~Recap~

With Azura trying hard to stay invisible and mostly, to avoid Theo but wait, how could she avoid him anymore when she literally had agreed on having her lunch with him everyday just yesterday?

“Oh dear almighty, how in the world can I be such a fool? And that too because of Theo.” Azura mumbles to herself and although she claimed to be a fool because of Theo verbally, she was rather being a fool for Theo internally but obviously, who was going to say that out loud? Of course not Azura.

She almost tiptoed through the campus, making sure to not let anyone know that she was there when she was basically just standing all clear and visible right there. Luckily for her as usual, no one bothered about her existence in the middle of the way but what was unusual that her luck was really by her side that this time she happened to catch Theo first without his awareness.

______

“Ahh… There he is.” Azura chirps slowly as she slides behind the edge of the wall and witnesses Theo while he talks to one of the university students.

Said man has become quite engaging and popular around the campus in no time which was of course not surprising by any means.

Like, obviously the man had to garner everyone's attention and interest by being the alien he was.

Well, okay. Alien only for Azura. For others, he was already like an ace. With all his fictional stories about his village and hardships or how strongly he surpassed all them.

And the talks about unrelated stuff and weird knowledge about gems and wolves. The worst thing about them was that they both were somehow related to Azura. For gems, it was definitely her father without any doubt.

As for the wolves… Well, Azura would rather not talk about it. Her nightmares were already haunting enough. She better not just go further in this topic and in the woods…

The woods.

She still remembers all those haunting creatures running after her…

“Boo!”

“No, please!”

Azura almost screamed her heart out and could have gotten the entire campus' attention. However, luckily for her, she got to realise that it was not some horrifying creature. But still a creature 'disliked' by Azura. “Theo? When did you get here? Weren't you talking to–” She looked at the direction where the man was previously standing. She found no one.

“Stalking others is a bad act. You should just appear ahead and say a hello. I'd more than love to meet and greet.” Adds Theo sarcastically.

The face of the lady scrunches in annoyance. “Are you being serious? Do I look like some fan of yours?”

A shrug comes from the man which is soon followed by a slight smirk as he perks, “Well, you could be one. Or maybe, you are already one secretly.”

“Just shut the freak up!” Azura hits Theo with her backpack and the man doesn't even bother to tackle because literally those hits feel more like pat and the man for sure would take more of it.

“Wow, wow. Furious, are we? Can't believe you're the same girl who was ridiculously spooked just a moment ago. As if you've seen some alien.”

Since Theo already seems to have guessed Azura's mind, the lady doesn't hesitate to confirm it for the said man. “Well, that's because I actually saw one. He's standing even right now in front of me.”

Theo makes a thoughtful face at Azura's taunt. “Hmm… I'm convinced since aliens are smarter than humans. No wonder I'm smarter than you.” He winks playfully and the offense in Azura's characteristics was extreme.

Though, despite her being offended, she couldn't agree more to Theo's words. Man was definitely a smartass. But of course she wasn't going to admit that just like every other thing she felt for Theo.

When she couldn't find any more of comebacks —which were already sensed as lame— she just shook her head and snarled. “You know what, I'm done here. We're already getting late for our classes, anyway. I don't have no time to waste. Especially on you.”

The man noda in agreement before he replies, “Right, right. We should not waste any time here. Besides, we'll also have to get to lunch on time so…” Oh right! Azura had totally forgotten about that just now. Well, thanks to none other than Theo for reminding her how messed her day was right in the beginning. “We will meet there on our regular spot, right?”

Wait, wait. When did that happen? As long Azura remembers, neither they were anything like regular, nor there wasn't any spot of 'theirs'. Seems like this dude wasn't only an alien but a daydreamer as well.

“Oh, umm… Well, I did–”

“Promised? Of course we're gonna eat together since you promised to me and I always knew that you are a person of your words, Azura. Really, you're an amazing person. Spending my time with you in any way is like investment. So, see you there.” Theo concludes his statement with letting the lady no chance to react or revert as begins walking ahead, leaving a perplexed and irked Azura behind.

Azura purses her lips in irritation as sees the man flaunting his steps ahead. After he was a few steps away, she whispers to herself. “Indeed, smartass.”

“Oh and…” She hears Theo's voice again and she wonders if he was now a snail or turtle even.

She prepares herself to listen to more of his ridicules. The man soon speaks, “Azura, even if in the exceptional case, spending time with you becomes a waste, I would still have all the time of my life to waste it on you.” And then without any other word, the man left.

Neither Azura was sure if it was sarcasm or serious, nor did she care about it in the first place. All she cared about at this very moment was that she heard those words from Theo's mouth and even if they were just syllables of mischievousness and not meant to be taken to heart, her heart took it. Every single bit of it.