Chapter 66: Commotion in the Cafeteria Victor regarded Patrick suspiciously. "You seem to know a lot, don’t you?" His tone was meant to be sarcastic, but Patrick took it as a compliment.
𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚 "Thanks," Patrick replied casually. "In my line of work, I have to keep tabs on many things. By the way, you guys do know that Xiaxia and Tristan are married in the game, right?"
Xin choked once again, his surprise evident.
"Slow down, Xin. Easy with those beans. Here," Victor offered, passing Xin a drink.
"Th-thanks," Xin stammered, sipping the water to ease his discomfort.
"Apparently," Patrick continued, "the situation is that Tristan was cheating on Xiaxia. What’s worse, it was with a member from a rival guild. And instead of apologizing for being caught, Tristan decided to break up and get a virtual divorce."
Xin found it hard to swallow. The news was hitting him hard, and he struggled to process it all.
"Word is that Tristan and his new flame, Tiffany from Doom Serenity, are planning to hold their in-game wedding soon. However, due to his recent divorce, they still have to wait for a week. I hear it’s going to be quite the lavish affair –– a grand virtual wedding."
Xin’s mind was in turmoil, struggling to sort through the flood of new information.
"What do you care? You’re not going to be invited anyway," Victor retorted, the two of them continuing their playful bickering.
Xin, however, was trying to make sense of it all. He watched Xiaxia, who seemed completely carefree as she laughed with her friends, oblivious to the turmoil her breakup had caused him.
No wonder she always seemed so grumpy. Xin thought.
His attention then shifted to the nearby table when he overheard the conversation of a group of students.
"Xiaxia is single again. Maybe I have a shot now," one of the guys snickered.
"I don’t know, man. I’d rather date someone with money. If I’m the only one paying for everything, I might leave just like Tristan," another added.
"Too bad. She’s really attractive, but I wouldn’t want to date a girl who wears hand-me-downs. Those sneakers have seen better days. And don’t even get me started on her worn-out bag and clothes."
Laughter followed their comments until a sudden pain caught them flinching on their seats.
"Ouch!"
"Damn it!"
"What the hell?!"
Their laughter turned to surprise and annoyance as they winced and swore. The cause of their discomfort? A green bean that had struck them squarely on the neck and forehead.
A wave of confusion swept over them as they frantically searched for the source of the flicked bean, their eyes darting around the cafeteria. Yet, their efforts were in vain as they failed to pinpoint the responsible party.
And suddenly, an abrupt hush settled over the cafeteria, a heavy silence that was impossible to ignore.
Turning his gaze toward the sudden shift in the atmosphere, Xin’s surprise grew as his eyes fell upon the cause of the disturbance –– Seraphina, flanked by her entourage.
Seraphina’s presence commanded attention. Her wavy, light blue hair cascaded down her back, a striking contrast against her fair skin. Dressed in impeccable, branded clothes that spoke of elegance and sophistication, she exuded an aura of power and beauty that held the entire room captive. Her eyes, a shade of vivid purple, seemed to hold secrets only she knew.
As the cafeteria remained in hushed anticipation, Seraphina’s gaze swept over the area with an air of indifference as if the entire scene was beneath her notice.
Their presence seemed to create an invisible force field, effortlessly parting the crowd like water before a prow. Everyone hastened to their feet, instinctively making way for Seraphina and her entourage.
It was only after she had seated herself that the cafeteria regained its rhythm, and the hum of conversations resumed.
From the corner of his eye, Xin observed the stolen glances and hushed discussions that followed in Seraphina’s wake.
"What is she doing here?"
"Who cares? Seeing Seraphina in person is a rare treat."
"It’s almost like an event when she shows up at school."
"Dammit!" Patrick cursed under his breath, his glasses failing to shield him from Seraphina’s allure. He rapidly snapped photos of her and swiftly disseminated them through the news platform, which only heightened the already intense buzz in the cafeteria.
Victor shook his head at Patrick’s antics and turned to Xin with an amused grin. "Don’t tell me you’re captivated by her as well?"
Xin broke his gaze away, his tone even. "She’s undeniably beautiful," he admitted.
Suppressing a chuckle, Victor leaned in slightly. "You’re right. Her allure is like an invisible force that draws you in, even without realizing it. But that pull can be dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Xin inquired.
Victor nodded. "Not her personally, but the situations around her. It’s alright to admire her; everyone does. I do too. But just don’t cross certain boundaries. Trust me. You won’t want to deal with the consequences."
Patrick chimed in, his voice carrying a note of seriousness. "Those who’ve confessed their feelings to her have ended up battered. Those who attempted to get too close to her faced harassment. It’s not just her fan club; those around her are her suitors. Some are from royal families, and most are sons of billionaires. Don’t even think about competing."
Xin attempted to interject, but Patrick continued, a wry smile on his lips. "I’m not exaggerating. It’s happened before, and everyone learned their lesson."
With a good-natured shrug, Patrick fixed his gaze on Xin, holding a pen in hand. "By the way, what does your family do? Real estate?"
Xin shook his head.
"Business, then?" Patrick tried again.
Again, Xin shook his head.
"Ah, I see. Must be in the tech industry, then?"
"No," Xin replied, his tone steady.
It was Victor who chimed in, "Xin’s mom worked as a secretary for Mr. Fey, Seraphina’s father. Didn’t you know that? It was all over the news a week ago."
"I did know, but I assumed maybe his father worked elsewhere. No offense, but how can you afford to attend this school and major in arts? Are you on a scholarship?"
"No scholarship," Xin responded. He hadn’t secured a scholarship with his sample painting, which, in a way, he was relieved about. He didn’t want to be constantly pressured to maintain a certain grade.
"My father has been gone since we were young, so it’s just us and my mother," Xin added.
Patrick’s expression shifted to a contemplative ’oh.’
Victor elbowed Patrick, managing a smile at Xin. "Sorry about this guy. He’s gotten annoyingly insensitive."
"It’s okay," Xin said simply.
Patrick protested, "Insensitive? Me?"
Victor shot back, "It’s the truth. Guys shouldn’t be prying with so many questions."
Xin finished his meal, his eyes instinctively drawn to Xiaxia. He wasn’t surprised to find her sneak-glancing at him. When their gazes met, Xiaxia quickly averted her eyes.
Then, involuntarily, Xin’s eyes wandered to Seraphina. To his astonishment, their gazes met, and she even graced him with a smile that was almost a smirk.
Xin wanted to offer a polite greeting as a token of respect and gratitude for her assistance last week, but Seraphina’s attention was soon captured by the guy beside her.
"Are you leaving already, Xin?" Victor asked as Xin stood up, plate in hand.
"Yep," Xin replied. "I suddenly lost my appetite."
As Xin departed, Victor and Patrick exchanged a look.
"Is he upset?" Patrick asked no one.
Victor playfully tapped his head. "It’s probably because you never stop talking, and he got fed up with your constant chatter."
Patrick massaged his head. "I don’t think that’s the real reason."
"Quit whining," Victor chided, giving Patrick’s head another smack. "You better apologize to Xin when you see him."
Patrick pouted. "Fine." Yet, deep down, he had a feeling that his nonstop talking wasn’t the root cause of Xin’s loss of appetite.
Was it his face then?
Understandable since everyone who graced him for the first time lost their appetite.
Pimples could really change a man’s life. Patrick lamented and then went back to taking pictures like nothing happened.