CHAPTER 6

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However, I don't feel like telling it to anybody. I mean, I want to keep it a secret for the meantime.

"Really? Hmm. I wonder why he asked if you know Austin? I also wonder who that guy named Austin is."

"Forget about it. Maybe he thought I was someone who knows that guy named Austin," I laughed.

"I don't think so, man. He even mentioned your name. He knows you."

"He knows me?" I asked, perplexed.

I wonder who that could be?

"Yeah, I suppose so. He mentioned your name. Do you really not know anyone named Austin?"

"Yeah. None." I only responded, and I think deeply about who asked Matt if I know Austin.

Just then, I remembered the guy from earlier in the cafeteria. The guy who was with a girl who was about to hug Austin. The girl I believe is the one Austin loves.

Right. That guy is a friend of Austin's.

If I'm not mistaken, he might have been the guy who asked Matt.

Maybe what he saw earlier in the cafeteria made him think that Austin and I were acquainted.

—

ASHLEY' s POV

It's already lunchtime. Currently, I am in the cafeteria with Liam. Liam is in line, ordering our food. Austin is not here with us and don't know where he is. Liam is also clueless.

I also kept texting him, but I received no replies. I tried calling him, but I couldn't reach him. He's unattended.

I wonder where he has gone.

I was supposed to tell him something today.

I smiled when I saw Liam walking towards our table, holding a tray with our food. He then set the tray on the table and took a seat in the chair.

"Here comes your favorite." He smiled as he set the plate of sushi in front of me.

Yes. This is my all-time favorite. I could eat sushi every day and never get tired of it. It's my go-to comfort food.

"Thank you." I said with a sweet smile.

"Anyway, has Austin replied to you yet?"

"Hmm. Nope. "I said, shaking my head. "He can't be reached either. Where could he have gone?" I also find myself wondering.

"It's strange. He is unlikely to miss classes." Liam's face also showed confusion.

"What? Did he not attend even one of your classes?"

"Yes."

"Oh my god. Then, where did he go?" We are both clueless.

Gosh, where did Austin go?

Just then, from a distance, I saw Chase enter the cafeteria. He is not alone. He is with a guy. I think that is his friend. Obviously.

He is not with Austin.

I thought he was with him.

"Look. It's Chase." I mumbled, and Liam immediately turned his head.

Liam followed him with his eyes until Chase and the guy with him got in line to order. I also noticed Chase glance in our direction for a moment. After a few seconds, Liam looked away and turned his attention to his food.

"Let's just eat." He said and we just continued to eat.

—

MATT's POV

I searched for an empty table when Chase and I arrived at the cafeteria. But unexpectedly, my gaze caught the guy who approached me earlier and asked if Austin and Chase knew each other.

He was also looking at us.

Or should I say he was looking at Chase.

"Hey, hey, man! That guy, sitting in the third row. He was the one who asked me." I told Chase, but I didn't indicate the direction of the guy.

Chase just shifted his gaze to the third row of tables, and I guess he found the guy I was referring to because he didn't ask any questions.

"The guy with blonde hair. He's with a girl." I added, in a whisper, just to ensure he was looking at the right guy I was talking about.

"Do you know him?" I added a question.

"No. I don't know him." He replied as he turned his gaze away from the guy. But the guy is still staring at Chase.

What's going on with him? Why is he looking at Chase as if Chase owes him something?

Anyway, I need to place my food order. I'm hungry.

After we ordered our food, I continued to search for an empty table, and I found one.

"Hey, man. Over there." I pointed out to Chase the vacant table where two students had just left after eating.

"Too far. Let's sit there."

"Huh? Where?" I asked, but he didn't respond to me. Instead, he walked over to the empty table he had mentioned.

So I followed him. Then I spotted him coming towards the unoccupied seat next to the guy.

Eh? Is he going to sit next to them? I mean, are we? Eh?

"Are these seats taken?" He asked them.

They both gazed at him. The guy seems to be reluctant to respond to him.

"No. You guys can take the seats." The girl responded with a radiant smile, instead.

"Thank you." Chase smiled and then settled into the chair next to the girl, placing the tray on the table. He then gestured for me to sit down, so I took the seat next to the guy.

Chase is insane. Why did he think to sit here next to them?

Weirdo.

Before I started to grab my food, I looked for a tomato sauce at another table, but the tomato sauce bottles were empty.

Although the buttered shrimp is flavorful, I'd still like to dip it in tomato sauce.

"Uh, do you want tomato sauce?" The girl spoke, prompting me to look at her. She was holding the tomato sauce.

"Yeah. Can I have it?" I asked, smiling.

"Oh, of course." She gave it to me.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She's kind and beautiful.

Anyway, I'm going to eat. I'm really hungry.

"Hey, you are Chase, right?" The guy next to me asked Chase out of the blue.

I looked at Chase when the guy asked him. But Chase didn't look at me; instead, he looked at the guy.

"Yes."

"Do you know, Austin?"

I wasn't mistaken when I thought he would ask Chase that question.

Chase laughed softly. "Ah, you must be wondering why I did that earlier. That guy must be Austin."

"So, do you know him?"

"No." Chase said directly. "I didn't know his name, but now I do. And perhaps you all were curious about why I did that. I just had an important question to ask him, that's why. Nothing more. I hope I answered the question that's on your mind." Chase smiled smugly.

Just listening to what he said makes me curious about what he did earlier with Austin.

I'm going to ask him later.

"Oh I see! I thought you guys knew each other!" The girl commented, giggling.

"Ah. Anyway, are you all his friends?" Chase asked both of them.

"Yep! We've been friends for a long time." The girl replied.

I am just listening to them while I eat.

"Oh, I see. But you two look like a couple." Chase laughed softly.

"We're actually dating." The guy replied.

What? Aw! I almost developed a crush on her. Never mind.

"Yep! That's right." She giggled.

"Oh! That's great. You two look great together."

"Thank you." She giggled. "And you two are friends?" She asked.

Chase peered at me for a second. "Yeah. We're buddies."

"How about you? Do you have a girlfriend?" the guy asked Chase.

"No. But I have someone that I like."

Chase's response took me by surprise. Dude! I had no idea he had someone he liked. We've been friends for a long time, yet he never tells me this. Geez!

I thought he wasn't interested in women. This jerk has been lying to me since then, huh.

"Oh! She must be lucky! Does she know?" She asked, giggling. "Sorry for prying."

Chase laughed softly. "It's okay. Well, no."

"You never tell her?" The guy asked.

I feel out of place, seriously.

"No. This isn't the right time to confess."

"That's okay. It's not easy to confess your feelings to someone you like, though. It's hard to be sure if the person you like feels the same way about you. But it's now or never. It's a matter of life or death. How will you know if you don't try, right?"

"Exactly!" I finally spoke, which made them turn to look at me.

"You think so?" Chase asked me.

"Of course, man! It's better to regret something you have done than to regret something you haven't done."

"That's absolutely correct!" She agreed.

"Anyway, what is her name?" The guy asked Chase, but before Chase could respond, the bell rang.

"I suppose we have to go! Nice to meet and talk with you guys!" She said with a smile. Then they both got up from their seats.

"Yeah. You too!" Chase replied, while I simply smiled.

"See you guys around!" She waved her hand at us, and before they walked away, she spoke. "You should let her know your feelings before it's too late." After she said that, she walked away with her boyfriend.

Chase just laughed a little. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised.

"What?"

"Dude! You didn't even tell me that you like someone. Tss."

He laughed softly. "Why would I tell you? You're not even asking."

—