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SINCE the other professors seemed to think Vincent was close to Professor Heinz, they often asked for him to relay messages and whatnot to Heinz. They had to use their brains all the time for class, so apparently they weren’t interested in physical exercise on top of that. Vincent made a convenient courier given that the Herbology facility was so far from the main school building.
Vincent would normally welcome the opportunity to be of service, if only because it provided him a chance to discuss the Dragon Tree with Professor Heinz, but not this time. No, today after he finished doing as he was asked, he sped right back to the school.
Lately, Oriana had grown more motivated with her studies, which meant she stopped by the study hall often after class. If he made his way there quickly, he might be lucky enough to find her still there.
He struggled to tamp down his own impatience as he stopped to retrieve his textbook from the Special Class’s classroom. Everyone else had already dispersed, so naturally, Miguel was nowhere to be seen either. Vincent simply figured he was off somewhere biding his time. Miguel was something of a phantom, suddenly there before you realized it and gone just as quickly. Although personally, Vincent likened him more to a stray cat that had grown attached to him, as inappropriate perhaps as it was to say as much of his best friend since childhood.
As he was on his way to the study hall, he overheard a familiar voice giggling.
“Oriana?”
Vincent would never mistake the sound of her laughter. He retreated back down the hallway to the lounge he’d passed moments ago. Inside, he spotted Oriana. She and Miguel were standing in the corner of the room, their backs turned toward him. They were pressed in close, chatting with one another.
So Miguel can actually get her to laugh that loudly, huh?
Jealousy smoldered in his chest. He suddenly found himself wishing she would only smile like that with him. He loved her far more now than he even had when he first saw her at their entrance ceremony, standing by the class roster. It didn’t matter whether he realized how jealous he was being, he was powerless to stop it. The love in his heart was almost like rust on metal, stubbornly refusing any attempts at removal. It had become a part of who he was.
Vincent stepped forward—the least he could do was call out to them—but as he did so, he overheard part of their conversation.
“Pretty sure Vincent would love that. If you became his bride, I mean,” said Miguel.
What…on earth is he saying? Vincent stopped in his tracks, paralyzed. What kind of conversation could possibly lead Miguel to say such a thing? He couldn’t even begin to guess. And after he kept telling me I needed to take things slow! It was quite obvious that Miguel was trying to nudge her toward seeing Vincent in a romantic light.
No, he must have his reasons. Perhaps Miguel had determined it was time for their friendship to move to the next level. As much as Vincent didn’t want to get his hopes up, his heart pounded with anticipation. He swallowed hard as he waited for her response.
“Sorry, Miguel, but I’m going to have to put an end to this little joke of yours.”
Oriana normally always shot back a joke in kind when someone teased her, which was why her flat-out rejection of the idea made him forget to breathe entirely. Even if she wasn’t interested, he thought she would be gentler about turning him down.
We’ve grown to be such close friends that I thought maybe…
Miguel stooped and peered into her face, apologizing.
Oriana brought her hands to her mouth, her entire body trembling. And as he watched, Vincent’s heart panged. Is she crying? Was the thought of marrying him that terrible of a joke that she’d shed tears? And Miguel’s seeing her crying face right now?
The first time she’d cried in front of him, she’d refused to show him. The second time, he’d practically forced her to let him see by grabbing her. The thought that Miguel was seeing her cry when Vincent had hardly got the opportunity himself made his jealousy roar like an unchecked flame.
“I already have a wife to whom I’ve promised my future!”
“How could you? When you promised you’d consider being with me!”
“What are you two doing?” Vincent cut in, unable to stop himself. It was understandable enough that Oriana didn’t sense him behind her, but even Miguel had been oblivious.
With Vincent’s appearance, Miguel quickly put distance between himself and Oriana, but it was already too late; it vexed Vincent to think that when he wasn’t present, they would stand this close.
“D-D-D-Did you hear our conversation just now?!”
“I did. Though, this is the first I’ve heard of you having a wife.” He figured she didn’t want him to overhear any part of it, so, feeling mean-spirited, he made a teasing jab at her. He couldn’t help it; Oriana looked so visibly relieved that it was hard for him to tamp down his emotions.
Ridiculous. No matter how many years pass or how many lifetimes (three, if I’m keeping count), I still haven’t matured at all. No doubt his annoyance was evident by the way he looked at the two of them.
Nervously, Oriana asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…”
Vincent never intended to scare her. He swallowed back his unpleasant feelings and examined her eyes. He couldn’t tell whether she’d cried at all or not.
Miguel suddenly clapped him on the shoulder, whispering, “Whoops, sorry ’bout that. I screwed up. I’ll leave you with a parting gift though, so try not to be too mad, yeah?”
“Whoops, sorry”? Are you kidding me?! Even if someone had murdered his parents, he likely wouldn’t feel this level of loathing.
Miguel flashed an apologetic (if you could call it that) look at Vincent before glancing back at Oriana. “Welp, see ya. If you want an answer to your question, try asking the man himself.”
“W-Wait, Miguel!”
Miguel’s supposed “parting gift” was most effective; Oriana seemed panicked and flustered by his words.
“Ask ‘the man himself’ what, exactly?” Vincent asked.
He couldn’t even begin to imagine whether this would be a pleasant or unpleasant conversation, but at least Miguel had essentially given him a leash to tether Oriana with so they could talk. Like an oversized dog that had just been scolded by its master, she lowered her gaze guiltily.