The kiss is short, their foreheads touching, both can feel the rising temperature and the flushed cheeks.
"How do you learn that trick?" Samuel laughed at Cana, he never knew she would initiate first just to calm him down, still he is satisfied at how cute she is.
"Just listen to me first…" Embarrassed, she buried her face to his chest and hugged him tight, Samuel smiled and from his bad mood he feels more blissful that Cana is relying more on him.
It takes time, but as she foretells the whole story , he listens well, sometimes patting her head or kissing her cheek to console, with a hand holding hers, Cana was able to breathe out her worries and lift the heavy feelings that had accumulated in her chest.
"If that was the case, do you want me to fetch you at school?"
"Oh no, that would be a burden, I know that you are busy with your work and I don't want to burden you." The distance from Samuel's workplace and her university is quite far and it'll take an hour by car. Samuel just recently started his first job under one of the companies, he said that he needs to work for two years and earn merits to be able to have a recommendation letter to a higher position in the company.
"I'll be careful, and if I ever get in trouble, I'll call you immediately."Fidgeting hands, Samuel held it, "You will never be a burden to me." It was his sincere smile that has made her heart flutter all the time.
"I'll be there when you need me."
Another day at the campus, Cana and Clarice crossed paths their gaze met, they both ignored each other and Cana proceeded to her seat with her new friends. Meng was busy with her laptop and the keys were about to be outdone.
"Oh, did you not finish your report yet?" Cana asked, and looked at the speed of her fingers typing each definition on the report.
"You don't have to type all definitions, you can just leave the word and explain it, that'll save you time and make your report more concise." a man commented behind them, it was a tall man with red brown hair, his handsome face is familiar, Bea and Chelsea almost dropped from their seats and Cana just looked at him.
"Canary Lienne, can we talk?"
Clarice who is in the corner saw everything and she broke the pencil she's been holding.
"What is it that you want to talk about?" they were at the rooftop, after checking that no one followed so, Cadmium started his intention.
"Were you fine about the rumors? If you want I can clear it with them." so he was also aware that the incident is quite twisted.
"Also, I've heard that you got into a fight."
"How did you know that?"
"It was Andrei."
"Ah, that was his name." Remembering the blonde guy who witnessed her fighting with the other girls. "I'll take care of it, if you don't have to meddle into my business further, it will only cause more trouble." if it was the other, it would sound rude and offending but to Cadmium, it is the best idea as well. They both had the mindset and ended the talk.
"Canary, tell me what Austen said to you." Bea kept bothering her and wanted to spill it all out.
"How many times I have to tell you, he wanted to apologize for the rumor that was all."
"Aww, there I thought it would be juicy news."
They were about to get off from the campus on the way to the public library to work on their group project, it was when the group of boys called out to them. They tried to ignore but they went to pursue, their target was clear it was Canary.
"Hey, are you free tonight? Would you mind coming with us?"
"No, I don't hang out." She rejected him firmly.
"Oh c'mon don't be hard to get, name it where you want to, I have a car I can drive ---" his sentence was cut off when Meng stepped in.
"You watermelon heads, can't you get a hint? You were already rejected so let us go, you're in the way.`` Her looks are sharp and threatening.
"W-what's with this girl?" He was about to revert when one of his friends halted him.
"Hey, that's Meng of the Butterfly group!" with a trembling hand he pulled his friend back.
"Butterfly? What a lam--" He was to insult the group but his mouth was covered by the palm of Meng as she caught his face.
"You, do you want to die by the hands of a lame butterfly?" It was threatening that he fell on his knees with fear.
"Oh geez, using the cheap highschool gang to protect yourself, what a pity." That girl is the one Cana punched perfectly on the face, they are obviously looking for trouble.
"Haa… Does my punch still not awaken you? Or you completely lost your sense?" She smirked at the girl, her makeup is heavy and the bruise is still a bit visible if you were to look closely.
"Ha, just a loose girl jumping from one man to another." It was a baseless accusation and Bea and Chelsea gritted their teeth.
"How shameless you to spread such rumors?" Chelsea stood up for her friend.
"Look at how she has flings to a lot of men on campus, she even targets the two hottest guys on campus."
"Excuse me, but I don;t do flings, and besides, I have a long time relationship with my boyfriend already." The news that Canary has a boyfriend shocked everyone.
"Even if you were to ask around, I do really have one, those fake flings you mentioned are not even on my boyfriend's calibre, and besides those you were making false rumors are not even my type." definitely not hers, especially that playboy looking blonde that she met.
"Really then you should bring your boyfriend and show us it's real then we'll believe it."
"Of course, I'll show you!"
"Samuel! I made a big mistake!" Cana is making a call and has been walking back and forth.
"I see, it can't be helped, however…" He looked at the desk with the file of paperworks the manager gave to their team.
"It's okay, I know it is sudden then once you're free then I'll wait for your call."
"I'm sorry, I've really wanted to run to your side right now."
"It's fine, I know it even if you won't tell."
"Shall I send Simone there? He can protect and watch you over."
"No way, he has Mia to take care of, I'll be fine, my friends even stand up for me."
"It's nice, let me treat you and your friends once I get a day off."
"Really?? They'd be delighted!"
The next morning two unexpected men are in front of the campus waiting for her.
"You guys? What is the meaning of this?"
"Oh Lienne I heard that you denied me, how can you be so cold to me when I even offered you my handkerchief the other day?" It was Andrei who ran up to her and grabbed her hand which she immediately pulled and took a step back.
"Andrei I told you not to come a meter close to her go away!" Cadmium, who caught up with Andrei, pushed him away from Cana and stood in front.
"Just what on earth are you two doing!?"