The rest of the day goes the same for both Ryan and Sylvia; casual and mundane.
The next day, they start their usual schedules of work and college.
Sylvia goes back to her desk and starts working, while Ryan leaves the house to arrive at his college.
However, Ryan has suspicions. He tries to set them aside, but they seem to be so stubborn that even while listening to the lecture, he cannot help but think about them.
In the classroom, the lecture goes on for the rest of the class. The professor keeps introducing one concept after another, and the students also keep taking notes even if half of the things go over their heads.
But Ryan doesn't retain even half of the learning today.
His pen cap presses against his forehead as he tries to focus, but his mind drifts again and again toward Sylvia at home.
Damn, she is definitely plotting something. She failed to hide her smirks last night. What happened? Did she and Marian talk about me? Am I becoming part of their gossip?
He thinks to no avail. He has already thought of every possible reason he can, but not a single reason assures him. He tried asking her about it too, but she just mocked him for being a scary-baby.
Hell... If only I can kiss the information out of her!
His face heats up suddenly, and he takes some deep breaths quickly to calm his nerves.
The audacity of using this excuse to kiss her somehow embarrasses him too, but a man has the freedom to imagine, and so he exploits that freedom. Because that's all he can do.
She only looks cute from the outside, but her grip was too strong that day. I couldn't even push her hand away...
His focus finally comes back again, and the boring words of the professor once again fall into his ears cleanly.
A small smile plays on his lips as the last of the thought enters his mind before vanishing.
...not that I really tried pushing away, anyways.
While he enjoys his thoughts and desires, Sylvia is busy with something else other than her work.
Back at Ryan's house and in Sylvia's room, she sits near her desk. The laptop screen stays open for a few more seconds before going blank.
She, meanwhile, is focused on the call, her phone against her ear as she lets out occasional chuckles between her words.
"....Oh? So, you like that one? We can go there, but I have work, though. You have to figure out a proper schedule, Chloe."
From the other end, another voice answers her back after a moment.
"Hm, sure. It's Monday to Friday, right? Then, I guess we can only choose the weekends."
Chloe doesn't sound disappointed at all.
But Sylvia seems to have something else in mind as she lets out a chuckle.
Weekends? I rest on my weekends! Only Sundays are reserved for Marian sometimes. I cannot waste another second somewhere. Let me do this properly then...
"Actually, I have another idea too, Chloe. We don't have to actually wait for the weekends."
A curious hum comes from the mobile as Chloe replies.
"Oh? Despite your busy schedule? Go ahead, I am listening then."
Sylvia leans forward with a smile and sets the phone down on the desk. She turns the speaker on before speaking.
"So... My work ends at 5 PM, that means I am completely free after that. How about it? Tomorrow, you and Blair can come to my house, then stay here for some time, and then we can go out the moment my shift ends?"
There is a moment of silence as Chloe thinks, and then the voice comes again, more certain.
"Sounds good. I want to see the place you live in too... Hm, I guess I will come at noon or later, since I have college before that. I will bring Blair with me too. Then, when your work ends, we can go out."
Sylvia agrees immediately.
"It's final, then. Don't get too late though..."
...
After hanging up the call, she leans back on her chair again and then strokes her chin slowly.
Ryan works three days at a job, and the other three he goes to college. Tomorrow, he will go to college again, and he will come back in the afternoon too, means near the time when those two girls will enter the house.
Sylvia's hands start moving back toward the laptop to continue her work again as she murmurs in the end.
"He can entertain them for a few hours. It's just a matter of a few hours, after all... Not too hard."
She returns to her work.
—
After a few hours, Ryan comes back from his college.
Sylvia opens the door for him and turns away before he can even enter properly.
"I am working, so no disturbance."
"I know that already!" He barks out while stepping inside. He closes the door behind him and follows her for some time before she turns toward her room and he makes a turn toward the living room.
After changing into more casual clothes, he appears near her room minutes later. He hesitates outside for a moment while staring at her room door.
Am I hallucinating it? I think she is acting strange for some reason. I don't know why I have a bad feeling about this.
He finally makes a move and presses his hand against the door before pushing it slightly.
He peeks inside and finds her sitting near her desk, still working. He stares at her, his hands on the door frame... he looks like a creep right now.
Well... it's awkward.
Sylvia continues working. But second after second, her typing speed grows slower. Finally, her eye twitches before she turns her head toward him with an unimpressed look.
"You also find that creepy, right?"
Ryan glances down at the floor for a second, and then back up at her again, and nods.
"Little bit..."
"Then, why are you standing like a ghost there? I am busy, I told you earlier, right?" She sighs and shakes her head while looking at him disappointingly.
After fumbling with the door frame for a few more moments, Ryan slips inside and closes the distance to her desk while she stares at him.
His thigh hits the edge of the desk, and he finally stops. He looks down at her, then at the laptop screen. The tab has already been changed there. She doesn't give the time to peek at her work.
She taps her finger on the desk impatiently and glances over him once.
"Well? Should I open up my lap for you to sit too?"
Ryan blinks in surprise after hearing her words and shakes his head quickly.
"No... Obviously not."
Well, not that she will let me sit there.
His finger rubs the table edge as he manages to ask her about his doubt, "What are you hiding from me? I know you are doing something behind my back. What is it?"
"Huh? I am not doing anything like that." She rejects it without a single ounce of hesitation. A faint amused smile plays on her lips as she observes his expression.
Smart. It seems he noticed this from my behavior. I must have left some blind spots in my expressions.
"Can you go now? I cannot entertain you right now. I am busy, seriously." She tries to brush him off by turning her gaze back to her work.
But he still doesn't move.
He takes a deep breath and slowly bends down. His elbows rest on the desk as he brings his face to her level and stares at her face.
"Hey, Sylvia..." The words come out low and suspicious from his mouth.
"You look beautiful today," he murmurs.
"..."
Sylvia stares at him with her mouth agape. Her fingers are frozen on the keyboard as she tries to make sense of what just happened. Then slowly, her head tilts down.
"Ha..."
...
Moments later, the sound of something hitting against something soft echoes.
At the doorway, Sylvia's foot connects flat against his butt, sending him several steps forward before she jerks her finger toward the hallway.
"Get the hell out and do something else now! Have you gone crazy? I am visiting your college tomorrow, seriously. They must be teaching you bad things!"
The door closes with a slam and the hallway goes silent.
Ryan rubs his butt slowly and glances at the closed door.
"Hm."
He starts walking down the hallway while opening his mobile phone. He scrolls through the internet quickly.
After a moment, he stops at the article. His thumb hovers over the unsubscribe button above the article.
It said to compliment a girl with a "You look beautiful" line, and she will be all over you.
Bastard...
He unsubscribes from it while avoiding looking at the line which is written at the very end of the article:
Disclaimer: Don't use the trick at the wrong time.
He closes the phone and puts it back in his pocket.
As he reaches the living room, his body slumps back on the couch before he finally remembers while looking at the ceiling.
"I wanted to interrogate her..."
He sighs once and closes his eyes.
"I got distracted."