"Here."
Eric handed Evangeline's things to her from his locker.
"Thank you."
He took a quick peek at her, secretly sighing in relief when she was back to her usual pompous self. Though something was different about her . . . he couldn't put his finger on precisely what.
If it weren't for her swollen eyes, he would entirely dismiss the memory that she cried.
They didn't talk much when they walked all the way to the lockers. Eric didn't have anything to talk about while Evangeline secretly rejoiced. She didn't want to talk about her embarrassing weakest moment of crying out of the blue like that.
Eric retrieved his backpack and raincoat and locked his locker.
". . ."
". . ."
The two were awfully quiet.
Eric was busy putting on his coat while Evangeline walked beside him, occasionally glancing at him from time to time.
Until they reached the path leading to the gates, the two didn't speak a single word.
Eric stopped, and Evangeline halted, clutching her bag.
"That's my bike." Eric pointed at the bicycle rack. He then gave a court nod at Evangeline. "I'll go on ahead."
Not uttering another word, Eric sauntered to his bike.
Watching him, Evangeline's face was calm. Her inner self, however, started to panic. From what exactly, she refused to admit that she wanted to spend more time with him.
In the beginning, she waited for him after class to have a final look at him before she goes home, but now . . . she just wanted to spend more time with him.
She didn't know precisely when did it start to blossom –– her feelings that is.
Was it that time when he held the bike during her weakest moment? Or that time when he rejected her offer? Or that bittersweet memory that happened a while ago?
Or was it that time when she first laid eyes on his silver ones.
She didn't know.
Only . . . It was impossible to stop it now.
Eric was utterly oblivious to Evangeline's thoughts as he unlocked the chain of his bike, and casually planted his butt on its seat. He was about to pedal when he noticed that Evangeline hadn't move from her spot.
He blinked, got off from his bike and walked towards her, dragging his bicycle with him.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Your bandages are hanging on your face." It's rather comical.
Evangeline eyed Eric's face, trying to pry for his silver irises.
"Oh." Eric ripped the band-aids and gauze on his face, exposing his wounds and patches of purple bruises on his cheek, and Evangeline's brows twitched at the sight.
