World After Worlds

"Aren't you leaving?" Lyndon angrily waved his hand and the girls did not want to irritate him further, left with an apparent unwillingness displayed on their actions and faces. Safa, on the other hand, was stuck in her place, she was staring at Lyndon in dejection, he did not bother to throw her a glance or acknowledge her presence. Although she had expected this kind of attitude, she was unable to conceal her tears wanting to evacuate from her eyes. "Are you deaf? I said, fuck off." Lyndon with the sour mood saw Safa still in her place, turned to her, and cussed at her face.

Tiana shifted to Safa and saw that Safa was frozen on her spot on the verge of crying. "Lyndon, don't be harsh to her," Tiana uttered softly, which surprised Safa. She did not expect that Tiana would be on her side in this crucial moment. However, she would not be thankful for that, she could not be thankful for this, could not she? Tiana was her rival in Lyndon's affection. Tiana is the reason why Lyndon doesn't like me—Safa's mind was filled with excuses however her heart knew.

Safa swerved her head to look at Lyndon.

But is it a competition with Tiana? Is Tiana truly the reason for Lyndon's harsh treatment of me? Before even Tiana, Lyndon was cold and indifferent to me.

Ejai said it would be good to give Tiana a rough warning. That Tiana was a threat to Safa's good relationship with Lyndon. If Safa taught Tiana a lesson where her place should be, Lyndon would naturally be her lover. Yet, Safa was not sure anymore, was this good girl Tiana a threat to the relationship she never had with the man she liked? Should she not wake up from her fantasy with Lyndon? If she kept this up—Tiana who was a sweet girl would be put in a situation.

Safa was a spoiled girl, she was given everything in life she could ask. A

However, she was not a bad girl like Yanarym who would torture Tian whenever she see chances. She would not hurt anybody for her interest. If anything, Safa preferred everything happened smoothly without anyone getting impeded. She was not an awful bitch who would bully the weak and poor girl like Tiana.

"She is nice to me," Tiana murmured and held out to Lyndon's forearm. Sara looked away from the sudden pinch of her heart.

Lyndon frowned and did not reply to Tiana, sat on Tiana's side, and took her spoon to feed himself some of her meals. Tiana was used to Lyndon's invasion and let him have her lunch while she swerved to Safa who recovered.

"I'll be leaving Lyndon." Safa was embarrassed by the blunt disregard, it was her dignity as a woman was at stake if she kept being with them. Lyndon continued to eat Tiana's lunch, acting as if heard nothing.

When Safa Left, Tiana peered at him, there was an unwritten satisfaction on her after the entire scene played out. The fact that he purposely disregarded Safa and gave his full vigilance to her, was oddly gratifying.

Lyndon was always picky, whether it was food or people or his things but these past few days or the past few weeks, Tiana could discern how Lyndon was behaving differently from the Lyndon she used to know. The Lyndon she approached when they were in middle school would never hold her hand, he was not germaphobic, it was as simple as he despised the fact of holding people or things that people touched. He would shout at her whenever she would insist on touching his stuff, shoved her when she tried to hold his arm or just the hem of his clothes.

It was a surprise at first—when he out of nowhere touched her cheek⁰ and they were back hanging out together. She thought that Lyndon was making up for the things he had missed and was accommodating her a little nicer though his speech was sometimes still too harsh. Not just about those but also his intimacy was noted, he was touchy. He was like that, only to 'her'.

It was not like she was uncomfortable with it. However, she did not want to get used to him. He would change often, Lyndon was confusing these days. And after all, Kraig was still the person she wanted and Lyndon was there for her reservation.

"Eat," Lyndon commanded her and directed a spoon to her lips. She was startled and unconsciously ate what he fed her. As she chewed on the food, she forgot about the argument going on with her head and the dispute they had in the hallway earlier and felt a little bit of security that he was right beside her. "You're so slow, have some more."

"Easy, Lyndon. I can't eat that fast." Tiana almost choked. He paused and handed her a glass of water.

"This is why you're skinny," Lyndon jeered.

"I'm not skinny," Lyndon grinned, "What's that smile for?"

"You are skinny, Tia." He had a soft chuckle.

"Why are you smiling?" Tiana unconsciously laughed with him, "Lyndon."

"I just thought, you don't want to be skinny but you'll get angry if you are called fat." He lost his smile the moment he said that as if he recalled something tiresome. "My mistake, should I call you sexy?"

"W-what? What's wrong with you?" Tiana blushed when the vulgar word came from his mouth. He was harsh but never crude. "When did you learn to talk like that?"

Lyndon looked at Tiana's flushed cheeks, and he casually touched her left cheek, "I didn't mean to call you fat," he said he sounded very robotic. "You're pretty."

"Lyndon, that's enough." She stuttered and blushed so hard she looked like a tomato. Lyndon felt pleased but something was missing. "If you don't stop, I'll walk out."

"Okay, now we are done talking, eat more." He said nonchalantly and fed her, Tiana took his spoon.

"I'll do it," he gave her the spoon.

Tiana quietly ate in peace occupied by Lyndon's strangeness. Lyndon used her fork and had some of her rice. It was unusual that she felt relaxed with Lyndon. And it was comfortable just staying with him. No one could bully her if he was there. But at the same time, she felt ashamed that she still could not defend herself from anyone.

After a while of silence, Lyndon pointed his fork towards Ejai with her girls that were sitting on Yanarym's table. "Are they disturbing you?" He asked with his eyebrows crossed. "Should I teach them a lesson?" Tiana shook her head to deny the fact, she did not want to cause a greater problem. As long as Safa would not hurt her, it was fine. Ejai was the problem though, "Are you sure?"

"It's fine, Lyndon. Ejai is my… friend and Safa is just being friendly with me."

"I don't know why you are so friendly with anyone, Tia. Don't you learn from Kraig in getting friendly?" He uttered and rested his jaw on his palm. He lazily pinned his eyes on her. "You trust no one."

"Even you?"

"Even me," he smiled a little, "You trust no one, Tia." Tiana wanted to say something, how could he say not trust him if he was aiming to win her heart. "Though, that is the case. Tell me if you need me," he said in a serious tone and brushed her hair again, Tiana watched him and sighed. "I'm always here for you."

"I don't know how you can be stranger than acting like this but thank you," she murmured and thought of Ejai again, Ejai was not going to give Tiana her peace. It seemed that Ejai hated her when Tiana thought they were friends. Turns out, Ejai only befriended her before tormenting Yanarym.

Just when Tiana was thinking about Ejai, she heard a ruckus… Yanarym was as vulnerable as she was and Kraig was not there to protect her. Tiana hid the curling lips she had.

She remembered that when Kraig decided to disregard Yanarym, Ejai would make Yanarym's life a living hell. Yanarym never fought back to Ejai because she was much more concentrated on ruining Tiana's life.

A loud clang could be heard from Yanarym's table, her tray was upside down and the food was scattered on the floor. Ejai and the three girls following her laughed so loud that it echoed in the entire cafeteria.

Everyone was stunned.

"You're still going to ignore me, you arrogant bitch?! Do you think because Kraig is your boyfriend right now he could save you at this moment?" Tiana watched them closely but felt Lyndon stand up. She redirected her eyes to him.

"Let's go."

"Are you done?"

"It's loud here. I can't eat properly." He uttered in annoyance, Tiana looked at their tray and the food was gone. Before she could even ask another question, he strode to the door and Tiana had no choice but to follow because she did not want to be left alone.