Chapter 16: New Club, New Mission (Not Interested!)
Manon brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes flicking to her smartwatch. Then, she glanced at the boy who was watching her with a curious expression.
She checked her watch again. New mission will be given during club activities at "All You Can Do First" activities.
Manon let out a silent breath. She looked up at the boy and offered a small, almost hesitant smile. "You're the one from yesterday," she said, stating the obvious. He nodded slightly, his gaze still steady.
He took a step closer, a quiet presence about him. Manon shifted her weight, suddenly aware of the space between them. "My name is Andrew," he said, his voice calm. "And yours?"
"Manon," she replied, her gaze briefly meeting his before drifting away.
He smiled, a genuine curve of his lips, then turned and walked towards an empty seat across the room, settling down with an easy, almost languid movement.
Manon couldn't quite place the feeling, but watching him there, he seemed to command a quiet attention, his posture straight, his gaze thoughtful. He does have a certain... presence, she thought, a word like "CEO" inexplicably popping into her head. She stood for a moment longer, her gaze drifting towards the window and the view beyond.
"Manon?" Andrew called, his voice carrying softly across the room. His green eyes met hers, a friendly question in their depths.
Manon blinked, a little surprised she'd been caught staring. Why did I suddenly feel like I was caught doing something I shouldn't? She walked over to him. "So, you're now an official member of the 'All You Can Do' club?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Andrew chuckled, a low, pleasant sound. "Oh yes. You might be wondering where the other members are. They'll be here tomorrow. Oh, and we already have a group chat. Just give me your number." He held out his phone slightly, an expectant look on his face.
Manon's eyebrows drew together. "What do you mean, my number? No. Absolutely not." She took a step back.
She turned abruptly, her sneakers squeaking slightly on the floor as she headed for the door. "I'll come tomorrow," Manon said, pulling the door closed behind her with a soft click.
She let out a soft sigh as she walked down the hallway, the sound barely audible. Could this day get any more... complicated?
As she rounded a corner, she collided with a solid mass – her brother. She tried to sidestep him, muttering a quick "Sorry," but Adrien called her name. He thrust a stack of books and files into her arms. "Take these to Robin. He's just around the corner."
Manon stopped dead in her tracks, the unexpected weight of the books making her stumble slightly. "I refuse. Absolutely not."
Adrien gave her a look that could melt ice, his eyes wide and pleading. "Please, Manon? Just help me out. I would do it myself, but I really don't want to go there. It's... ugh." He made a face of utter distaste.
Manon hesitated, the books digging into her arms. Then, with a sigh, she relented. "Fine, I'll help you. But you owe me big time. Like, a month of doing my chores big time." Adrien grinned, relief washing over his features as she walked away, the stack of books heavy in her hands.
Walking down the hallway, Manon spotted a door with a neatly printed sign that read "Water Club." She sighed, the sound barely escaping her lips, then reluctantly knocked.
The door swung open almost immediately to reveal Ria, a knowing, mischievous smile playing on her lips as she leaned against the doorframe. Manon, recognizing that look all too well, just offered a weak smile in return. "It's not what you think, trust me," she said preemptively.
"Really, Manon?" Ria teased, her smile widening, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "But I haven't even said anything. I just smiled."
Manon sighed, shifting the books in her arms. "Adrien asked me to help him give these files to... him. Nothing else."
Ria chuckled, pushing off the doorframe and starting to walk down the hall beside Manon. "Sometimes I really do wonder where I found you two." She glanced back at the door. "Should I just leave them in front? I'm sure these incredibly important files won't mind a little floor time."
Just as Ria reached for the doorknob, a voice from inside said, "Come in, Manon." The voice was calm and surprisingly deep.
Manon startled, a small gasp escaping her lips. "Sorry," she mumbled quickly, and hesitantly pushed the door open, peeking inside. She saw someone sitting at a medium-sized desk and chair, the figure mostly obscured by the back of the chair. Taking a deep breath, she entered and offered a quick, slightly breathless greeting. Her grip tightened on the books when she saw Robin reach for and put on a pair of reading glasses, the movement making him look unexpectedly studious.
She knew Robin had likely started his own investigation into the party incident, just like her brother and mother had, all without her direct knowledge. According to the police, someone at that party had intended to harm her. Seeing Robin there, in what looked like his own club space, was still a little jarring. Right now, she wanted to focus on her writing, on her own quiet routine, not on the lingering questions surrounding that night, and certainly not on any complicated feelings involving him.
"Good afternoon, Senior," Manon said, her voice a little formal as she placed the stack of documents carefully on the edge of the table. "This is from the president of the Fun Club. He asked me to give it to you."
"You're really cute when you're being formal. It suits you," Robin said, his gaze lifting from the papers as he picked up the top file. A small, almost teasing smile flickered across his lips.
"I'm sorry," Manon mumbled, her cheeks feeling warmer than they should. She avoided his gaze, focusing on a loose thread on her sleeve. She wouldn't let herself get drawn into whatever dynamic he was trying to create.
"Nothing to be sorry about," Robin replied, gently pushing his dark hair back from his forehead with a casual gesture. His dark eyes looked intense and focused behind the rectangular frames of his glasses. Manon couldn't help but briefly observe that the school seemed to have a knack for picking rather attractive individuals to lead extracurricular activities, probably a strategic move to boost student participation.
Manon's gaze flickered around the room. His club was surprisingly spacious, with a neat row of various awards displayed on a shelf near his chair. The walls were painted a soft, calming blue, with subtle, stylized designs of fish swimming across them, and the gentle blue lighting cast a peaceful, almost underwater ambiance. It feels... surprisingly serene in here.
Robin gently placed the documents on the table and removed his glasses, setting them beside the files. Manon hadn't noticed him move until his hand lightly brushed her arm as he leaned slightly closer to look at something on the table near her. A sudden, familiar wave of dizziness washed over her, a brief disorientation that always seemed to accompany his proximity. He caught her arm to steady her, his grip firm but gentle.
Manon suddenly felt a rush of warmth spread through her. The room had to have air conditioning, but the air seemed to thicken whenever he was this close. A nervous flutter stirred in her stomach.
He released her arm, a hint of something unreadable in his eyes as he seemed to register her slight unsteadiness. "Do you want me to tell you what I was doing at the party that day?" His voice was low, almost hesitant.
Manon nodded slightly, then quickly shook her head, her thoughts a jumbled mess. "No, I'm sorry. I should go now. I'm... not really ready." She turned and hurried out of the club room, the door closing softly behind her.
Robin watched the closed door for a long moment. Normally, he wouldn't give a second thought to someone trying to avoid him. But this girl was different. There was a complexity to her, a blend of a maturity that belied her first-year status and a vulnerability that tugged at something within him. He didn't know what had shifted between them, but ever since the accident, a noticeable distance had grown, a space he hadn't been able to bridge.
He walked over to a small drawer where he kept the simple, slightly tarnished bracelet from their first, awkward encounter. He sighed softly as he placed it back in its worn box, a silent promise hanging in the air, then turned back to the documents on his desk.