Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

"Oh, sure! Go ahead, Roseanne-"

Oops! Before she could even finish her sentence, Roseanne was already halfway down the hall.

Mamie wondered, "Is she always in such a hurry?"

It was rare to see Roseanne move with such urgency.

She dashed out of the academic building, not stopping until she reached the tree-lined path where she finally caught up with Owen. He looked at her, slightly surprised.

Taking a deep breath and steadying herself, Roseanne looked up at him and asked, "Mr. Reynolds, do you have a problem with me?" Owen felt his heart flutter. He hadn't expected her to catch up, let alone confront him like this.

"...No." Why would he have a problem with her?

"Then why have you been avoiding me recently?"

Owen's gaze flickered, avoiding her eyes.

Clearly, he was feeling guilty.

"...I haven't been avoiding you." He coughed lightly, answering softly.

"Is there something I'm not aware of?" Roseanne pressed.

Owen's expression froze.

Images and details of indescribable dreams about her flashed through his mind. And there she was, standing right in front of him. Just a reach away, just like in his dreams, he could pull her into his arms, lower his head, and slowly kiss her... At that thought, Owen snapped back to reality, wishing he could slap some sense into himself.

What the heck are you thinking?!

As he looked into Roseanne's clear, honest eyes again, he felt even more embarrassed.

"...Professor? Professor?!"

"...Ah? Sorry, I was lost in thought."

"Are you sick?" Roseanne looked at him with concern.

"?"

"Your face..." She pointed towards his cheeks, "It's so red."

It looked like he had a fever.

Owen felt even more awkward: "It, uh, must be the heat. Got sunburned."

"Is that so?" Roseanne accepted his explanation, but...

"I don't know why you've been avoiding me recently, and maybe I misunderstood something. That doesn't matter."

Roseanne's gaze was focused, her

expression sincere, "But from now

е

on, can you promise not to do that? If there's an issue, just bring it up. I don't like guessing."

She didn't want to lose Owen as a mentor and friend over some inexplicable reason.

He hummed softly in agreement: "Okay."

Roseanne smiled, "Then, shall we go grab lunch together?"

Owen breathed a sigh of relief and nodded in agreement.

...

Mamie, who was also dining in the.

alca, glanced over at a certain

cafeteria, glanced over at a certaine her mouth agape, a few grains falling out.

sw pelongs

Scales, sitting across from her, couldn't stand it anymore: "Can you close your mouth, please?"

Mamie: "Sorry, can't seem to."

Scales: "?"

She nodded towards where

Roseanne and Owen were sitting et

together, chatting and eating incal

visibly harmonious atmosphere.

"What's so interesting?" Scales turned back to his meal after a quick glance.

Mamie: "Hey, do you think Mr. Reynolds is handsome?"

Scales spoke the truth: "Handsome."

"Is Roseanne pretty?"

"Yeah."

"So, what do you think about them together?"

Scales looked puzzled: "What do you mean?"

"Like, are they a good match?"

Scales couldn't help but smirk: "Focus on your meal, why worry about them?"

Mamie pouted. So boring!

After finishing their meal, Owen had to head to the lab, so they parted ways at the cafeteria door.

He had only taken a few steps when suddenly he turned back.

Roseanne: "?"