In Between

Chapter 4

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Sunlight streamed through the window, touching her face, as she tried to open her eyes, barely stretching out her arms before shifting her body to the other side. She wanted to extend her sleep, but the fact that she had things to do that day – Sunday chores that included washing her clothes, cleaning her room, and buying her needs at the grocery – and also studying, as tomorrow was Monday. After completing her chores, finishing washing her clothes, and doing a general cleaning of her room, it was now afternoon. So, she headed outside to grab lunch, and afterward, she would go to the grocery. Stepping outside, she approached the kitchen, finding Dada cooking their food.

"It'll take a little bit before it's done, just wait in here and take a seat," Dada said once she noticed Vivian standing, while Vivian pulled out a chair and sat down.

"What's the menu for today?" She asked.

"We have beef bulgogi, kimchi, rice, and noodles," she replied, busy working on the dishes she cooked.

"Ah, Dada, where are the other tenants? It's just the two of us here," Vivian asked again.

"They went home to their city because they already have school vacation," Dada replied. Vivian hummed in response before speaking again.

"Could it be so early to have vacation?"

"Well, you can't blame their school," Dada said, already heading to place the food on the table and preparing utensils for two, then they started to dig in and mount their food.

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It was already 2:15 pm, she was now done taking her bath and wearing some casual clothes that fit her fashion sense – a plain oversized shirt and pants. Vivian was a simple girl who wasn't into beauty trends. She valued knowledge more than physical features, which often made her appear plain and unconventional. However, despite her simplicity, she had striking features: short, silky black hair with bangs that hid her forehead, a somewhat pointed nose, cherry-plump lips, bushy thick eyebrows, and a pearly white, soft skin tone. Her sparkling eyes were framed by long lashes, which added to her natural beauty. She might not fit the conventional standards of beauty, but in her own eyes, she looked beautiful. She was totally beautiful in her own simple way, a calm beauty that perhaps someone could appreciate.

Well, ever since some people had called her ugly and a nerd, seeing her personality as weird, she had experienced bullying before. Even though she looked plain and common, at least she had her intelligence and good heart, which made her realize that she was totally enough just as she was, and beautiful in her own way, even if "beautiful" wasn't a word she often used to describe herself.

Back to the present, she was now heading to the grocery, walking down the street. The reason she intended to walk instead of taking a taxi was to budget her remaining money carefully, thinking that she could save some amount if she walked, as the grocery was within walking distance from the condo.

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Already headed inside the grocery store, she roamed around to find the essential needs she would buy.

"I need to buy hygienic products, such as lotion, shampoo... hmm.. soap, and what else?" she asked under her breath, thinking carefully, with her index finger resting on her chin while pulling the cart. She continued roaming around, buying her needs, and after an hour, she was done.

She made her way to the counter to pay. Meanwhile, she was now headed out of the grocery store, holding the things she had bought earlier, standing aside and waiting for a taxi to pick her up. Minutes passed, but taxis didn't seem to stop for her, which made her wonder.

"How could taxis not be available on the way?" she said, diverting her gaze to the right and left sides of the street.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a car stop, not exactly where she was standing, and then it came into her sight, making her look in its direction with a confused expression, wondering why the car had stopped near her. Soon, the car moved and suddenly stopped right in front of her, and she still had a puzzled look on her face.

"Hi, Vivian!" Once the car window rolled down, she heard him greet her with a smile, which made her eyes widen in shock at his presence.

So he was the driver of this car that had stopped in front of me?! When would he stop annoying me? I had only entertained him once just to make things clear, but now it seemed like he had gotten it another way. "He was just greeting you, pabo! Don't be so overreacting!" Shut up! are you really my thoughts? then why was you always on his side? "Because you're wrong!" She snapped, pulling out of thoughts when she heard him speak again.

"Hey! Anyway, are you waiting for a taxi?"

"Yes," She simply replied.

"It might take a while for you to wait, so..."

"So?"

"Come and hop in, I'll give you a ride home," he said, gifting her a smile, while her eyes widened again, not expecting his words.

"See, he's nice to you." Other people can be nice too! "But he's the one who's insisting, so don't be foolish and refuse him!" Who are you to order me around? "I'm your thoughts, so think wisely, pabo!"

She was snapped out of her thoughts again and turned her gaze to him, wearing her usual nonchalant expression, and replied, "No thanks. I can wait some."

"Come on, Vivian, I'm willing to do this," he said.

"When will you stop annoying me, Theo?" she asked, controlling her frustration, while Theo gifted her soft chuckles.

"Until we can became friends, I guess."

"Well, that's not going to happen, I'm telling you now."

"Why not? I'm sure some other day you won't be able to resist this charm of mine," he said, throwing a wink at her, as she rolled her eyes at that.

"Then leave now."

"Why are you behaving like that now? Last time when we were together, you were kind to me," he said, gifting her puppy eyes, acting like a kid who needs attention.

"I don't need to explain myself to you."

"Okay, fine. Are you sure you don't want a ride?" he asked, giggling and teasing her slightly.

"Just go."

"Okay, Vivian. Take care, see you next time, goodbye," he said, smiling at her, and afterwards took his way out of her sight. Annoying.

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It is another day in the University, as she now settled at her seat listening to the discussion infront of her.

"So class Im announce that in this 7th week. Our thesis should be start now, it is the output you needed to passed in the first semester of this class"

Their professor informed them, making to create big commotion in the whole class.

"Quite..I will set all of you into a group, so that you can worked the thesis well. Understand?"

It was another day at the university, and she was now settled in her seat, listening to the discussion in front of her.

"So, class, I'm announcing that in the 7th week, your thesis might start few weeks before. It's the output you need to pass in the first semester of this class," their professor informed them, creating a big commotion in the whole class.

"Alright... I will set all of you into groups, so that you can work on the thesis well. Understand?"

"Yes, Prof," they replied in unison, while Vivian let out a sigh upon hearing the professor's announcement. She knew that it would require a lot of time to work on, and it would be hard for her to communicate with other students since she wasn't close to them. The problem of how she would participate with her future groupmates weighed on her mind.

"I will announce your groupings in a few weeks. So, be prepared in advance. Good luck to all of you. You can take your break now, class dismissed."

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Theo Pov.

I headed to the cafeteria to grab some food after my class was dismissed. I had two more classes before I could head to the pool area to practice for the next competition. Stepping inside, I walked to the counter to order food. With my tray in hand, I scanned the room for an empty table to sit at. Suddenly, my eyes landed on her as I saw her settled at a table near the window. A smile formed on my lips as I noticed her, and I took steps to approach her table. I didn't know why, but I enjoyed her company, and I wondered why I liked being friends with her.

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Vivian Pov.

I sat silently in the cafeteria, enjoying my lunch to recharge for my last class later. I was also doing some advance work, knowing that today was Friday and tomorrow being the weekend, I'd be busy with my part-time job as usual. I needed to work a lot, as I had promised Dada that I'd pay her this week, since I wasn't able to last week. Thankfully, she allowed me to pay this week, so I shouldn't disappoint her – if I did, I might find myself heading home to find my stuff outside. Focusing back on my meal, I finished my food. Just then, someone stood in front of my table, and looking up, I found him again, smiling at me.

Seriously? He had been annoying me for a months now, and it had been seven weeks since it started. He had grown accustomed to talking to me, following me, and doing anything that irritated me. I had gotten used to seeing him around campus sometimes. I decided to ignore him from now on.

"Are you done eating?"

"What are you doing here again, Theo?" I said, looking away and focusing on the book I had taken out of my bag a while ago.

"Can I sit first?" Without waiting for a reply, he took a seat on the opposite side of the table and started digging into his food. As he ate, I felt his gaze on me, and I became distracted from my reading.

"Are you a bookworm? You're so serious while reading," he commented, chuckling.

"Don't bother, just mind your own business," I replied, maintaining my serious expression.

"Even when you're rude, you're still beautiful," he said, his lips forming a smirk after those words.

"Shut up, can you?" I said, glancing at him, while he shrugged his shoulders and continued munching on his food.

"If you don't mind, can you come with me to the pool area? I need someone to set the timer and monitor my performance," he asked.

"Are we that close for you to ask that?" I said without sparing him a glance.

"And besides, aren't you tired of not leaving me alone? You've been annoying me for months now."

"And so? I'm happy talking with you," he said, cracking up in soft chuckles, obviously teasing me, while I glared at him.

"Well, for me, we're friends, but for you, I don't know," he said again.

"Can you even think so if I liked to? You're just the one who's insisted," I said straightforwardly. I didn't even receive a reply from him, which made me look up at him in wonder, finding him silent now, just looking at me.

Oh shucks, did I hurt him again? "You pabo! Why can't you be less rude?" I didn't do anything wrong. "Oh, really? Then why did he fall silent?" Did I offend him? "What do you think?"

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To be continued.........