Chapter 69 - Sobbing Ramyun

The final bell had rung, marking the end of classes, and the classroom buzzed with the sounds of students packing their things. Most, if not all, were already engrossed in lively conversations with their newly assigned partners, the air thick with excitement and fresh bonds forming.

My gaze drifted, almost instinctively, toward Myrrh. She was chatting with her new partner, Kian, her lips curling into a radiant smile that made her blue eyes shimmer under the afternoon light. A soft scoff escaped her, teasing yet playful, and for some reason, it struck me—adorable. My chest tightened, warmth creeping up my face. Just a little.

But that warmth quickly turned into something else—something unpleasant. A dull ache settled in my chest, pressing uncomfortably as I watched her smile like that, knowing I was too far away to be the reason for it. And worse, she was smiling at another guy.

Kian was undeniably handsome, his sharp features and confident posture reminding me of Myrrh’s ex-boyfriend—perhaps even surpassing him. Together, they looked… well, they looked good. And that thought sent a tiny, sharp pinch through me.

Am I… jealous?

“No, no, no. There’s no way I’m jealous,” I muttered under my breath, shaking my head to dispel the ridiculous notion. “That bitch can go for any guy she likes. It’s none of my damn business.”

That was right. Myrrh was just a friend—no, a former enemy from high school. I had wanted a different partner from the start, and fate had granted me Fei Xian, a fantastic WAIFU partner. There was no reason for me to think about Myrrh anymore.

Yet, as my gaze shifted to my seatmate, Fei, I noticed her staring across the room, her expression unreadable—until I followed her line of sight.

Neil sat at the far right of the classroom, his posture relaxed, his face noticeably brighter than when he was with Fei. He spoke casually with his new WAIFU partner, unaware of the way Fei’s lips pressed together, her teeth grazing her lower lip. A faint crease formed between her brows.

She looked heartbroken.

And suddenly, I realized—I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.

Neil and his new WAIFU partner were the first to leave the classroom, their figures disappearing through the doorway with an air of casual ease. Not long after, Myrrh and Kian followed suit, their silhouettes vanishing down the same hallway. A bitter thought crept into my mind—were they going on a date? The idea gnawed at me, sending a restless energy through my chest. Or maybe I was just overthinking, my own insecurities twisting reality into something it wasn’t.

This whole partnership setup already felt awkward enough, a delicate balance teetering between forced cooperation and unspoken tension. But if there was one thing I was good at, it was breaking the silence. When needed, I could be extroverted enough to keep morale afloat—even when my own thoughts weighed me down.

Beside me, the unmistakable voice of Remuel cut through the murmurs of the remaining students. He was turned toward his new WAIFU, Cassidy, his ever-present confidence practically radiating from him.

“Hey, since this is our first day as partners, why don’t we hang out?” he proposed with a grin, flashing a look of pure self-assurance. “Iced coffee in the northern metropolis, my treat. I want to learn more about you, Miss Cassidy.”

Cassidy tilted her head slightly, considering the offer before nodding. “That’s a good idea. I want to learn more about you too.”

I let out a quiet sigh, shaking my head in both admiration and disbelief. Look at him. Despite his small, almost dwarf-like stature, his confidence was that of a titan. He didn’t hesitate, didn’t waver—he just asked a girl out for coffee like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Maybe… maybe I should do the same.

The thought struck me before I could second-guess it. Asking Fei out, even if just for coffee, could help ease the awkwardness that hung between us like a fog. And perhaps, in the process, I could finally get some insight into her strained relationship with Neil. He had refused to elaborate, brushing it off whenever the topic arose, but Fei might be willing to talk.

I turned slightly, lowering my voice.

“Fei,” I whispered.

“Eeep!” Fei let out a startled squeak, her golden eyes going wide like a deer caught in headlights. A second later, she exhaled, pressing a hand against her chest before forcing a nervous smile. “Y-Yes, Zaft?”

I hesitated for a moment, scratching my cheek in an attempt to mask my own awkwardness. A forced smile tugged at my lips as I tried to appear as casual as possible. “Would you, uh… want to hang out? Maybe grab a bite or something?”

For a second, Fei just blinked at me, her expression unreadable. Then, her golden eyes softened, shimmering under the fluorescent lights like warm honey. She tilted her head slightly, her gaze holding an almost childlike curiosity—innocent, hesitant, but undeniably bright.

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“Oh…” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “Okay. I’m kind of hungry too.”

I felt the corners of my lips curl into a more natural smile. “I know a place that serves Korean street food in the eastern metropolis. Sounds like a plan?”

The moment I mentioned food, Fei’s entire demeanor shifted. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and a grin spread across her face.

“Mmm! Mmm!” She nodded eagerly, fists clenched in a small, determined pump of enthusiasm.

I chuckled at her reaction. Maybe this wouldn’t be so awkward after all.

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We made our way to the eastern side of Xyraxis Metropolis, a vibrant district known for its rich variety of Asian cuisine. The air was thick with the savory aroma of sizzling meats, fragrant spices, and freshly steamed buns, mingling with the lively chatter of food vendors calling out their specials. Since the year was coming to an end, the entire market pulsed with festivity—vivid dragon dances weaved through the streets, their scales glimmering under the soft glow of lanterns, while hologram fireworks painted the sky in fleeting bursts of neon light.

Despite the moderate crowd, the place was already buzzing with energy, the rhythmic beat of festival drums and excited voices blending into a symphony of celebration.

We stopped at a cozy food stall specializing in Korean dishes, the scent of simmering broth and skewered delicacies filling the air. After a quick glance at the menu, we settled on tteok-bokki, fishcakes, and a steaming bowl of ramyun.

As we ate, I quickly noticed something about Fei—she loved food, but she took her time with it. Her slow, deliberate bites matched my own unhurried pace, making our meal feel oddly in sync. It was a quiet kind of comfort, one I hadn’t expected.

A few sips into my broth, I glanced over and noticed Fei lifting a strand of noodles with her chopsticks. She held them there, unmoving, her golden eyes locked onto the glistening strands as if lost in a distant thought. Seconds passed, and she still hadn’t taken a bite.

“Um, Fei?” I asked, lowering my spoon. “Is something wrong with the ramyun? If you don’t like it, just tell me, and I'll go call the manager. In case you don't know, I'm a black belt in being a Karen.” I joked.

“Ah, no.” Fei shook her head quickly, her voice a little flustered. “It’s just that… Neil once asked me to eat noodles with him too. Except it was ramen, not ramyun.” She hesitated, her grip tightening slightly around her chopsticks. “I-I’m not saying this isn’t delicious or anything! It’s just… funny, isn’t it? The irony of it all.”

Her words hit me with an unexpected weight.

I had never really cared about the details of Neil and Fei’s relationship before. Their first date, their moments together—it had all seemed so distant, so irrelevant to me. And yet, here I was, unknowingly leading her into the same kind of memory that might only deepen the wounds she was trying to heal from.

I had been careless.

Guilt settled in my chest like an uncomfortable weight. I needed to make up for this somehow—I couldn’t just let our night end on the note of old heartbreaks.

“Hey, if you need help with Neil, I’m your guy,” I said, leaning slightly forward. “I can be your wingman. Both of your wingman, if that’s what it takes.”

Fei paused mid-bite, then slowly set her chopsticks down. She closed her eyes for a moment before shaking her head, a small, almost weary smile tugging at her lips. “N-No, it’s okay,” she murmured. “It’s just a simple quarrel. You don’t have to go pulling another crazy stunt like you did yesterday.”

I exhaled, swirling my chopsticks absently through the broth. “Myrrh is worried about both of you,” I said, my tone softer. “Not just us. Cindy and Remuel too. Our whole circle feels… off. It’s like everything’s breaking apart because of this.”

At that, Fei’s golden eyes snapped up to meet mine, wide with surprise.

“Break up?” she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “With Neil?”

I blinked. That reaction—it wasn’t what I was expecting.

“Yeah,” I said, taking a slow sip of my noodles. “Everything’s been kind of awkward lately.”

Fei didn’t respond right away. Instead, she just stared at me, the flickering neon lights from the food stalls reflecting in her gaze. There was something unreadable in her expression, something I couldn’t quite place.

Had I just said something wrong? Or… something she hadn’t even realized herself?

Fei lowered her gaze, her shoulders trembling slightly as she spoke. “We can no longer fix our relationship, Zaft. I… I already dumped him.” Her voice wavered, carrying the weight of something she was trying hard to suppress.

A lump formed in my throat. “Why?” I mumbled, barely above a whisper.

She shook her head, strands of her dark curls swaying slightly. “It’s personal,” she said, her voice tight. “I don’t want to talk about it… I hope you understand.”

I studied her for a moment, searching for something—some clue, some hint of the truth buried beneath her quiet sadness. But all I saw was the way her hands gripped the edge of the table, her fingers pressing into the worn surface as if grounding herself.

“Alright,” I said at last, leaning back. “That’s too bad, though. Neil is clearly still madly in love with you.”

Fei let out a soft, bitter chuckle. “That’s right. And it’s all my fault that our relationship crumbled.” She exhaled shakily, her voice almost breaking. “I dumped him because… I’m a bad girl.”

Her words hung between us, heavy and fragile, like glass about to shatter.

“That’s not true at all,” I said firmly. “You’re the nicest girl I’ve met since enrolling in Orbital Tech.” I gave her a small smile, hoping—just hoping—it would help even a little.

Fei blinked, her golden eyes widening slightly before a soft blush dusted her cheeks. She pressed a hand to her chest, as if holding onto something warm. “That’s… flattering,” she murmured. Then, with a small, genuine smile, she added, “Thank you for that compliment, Zaft.”

I watched her for a moment, my thoughts swirling.

A theory had started to form in my mind, one I wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Fei… might have liked me. Maybe it was because I am smart, or maybe because I'm handsome. I'm betting on the latter, though I'm pretty sure everyone would likely disagree. Could it be that Fei had fallen for me instead—and now Neil was jealous?

I wasn’t sure, and frankly, I didn’t want to be sure. If that was true, I was in a serious pinch.

I cleared my throat and forced a grin. “Now, let’s eat before the ramyun gets cold!”

Fei giggled softly, and just like that, the tension in the air eased. The awkwardness, the lingering weight of our conversation—it all melted away as we focused on our meal.

Even though I was left with more questions than answers about Neil and Fei’s breakup, one thing was certain. This was the first time Fei and I had ever spoken like this, just the two of us. And despite everything, I felt like we had connected on a deeper level, strengthening whatever bond had started to form between us.

For now, that was enough.