"Seeing you smiling like that, it looks like you had a good date with Rhianne. Right, Keith?"
"You bet."
"Oh, wow. That's a nice smile. No wonder the freshmen girls we met in the corridor cannot take their eyes off you."
Keith ignored Hansel and continued walking back to their classroom. He is in good mood today. He has been like this since his last date with Rhianne. Keith even thinks he can finish their long quiz later in just a few minutes.
Although his brother tried to ruin his date, all of the negative thoughts inside his head at that time had disappeared when Rhianne kissed him on his cheeks. That was the first time she initiated such intimacy with him. The closest she did before that kiss was holding hands which is already a common thing for them.
It was just a kiss on his cheeks, but that is enough to make Keith feel like he is floating in the clouds. He remembered his brother mentioning before that they are too pure for each other. But he ignored it. For Keith, it does not matter if their relationship is pure or childish in his eyes. As long as they are happy with each other, then everything is fine.
And besides, Keith is not rushing things. For him, every step he makes are all important. A girl like Rhianne is someone who should not be treated with aggressive movements. Keith wants to cherish every moment that he shares with Rhianne because she taught him that good memories are something that cannot be purchased anywhere.
"You are so lovestruck. Do you know that?" Hansel said while walking side by side with him.
Soon, he noticed that Keith is not wearing the watch that he usually sees on his wrist. Instead, he is wearing a new watch with string straps that has two different colors. It does not look expensive too just like the usual wristwatch that Keith is using every day.
"Did you change the brand of your wristwatch?" Hansel asked. "I never thought of you as a guy who will wear a casual wristwatch."
"Rhianne made it for me." Keith bragged. "She gave it to me as a gift on our date."
"That's cool! Let me see!"
Hansel tried to touch his arm so he can clearly see the design of his wristwatch. But Keith slapped Hansel's hand and quickly check if there is a speck of dust or dirt on its surface. Hansel gave him a glare but he ignored it as usual.
"I just want to look at it! Why are you so stingy?!"
"You can see it even without touching it."
"But it will look better in my eyes if I stare at it in close distance."
"Yeah, sure. Whatever."
"Tch. Are you and Rhianne a couple now?"
"Not yet."
"What? You are too slow, Keith!" Hansel complained.
He really feels worried about this guy. Isn't he aware that there are a lot of guys who are just waiting for the right time to approach Rhianne? If Keith is the most popular in girls, then Rhianne is his counterpart. Most of the guys in their department have a huge crush on Rhianne.
They just do not approach her lightly because of many reasons.
First, Rhianne comes from an elite family. Although most of them also come from a rich families, it is still nothing compared to the environment where Rhianne grew up. The only one who can match up with her status is Keith who also comes from an elite family.
Second, these guys feel so average when it comes to their looks. Rhianne is now called as this university's fairy because of her beauty. She won that title fair and square when a member of their student council held a survey just for fun in their school forum. That student council member gathered all the photos of the prettiest girl in every department, posted them on their forum and raised a survey.
No one knows what happened but the students took that survey seriously. After three days of voting, Rhianne Cartel won the survey. Because of it, she becomes more popular not only in her department but to the whole university. It was also revealed that most of the people who voted for Rhianne were mostly boys from different departments making her their school crush.
And lastly, the main reason why those men are avoiding her is because of his friend with the name of Keith Tristan Lancester. It is not a secret to everyone that Keith and Rhianne are close with each other. Some even made some gossip that these two are already in a relationship but they are just keeping it secret to avoid any distraction from their studies. Since the rumors are already like that, those who are dreaming of becoming their girlfriend or boyfriend have no choice but to give up.
But still, Keith should not feel overconfident with it. What if Rhianne will find someone else and steals her away from him? What if a man who is more handsome than Keith appears in front of her and she will fall in love with that man? Hansel once told his friends about these thoughts and Keith just called him silly.
If Keith will hear these words again, he is not going to hesitate to call him a fool and silly this time. It's because he is obviously overthinking too much. Aside from it, he does not know Rhianne so well.
Rhianne is never a fickle person. Keith cannot explain it but she has a weird liking to those good-looking people around her. He cannot understand her sometimes since Rhianne herself is beautiful like a doll. That girl always has this look as if she cannot believe a beautiful or handsome person can exist in this world.
Anyway, Rhianne's reactions towards those people are just a simple admiration. But when it comes to him, her admiration is quickly changing into fondness and appreciation. After all the years that Keith spend with Rhianne, he still cannot completely get used to her being like that to him. Most of the time, her gazes towards him always give a tingling feeling to his heart.
"You are really overthinking about it, Hansel." Keith said as he adjust the strap of his backpack.
"Bro! I am just concerned about you! How can you just dismiss me like that?! How can you be so confident that Rhianne will not like anyone but you, huh?!"
Keith rolled his eyes seeing him overreacting again. But having pity for this friend, Keith decided to tell him what Rhianne had said in his brother's car regarding her compliments about his good looks. After telling him that story, Hansel can't help but snicker.
"And because of it, your sesame seed confidence has turned into a huge watermelon now?"
Keith just simply shrugs his shoulder.
"Tch. You are handsome, good-looking, smart, rich, good at basketball, and have a beautiful girl who always cheers for you!"
"...Why does it sound so disgusting when you are the one complimenting me?"
"You! Just because we're friends doesn't mean you can be like this to me!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
"Tch. But what's your secret? Share it with me so I can at least have a beautiful girlfriend too!"
"Just do your best and you will also receive a reward later on." Keith advised him before patting his shoulder.
"...You know what? I decided to become your secretary in the future." Hansel declared out of nowhere.
That earned him a weird look from Keith.
"You do not want to start your own business?"
Although Hansel is talkative and a bit clumsy, he is good at analyzing the situation and has a good sense of knowledge when it comes to business planning.
"And be crushed with your company? No thanks. I think following you will benefit me a lot instead. See? I am loyal to you now. You better pay me a triple amount of a secretary's regular salary every month, okay?"
"...You are really a fool."
"What are you—Oops. Sorry."
Hansel suddenly bumped into a girl who is bringing several books in her arms. He quickly crouches down to pick up the books and give them back to the girl. Hansel smiled at her and apologizes for bumping into her. The girl also apologizes for her clumsiness before her gaze slowly falls on Keith who is waiting for Hansel.
Keith only gives the girl a glance before calling for Hansel to hurry up.
"I have to go now, miss. Sorry for bumping into you again."
Soon, Hansel followed Keith as told him he is being impatient.
"How can you be so impatient? Didn't you see that girl is pretty? I was about to get her number but you keep on rushing me!"
"It is not my fault you are too slow. And I thought you are trying to woo one of Rhianne's juniors in her department? What's her name again? Charlotte?"
"It's Charlene! Don't just make some wild guesses there."
"Oh, okay."
"Tch. What should I expect from you anyway? Your interest is only exclusive to Rhianne anyway. Well... It's not like I can blame you for that."
Keith did not try to deny his words and just smiles happily when he remember her again. Hansel really thinks Keith hit his head somewhere and becomes overly lovesick this time. He gets a feeling that he will suffer more by seeing him acting like that once Keith and Rhianne become an official couple.
While these two are still bickering in the corridor, they did not notice that the woman who bumped with Hansel is still standing there. She is staring and observing them quietly. Soon, a smile appeared on her lips before she finally move and walk in the opposite direction of the corridor.