"It'll never be too late?" Freddy mused.

The notion breathed life into Freddy inexplicably, reviving a flicker of hope.

Not thinking straight thanks to the alcohol, he asked Bruno a question he never thought he would.

"Bruno, you've known Mashauva for such a long time; do you not have even the slightest bit of feeling toward her?" Bruno was rendered speechless.

Staring at Freddy, he warned, "Don't think that I won't beat the crap out of you just because you're drunk talking."

"So what if I am? Mashauva is so adorable. As if I'd believe you feel nothing towards her when you've spent the better part of your life with her."

Did he feel anything for her? Bruno pondered on it and thought it was platonic. All he saw in Mashauva was a sister. Granted, he had treated her better than Jelly Bean.

But it was because he would take Mashauva's feelings into account more as she was not his biological sister, whereas Jelly Bean was. So...

he'd often somewhat neglect Jelly Bean's feelings.

As the thought crossed his mind, Bruno thought he should go home that weekend and spend some time with her.

More importantly, Jelly Bean seemed to have become close to a boy at her school. Apparently, he was rather poor; she'd secretly cook and deliver him food.

Every time Bruno asked her to hang out, she'd refuse, saying she had more important things to do.

If anything, it was to hang out with that boy, wasn't it?

Bruno shook his head, resigned. Jelly Bean was so young, yet she was already beginning to pursue boys. He could only imagine what she'd be like when she was older. "Why won't you say anything? What's on your mind?" Freddy looked glumly at Bruno. "Has my words served as a reminder that you have feelings for Mashauva too?" Bang!

As soon as he finished speaking, Bruno punched him in the face.

Freddy did not dodge. Unknown whether he couldn't or that he didn't want to, he took the full blow and landed by the table, hitting his head on its leg.

The pain sobered him up a little.

Before he could even sit up, Bruno grabbed him by the collar and said with a cold expression, "I've told you before, don't bullsh*t about Masahuva and me. I don't give a d*mn about your sieve-like memory or your joking at my expense, Freddy Castle, but why do you need to drag her into this? Just because she turned you down, you have to slander her like this?"

The punch had sobered him up, and he felt much better. Tugging at his lips, he chuckled and said, "I'm slandering her just because I asked you if you liked her? Isn't it precisely because I think she's such a keeper that I'd think you have a thing for her?!"

"I don't!" Bruno growled. "I grew up with her; no way I'd have any feelings for her. If I do, then... what would that make me?"

Freddy snorted and said, "So you're tied down by this mindset? If that wasn't the case, would you have liked her?"

Bruno didn't answer him, but his eyes gradually darkened.

"You think you can bullsh*t just because you've drunk alcohol? You were the one who came begging me back then, asking for permission to be her knight in shining armor. But now you went and got yourself in such a sorry state just because you were rejected once."

Freddy smiled, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Once? I'm going f*cking crazy, Bruno. You know what, a terrifying thought actually came to me."

Hearing that, Bruno frowned, upset. What terrifying thought? It wasn't suicidal, was it?

"I can't believe I'd think that Mashauva's into you."

After that, Freddy burst into laughter. Although he was laughing, there was not a trace of joy, but only sorrow.

Bruno thought there was something wrong with his hearing. He stared at Freddy dazedly for what felt like a century before he grabbed Freddy's collar, wanting to lash out.

"Let me finish before you punch me

in the face again, Bruno. Think for yourself if Mashauva likes you? She has always clung to you ever since she was a child. Although we are all close as a group, don't you think she treats you differently from the rest ofus?"

"Ask yourself, you're special to her. After turning me down, she asked about you. Of course, that doesn't imply anything, but oh, how I wish you could see how evasive her gaze was knowing her, what was that if not a sign of guilt? But the question is why."

That was the reason Freddy was despondent.

He wasn't afraid that she didn't like him, nor that he didn't have a place in her heart, even more so as he'd still have a fighting chance. But if she already had someone in her heart, he could basically wave his chances goodbye.

What was more, that f*cking person was none other than Bruno.

"Bruno, tell me, how can I possibly compete with you?" Freddy laid on the ground like a broken puppet, saying, "It's impossible. I have no chance. Never in this lifetime."

Bruno said nothing.

His fingers were trembling unwittingly at the moment when he had wanted to lash out earlier.

"Onlookers see most of the game. If you don't believe me, you can ask her roommate, what's her name, Frida."

Silent, he remained silent for a long time before he finally said, livid with rage, "You're drunk talking. I'll pretend I never heard any of it, and you never said anything. Forget all of tonight once you've sobered up. "Forget?"

Freddy smiled wryly. "Do you think I can? Do you think you can fool yourself, Bruno? If she really has feelings for you, you'll only hurt her by playing dumb!"

Freddy spoke out his concern. He pursed his lips into a thin line, then said, "We grew up together. That's just dependence on her part. She hasn't grown up yet, so her thoughts haven't matured. Don't impose your betief on her. Everything has to wait until she becomes an adult."

With that, Bruno stood up, leaving Freddy be.

After a quick thought, he splashed the glass of cold water on the table on Freddy's face.

The water sobered Freddy up further, but he remained lying on the floor like a broken puppet, not wanting to get up.

When he closed his eyes, Mashauva would fill his mind.

Her every word and action, her bubbliness and beauty, none of it will be his ever again.

No one knew, but Bruno's hands had been locked into fists the entire time, and so did his frown. He had truly never harbored any other intentions toward Mashauva other than platonic.

Nor did he think she had any feelings other than so either.

But if what Freddy said was true, how should he deal with it?

If his memory served him right, Frida was her best friend, but he didn't think she was the right person to ask. However, why would Freddy bring her into this?

Bruno's mind was in a mess. He sat for a while before leaving the dormitory.

Slam!

Peace returned to the dormitory after Bruno slammed the door shut.

Their other two roommates, who had been hiding on their upper bunk beds, slowly sat up and looked at each other.

"Goddammit, why are we here to witness it?"

"We won't be silenced, will we? So Mashauva has a thing for Bruno?"

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