Chapter 280: Relationships

"Well, I don't know what happened between the two of you but you should be careful and treat each other… I guess that couldn't be applied to you."

The Empress found it troubling. She herself didn't have deep experience with relationships. Her expertise stops there. But her main point was to let Dehian talk so she just gave up giving advice.

"But whatever your past is, you still have feelings for him, is that right?"

"..." Dehian stayed silent and just looked away.

"I know it's hard to say but talking about it would dilute your anger. It's better to think straight when it comes to important matters like relationships."

…

"You seemed in a bad mood today." Nick approached Teren as it was already morning break.

​ "Hmm, sorry about…" Teren massaged his head. This was the first time that he was really stressed out, "I can't believe I would say something stupid."

"If you want, you can tell me about it."

"...: Teren pondered and since he trusts Nick, he stood up and nodded, "Sure, thanks."

They went to get snacks first before going to the emergency stairs as if its their turf.

…

Dehian knew this wasn't a scheme to get information out of her. That's her advantage as a psychic. That's why with a little push, Dehian understood that the Empress is right. However, she couldn't tell everything since a part of her is secretly helping Teren.

'I just it's just up to me whether I reveal it or not.'

She decided and began to speak.

"I'm just annoyed by the fact that he got into a worse mood when another girl left him than when we broke."

…

"Trisha left and I shouldn't be feeling bad but I did. I think Dehi-... Iesa then confronted me about what's the problem. Then, well, I heard some things I don't like and I lashed out."

Teren sighed, not knowing that Dehian was actually madder at something else.

…

"A girl left him and Teren's in a bad mood?" Seres frowned and asked, "Who's this girl?"

"Her name's Trisha. She's the girl who naturally attracts Spirits ever since she was young."

Dehian's face lightly clenched talking about it. The Empress then asked what Seres was about to ask.

"What's the nature of their relationship?"

"... they have a special relationship."

"How so?" Seres impatiently asked which Dehian explained how the two met, knowing the full story as if she was there when it happened.

"Wow…"

The Empress could only mutter after hearing the story about Teren and Trisha.

"T-they did it..!?" meanwhile, Seres stuttered in shock.

…

"I see, so that what happened. I mean, you two broke up so I don't think she has the right to question what you're doing with other girls though." Nick naturally sided with Teren but the latter shook his head.

"No… even though we broke up, we're actually both aware that once all of this is done - if everything would be solved - we'll return to being a couple, maybe."

Nick processed what Teren just said and replied, "So… that means you're at fault for messing with other girls even though you two are waiting for each other?"

"Not really, because she had specifically permitted me to 'mess' with other girls even when we're still a couple."

Teren's response just made Nick scratch his head.

…

"I permitted him to use every method he can to gain power. That method, he doesn't use it because of me and that's why a certain someone thinks she can control Teren through lust." Dehian explained, "But why did he have to fall for another girl? I know he can't control that but… tsk!"

'Wait… why does she want her enemy to gain power?' the Empress was stuck with that question as she glanced at Seres too to see that something was bothering the little sister too. However, the Empress doesn't know that Seres was being bothered by something else.

"Shouldn't you let it go? After all, she left him, right? He will move on from that another girl and maybe, you two can get back together. Also, by permitting him, you are also risking the possibility that he will fall for another girl, don't you think so?"

"I'm aware of that." Dehian bit her finger, not knowing what to do with what she was feeling, "But I didn't know why I expected him not to fall in love…"

'This girl is confusing me.' the Empress thought but was actually sympathizing. Emotions can really stir things up.

"Umm… does Teren still have other girls? From your tone, it seems that there are more." Seres then raised a hand.

…

"Hm, then I guess you two should just talk about it." Nick reached that conclusion.

Teren lowered his head and replied, "But I think she wouldn't want to talk to me after what I said."

"You just said the truth along with some attitude. Well, I'm not saying you're wrong but it's not something you can't fix."

"..."

Teren looked at Nick and nodded.

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks for reminding me that there's no point stressing myself over something that I've already done."

"... that's not what I'm trying to say but I guess that's true too, yeah."

…

"Wow…" the Empress muttered the second time after hearing all of Teren's 'women'.

'But why does she know all the details?'

The Empress then recalled that Dehian was always out without having any prior missions.

'Is this girl a stalker?'

'I am not!' Dehian replied to the Empress' thought, 'I'm just doing reconnaissance once in a while.'

If the Empress heard that thought, she would reply 'Every day is not once in a while'.

Meanwhile, Seres was getting dizzy.

"Unforgivable! He's playing with all these women!"

"No, it doesn't sound like he's playing around with them-" the Empress said but Seres didn't seem to hear her and just gave up in defending Teren's case.

"He's such a womanizer." Dehian nodded, agreeing with Seres even though she doesn't believe it herself. The Empress just sighed.

"Then, what do you plan on doing from now on?"

She just tried to change the subject to which Dehian replied after a pause.

"I'm thinking of… talking it out with him. You're right, it may be just angry that I acted that way."

"Right, tell him that you're no longer permitting him with other girls." Seres strongly said to Dehian which the latter actually considered.

"I'll… think about it."

'Well, if you have the right, that is.' the Empress intentionally thought for Dehian to hear.

At that moment, the door to the meeting room opened and Neracio came out. Walking away, the Empress followed after nodding goodbye to both Dehian and Seres.

"So, what did you talk about?"

Neracio asked since the Empress was not talking.

"Girl's talk."

"Hm?"

Neracio found it weird but let it go if she doesn't want to say it.

…

"Thanks, Nick. That really released the burden out of me."

Teren smiled but Nick noticed something.

"But it seemed that there's something else that's troubling you."

"Ah… well," Teren found it embarrassing to say so he told it to Nick in a roundabout manner, "I just hope that Iesa has someone to talk to like you."

"Someone like me?" Nick awkwardly laughed, not getting what Teren was saying, "I don't think I helped that much though."

Teren found this funny and decided to just tell it straightforwardly.

"No, I mean, I hope Iesa has a friend to talk to."

"Ohh…" Nick smiled when he finally realized what Teren was talking about.

"Well, let's go back now. It's about time for the third subject."

Teren said but Nick looked at his phone and saw that there's still enough time to just loiter around.

'Heh, this guy can be shy sometimes.'

"Right…" Nick just followed without saying anything further. The morning classes went by just like that and the two hang out during lunch break.

This time, it's just the two of them without Trisha and Chihua. Or so, that's what they thought.

"Hey, aren't those guys were the ones who we played with yesterday?" Sam pointed at them.

The Group Vengeance looked at the table Sam pointed and saw Teren and Nick which, in turn, noticed the group too.

The two groups stared at each other for a while before Sean walked and stood before them. The people around them began noticing this and muttered as if there's something going to happen.

After all, Sean looked like a delinquent together with someone like Gomaro and Pack.

"It's really you, guys. Want to join our table?" Sean patted their shoulders with an enthused smile.

"Hm," Nick looked at Teren first and saw that the other person was not bothered so he agreed, "Sure"

At that lunch, the two ate together with Group Vengeance. Nothing special happened, they just simply talked about the match yesterday while Sean was like a broken radio, calling both Teren and Trisha monsters while Nick a pro.

Fortunately, Nick thought, they didn't talk much about Trisha or Teren would've returned to his sour mood. Afterwhich, the two returned to school and on their way, they met Lina.