n

n

nThe water came not long after and by the time the noodles came, Jenna was already back from her trip to the loo.

nTheodore had chugged the water and he had even taken to bites into the noodles by the time she came back.

n

"One second, I'm going to the bathroom too,

" he informed rather offhandedly.

nSince things were being processed, it was inevitable that he would have to go to the bathroom, it just wasn't as urgent as Jenna, who had already been holding back for a while.

nJenna nodded as if to say that she would look after their stuff.

nShe sat back to her seat, but thinking a bit longer, she sat in the middle of the couch to take up half of her own seat and half of Theodore's.

nShe was really just sitting in the middle.

nHer intentions were clear.

nShe didn't want such a thing occurring again.

nThen, without really learning her lesson, she went back to sipping her drink.

nShe drank like normal, still without batting an eye at the alcohol intake, looking down at the pretty color of her drink.

nShe was currently drinking the peach fruit wine.

nIt had a yellow and pink hue, which made it a fan favorite for the females.

nIt also tasted really nice, so that was a plus.

nWell, that is, if you could drink 3 sips without getting drunk.

nBut then, her face, which had been completely normal up until now, flushed red.

nLike really red.

nAnd not because she was drunk either.

nShe stopped drinking and looked at the straw she had just drunk from.

nJenna didn't think about it when all that was in her mind was the flowing water sound of nature, but now that she was clear-headed again… she noticed.

nWasn't that the same straw that Theo just drank from?!

nAnd her face flushed harder.

nHey! Wait a second!

nThis is my drink to begin with… why am I the one feeling embarrassed.

nIt wasn't as if Jenna had never had a boyfriend before, she had one back in high school, but they separated upon entering university and he even had the guts to say that it was all because she cared more about studying than their relationship.

nOf course, she cared more about studying than their relationship!

nIt was her future vs, their (quite honestly non-existent) future.

nNot to mention, she had made it clear to him before they agreed to get together.

nBack then she was rather shy, so she recalled that she was probably beat red when she blurted out those truthful words, which is why the other party took it for a joke or something like that.

nBut was that even her fault?

nSo even though Jenna had been in a relationship before, the two didn't get too far either and her experience was still rather limited.

nAs for the scenario right now, it was hard for her not to be affected, especially under the influence of some alcohol.

nShe was rather prone to overthinking.

nJenna had all these indignant thoughts in her mind about Theodore's actions and how casually he had done them, so much so that she couldn't think of anything else.

n

"Are you getting drunk? Your face is beat red, you should probably stop drinking.

"

nTheodore, who just came back to the scene of Jenna cutely pursing her glossy lips while metaphorically staring a hole into her alcoholic drink, commented.

nHe had tried for himself how strong that drink was, and he still couldn't believe it could be called wine.

nMuch less that someone was drinking it as wine.

nIt was clearly a shot, okay…

nJenna's indignant thoughts deflated like a balloon the moment she heard those words of concern.

nWell, it wasn't his fault, right?

nHe seemed pretty restless and ill at ease at that time.

nJenna could imagine the reason why he was pending for a drink, having even assumed that hers was non-alcoholic, of a low degree at best.

nShe had been drinking it all night, and Jenna knew exactly what impression she gave off.

nIt wasn't the first time such a thing occurred before.

nThere had been many who tried her drinks thinking that they wouldn't be too strong before, of course, they did that out of their own cups.

nShe frowned.

nMaybe Theodore didn't care all that much about sharing a drink, I mean, a lot of people nowadays were like that, so maybe she shouldn't care that much either?

nWhile Jenna was lost in thought, Theodore, who had sat across from her, getting her message, took his bag and rummaged through it, taking out the same pill that he had taken not long ago.

n

"Do you want one?

"

nJenna snapped out of her daze.

nHuh?

nWhat?

nWho am I? Where am I? Why is this guy offering me his medicine???

nFor a second, the scene could almost be interpreted as a little lamb, an innocent young girl, being offered drugs from a person who popped out of absolutely nowhere.

nOr worse yet, someone who they thought they knew.

nTsk, tsk.

nAN: Don't do drugs kids. And don't accept drugs. And don't sell drugs! You too adults… watch yourselves. ?

nSeeing the confusion in Jenna's eyes that made her seem even more like a lost lamb, a sudden flash of realization dawned upon Theodore.

n

"Ah, don't misunderstand.

"

nThinking back, there did indeed seem to be a lot of things that could be misunderstood in that situation.

nEspecially the contents of his bag.

nMm, very prone to misunderstandings.

nAN: Seriously… why the heck does this sound more and more like drugs, for people who are new here, just know that they aren't drugs goddamnit.

n

"Those pills are…

"

nHow should he even describe it?

nTheodore thought long and hard before coming up with something suitable.

n

"…special.

"

n???

nJenna didn't even know how to react at this point.

nSeeing the question marks floating over Jenna's pretty little head, Theodore could already imagine what kind of thoughts she was having at the moment.

n

"No… I'm not terminally ill.

"

nTheodore spoke seriously, but even that wouldn't save him.

nSister, how was he supposed to explain this?!

nI mean the scene really couldn't get any stranger.

nJenna was looking at him as if she were looking at someone on their death beds saying that they were absolutely fine and as healthy as ever.

nAs if he were a crazy person in denial.

nTheodore sighed.

n

"I'm really healthy, as healthy as one can be, even more so.

"

nTheodore said as he stared at the incriminating evidence that said otherwise.

n

"These, these…

"

nHe couldn't say that they weren't to supplement his health, since they were, but that didn't mean that he was ill.

nIn the end, there was really nothing he could say, other than the truth, right?

nWell, it shouldn't matter too much.

n

"Well, it's easier if I take them out and explain.

"

nAs Theodore said that Theo slowly started taking out bottle after bottle without missing a beat.

nRows after rows.

nThere were… a lot to say the least.

nSince these were already patented, it should be fine, right?

nTheodore already considered Jenna as a friend.

nNot to mention since no one really knew his background, truth be told, other than his grades, looks, and his great personality, there was no other reason they would approach him.

nHe found these friends rather trustworthy, plus, there was a contingency plan.

nThough of course, it would be best if such a plan was unnecessary.

nThen Theodore started pointing at things, rather casually if I may add.

n

"At this row, yeah, these with the greenish colors, those are all vitamins, you can tell which from the letter on the label.

"

nThe Vitamin D was in a slightly larger bottle which held more pills.

nThis was taking into consideration his profession.

nThe letters were also on the capsule of the pill, so even though they were of the same color, there was no need to fear mistaking them.

n

"Oh, this one, this big bottle is the one that you eat if you consume too many sugars and fats throughout the day.

"

nThis bottle was at least 3 times the size of most of the others.

n

"Oh, and this one, this one is in case I don't sleep properly.

"

nThis worked kind of like coffee but without the adverse effects. In the end, some people still preferred coffee even if it affected one's health to some extent, so to some, these were pointless.

n

"This one is for bowel movement.

"

n

"This one is for the drinking thing, you remember right? It's the one you just gave me. You can give it a try if you'd like. It's really effective.

"

nJenna hesitated to take the pill, before actually putting it in her mouth.

nAnd as a matter of fact, she could really feel herself getting more clearheaded, though she wasn't too drunk to begin with.

n

"Eh, how come your face is still flushed? Hmm, it should have subsided by now.

" Theodore murmured.

nThese pills had been tested before and the results were all given to Theodore, and since he was taking them, of course, he would know them like the back of his hands.

nJenna blushed a little harder, but she just acted dumb, moving the back of her right hand to her cheek.

n

"Really? I think it's working.

"

nAs if saying that her face was cool.

n

"Hm, is that so?

"

nTheodore instinctively reached out to touch the other side of her face.

n

"Well, I guess this it's the temperature of a drunk, maybe it's just the heat here.

"

nTheodore still hadn't gotten too accustomed to the heat here in Basilian, so it bothered him more than others.

n

"I guess so.

"

nJenna said in a half-whisper.

nWhat was this guy even doing!

n┻━┻ミ ＼（≧ロ≦＼）

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