Chapter 29

Rhianne tried to say something, but no words were coming out from her lips. She was totally speechless. Rhianne did not really expect to see Keith like this. Most importantly... "You are not wearing your contact lens?" Rhianne carefully asked. "Well..." Keith only vaguely answered Rhianne before showing him a shy smile. Rhianne was about to ask Keith more questions when their homeroom adviser arrived. Their adviser told them to sit on their chair and prepare for their long math exam today before he stepped out of their room again to get their printed exam papers in his office. Rhianne's pen slipped from her hands after she heard their teacher's announcement. 'I'm screwed! I'm screwed! I'm screwed!' Rhianne forgot about their long exam today! Rhianne was so tired from her trip with Dr. Calvin yesterday that she goes straight to her bed without reviewing her notes. And to think that she will be having a long exam in mathematics without reviewing how to solve the equations written on it. It feels like she was preparing to go to a long battle without bringing any weapons with her. "...nne." "..." "Rhianne." "...Huh?" When she turned her head, Rhianne saw Keith looking at her with a worried expression. "Well, here's your pen." Keith said as he put the pen that he picked up on the floor. When Rhianne did not say anything in return, Keith got worried about her. "Rhianne, are you okay? Do you feel sick?" "Dad will kill me." "Huh?" Rhianne gave Keith a blank look. That's right. Even though Tim doted on her so much just like his wife, he was still focusing on his children's education. Of course, Tim will never hurt her. Rhianne was just exaggerating, but she was very sure that her father will still scold her the moment she got a low score on this test. As much as she can, Rhianne does not want to be scolded by her parents. Rhianne suddenly remembered the day when Keith and she got involved in a fight. Her mother did not say anything about it, but not her father. Tim scolded her for being reckless. Rhianne understood him so she did not refute his words. Carmie tried to stop her husband, but Tim continued scolding her. Rhianne only listened to him quietly until Tim let out a sigh and move his hands asking her to come forward. He hugged Rhianne as he whispered to her how worried he was when he learned that she got involved in a fight. Since then, Rhianne promised herself not to make them worry about her. But it seems like she needs to listen to her father's scolding later at his office again. To her frustrations, Rhianne tussled her hair before she let out a huff. "Do you have a problem?" Keith asked as he carefully lifted his hand and tried to fix Rhianne's hair using his fingers. "I'm doomed." Rhianne muttered under her breath. "I forgot that we have a long test today. And it's math!" "Hmm." He guessed it right. "And it's all of your brother's fault!" Rhianne suddenly turned her head and glared at Keith. Instead of being scared, Keith was thinking of something different. 'She looks like an angry squirrel.' "Why are you smiling like that?" "Hmm... Nothing." Keith said. "You are right. You should really blame my brother." "Hmph!" Their homeroom adviser returned and distributed the test papers to his students. He also reminded them to finish the test within one hour. Rhianne does not have any time to think about Keith's transformation as of this moment. Rhianne has to pass her math exam first before she interrogates her Mr. Protagonist. 'It's okay, Rhianne. You are smart. You can pass this test. Your dad will be so proud of you later.' Rhianne tried to tell herself. But when she saw the first question on the test paper, Rhianne already knows the final result of her exam today. Mathematics is really the bane of her existence even in the past. She only managed to get good grades in Mathematics before because their teacher pitied her and taught her until she can manage to get a hang of it. But still, Rhianne tried to answer her test paper. Some questions are easy to answer, but most of them are particularly hard for her. Especially when the formula has a lot of different symbols and alphabets on it. After forty-five minutes, Rhianne still has ten unanswered questions on her test paper. These are the equations taught yesterday by their teacher and she did not study how to solve them last night. In the end, Rhianne surrendered and did not bother to answer it. 'I will just let my dad scold me later. If he asked me the reason why I did not study last night, I will put all the blame on that childish doctor.' Rhianne plopped down her head on her desk and closed her eyes. They still have fifteen minutes to finish their exam and Rhianne already raised her white flag to surrender. While waiting for the time of submission, Rhianne heard a soft rustling sound of papers near her. She did not pay any attention to it and kept her eyes closed. But after a few minutes, she heard another rustling sound of papers. When she opened her eyes, their teacher announced to their class to pass their papers forward. Her classmates groaned and tried to ask for a few more minutes to answer their test papers, but their teacher firmly refused. In the end, they pass their test papers and their teacher collected them. After that, their teacher gave his remaining lesson time to them while he's checking their test papers in the faculty room. As Rhianne tried to construct the words she will tell her father later, Keith approached her again with a smile. 'Ah, right. I should interrogate Mr. Protagonist.' "Come with me for a second." "Where are we going?" "Cafeteria. I want to buy a strawberry milkshake." "Hmm. Okay." The two of them quietly left their classroom. But instead of going to the cafeteria, Rhianne pulled Keith to a vacant room where the old chairs and desks were stored. "What are you doing?" Rhianne asked. "Huh?" "I mean, why are you not wearing your contact lens? What happened to your bangs? Who cut your hair?" questioned Rhianne. "Well... Does it look bad to me?" Keith asked in a low voice. "No. No, that is not what I mean." Rhianne quickly said. "I mean, I thought you are uncomfortable when you are not wearing your contact lens. Are you okay? Do you feel any pressure or anything?" "..." "Keith?" "Well... At first." Keith admitted. "I guess it was their first time seeing a person with heterochromia eyes." "Then how about now?" "It is okay now. I am starting to get used to it." "Tell me the truth. Why did you suddenly change?" questioned Rhianne. "Well... You once told me not to hide my eyes anymore." "Because of me?" Keith nodded his head to answer Rhianne. "Look. I am not against your changes. Like what I have said before, you do not have to hide your eyes from everyone. It would be a shame to hide those beautiful eyes of yours—" "You really think that my eyes are beautiful?" Keith interjected. "Of course!" Rhianne quickly answered. "But that is not the point now. My point is, are you really okay with it? Are you not forcing yourself to do it? I do not want you to do this that will make you uncomfortable. Your feelings are more important than my opinions." "Your opinions are also important to me." Keith murmured to himself. "What did you say?" Rhianne asked. She did not hear what did he said clearly. "Nothing. I said I am now comfortable to show my eyes to anyone." "You are being honest, right?" "Yes." "Promise?" "Promise." reassured Keith. "Oh. Then that is good." Rhianne said before letting out a sigh of relief. It is a good thing that Mr. Protagonist was not really forcing himself to do the things he avoided before. It is also good news that he was now building his self-confidence. It would be a shame if the male lead will become timid and shy despite his picturesque appearance. Rhianne was extremely sure that Keith will become a reliable and handsome male lead after a few more years. "I get it. That would be all. Let's go." Before Rhianne can leave the vacant room, Keith grabbed her hand and hold it tightly. Rhianne looked at Keith with a questioning look. Keith was frowning as if he was having a hard time speaking what is on his mind. "Do you want to say something?" Rhianne asked. "I am sorry." Keith muttered softly. "Ah?" "I apologize for involving you with my problem. Because of me, you got hurt. I am also saying sorry for the things I've said in the clinic before. I know that it is not a good excuse but I am just being too sensitive at that time. It was my fault that you cried. I know that you are mad at me because of it. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." Keith said without any pause. Rhianne did not say anything after that. Rhianne was wondering if she became too hard with him during those days that she deliberately ignored him. This male lead is still young. His feelings are still sensitive and Rhianne was thinking if she made a huge mistake for treating him like that. Rhianne only wanted Keith to be confident with himself. It was never her intention to blame or hurt his feelings. When he did not receive any answers from Rhianne, Keith secretly became anxious. Calvin said that as long as he properly talked with Rhianne, she will quickly forgive him. Keith will not know what to do if Rhianne still refuses to accept his apology. "Let's be friends again. Okay?" Keith said as he softly tugged Rhianne's arm as he tried to persuade her. "No." "...Huh?" Seeing how quickly his expression fall, Rhianne let out a soft laugh. Her Mr. Protagonist still showed his feelings through his expression. "I mean, we are still friends. Why do you have to ask to become friends with me again?" Rhianne explained. "And I should be the one who needs to apologize to you. I said a lot of harsh words to you at that time. I even slap you, right? I am just too frustrated with you because you are belittling yourself too much. I do not like it when you do it to yourself. You should be confident with yourself. If you still did not know, you are genuinely amazing in every way!" "...You really think so?" "Yes! I am absolutely sure about it!" "So I am still your Mr. Protagonist?" "Of course! No one can replace you to be my Mr. Protagonist." Rhianne declared. 'This world is made for you and the female lead, you know.' Keith feels like a huge rock was removed from his chest. He was so relieved to hear that Rhianne does not hate him. She even confirmed that he is still her 'Mr. Protagonist'. Keith does not want to admit it, but every time Rhianne called him that, Keith really feels special. "Mr. Protagonist, you should be confident with yourself. Okay?" "Hmm. Okay." "So let's go?" Without trying to remove his grip on her hands, Rhianne pulled Keith indicating that he should follow her. Of course, Keith has no complaints about it. This time, he properly held her hand and obediently followed Rhianne.