ASTRID put the food container back in the space stone. He turned to look at Kiran. He immediately noticed the other fidgeting, as if he was nervous about something. “Kiran?” he called.

The other seemed to be hesitating whether to say what he wanted or not. Then, as if he finally made up his mind, he took a deep breath and said, “You- are you going to be here tomorrow as well?”

Astrid smiled in amusement. He didn’t expect that that was what Kiran was hesitating to say. “Yes,” he said in response.

“Then, can, can I also go here tomorrow? I’ll try to bring my own lunch!”

“Of course, you can. It’s not like I own this place,” Astrid said in a teasing tone. “But you don’t need to worry about lunch. I always cook more than I can eat. We could just share.”

“Would that be okay?” Kiran asked, his voice sounding a bit hesitant.

Astrid nodded. “I love cooking. If there’s someone who could eat with me and enjoy my cooking, I would be even happier.”

Looking at the other’s smile, Kiran no longer tried to say any word of rejection. Maybe because he could feel that Astrid really meant what he said. That he felt happy whenever someone enjoyed his cooking. Which was not really hard to do considering how delicious his cooking was. 

He actually still couldn’t believe that the other was the one who made all those delicious dishes. At first glance, Astrid looked like a noble who had never set foot in the kitchen all his life. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. 

In their short interaction, he was more inclined to believe that the other was someone who grew up in an ordinary middle-upper class household and was very much loved by his family. Really, a kind-hearted person who wouldn’t judge others based on their appearance. 

Being treated so kindly, it’s probably the reason why he couldn’t resist asking if he could go to this place again tomorrow. Secretly hoping that the other would also be here. And he wasn’t disappointed. The answer Astrid gave was even better than what he was expecting.

The excitement and happiness he’s feeling, it’s like he was back during the first day of primary school. When he was still young and not so jaded as he was now. That was the first time he left the orphanage. So, he was pretty excited to meet other children who were not from the same orphanage as him. He was hoping that he could make new friends. Only for that hope to be dashed the first moment he stepped into the classroom.

He was used to fighting with other children in the orphanage. But that was just all petty fights that didn’t really lead to anything. Just children messing around. But it was different in school. There’s no physical fight involved. Only psychological.

As weird as that might sound, it was the truth. If you couldn’t handle all the mean things the other children would say to you, then, you’d better off not attending school. How he wished he was just exaggerating. But that was the place where he first questioned the meaning of his existence. Wondering if he truly deserved to live in this world.

It was a good thing that the defense mechanism he chose was to say equally mean things to the other kids instead of letting himself wallow in self-pity.

His school life was basically the same all the way to secondary school. People mocking him and looking down on him with disgust. He believed that the same thing would happen in this academy. And all the things that happened in the past three days seemed to prove that. 

But this short lunch had completely subverted his expectations. After so many years, he once again wanted to be friends with someone. 

“By the way, Kiran, are you also a freshman?”

Astrid’s question temporarily halted Kiran’s train of thoughts. He glanced at the other, noting the word ‘also’ from what the other said. “Yes. I guess you as well.”

Astrid wasn’t surprised by this. He had already expected that the other was a freshman after all. “What department are you in? I’m in the Acting Department.”

Kiran froze a bit when he heard that. Because he couldn’t help but wonder if there was one moment that the other was ‘acting’ during the entire time they were eating lunch. But he also quickly shook his head and threw that silly thought out of his mind. 

He should be a good judge whether the one he’s interacting with was being genuine or not. He had plenty of experience in things like that. Being repeatedly lied at because most people thought he was stupid, he had long known how to differentiate between those who treated him with genuine kindness and those who only wanted to make a fool out of him. 

And Astrid was definitely not the latter. 

“I’m from the Music Department,” he answered in response.

Astrid was about to comment on that when he suddenly remembered something. It was during freshmen registration, when he helped someone who was being bullied by three guys. He didn’t see that person but he remembered what those bullied said. That the other was poor and that the only reason he took the top spot was because the teachers took pity on him.

Those definitely matched what Kiran had been complaining.

“Are you perhaps the one who took the top spot at the entrance evaluation of the Music Department?” 

“Yes,” Kiran said, showing a confused look. “How did you know?”

“Just a guess,” Astrid said with a smile. 

If he told the other the truth, then, he had to explain a lot of other things as well. Which wasn’t really conducive right now. 

But meeting again like this, didn’t it seem like the two of them were destined to be friends? One thing’s for sure though. This was definitely a pleasant surprise.

“My next lecture is about to start,” he said, standing up. “See you tomorrow?”

The corner of Kiran’s lips curved up, showing a small smile.. “Yeah, see you tomorrow.”

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