Kalix stayed still for a moment, forgetting even what to think, then asked with disbelief,
“That’s not me, is it?”
If it was CC, it was usually Cecilia. If you grabbed anyone and asked what CC’s real name was, they would definitely say Cecilia.
“Then what?”
But Alexander seemed to think otherwise.
“No, why, how did that happen?”
While people might call names differently when shortening them, there was usually something conventional. Like how everyone called Alexander Alex. Like how everyone on Alexander’s maternal side called him Sasha. But why would Kalix suddenly become CC? For such a forced reason as having the same first letter?
He couldn’t understand it at all and was flustered, but Alexander himself seemed completely unbothered.
“What are you going to do during winter break?”
Ignoring Kalix’s confusion with that sudden question, Kalix answered while unable to shake off his discomfort.
“I’m planning to stay here.”
Originally, he should go to the territory. His family would naturally think so too. But Kalix had absolutely no intention of doing that. Because he had touched Cyrus during this winter break. That was something he absolutely had to avoid.
The first time he had stayed in the territory the whole time, and the second time he had stayed in the territory until partway through, then returned to the Academy a bit earlier. Then he spent the remaining time with Lionel. While also occasionally touching Marcel.
The current Kalix had decided not to go to the territory, so Marcel was a problem. But if he didn’t touch first, the other side wouldn’t approach first either. He wouldn’t meet Lionel unless he went to the temple, and Jasper had gone to the territory, so staying at the Academy was actually safest.
Alexander didn’t ask why he wasn’t returning to the territory, seeming to roughly guess what Kalix was uncomfortable about.
“Do you have anywhere you’ve been invited?”
At that question instead, Kalix simply answered,
“No.”
Actually, he had received invitations to several places, but he had declined them all. He couldn’t know what might happen if he went after receiving such invitations. It was better to avoid all possibilities of unknown dangerous things happening.
“Come to our villa.”
At that voice, Kalix looked at Alexander searchingly.
“It’s not the territory but in the south, my mother’s villa. I spend winter break with my mother.”
Alexander’s expression and tone were no different from usual. But he couldn’t be reassured. When the place and situation changed, any number of unexpected things could happen.
“With you?”
Even if Alexander’s mother was there, going to the villa with just the two of them was dangerous. But why was he proposing that to Kalix? Kalix looked at Alexander without letting go of his thread of suspicion. Alexander answered without hesitation.
“Sky’s going too.”
This time as well, it seemed like nothing special. While the quick realization was reassuring, now puzzlement took its place instead.
“Then why me?”
He had occasionally encountered Skylar within the Academy, so Skylar wasn’t particularly awkward anymore. But getting between a couple was a different matter.
“Then you’ll stay here? That’ll be boring.”
Getting between a couple would obviously be no fun either. Of course, from Kalix’s standpoint, it would be better to leave the Academy. He could completely escape from the danger with Marcel that might, really might happen. Moreover, since Alexander had invited Skylar too, there was no way anything would happen with Kalix.
But that’s exactly why he couldn’t intrude. Kalix also knew that Alexander was helping him a lot. But he couldn’t interfere with a couple’s opportunity to spend time together. If he was really worried about Marcel, staying at a hotel near the Academy would be fine too.
“I’m okay, so you two have fun.”
“CC, our mother would notice everything anyway, but there’s a difference between just bringing a girlfriend versus bringing another friend along to show propriety, even if it’s an obvious method.”
While reflexively frowning at that mysterious nickname, listening to the words that followed, Alexander laughed briefly.
“You’ll help, right?”
It was a voice that took it completely for granted.
“All the other kids said they’re going to their own homes.”
And hearing the words that followed, there was no way Kalix, who had already received Alexander’s help, could refuse. Kalix eventually nodded.
* * *
After somehow finishing the assignments and exams he was experiencing for the first time, he felt more at ease. Of course, finishing the schedule was one factor, but leaving a place that brought too many complicated thoughts seemed to be another factor.
“You lied to me.”
So going to Alexander’s villa wasn’t a bad thing for Kalix, but there was a reason for the subtle feeling he was getting now. Alexander had said he had already asked other friends, but they had all given him stories about not being able to go together.
But from what he learned while talking with Dylan, Alexander hadn’t even asked Dylan if he wanted to go to the villa. It seemed to be the same with other friends.
“Why did you specifically ask me to go with you?”
Of course, he had already heard the reason for bringing a friend in addition to a girlfriend. But there was no reason it had to be Kalix specifically. When he asked Alexander, whom he encountered in the hallway saying he had just turned in an assignment, Alexander briefly looked at Kalix, then looked forward again and moved his steps.
“You have people at the Academy who make you uncomfortable.”
Since they were both heading to the dormitory anyway, as they walked side by side, Alexander continued to ask while just looking straight ahead.
“There’s someone else besides Jay, right?”
It was correct, but he hadn’t expected Alexander to be thinking such things. Actually, since Kalix had already said he had touched many people in various places, Alexander might have naturally thought there would be several at the Academy too.
“Why do you help me?”
That question that came out again felt like it had been quite a while since he’d asked it. But it was always on his mind. Anyone could help briefly. But Alexander looked after Kalix more continuously and more attentively than that. Even though at first Kalix had only pushed him away openly, even if things had softened a bit now.
Only then did Alexander’s gaze reach Kalix again.
“You need help, and I can help you.”
Perhaps because Alexander had also been busy with exams and assignments until recently, his voice seemed to drop even lower than usual. Because of that, his somewhat indifferent atmosphere had deepened.
“What else is needed to help someone?”
Kalix already knew that he was being overly reassured by Alexander, but looking at Alexander, he couldn’t help it. Alexander didn’t show excessive interest in him, and even if Alexander cared about Kalix, that too was meaningless.
“If there’s someone who needs help and I can help them, naturally I should help.”
Not because the target was Kalix, but because to Alexander, that was natural.
“That’s obvious.”
Kalix quietly looked at Alexander. Alexander seemed to feel that gaze and glanced at Kalix, then when their eyes met, he smiled briefly. It seemed like he would always be like this, and that was comfortable.
* * *
Actually, as the break approached, he had continuously received letters. Letters from his parents asking how he could not come home, along with Cyrus’s letters constantly trying to persuade him. While it was uncomfortable to ignore them, avoiding was the best option, so there was nothing he could do.
Kalix came to the villa following Alexander despite such discomfort. Honestly, the whole way there he kept thinking this wasn’t quite right. Of course, he had come because it was necessary, but there was no way Alexander’s mother wouldn’t see through such obvious deception.
Moreover, having a friend around didn’t prevent lovers from doing anything. Especially since Kalix already knew that Alexander had deliberately brought Kalix among his friends, he felt even more doubtful. But eventually, upon arriving at the villa, Kalix resolved to just stay as far away from the two as possible so as not to be a bother.
“Sasha.”
As they arrived at the villa, he could see a woman who must have come out to greet them, approaching Alexander directly.
“Mother.”
She looked quite young, so he didn’t immediately think she would be Alexander’s mother, but hearing that address, she seemed to resemble him somewhat. Alexander naturally embraced his mother who had approached him. Alexander’s mother wasn’t short either, but perhaps because of her delicate build, when Alexander hugged her, her entire body fit within his embrace.
“Kalix Blackwood, Skylar Colby. These are the friends I mentioned.”
After a brief greeting, when Alexander introduced Kalix and Skylar to his mother, Alexander’s mother turned her gaze from Alexander. Her blonde hair had caught the eye from the beginning, but meeting her gaze, her green eyes, the same as Alexander’s, were quite impressive.
But side by side, Alexander’s were slightly deeper like verdant foliage, while his mother’s were clear like glass. Seeing mother and son familiarly linking arms, they definitely seemed to get along well.
“Since this is the first time Sasha has brought friends, I’ve been continuously curious, and seeing you like this makes me happy. I hope you’ll be comfortable during your stay.”
With her softly curling golden hair, transparent eyes, and calm atmosphere all combined, the villa behind her felt exactly like a doll house. When Kalix and Skylar both responded side by side, thanking her for the invitation, Alexander’s mother moved her steps while guiding them inside.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
