Chapter 216- Someone I Knew (Part 2)
Chapter 216- Someone I Knew (Part 2)
"Elise?" Arthur frowned. "... Now that I think about it. I do recall someone with that name."
"It's me!" Elise smiled widely when she noticed that Arthur was starting to recall who she was. She was a little worried that Arthur might not recognize her since it had been such a long time and so many things changed after so many years.
"But... That Elise was a timid girl with glasses, wasn't she?" Arthur tapped his chin. The image of the girl in his head was that of a very shy, plain girl who was as much of a loner as he was. She wore big glasses and kept to herself the entire time.
That was why perhaps the two got along without ever talking. They just shared the one single hobby they had, reading books. Arthur liked reading fantasy books as a kid. He loved traveling through those magnificent worlds, imagining himself being the adventurer discovering all of that.
It also gave him an escape from the real, boring, and brutal world. He couldn't count the times he wished he would wake up one day and find himself in one of these beautiful, magical worlds... As far away from where he was as possible.
He recalled the two spending that time after school, just reading their books and sharing the room silently. They didn't talk, barely even introducing themselves to each other or having any long conversations. Just two people enjoying their time away from everyone else.
For a second, Elise pursed her lips as if she was a little embarrassed. Then, she nodded her head. "Yes, that girl with glasses... It was me." She said.
"What? What are you even talking about, guys?"
Her friends listened to the conversation without any context and couldn't even understand what was happening.
"..." Arthur's eyes widened slightly. "That's you?!"
'This is the same girl? What? Am I hallucinating?'
Looking at the current Elise and the one from memory made Arthur's brain almost halt thinking. The difference was simply tremendous. From a shy and timid girl with average looks to a stunning, outgoing beauty with positive energy.
"Yes! I'm glad you recognized me!" Elise smiled brightly. "It has been such a long time, Arthur! I can't believe you're also here in the academy!"
'... Talk about a glow-up. She really changed completely.' Arthur didn't know how to react to this sudden truth. However, he still smiled slightly.
"Yeah, it had been a long time. And yes, I was able to join the academy." He replied.
"Elise, you have a looot to explain, girl!" Her friends glared daggers at her as if she had done something horrible.
"... S-Sorry, I will tell you everything later."
Then, Elise turned to face Arthur. "You have really changed a lot too. I couldn't recognize you quickly. Wow, you're really dashing!"
"Mm, I would love to do that." He nodded.
"Ok, I won't waste any more of your time now. Have a nice day, Arthur! It's really nice to see you again!"
With that, the girl bid him farewell with a smile and walked away with her friends. The boy waved at her slightly with a complicated expression. He really didn't know how to deal with this sudden development.
'Someone I barely knew from primary school met me again and now she's a beautiful, extroverted girl, and even more than that, she still remembers me somehow. Talk about a cliche storyline.' He rolled his eyes. 'Well, it's not like we are going to date or anything.'
The idea itself sounded silly in Arthur's head so he just erased it completely and then turned around. "Let's just focus on the most important thing... Food!"
With that, he continued picking up his dishes and then headed to the table where his friends sat. Upon reaching them, they all stared at him silently.
"Sorry for making you wait, guys. I met someone I knew and had to chat to them for a while." He said.
"Who is she?" Emmy asked with a mischievous smile. "I saw laughing while talking to her."
"Hey, don't even think about it. I barely even know her. We used to read books together back in primary school and that's it. I don't even know how she remembers me."
"Hahaha! My boy Arthur is really popular with girls! Good on you, man!" Herculia laughed as he tapped his shoulder roughly.
Meanwhile, Isla was silently eating food as if she didn't want any part of the conversation.
"So, what did you guys do?" Emmy asked.
"Nothing, really. She wanted my contact information, I gave it to her and I guess she wants to invite me out for a meal to catch up."
*Cling*
At that moment, Isla's spoon made a slightly loud noise as if she dropped it.
"My apologies."
"..."
A//N: How many super gifts for a jealous Isla? :3 LOL
LRAB