Chapter 75: The Platinum Building Encounter
"Hi," came a melodious voice that cut through the ambient sounds of the Platinum Building’s top floor—the Elite Lounge, where only the academy’s most distinguished students were permitted to reside.
Asher paused mid-step, turning to find himself face-to-face with a girl with almond eyes. Her smile was gentle but odd.
"...Um, hi," he responded, keeping his expression carefully neutral. Maria, he thought, recognizing her immediately.
"Can I help you?" he asked, though something in his tone suggested he hoped the answer was no.
Before Maria could respond, Jenny’s patience—already worn thin from supporting Asher’s increasingly heavy frame—snapped like a rubber band. "Maria, we don’t have time for this. We’re going somewhere." She was practically holding up Asher’s sorry state, and Maria’s perfectly-timed appearance felt less like coincidence and more like calculated stalking.
"Oh... I see..." Maria’s smile flickered like a candle in the wind, but she recovered with impressive speed. "But why are you both together in the first place?" Her fingers found the hem of her pristine academy uniform, fidgeting with the fabric while her eyes tracked Asher’s every movement like a predator sizing up particularly interesting prey.
Jenny’s eye began to twitch—never a good sign. "...Tsk, he’s my roommate. That should be answer enough. I don’t really have time for this." She adjusted her grip on Asher, who was becoming heavier by the minute. His fevered body radiated heat, and she could feel sweat beginning to form where his arm draped across her shoulders.
"Can I come along?" Maria asked, taking a step closer.
Jenny had to actively suppress a groan. She was trying—really trying—to be polite to Maria, even when every fiber of her being screamed otherwise. Yes, she had issues with Maria and her little circle of friends. Not a huge grudge, exactly, but she definitely had several bones to pick with Cassandra, and since Maria was practically surgically attached to said person, Jenny had extended her dislike by association. She took the saying "the friend of your enemy is your enemy" perhaps a bit too seriously.
"Look Maria, I don’t mean to be a bitch but... No, you can’t. Just please... mind your business." She began walking again, her heels clicking against the marble.
Asher remained silent during the entire exchange, which was probably for the best. He didn’t particularly want to associate with Maria anyway, mainly because his emotions had returned in full force and he harbored a deep resentment toward her. She was one of the people he’d grown to hate for what she did back when he was Azalea—or rather, what she didn’t do.
"...Asher," she called out.