work on the gathered findings." he said, looking at her.

"Ah, Red, c-can I... I work on the paper instead?" Vivian asked him hesitantly.

"No. Look, this is your idea, right? So you must be the one to help me with those findings." he said directly, and somehow Vivian nodded her head slightly, agreeing.

"It's settled now, let's start working on it over the weekend. You may take your leave now." After that, Yna and Sira took their leave, followed by Vivian. While Red stayed there to do some research.

************

From Theo's house, they headed towards Vivian's place, going home to the apartment, riding in his car. Theo insisted on dropping Vivian home, as he used to do, to ensure the safety of his best friend.

"Hey, Theo, are you fine?" Vivian asked him, noticing him staring at the road deeply, lost in thought. Theo snapped out, took a glance at her, and gifted her a thin smile.

"Huh?"

"What do you mean by 'huh'? You look deep in thought," she said, chuckling, finding his reply funny.

"No, I'm not." he said, chuckling at her while focusing on the road, driving.

"Liar. I know you from head to toe, Theo the brat, so you can't hide anything from me," she said sarcastically, making him giggle.

"Really? So, you're familiar with my body too?" he laughed in a teasing manner.

"Tsss, I'm serious, okay? Anyway, why did you hang up on our call earlier? Did something happen?" she asked, turning her gaze to face him.

"Ah, yeah, I bumped into someone." Theo said, and she noticed his expression was blank, but there was something wrong.

"Bumping?"

"Are you deaf? Why do I need to repeat the words again?" he said, making her throw glares that made him chuckle.

"Ha ha, so funny, huh?" she said, rolling her eyes. Soon, they reached the apartment and hopped out of the car. Soon, they gave their farewell, and Vivian headed her way inside, while Theo took the car back on the road, going home.

**************

He was still awake, turning his gaze to look up at the ceiling, lost in his thoughts. Today, he was totally distracted, feeling bothered by something he didn't know what it was. Soon, Red's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his phone buzzing, indicating that someone might be calling. He got up into a sitting position, extended his arm to grab the phone placed on the bedside table. As he held the phone, he answered the call.

[On the phone]

"Hello?"

"Red, son, how are you in Busan?"

"I'm okay, Ma, why are you calling?"

"Your dad wants to talk to you and mentioned you about the anniversary, can you come home next weekend for that?"

"But..." He mentally face-palmed, realizing his mother's word, he couldn't say no to them, especially to his father. He took a sigh before replying again.

"Okay, Ma. I'll come."

"Good. So, how was your day My son? Did you take care of yourself?"

"Yes, Ma, I do."

"We're missing you so much, Red. Anyway, see you on weekends."

"Okay, Ma. I'm hanging up; I have assignments to do. Goodbye, Ma."

Red hung up the call, then again plopped his body onto the bed. He thought to himself, I need to see my father again. Why am I still affected by my father?

****************

A cold breeze accompanied the sunny day today, it being Thursday, the day before the last day, Friday, of the 10th week. Vivian woke up to the cold air slipping through her window, touching her skin and making her shiver, unlike the usual sunlight that woke her up. She headed to the bathroom, freshened up, and wore her clothes. Then, she went outside to the kitchen to cook a simple meal for breakfast, not wanting to be late for school. Soon, she finished her meal and headed to the university. After a while, Vivian walked down the hallway, going to the locker area to prepare for her first class. Later, she had a meeting with him, Red had texted her the last night to meet him at the south lounge to discuss the findings they needed to gather.

"Hi, morning!" Theo flashed into her sight just in an instant, making her pause for a while, then throw a glare at him.

"Are you a mushroom? Who instantly flashes on?"

"Come on, Vivian, get used to it." Theo said, smiling. "Anyway, are you heading to your first class?" he continued.

"Yes, usual." she said while locking her locker and placing the key inside her bag.

"Vivian... can I sleep at your condo?"

"What?" she said, growing her eyes wide, not believing what words he meant to say. As Theo gave her puppy eyes.

"My house is kind of boring today, and it's so much colder being alone at night."

"W-what do you mean?..." she said, stuttering, which made him smirk.

"Come on, don't be so green-minded, Vivian. Don't you think such a thing, hmm? I won't do things to harm you. And don't you dare be perverted!" he said, teasing her.

"Are you on drugs? Yesterday, you acted weird, and now... you're in your usual state?"

"Aren't you happy about that?"

"Are you happy annoying me? Aren't you? I'll go now." she said, taking her way, while Theo followed her.

******************

Heading her way to the south lounge area that he mentioned, as her class already done. A few minutes later, Vivian entered through the door, looking around, it was kind of silent, with few students staying inside, considering it was already 7 pm in the evening, a time when least people occupied the chairs.

Soon, Red's figure caught her eye, and she made her way to approach him. Vivian inhaled and exhaled deeply once she stepped nearly to his direction, cursing herself to stay calm and casual. As she finally approached him, gaining courage to greet him, she noticed that he was busy typing on his laptop.

"Ah... hi." she said as Red glanced at her, their gazes meeting.

"Take a seat." he said, and Vivian took her seat opposite him, diverting her gaze somewhere as she felt some awkward feeling around him.

"Vivian, did I tell you that we're going to start finding some interviews, right?" he said, and she nodded. He continued, "On weekends, I'm going home to Daegu, so... you're coming with me."

"M-me? Coming with you there?"

"We need to get findings ASAP, so it can't be much to bring you there. It's just an emergency that I need to attend some important gatherings, but I don't want to neglect my responsibility in our thesis."

"But I insisted of taking care of that on my ow—"

"I don't want to be a burden in our group, okay? So please cooperate." he said, turning his focus back to the screen.

"Estimate. How many respondents do we have to conclude our claim about love?" he asked, looking at her.

What's with the intense gaze? His brown orbs intimidate me. "Don't dare to fall." Huh? What do you mean? "You're now finding him attractive, right?" Did I? "Okay, fine. Keep denying it." Shut up! How can you know such a thing? "Cuz I'm your thoughts. I can feel it."

He noticed Vivian being spaced out as he kept looking at her, finding this kind of behavior weird.

"Hey, are you lost?" Vivian totally snapped out of her thoughts upon hearing his voice, which made her move abruptly in panic. Off guard, Red found her behavior funny, and he unintentionally placed a thin smile towards her. As Vivian caught him smiling, she felt embarrassed and mentally face-palmed. After some hours of discussing strategies and other concerns about the project, the discussion went well, making them realize the time.

"So, it's settled then," he said, looking at her, and continued, "I'll contact you on weekends, don't forget to prepare your stuff for the trip."

"Alright. I'll go now, it's also late. Bye." she said, standing up and gathering her things, as Red did the same.

Red stood up as he looked around, noticing the silence. As soon as Vivian took her steps towards the door, they both headed towards it, walking next to each other with a safe distance, observing their surroundings. With no one around, they both wore expressions of wonder. "Where are the others?" Vivian said, almost above a whisper.

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To be continued.....