Chapter 253: Why is he talking to me

Anthony and Asher had gone out to buy new school supplies.

As engineering students, they certainly had to work their asses off. As high schoolers, they gave themselves difficult assignments, projects, and countless calculations, they went through calculators at an almost impressive rate. They always managed to wear out at least two calculators a year.

Honestly, they weren’t even sure how they kept doing it.

They just used them too much. What else could they do?

"Have you found a ruler yet?" Anthony asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Not yet!" Asher replied from the other side of the aisle. "Why are all the long ones either too expensive or made of some flimsy material?"

"Because we decides to get into engineering..."

Anthony chuckled to himself before returning his attention to the calculators displayed on the shelves.

He picked one up, pressed a few buttons, and checked the functions. Then he put it back and reached for another.

Most of them were perfectly fine, of course, but he preferred to make sure he was getting something that would last. There was no point in buying a new calculator only to have it give up on him halfway through the academic year.

He was just examining another model when two familiar voices reached his ears.

"What do you think? For math and statistics, should I get the red one or the blue one?"

"Your favorite color is green."

"Yeah, well... it’s a matter of aesthetics. I think red is better."

"Yes."

Anthony froze. He knew those voices.

Slowly, he turned his head toward the next aisle.

There, standing in front of a display of school supplies, were two people he hadn’t seen in quite some time.

Blake and Myles.

’Oh.’

It had been a while since he’d last seen either of them, and he certainly hadn’t expected to run into them here.

Blake was holding a shopping basket, looking down at a list that appeared to have been crossed out and rewritten so many times that it was almost impossible to read. He scratched the back of his head, apparently trying to figure out what else he needed.

Myles stood beside him, looking as composed as ever.

Anthony watched them for a moment.

Then Blake held up the red item again.

"I really think this one looks better."

"Then get it."

"But the blue one is cheaper."

"Then get that one."

Blake stared at him.

"You’re not helping!"

Myles hummed.

Anthony hurriedly turned away, pretending he hadn’t been staring at their interaction.

’A-ah! I didn’t mean to eavesdrop!’

He was just surprised, that was all. Besides, it had been a while since he’d last seen them. It was only natural that he’d look for a moment.

...Right?

Anthony picked up another calculator and began pressing random buttons, hoping nobody had noticed him.

A few moments later, Blake and Myles moved to another section of the store.

Anthony let out a quiet breath of relief.

’That was close.’

He returned to examining the calculators, determined to mind his own business from now on.

Unfortunately, that resolution didn’t last very long.

"Ah!"

A familiar voice suddenly called out from the next aisle.

"Asher, Anthony! How goes?"

Anthony’s shoulders stiffened.

He turned around to find Blake approaching them with a cheerful smile, waving one hand as he came closer.

Asher, who had finally found a ruler long enough to satisfy him, looked up in surprise.

"Blake!"

Anthony immediately put down the calculator he’d been holding.

"Blake!" he exclaimed, walking toward him.

Then he remembered the other person standing behind him, steps slowing.

"...And Myles. How are you two?"

"We’re fine!"

"Good to hear!" Anthony replied, perhaps a little too quickly.

Blake, seemingly oblivious to his awkwardness, smiled.

"We’re choosing some new supplies for university. I assume you’re here for the same reason?"

"Ah, yes." Anthony scratched his cheek. "Our calculators have practically run out of power. It’s time to buy new ones."

Blake stared at him.

Then his eyebrows rose.

"Only you two would be capable of wearing out calculators."

"Yes... we use them a lot!"

Asher laughed quietly, setting his ruler aside for a moment.

Blake glanced at the calculators displayed on the shelves.

"Anyway, which ones would you recommend? I’m also taking a look."

Asher immediately crouched down to examine the selection more closely.

"Um, it depends on what you prefer. Most of these have the same functions, more or less. It really comes down to how comfortable you are with the layout and which features you need."

Blake leaned forward, inspecting the different models.

"Hmm..."

Anthony tilted his head, considering the question.

"Well, since you’re studying business, there’s one I have in mind."

"Oh? Which one?"

"I’ll show you."

Anthony looked around until he spotted the calculator he was thinking of.

Unfortunately, it was displayed on the other side of the aisle, tucked onto a shelf that was just slightly too high for him to reach comfortably.

He walked over and stretched his arm upward. His fingers brushed against the edge of the packaging.

Almost.

He rose onto his tiptoes and tried again, but really, he couldn’t do it.

Anthony frowned.

Why did stores always put the things he needed on the highest shelves?

He stretched a little farther, his fingertips barely grazing the calculator.

’Gosh, this is embarrassing.’

With a frustrated sigh, he lowered his arm and turned toward Asher.

"Asher, can you give me a hand with—"

He stopped. Someone was suddenly standing behind him.

Before Anthony could even finish his sentence, a hand reached over his head and effortlessly retrieved the calculator.

"Were you trying to get this one?"

Silence fell.

Anthony stared at the calculator now being held in front of him.

Then, very slowly, he turned around.

First, he saw a chest, a rather tall chest.

His gaze traveled upward... and upward. Until he finally met a familiar pair of azure eyes.

...Zlatan.

"A-ah."

Anthony’s brain briefly stopped functioning.

"Yes. Thank you..."

He accepted the calculator, his movements stiff.

Of all the people he could have run into today.

Of all the possible coincidences.

Why him?

Zlatan gave him an angelic smile.

Unfortunately, Anthony knew enough to feel a chill run down his spine.

And, judging by the sudden silence around them, he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed Zlatan’s arrival.

Asher had stopped examining the rulers.

Blake was staring at Zlatan with an expression of immediate disbelief.

Only Myles didn’t seem to be interested about the whole interaction.

Anthony wanted nothing more than to disappear into the floor. He really, really disliked being the center of attention.

And Zlatan had somehow managed to turn a perfectly ordinary shopping trip into an event.

Before Anthony could come up with an excuse to leave, someone grabbed his wrist.

Asher pulled him away from Zlatan with surprising urgency, positioning himself between the two of them.

"Z-Zlatan?"

Blake rubbed his forehead, looking thoroughly defeated.

"What are you doing here?!"

Zlatan’s smile didn’t waver.

"Shopping."

Blake stared at him. Then he closed his eyes.

"No. Don’t tell me."

He took a deep breath, as though preparing himself for the answer.

"You got another job, didn’t you? Just how employed are you?!"

Zlatan laughed softly.

"Of course not. I was just taking a stroll."

Blake opened his eyes.

"...A stroll? Here?"

"Is there something wrong with that?"

Blake looked as though he wanted to argue, but he was struggling to decide which part of that statement to address first.

"Are you also going to university or something?"

Zlatan laughed again.

"Of course not. I’m twenty-two. I’ve already graduated."

Blake groaned and dragged a hand down his face.

Anthony watched the exchange in bewilderment.

’Was he being sarcastic with that question? What did he even graduate in...’

Blake eventually seemed to remember why they’d been standing there in the first place.

He turned toward Anthony.

"Anyway, show me the calculator."

"Yes!"

Anthony quickly held it out.

"This one. It’s pretty reliable, and the functions are convenient. Since you’re studying business, I thought it might be useful for you."

Blake took it and examined the model.

"Oh, this one looks good."

"Right? And the buttons are arranged pretty conveniently, too."

Anthony explained a few of its features, relieved to have something ordinary to talk about again.

Yet he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being watched.

It wasn’t an especially unfamiliar sensation. He’d been on the receiving end of enough curious stares to recognize it.

But this one was particularly uncomfortable.

Anthony turned his head slightly.

Zlatan was talking to Myles.

Or, more accurately, Zlatan was talking while Myles listened with his usual expressionless face.

Anthony couldn’t hear what they were saying, and he had no intention of moving closer to find out.

He quickly turned back to Blake.

’That man...’

He swallowed.

’I should stay away from him as much as possible.’

Considering he basically stalked Zlatan, and was also almost caught in the act, he had absolutely no desire to become involved in whatever their interaction might be.

Eventually, Anthony and Asher finished buying their supplies.

After exchanging their goodbyes with Blake, Myles, and Zlatan, the two of them left the store and went their separate ways.

Anthony was more than happy to put some distance between himself and that strange encounter.

He adjusted the bag hanging from his shoulder and glanced at Asher.

"So, where do you want to go now?"

Asher looked around.

"I need to use the restroom. Wait for me here."

Anthony immediately turned toward him.

"No, I’ll go with you."

Asher blinked.

"...What?"

"Nothing! I mean, I’ll just come with you."

Asher stared at him for a moment, his expression slowly turning strange.

"Anthony, it’s the bathroom."

"I know that!"

"Then why are you following me?"

Anthony opened his mouth, then he closed it.

He didn’t have a good answer.

Asher narrowed his eyes.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Perfectly fine."

"You look suspicious. Don’t tell me it’s because of—"

"I’m not!"

"Do-don’t worry too much, do you really think he’d attempt anything. He can only dare..."

’Sound more confidence while saying it!’

"Just stay here. I’ll be back in a minute."

And with that, he walked away.

Anthony watched him go.

For several seconds, he remained standing exactly where Asher had left him, holding the shopping bags and staring in the direction of the bathroom.

Then, slowly, he looked over his shoulder.

He had a bad feeling.

A really bad feeling.

And he had absolutely no idea why.

...

’I should’ve just followed Asher to the damn bathroom.’

"Hey there."