Within the Beaumont Laboratory, Professor Arthur Beaumont, the father figure of the group, stood before Carlo, holding the broken pieces of his bicycle seat. His stern expression mixed with a tinge of annoyance as he accused Carlo of breaking his prized possession. The laboratory itself was a fascinating sight, filled with various scientific apparatus, colourful charts, and a chaotic yet organised mess of projects.
Arthur's voice was filled with disbelief as he asked Carlo, "Do you hate me so much that you would destroy my bicycle?"
Carlo, looking bewildered, quickly defended himself, denying any involvement in the bicycle mishap.
"Why would I destroy your bicycle?"
But Edward couldn't resist adding his own touch of mischief, chiming in with a mischievous grin, "You know, Arthur, studies have shown that it's scientifically challenging to listen to teachers sometimes. It's a biological thing, you see."
Arthur's frustration grew, and he forcefully placed the broken chair in front of Carlo, sitting down with a serious gaze fixed upon him.
"So you're that kind of guy, D'Amico?"
"No, he's lying. Don't believe him!"
Carlo, caught off guard, replied with a mix of confusion and indignation, urging Arthur not to believe Edward's accusations.
Carlo couldn't help but ask, "Why is it always my fault?" His expression showed a blend of exasperation and humour, as if he couldn't quite believe the absurdity of the situation. Meanwhile, Edward and Max continued their activities, seemingly oblivious to the brewing tension.
With sudden determination, Arthur rose from his chair and, with a theatrical flourish, revealed a cloth covering a wall in the lab. On it, in the same handwriting as Carlo's, were the words "Carlo D'Amico" scrawled under the wagon.
"It's your handwriting, so it must be you."
The evidence seemed to point to Carlo as the culprit. Carlo, ever quick-witted, retorted, "It must be a copycat! Look, the handwriting is exactly like Edward's and Max's." He pointed an accusing finger at his friends, who remained nonchalant, engrossed in their own tasks.
After passionately defending himself against Arthur's accusations, Carlo looked at the professor with pleading eyes.
"Professor Beaumont, please, you have to believe me," Carlo implored, hoping to find some trust in Arthur's gaze.
Meanwhile, Max, buried in his book, couldn't resist injecting a touch of humour into the tense situation.
"Well, if I were the esteemed teacher here," Max quipped with a mischievous grin, "I would expel Carlo without a second thought!"
Arthur, unable to resist the opportunity for a playful jab, joined in on the banter.
"Actually, Max, I must confess, I had already been considering it," Arthur chimed in with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
Carlo's heart sank as he heard Arthur's response. He couldn't help but fear that his fate was sealed.
"Wait, Professor, you can't be serious!" Carlo exclaimed, his voice filled with a mix of desperation and disbelief.
In that moment, Edward, ever the friend to bring levity to any situation, sprang up from his chair, calling out Carlo's name. With an exaggerated display of affection, he wrapped Carlo in an exaggeratedly tight embrace.
"Oh, Carlo, my dear friend," Edward declared dramatically, "even if you were expelled, we would still be best friends forever! Nothing could tear us apart!"
Carlo, caught off guard by Edward's over-the-top display, managed to push him away, shaking his head with a wry smile.
"Edward, you're being ridiculous," Carlo retorted, trying to regain his composure. "I highly doubt I'll be expelled."
Evie, always the calming presence, joined the conversation, holding a cup of coffee in her hand.
"I believe in you, Carlo," Evie said, her voice warm and reassuring. "You wouldn't intentionally harm anyone or anything."
Carlo's spirits lifted at Evie's vote of confidence. Grateful for her support, he expressed his gratitude.
"Thank you, Evie," Carlo said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Your belief in me means a lot."
However, Evie couldn't resist one final jab, her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"But Carlo," she added playfully, "I suppose you did indirectly attack Professor Arthur's bicycle."
Carlo's jaw dropped in mock horror as he realised that even Evie was joining in on the teasing. It seemed he was being accused by all of his friends, and their playful banter brought a mix of frustration and amusement.
"Come on, guys," Carlo protested, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Is this what friendship looks like?"
Max, always quick to add his two cents, couldn't help but chime in.
"Well, Carlo," Max interjected with a sly grin, "it seems like this is exactly what friendship looks like."
Carlo rolled his eyes, playfully dismissing their teasing. Their conversation came to an abrupt halt as a loud crash resonated from the other side of the laboratory. Startled, Arthur sprang to his feet, his concern evident on his face. Without hesitation, he rushed towards the source of the commotion, followed closely by the four students.
"Honeylyn!" Arthur's voice rang out, filled with concern.
As they turned the corner, they were greeted by a chaotic scene — a sea of spilled paint, with cans strewn about, and in the midst of it all, a young woman in a white outfit, her face and clothes covered in vibrant streaks of colour.
Arthur quickly approached her, extending a helping hand. "Oh my goodness! Are you alright?"
Max couldn't contain his curiosity. "Who is she? And what on earth happened here?"
"She doesn't quite look like a college student, does she?" Evie, her eyebrows furrowed, observed the young woman.
Carlo's heart skipped a beat as he recognized her from the pond earlier. Although he didn't utter a word, a rush of familiarity washed over him, making his heart flutter with intrigue.
Max turned to Carlo, a mischievous grin on his face. "Do you know her, Carlo?"
Carlo quickly shook his head, denying any connection. "No, not at all."
This was the moment when Arthur stepped forward to introduce the young woman. "Everyone, allow me to introduce Honeylyn Beaumont. You can call her Honey. She will be joining us as a first-year student in the Oil Painting department."
The mention of her surname sparked curiosity among the four students, and one by one, they began guessing her relation to Arthur.
"Beaumont?" Carlo asked, intrigued by her surname.
Max, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, playfully remarked, "Professor, is Honeylyn related to you? I mean, with the same last name and all."
Edward couldn't resist joining in. "I bet she's your long-lost cousin."
To his surprise, Arthur played along, nodding. "You've got it, Edward. Honeylyn is indeed my distant cousin."
Carlo couldn't help but wonder how Edward had guessed correctly. "Wait, Edward, how did you know that?"
Edward shrugged with a sly grin. "I have a knack for these things, my dear friends. Call it a hidden talent."
Evie chimed in, rolling her eyes. "Oh, please, Edward. We all know your 'talent' lies more in mischief-making than guessing family connections."
Edward chuckled teasingly. "Well, Evie, living solely for academic achievements won't bring you true happiness."
"Why you!"
Feeling slightly irked, Evie reached for the nearby red bucket, ready to hit him. Edward, catching on, swiftly moved behind Honeylyn, using her as a shield.
Arthur chuckled at the banter, then continued his introduction. "Honeylyn will be starting her first year in the Oil Painting department. It is her first time in this city. She has always lived in France. She's a bit shy and mostly keeps to herself, but she creates some truly fascinating artwork. Let's all make an effort to welcome her and support her artistic journey."
Despite her shyness, Arthur expressed confidence in her ability to create captivating artwork, urging everyone to extend their kindness and support. Everyone has a good impression of her.
Carlo, unable to tear his gaze away from Honeylyn, found himself lost in her presence. He couldn't explain the mysterious pull he felt, as if he had encountered her before, but his thoughts remained unspoken, locked within the confines of his mind.
Edward, unable to contain his curiosity, inspected Honeylyn closely and asked, "Do you understand English?"
Caught off guard by Edward's intense scrutiny, Honeylyn's discomfort was palpable. She nodded timidly, her eyes darting around the room.
Arthur couldn't resist a playful jab at Edward. "Well, Edward, it seems Honeylyn might just surpass you in the realm of artistry."
Max and Evie exchanged knowing glances, their excitement building. "Things are bound to get interesting with Honeylyn around."
As Edward stood there, his eyes widened in disbelief when he saw a plate that seemed like Honey had eaten a meal of the legendary All-Out Curry. Unable to contain his curiosity, he couldn't help but blurt out, "Wait, you actually ate it? What does it taste like?"
Before Honeylyn could respond, Evie swiftly kicked Edward in the hips, reprimanding him, "Stop fooling around, Edward! Can't you see she's uncomfortable with you?" The force of Evie's kick sent Edward flying backward, causing him to crash right into a stack of paint buckets.
Sitting amidst the spilled paint, Edward scrambled to get back on his feet, his face now adorned with streaks of vibrant colours. He frantically wiped at the paint with his hands, only to find that it stubbornly spread across his face, creating a comical and mismatched pattern.
Edward introduced himself with a flourish, his voice filled with pride and confidence. "Allow me to present myself in all my glory," he proclaimed, his words dripping with theatrical flair. "I am Edward Hayes, hailing from the prestigious Sculpture Department. But don't be deceived by my youthful look. I am actually a seasoned 26-year-old!" He struck a pose, his chest puffed out with pride.
Max chimed in, his voice tinged with amusement. "This is his seventh year of college at this university. A record-breaking feat, I must say."
Edward shot Max a mischievous grin. "Ah, records are meant to be broken. I shall turn the seemingly impossible into a realm of possibilities."
Evie couldn't help but burst into laughter. "You're an absolute idiot, Edward," she remarked, her eyes sparkling with mirth.
Amidst the jovial banter, Arthur leaned in closer to Honey and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry. There is no one more eccentric and peculiar than Edward in this whole university."
Evie stepped forward, extending her hand with a warm smile. "Well, enough about Edward's antics. My name is Evelyn Madison, and I am from the renowned Pottery Department. You can call me 'Evie' for short. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Honey."
Max followed suit, introducing himself with a nod and a friendly smile. "Maximillian Dawson. Max for short. I'm from the Architecture Department. Welcome to the university."
As the introductions carried on, Carlo patiently waited for his turn to speak.
"I-"
"That's all!" Arthur interjected, declaring that the introductions had reached their conclusion.
Carlo's face registered a hint of disappointment. "Wait, but I haven't been introduced yet," he protested, slightly perplexed.
Edward couldn't resist adding a touch of sarcasm. "Oh, it's perfectly fine to skip Carlo. No worries, right?"
Carlo, however, was not about to let it slide. "No, no, it's not fine to skip me," he insisted, feeling a bit perplexed by the situation.
Meanwhile, Honey's gaze shifted towards Carlo, her steps slow and deliberate as she approached him. There was a gentle grace in her movement, and as she reached him, she extended her hand, offering him a small button. She didn't say a word, but her actions spoke volumes.
Carlo's eyes widened in recognition as he observed the button. His hand instinctively reached for his collar, and a realisation washed over him. One of the buttons was missing. The button that had fallen into the pond earlier.
Silence settled over the group as they watched the interaction between Carlo and Honey, a hint of curiosity dancing in their eyes.
"Thank you."
Carlo, overwhelmed with gratitude, spoke with a voice filled with genuine appreciation. Honey responded with a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with kindness.
Max couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "What's going on, Carlo?" he inquired, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
Carlo, his eyes still fixed on Honey, simply shrugged, keeping his answer a secret. It was a moment meant for him to cherish, a little secret shared between them.
Professor Arthur, seizing the opportunity, interjected with a decision. He called out to Carlo, his voice carrying a hint of authority. "Carlo, I have decided to forgive you, but under one condition. You must clean up the mess that Honey unintentionally created in the laboratory."
Carlo's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of relief and determination flooding his expression. He nodded, accepting the condition with a newfound sense of purpose.