Why Do We Care?
Chapter 17: Why Do We Care?
Morning, 7:47 AM
"Another day at Arcane Haven, following the day after tussle between Melvin and Ethan. Melvin and Leo were preparing for their classes, Melvin with bandages on his face and Leo sporting minor scratches."
[Narration through Melvin's point of view]
"Gotta admit, last night was pretty wild. Second fight since arriving here. But it wasn't my fault, was it?
After the president left, Ethan and Lui just stood up and left.....without a word....
Leo and I had to take Ryuza to his room - Cause ofcourse....leo had no idea how to undo the paralyze effect -_-
Also...my face..... It's messed up, thanks to Ethan treating it like a punching bag. *Sigh* Now, I've got bandages around my face. I could lie to Mam and sir about falling and hurting myself, but what worries me is Aria and Mia. I can't lie to them...
No point in lying to be honest; Mia can easily detect it.
Wonder if Aria will be upset because I didn't heard her and went off to deal with Ethan last night....."
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"Leo and Melvin step out of the room, heading towards their classes. Both walk calmly, Leo with his hands behind his head and Melvin with his hands in his pockets."
Leo notices Melvin's face: "Miss Karin is going to ask about your face, you know?"
Melvin, expressionless: "Yeah, can just tell some lie..."
Leo: "So, sticking to the plan of keeping last night quiet?"
Melvin: "Yup... It's also about pride. Can't go back on my word... I hope that guy does the same."
Leo chuckles: "Speak of the devil..."
*They spot Ethan and Lui on the road, Ethan holding plasters and bandages*
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"Stares stares"
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Awkward silence 😐
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Melvin, feeling awkward: "Uh... •_•"
Ethan looks annoyed, turns away, and walks off. Leo and Melvin continue their way, starting to argue.
Leo: "Looks like he's ignoring us now..."
Melvin: "I'm just curious how he got those plasters 🤔"
*While Ethan and Lui clearly overhearing their conversation while walking ahead*
Leo jokes: "Must have got some serious damage last night?"
Melvin: "I don't recall him getting any injuries; he was paralyzed most of the time 🤔"
(Ethan's expression up front: -_-)
Leo, teasingly: "Heheheh, maybe he's faking it hehehe"
Melvin: "Wonder why... Oh yeah, for sympathy 🤭?"
Ethan, hearing their conversation, gets annoyed, turns around, and shouts: "IT WAS YOU WHO DID THIS, MORON!! HOW COULD YOU FORGET SMASHING ME TO THE GROUND!??
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*Awkward silence*
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Leo, nervously: "Oh, uh, hehe, did you hear us? Hehe 😅"
Ethan realizes he's made it more awkward: "Tch! NOTHING!" *Turns away, annoyed*
Melvin: "Whoops, totally slipped my mind..."
Leo: "Well, he seems kinda quiet now... probably because of the meeting with the president."
They both continue walking towards classes.
On the way, they meet Mia and Aria at the entrance.
Mia goes to greet them: "Oh, there they are... *Waves hands from a distance*
Mia: Heyy, good morning guy...ys?"
*Notices Melvin's bandage as they came closer*
"Melvin! What happened to you...r...?"
Leo greets awkwardly: "Oh, good... morning, you two.. , actually..uhh nothing much happened honestly... just..."
Aria gets worried too: "Huh! Melvin!? How did this happen! All this banda--...*she raises her hand to check his face but stops. Eventually gets how he got this bandage*
Melvin looks down nervously, can't make eye contact: "Uhh.. Oo.. Aria.. Actually...i....."
Aria concerned: "You went there, didn't you....."
Melvin, in a little ashamed voice: "Mm.. yes.... I'm sorry..."
Aria, with a face of sadness/disappointment: "Who were they....? The two werewolves from our class...who stopped your way in the corridor that day.... Weren't they...?"
Melvin accepts: "Y-yes... Ethan and Lui.. *still face down*"
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Mia, confused: "Ehem... Hey g-guys? What's the story? I don't get what y'all are talking (^_^)"?
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Aria, scolding in worry: "But why! Why did you go! Didn't you say in the library you wouldn't go there?"
Melvin explains: "Look! I'm sorry! I had to lie that time! You were so fixated on telling the authority that time, you wouldn't let me go there!
(Melvin in mind: What happened to her suddenly!? She doesn't usually talk like this!)
Aria, scolding: "Yes, I would have reported it to the academy right then if I knew you would go! Because I trusted you! But you just.....lied?
*Turns towards Leo* Leo? I even informed you about that?
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Leo explains: "Don't blame me, by the time you informed me, he had already left for that..., So I went to check and found out he was getting outnumbered by Ethan, Lui, and another vampire.
Aria: "See! It was clearly a trap! You knew that too! So why was going there so important?"
Melvin: "It's! It's because of pride, pride alright!! You won't understand!! I can't just let other people or authority handle it if someone messes with 'me'. I had to solve that on my own! And also... I kindly suggest you not to tell about this to mam or anyone..., I gave them my word already."
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Mia in mind: "Oh boy... am confused as hell... sigh*
*Mia drags Leo away* *Angry smile* Now then Leo, tell me everything what happened before I go crazy enough to tie and torture you three ^_^"
Leo (afraid): "Gya! Wait don't! Am telling am telling!" *Leo starts explaining to Mia*
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Aria still scolding: "About pride? That doesn't even matter, Melvin! What good does it do? Look what happened to you after that! Your injuries! Even Ethan has plasters I just saw! Things could have been handled peacefully if we had reported teachers about this!"
Melvin fights back: "You won't get it, I told you! Pride does matter for me! Especially in a place like this! The more you ignore people like this, the more they try to dominate you! And also I don't get it--------"
(Melvin's narration:
On that moment... I said something I shouldn't have... It just came out of my mouth... I was naive... Not to mention all that stuff that happened last night, really messed up my mind... I forgot for a moment that friends... actually care for each other that much... And it doesn't need any reason for that...)
Melvin continuing: "-----And also I don't get it... 'Why do you even care'?"
"That line he just said, echoed through Aria, leaving her in shock and sadness."
Melvin (rude tone): "I don't know why you care how I handled 'my' situation. It's not like you have anything to do with this...?"
Here Leo, done explaining to Mia, both noticed what Melvin just said.
Mia: "Huh! Melvin! Why did you-"
Leo (comes near and starts shaking him): "Hya! You moron! Why did you say something so rude!?! She is your friend!!"
Melvin (ignorant): "Eghh, what do you mean, I'm genuinely asking why would someone care what I do!? 🙄"
Leo: "Idiot!! What do you mean why do we care!? We are friends! That's what we do!! We care for each other!"
Melvin: Huh!? Who is even my frie----
(Melvin suddenly realizes: Oh... Wait... They are... My friends, right... Of course, they care... What was I thinking!? My mind was somewhere else since morning! Because of that... I was just being rude without realizing!!)
Melvin's surprised realization: "Wait... I... d-didn't... mean to..."
Here Mia tries to comfort Aria: "Heheh Aria! Melvin didn't really mean that! No need to take it seriously, girl 😅"
Aria, looking down with a sad face and waters in her eyes, starts speaking slowly: "I see... Why do I care, huh.....?
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Well... I'm sorry Melvin... Guess I'm just some stupid to care about you... I don't mean anything to you... yes,
I'm just stupid... a stupid like me just cares for others... Sorry."
*Melvin looks silently at her with a guilty expression*
Mia worries: "Aria!"
Aria speaks sadly: "Nothing, Mia... Let's just go... we're getting late..."
*As she walks away towards class, tears drops as she walks*
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(Melvin's thoughts:
Actually, the one being dumb here is me... not you, Aria... You were always so nice to me... and this is what I did?....
Seeing those tears from her... I realized that she actually cares... and that I just hurt one of the only people who actually care for me in this world.... "Why do you even care?" Imagine hearing this from people you care a lot about... Of course, it will hurt... Especially to someone like Aria.... That's what happens when you befriend someone who has no experience with friends... a loner... like me... first time in life someone trusted me... Made me an actual friend... And what I did... Breaks their feelings....)
*Back to the scene*
As Aria walks away, Melvin looks towards her, realizing his mistake.
Melvin, in a sad tone: "I think... I just made a mistake... guys..."
Mia looking towards the way Aria left: "Yes, you did... She looks genuinely sad..."
Leo: "Of course, she is... Thanks to this moron -.-"
Melvin looks down: "I need to... apologize... *Looks towards Mia, noticing she isn't as mad as Aria* Huh! MIAA! What do I do! 😭"
Mia stares at him then looks away: "Hmph* 😒"
Melvin: "What! Not you too!!"
Mia: "Hmph* don't think I'm any less angry! I can't believe you guys didn't call me to a chance to see famous werewolf and vampire abilities... not to mention Leo's new form 😒"
Leo rages: "THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE MAD ABOUT!??"
Melvin: "Sigh* Good grief."
Mia: "Don't get me wrong, I'm mad too, I don't want any trouble in the friend group, right. It wasn't your fault or hers. I know you didn't realize people cared for you before because of your old life, right, but we do care for you, buddy."
Melvin: "Yes... I'm... sorry..."
Mia explains further: "As for Aria, she's more fixated and strict about not fighting anyone and maintaining peace... Probably because of some past incident... But still... if you would have said that to me or Leo... we wouldn't be as upset because we know you're naive... but you said that to the only person it would have hurt... To Aria..."
Melvin: "I see... Thanks for that, Mia, I appreciate it..."
Mia: "No worries 😊 And you better be friends again or I'm brainwashing all three of you *psycho smile*"
Leo, afraid: "Aaah! Why me!"
Melvin: "Eee! Don't worry I will, I will!!"
Mia: "Alright... now let's go to classes already..."
"After that, we went to classes. After entering class, she didn't even look at me. I could see she was really upset,
And when I tried to talk to her....."
Melvin: "Umm hey... Aria... can we..."
*Aria turns her head towards the window*
"Yeah... she ignored me... And classes started. Throughout all periods... Even though I sit right behind her... she keeps ignoring me... didn't even turn back once... I could just call her out and say what I want to say... But when someone's not in the mood to talk, it's better not to force them into it... I will just find a good opportunity when she is ready to talk.
So I didn't get a chance to apologize now. Soon the lunch break started. I can't just sit and have lunch with her after all that, need to make things good first. So me and Leo just went to the terrace for lunch."
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To be continued~"