Chapter 52

52 Gloomy Face

The next day, she had to go to campus as usual. After finishing getting ready, Kalea came down the stairs to the kitchen. She made breakfast for herself and Freya, but her mother showed no sign of getting up early.

“Turns out there’s no difference, I’m still here alone,” Kalea muttered as she looked at Freya’s food which was getting colder. She sighed heavily after that washed the dishes and covered the food for Freya so that when her mother woke up, Freya could eat the food after it was warmed up. Kalea put some money for a month and a note beside the food.

One of the contents of the note is Kalea’s apology for having to be born with a face similar to her father.

Unknowingly, her tears dripped down the back of her hand, Kalea quickly wiped the tears away. “It’s okay, Lea. You’re fine,” Kalea mumbled encouragingly to herself. As per her mother’s request, she would not come to the house often enough. Once a month, so that Freya doesn’t have to suffer when she sees her presence.

She walked to the bus stop, waiting for the bus there. On this sunny morning, it still didn’t make Kalea’s mood happy. Her gaze was vacant and a little less eager to go to campus. Even though she came to the house to meet Freya hoping that her mother would also miss her as much as Kalea felt. However, again their relationship is still not improving. Kalea didn’t know what else to do, all night she kept thinking about whether facial surgery was really the right thing. Will her mother be back to being the same loving mother figure as when Kalea was a child? Can Kalea feel that love again?

“Miss Lovaata!”

Kalea flinched, her thoughts interrupted when someone called out to her. A white car is right in front of the bus stop. The driver was someone she knew. “Mr... Garren?”

The girl walked over to the campus lecturer. “Good morning, sir,” said Kalea.

Garren smiled faintly. “Good morning, Miss Lovaata. Are you waiting for the bus?”

.....

“Um ... yes, sir.”

“Then you’d better go with me. We’re going to the same destination,” Garren offered kindly. Garren smiled sweetly, especially since the dimples on his cheeks made the lecturer look even more refreshed.

“E-uh, no need, sir! I’m fine-”

“Come on, we could be late,” Garren interrupted, the man apparently not taking the refusal from his assistant.

Kalea swallowed her saliva, she smiled awkwardly. “O-okay, sorry for bothering you ...” Kalea said as she got into the car and sat beside Garren. After fastening the seat belt, Garren started his car again.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you around there, Miss,” Garren said, bringing the subject up.

“I do live nearby, sir,” Kalea replied, smiling awkwardly. This wasn’t the first time she’d been alone with Garren, but being in a smaller place like a car somehow made Kalea feel even more awkward. Because usually she only met with Garren in Garren’s workspace or in class. “I-I didn’t know if you were going to come to campus, sir,” Kalea said.

“Ah, that’s because after thinking about it from the beginning of the semester, I never met the classes that I was holding. That’s why today I will take a look, at least they should know who the lecturers are teaching. Even though more of you will teach them,” Garren explained with a crisp laugh. Kalea also laughed softly, she understood how busy the man was. Garren in Kalea’s eyes, is a really great man. Handsome, smart, friendly, and adaptable wherever the man is. Kalea had great respect for Garren. “Miss Lovaata, you will accompany me, right? In class,” Garren asked, smiling at the girl.

Kalea returned the smile, she nodded. “Sure, sir.” After that they were silent, enjoying the road with the weather so sunny unlike how Kalea was feeling right now. Seeing her protege who was gloomy, made Garren a little worried and curious.

“Are you okay?” Garren asked suddenly. Kalea was a little surprised, she turned to the lecturer.

“I-I’m fine, sir,” Kalea replied with a stiff smile. Garren seemed to have noticed the gloomy look on Kalea’s face like a cloudy sky.

“There’s no problem when replacing me in class, right? If there’s something, please tell me, whatever it is that’s bothering you,” Garren said seriously. He didn’t want something to happen to his student, and he didn’t really know. “Or is there another student flirting with you? There’s been a lot of sexual harassment lately,” Garren continued.

Kalea smiled faintly, Garren was exactly what they were talking about. A warm and caring man, Garren may be almost like Arthur, but the good side of Garren is more. Kalea furrowed her brows, again she compared Arthur and Garren. The girl shook her head quickly so that the image of Arthur’s face disappeared from her mind.

“Miss Lovaata? What’s wrong?”

“E-er it’s all right, sir! Um ... I really have no problem, Mr. Garren,” Kalea replied, putting on a reassuring face.

“Is that so? Thank goodness. But if something happens, please don’t hesitate to talk to me, okay?” Garren said with a sweet smile. Kalea just nodded and returned the smile.

Finally they arrived at the basement of the campus where the vehicle was parked there. Fortunately, at this time the parking lot is quiet because it can be dangerous if it is caught by a lecturer leaving with a student. Moreover, lecturers like Garren are loved by almost all students across the campus.

When Garren had a vacancy as an assistant, so many signed up that Garren had a hard time interviewing them one by one. Either because to take the opportunity to get closer to Garren, or indeed the registrants really want to gain new knowledge. But in the end, it was Kalea who was worthy and matched the criteria that Garren was looking for. As for Kalea, she really needs money and knowledge that she can absorb when she becomes a teaching assistant. After all, the money is not much, and at least there are other activities in her life that are useful for Kalea’s future. No one knows the future.

After thanking Garren, Kalea excused herself to go to class first. They couldn’t even walk to campus together. On the way to class, the look on her face didn’t change at all. She didn’t even know why she was so gloomy today, nothing could make her excited again.

Bruck!

“Ah, sorry ...” Kalea looked up at who she had just collided with.

“Huh?”

“It turns out you Zeline. Sorry,” Kalea said again with a smile, but only her lips were raised upwards, while the girl’s eyes remained blank.

Zeline looked at Kalea strangely, her face annoyed. “Haah ... what kind of smile is that? Your face is so wrinkled, what’s wrong? Are you not given inner pleasure by arthur?” Zeline asked very frankly. Fortunately, the corridor was deserted with only the two of them.

Kalea turned her face away. “Sorry, I don’t want to be joked about,” the girl said coldly and stepped back. Zeline was wide-eyed, she turned around to see if the one who was talking to her was really Kalea.

The corner of Zeline’s lips twitched, she smiled annoyed. “What’s really wrong with that bitch?” Zeline took a deep breath, controlling her emotions. The blonde girl kept her anger because it was still early in the morning. “Fuck, why should I worry about her,” Zeline muttered and decided to walk back to the bathroom before class was about to start.

However, she again collided with someone.

And now is Kalea’s best friend, Aluna.

“Eh? Zeline, sorry! I didn’t mean to,” Aluna said smiling awkwardly, she was a little scared because of all the people why did she have to collide with someone like Zeline?

Zeline can’t, she can’t hold her anger anymore when she has to deal with people she really doesn’t like. The blonde girl glared at Aluna. “You and Kalea, so absurd! Use your eyes to walk properly, don’t keep bumping into people!” Zeline rebuked and immediately looked away leaving Aluna and her friends who blinked in disbelief.

“H-huh? It’s my first time bumping into her, why does she have to be so angry?!” Aluna’s protest was not accepted, and her emotions also exploded. However, unfortunately Zeline was no longer there.

“Never mind, Luna. Zeline’s nature is like that, always angry and unclear,” Violet said, calming Aluna. The other friends also stroked Aluna’s shoulders and back so that she was no longer annoyed.

Aluna frowned, a little confused as to why Zeline mentioned Kalea’s name. She became a little suspicious. The girl then continued on her way to class with the group. Aluna saw Kalea who was busy taking notes even though the class had not yet started. Her friend was very diligent.

“Morning, Lea!” Aluna said, as usual cheerfully.

“Oh, Luna. Morning,” Kalea replied but didn’t look at her best friend at all.

“Lea, are you okay?” Aluna asked, a little surprised.

Kalea was silent, she stopped taking notes. Three people have already asked about her current situation. Did she really look so unwell to make them realize that?

“I’m fine, Luna,” Kalea answered casually. She didn’t want Aluna to know about her restlessness, she didn’t want someone to feel more sorry for her life’s problems.

“But you don’t look like that. Did you collide with Zeline? The woman suddenly got angry, even though I also accidentally bumped into her,” Aluna sneered as she pursed her lips, remembering what had made her emotions boil again.

Kalea chuckled amusedly, she was trying her best to look fine so that no one else would ask about her condition. Aluna was the last one to ask that. “She’s mad at me too,” said Kalea.

Aluna watched Kalea, still researching what had happened to her best friend. She was a little suspicious and guessed but Aluna still didn’t know for sure. It’s just that all this time, if Kalea had a gloomy face it was none other than her mother.

“Um, Lea, are you-”

“Good morning everyone,” the lecturer said who had entered the class.

Aluna sighed, if it was like this she couldn’t ask Kalea. Finally she gave up and walked to her desk.