Chapter 28 || The Kind of Person You Are

Chapter 28: 28 || The Kind of Person You Are

During recess, most of the classroom seats were empty.

Aria sat quietly at her desk, finishing a sandwich. A bottle of water rested on her table. Once she had taken the last bite, she washed it down with a drink, screwed the cap back on, and slipped the bottle into her bag.

As she turned, she noticed Code reading the book she gave him.

How Not to Be Lazy.

He held it up with one hand, his other cheek resting against his palm. His half-lidded eyes moved lazily across the page before he turned to the next.

Aria watched him for a moment, then looked away and closed her eyes, seemingly satisfied.

"It’s good that you’re enjoying the book. It should really help you."

Code glanced at her before returning his attention to the page.

"Sure."

An awkward silence settled between them.

Then Aria held out her hand.

"Give me your phone."

Code looked up. "What for?"

"Just hand it over."

He studied her composed expression for a moment. Apparently deciding that arguing would require more effort than it was worth, he took his phone from his pocket, unlocked the screen and passed it to her.

Aria typed something in with quick, practiced movements. A few seconds later, she returned the phone.

Code glanced down.

A phone number had been entered into his contacts.

"That’s my number," Aria explained. "Think of it as a gesture of partnership."

"Partnership?" Code repeated, his voice as flat as ever.

"Yes." Aria’s tone was firm. "We’re slaves, but we’re still a team. I prefer working alone, but given our current situation, I’ll make an exception."

She turned her attention toward the rest of the classroom, where a few students remained at their desks.

"After hearing what Code 11 said about each of us being responsible for the class’s performance, I can’t afford to have you—or anyone else—doing something stupid to reduce our class’s stars."

Code placed his phone on the desk and resumed reading.

"Don’t worry. I don’t plan on doing anything."

"Good." Aria’s reply was curt. "I’ve given you my number. Call me if you need help with anything important."

She placed particular emphasis on the word important, making her meaning unmistakable.

"Otherwise, I’ll regret giving you that number."

She turned back toward him.

"And Code..."

Her voice sharpened. "Don’t waste my time."

Code watched as she turned away, retrieved a book from her bag, and began reading as though their conversation had never happened.

He turned another page.

"Understood."

Then he glanced at his phone again.

I’d better save it before it deletes itself.

...

Presently—

Aria sat at her usual spot in the café, a cup of coffee in front of her.

She took a sip and lowered the cup to its saucer, staring into the dark liquid as she gathered her thoughts.

"Ascending to the third floor won’t be as easy as I thought. The ratings our masters gave us will make it harder to contribute to our savings, too."

She paused before continuing.

"I spoke with Riven earlier. We’ll be holding a meeting tomorrow to decide how much everyone should contribute to the account this month."

Finally, she raised her eyes.

"Are you still interested?"

She stopped.

Code sat opposite her, quietly stacking sugar cubes on a small plate. Several had already been arranged into a little tower, and he was carefully balancing another cube on top.

Aria’s expression hardened.

"What are you doing?"

Code looked up. "Oh?"

He placed another cube on the pile.

"There wasn’t much else to do, so..."

The tower collapsed.

The cubes scattered across the plate with a series of soft clicks.

Code sighed and looked at her.

Aria narrowed her eyes.

"Your calm, laid-back attitude is going to ruin our chances of ascending. Do you understand that?"

"I never intended to ascend in the first place."

"But other people do. I do. So don’t act as though this is only about you."

Code turned toward the glass window, offering no reply.

Aria closed her eyes and drew a measured breath. When she opened them again, she returned to the question.

"Are you still interested in joining the savings plan?"

Code looked back at her.

"No."

Aria studied him for several seconds.

"I see."

She picked up her coffee, took another sip, and set it down.

"I really thought you’d change, Code. Whenever I saw you reading that book, I expected you to make some progress. I thought you’d at least try to improve yourself."

Her gaze remained fixed on him.

"But you’re still the same person you were last month."

Code’s expression didn’t change.

"I actually enjoyed reading it. It was impactful."

Aria stood up.

"Well, apparently, it wasn’t impactful enough to change you."

She walked to the counter, paid for her coffee, then returned to collect her bag.

Before leaving, she held out her hand toward him.

"Now, where’s the book? You can give it back."

Code looked at her outstretched hand.

"..."

Aria’s eyes narrowed.

"Where’s the book, Code?"

"You should’ve told me you needed it today. I didn’t bring it."

She slowly withdrew her hand.

"What about the new one I gave you?"

Code remained silent.

Aria stared at him, waiting for an answer that never came. Eventually, she let out a frustrated sigh and started toward the exit.

"If you need the books now, you can come with me to my room."

She took another step before stopping.

Then she turned around, walked back to the table, and sat down again.

"No."

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him.

"What are your intentions?"

Code blinked.

"Why would you assume I have any?"

Aria fell silent for a moment.

"Fine. Go to your room and get the books. I’ll wait here."

Code looked at her.

"You want me to leave the café, go to my room, get the books, and then come all the way back here?"

"Yes. But why did you have to list everything out like that?"

Code rested his cheek against his palm.

"Sounds like a lot of work to me. If I walk to my room now, I don’t think I’ll have the energy to come back."

Aria’s fingers curled into a tight fist.

Code noticed.

Without another word, he rose from his seat and picked up his bag.

"You can wait by the door while I get them."

He walked away.

Aria watched him go, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then she grabbed her own bag and followed.

...

Beep!

The door unlocked and swung open.

Code turned toward Aria.

"I’ll get the books."

He pushed the door farther open and stepped inside.

The lights were already on.

Aria lingered at the entrance. As she glanced into the room, she noticed a pair of black shoes near the doorway.

Before she could ask about them, a familiar, sweet voice drifted from inside.

"Code, you’re back."

Both of them froze.

Ivy stood near the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a white towel and another towel secured around her body. Steam lingered in the air behind her, drifting from the open bathroom doorway.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Aria’s eyes sharpened.

"What are you doing in there? And where did you come from?"

Ivy smiled sweetly.

"Where do you think? The bathroom, obviously."

Aria slowly turned her gaze toward Code.

The look she gave him could have cut glass.

Ivy tilted her head, wearing an expression of innocent curiosity.

"Is there a problem?"

"No," Aria replied tightly. "None at all."

She turned toward Code.

"Get the books. I’m leaving."

Code walked past Ivy and disappeared farther into the room.

Ivy’s smile faltered slightly.

"Aria, this isn’t what you’re thinking. I can—"

Aria raised a hand, cutting her off.

"You don’t have to explain anything to me."

She didn’t sound interested in hearing an explanation, either.

A moment later, Code returned with two books. He stopped beside Ivy and held them out to Aria.

"Here."

Aria took them without a word.

Then she turned and walked away.

She didn’t look back.

Code watched her retreating figure for a moment before turning to Ivy.

"Ivy," he said quietly as he closed the door, "how did you get in here?"

Ivy’s smile returned.

"I stole your key and made a copy."

Code regarded her in silence.

’You little thief.’

Then he turned and walked farther into the room, leaving her to follow.

Once the door was shut, he looked at her again.

"What do you want?"

Ivy sat on the bed, folded her arms, and pushed out her lower lip in an exaggerated pout.

"That’s a rude question. You shouldn’t ask your girlfriend why she’s visiting her boyfriend."

"We aren’t dating, Ivy."

She grinned.

"We are. You just haven’t accepted it yet."

Code didn’t bother arguing.

"Anyway," Ivy continued, "I’m here to take care of you."

"You’re wasting your time."

"I’m not." Her expression softened slightly. "You got a bad rating, and your salary is going to be low. I can’t just let you starve."

Code gave a small yawn.

"I really don’t care, Ivy."

He turned toward the bathroom.

"I’m going to take a shower."

Ivy immediately stood.

"Need help?"

She leaned forward slightly, her smile turning playful.

"I could help you undress."

"Don’t bother," Code replied dryly. "You should focus on dressing yourself."

"Hmph. You never let me help."

Ivy twirled away toward the kitchen, apparently undeterred by his rejection.

"Fine. I’ll make coffee instead."

Code disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Ivy to herself.