==== Chapter 10   [ Part 4 ] ====

"So you're (Y/N) (L/N)." Eliza sits behind her table after she kindly offers you a glass of water. Though you aren't exactly feeling thirsty, you accept it while shyly thanking Alessio's mother. You don't however drink it as you stare down at your glass while you let yourself be observed by the beautiful woman.

Cute, Eliza smiles as her blue eyes scan your face, body, and posture. As your eyes meet hers, her smile on her lip goes even wider. You suddenly feel awkward, pondering what's on your face right now for her to look at you with amusement in her eyes.

"Wh— what did you call me for?" you stutter while you place a hand on your cheek, trying to feel for any weird sensation that may have caught the attention of Alessio's mother.

"Alessio."

Your ears immediately perk up at the name. The woman smiles and continues after, "— and Ashes." You let out a groan as you lie your back down to the comfy chair. The woman raises a brow before chuckling at your reaction.. Eliza harrumphs afterwards as she sweetly smiles at you, folding her hands together before her.

"I can see that you don't like him."

"Not too much," you blurt out then realize the rudeness you've just committed. "I mean. I'm not okay with him because he's too pushy and touchy."

Eliza chuckles, hearing your words. "In other words— annoying?" she asks. And you immediately nod to her question. Eliza rests her elbow on the table as she puts down her chin on her palm, looking at you with sparks written in her eyes.

Eliza has never seen Ashes being so attached to someone else. It's her first time hearing the news. And her Alessio too. He has at times mentioned you being his friend. And it's his first time making friends.

She looks at you. "You certainly are something, (Y/N)."

"Huh?"

Eliza laughs. "You are something. Though you find my Ashes annoying, he's a changed boy, (Y/N)." You raise your brow, confused, but listen. "Before. He's totally a rebellious teen. Always picking fights. Always absent. Then he met you." She gives you that knowing look; a massive grin is on her face.

"You changed him for the better, (Y/N)."

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"You should go continue doing that.. Being his light and reason," Eliza tells you with a smile on her lips. "You're what makes him happy."

Her smiles seem sad though as you stare at it a little bit longer.

You're slightly confused.

Noting your bewilderment, Eliza laughs. "Oh. Ashes.. I treat him like my son. Ever since his mother died, I try being one for him. He just does not accept it. I think he hates me."

"Oh," you murmur.

Eliza seems to be somewhere as she remembers every memories she has of the boy. Silence is there for a few moment before it is broken again by the motherly Mrs. Nikolaise.

"Ashes... he is a good boy before."

"Before?"

Eliza shakes her head to her own error. "I mean. Well— until now. It's just that he's misguided by his own anger. After his mother left him, he is just too broken. And too angry towards everyone and everything. He is not really like that before. Yes, he may still be cocky. But he isn't really that rebellious before."

"So you know him?" you ask, surprised.

"Oh, um. Yes."  She rubs the back of her neck, slightly blushing. "I'm good friends with his— uh—father and mother."

"Oh," you murmur again for the second time of the day. You wonder to yourself if this is really the conversation Mrs. Nikolaise wants to talk to you, but it must be. You blink your eyes when she speaks again.

"Do you have anyone in mind?"

You sit up straighter, alarmed. "Huh?"

"Anyone in mind. In your heart?" You heavily turn pink while Mrs. Nikolaise begins to open that kind of topic to you. Of course, you shake your head a few times despite someone appearing in your mind.

"Are you sure, (Y/N)?"

Eliza smiles at you; of course it is that of a tease.

"Why are you asking me this?"

Her blue eyes averts to something,  and you follow her gaze. Just now, you notice a picture frame resting on a table, near the entrance. You see her on the frame with some handsome man that seems to look like Alessio in thirties. Wrapped around in the waist, Mrs. Nikolaise's being kissed in the cheek by her husband.

"At your age, I met my husband."

"Oh, really?" You start to get awkward, not having been really involved in a relationship for the past years of this life of yours. "That's cute??" you attempt to speak again when the woman just stares at you with a dreamy smile plastered on her face.

"Oh, it is cute. He is cute."

Eliza giggles.

Your thoughts suddenly wonder to Alessio being cute. Uh. It's okay? But it's most likely impossible. After all you do not ever see him smile, only one time. But then your mind also remembers him calling your father "dad." You do not even realize yourself smiling.

"That's cute."

Eliza laughs. "Oh, he is cute and a sweetheart!" And she proceeds to tell you all her sweet moments with her own husband. Hearing about Alessio's father, he seems pretty nice, cool, and funny. Oh, but Mr. Nikolaise is not really like that. Just like his son's future self, he's heartless and cold to everyone.

Everyone except his wife.

"I would like to meet your husband," you tell Eliza, and she smiles in happiness. "Oh, you would meet him, dear! I'll make sure of that in the future since you are, after all, my Alessio's dear friend."

Friend. Huh..

Though you want to argue about that, you just let it off. Well, you and Alessio are okay anyways. Maybe in the future, you guys would be friends?

"Thank you," you sweetly say.

Eliza just wants to squeeze your cheek but stops herself.. Gosh, she wants to have a daughter; but her body cannot handle one more baby anymore. It is a pity, but at least... Alessio is there. Ashes is there. And then there's Peach, a sweetie. And now you.

Putting down the untouched glass of water on the table, Eliza later dismisses you while she accepts the ringing telephone.

As you finally leave Mrs. Nikolaise's room, you slowly walk back to your classroom— your thoughts still find itself flying back to that weird encounter with Alessio's mom.