The warmth of Alisha's soft embrace felt like heaven had descended to Earth. Her gentle hands were so calming that I wished the moment would never end.
"Um… Alisha, I'm really grateful you're comforting me, but isn't this a bit too close? I mean… we just met, and we're not a couple, so..."
"No, it's fine, Alfred. Just think of this as a loving hug from a friend. I just… couldn't help myself. You've been such a gentleman to me."
She looked up at me with puppy eyes.
"Am I not allowed to do this? Or… do you not like it?"
"No, I do. Honestly, I feel a lot better after you hugged me. I just don't want people to get the wrong idea about us."
"Okay, I understand."
She smiled gently and let go of me.
After that, we got in line to order our food.
"Alisha, what would you like?"
"Hmm… maybe just a sandwich and some yogurt."
"Got it. I'll pay," I said, pulling out my wallet.
Once we had our food, we spotted an empty table under a tree. We sat down and began to enjoy our lunch.
"Um, Alisha, can I ask where you studied before moving here?"
"Oh, I went to Alxion High."
"Alxion High?! You mean the elite all-girls' school?"
"Yep, that's the one," she replied, sipping her yogurt casually.
"But, you know," she added in a relaxed, cheerful tone, "it wasn't all a loss. After all, I got to meet a wonderful friend — someone who's not only smart but also has such a kind personality."
"Th-thank you," I said, feeling a warm blush rise to my cheeks.
"You're welcome," she said, giving me a beautiful smile.
After lunch, we returned to the classroom — only to find a group of classmates crowded around a phone, watching something.
"Um, excuse me… what's going on?"
"Ohhh, lover boy Alfred~ You're such a gentleman!" one of them teased, showing me the phone screen.
It was a video a capturing the moment Alisha suddenly hugged me — her words, "Why are you such a gentleman?" — clearly audible.
My face began to burn. I tried to look away, but my classmates were relentless. I felt like a rat cornered by a pack of mischievous devils. I silently begged for someone to rescue me… and that relief came from the last person I expected.
"Hey, don't tease Alfred too much. His heart might explode from embarrassment," Alisha said calmly.
"And for the record… we're just friends. But… I do like him — as a man."
Her words echoed in my head: I do like him… as a man. I do like him... as a man...
My heart which was already at its limit started to pound like never before.
"A-Alisha, c-could you just—"
Before I could say what was on my mind, a voice called out.
"Alfred, why do you look like you have a fever?" one classmate laughed, pointing to the mirror.
I turned to look — and sure enough, my face was flushed bright red.
"Awwww! Alfred is so cute like this! It's like a miracle!" someone squealed.
"Yeah, right," added Cedrick with a mischievous grin. "His temperature's gotta be 50 degrees right now! Ehehehehe!"
The embarrassment was too much. I wished I could just disappear.
Ahhh, I just wanna die, I thought in despair.
Meanwhile, Alisha — who had seemed composed at first — was now blushing too. One of the girls noticed and grinned.
"Alisha, that's some nice blush you've got going on. Your cheeks are adorable!" she teased.
If someone had captured that moment, we'd probably look like two puppies being playfully bullied — shy and overwhelmed by all the teasing. It might've gone on forever… if not for the timely arrival of a group of senior students entering the room.
Among them, I spotted a familiar silhouette — a face I knew all too well.
My older sister.
She looked at my flushed face, then at Alisha's, and smirked.
"Alfred… eheheheh. You two are absolutely adorable."