Chapter 119 - There's Bromance In The Air

Adrian seemed shocked Xavier had told something so soon. 

For a moment there, he was ready to grill Xavier till he got answers. However, it now seemed like that wasn't necessary. Xavier was quite willing to talk.

"Oh? So something did happen…" 

Tracing it to last night, Adrian asked, "This must have something to do with Madeline, doesn't it?"

"It must have something to do with you being lovesick, and you…"

Adrian gasped, his mouth open so wide his jaw practically hit the floor. 

"You didn't. You didn't actually—"

"I didn't actually do what?" Xavier inquired, his brows furrowed. 

Had Adrian caught on that fast? And why did he seem so shocked about it? 

"Confess," Adrian said in a hushed voice, speaking of the word like it was some taboo.

Xavier frowned, "You think I… confessed? To what? Thinking she's a great friend?"

Adrian facepalmed. 

Alright, there went his best guess, Xavier didn't confess.

"What about you being lovesick yesterday?" Adrian asked, bringing up how strangely Xavier was acting the day prior. 

"We don't know if I was actually lovesick until there's factual evidence," Xavier reasoned, as calm and stoic as ever whilst he cleared his throat and added to his previous statement, "For all I know, I could have been feeling off, it doesn't mean I'm lovesick."

"But—"

"I did not confess or anything of the sort. I spent the night at Madeline's quarters, is all," Xavier said, acting like it was no big deal. 

Adrian seemed to get the wrong impression. 

"Y-you—"

"You don't confess, but you—"

Then, it dawned on Adrian. This was Xavier he was speaking to. 

Sighing, he asked, "What did you do?"

And as he expected, his expectations were met when Xavier answered, "Took a nap there, is all."

Adrian was halfway between bursting into laughter and pulling his hair out. Sigh, Xavier… 

Blinking and pursing his lips, he asked Xavier, "Madeline allowed it?" 

Xavier explained to Adrian what had happened down to the last detail, knowing Adrian had thought he had done something else at first. 

"Tsk, I never knew you were so perverted," he said to Adrian. 

Adrian pouted, "I am not perverted." 

"Then what did you think I meant when I said I spent the night at Madeline's, hmm?" Xavier questioned in an attempt to prove his point. 

"I-I—"

Adrian was caught red-handed, and there was no way for him to escape from this situation he had been caught in. He didn't know what to say, because Xavier was right.

In his defense, he was certain Xavier was lovesick the other day. So when he heard Xavier had spent the entire night at Madeline, and saw him in a great mood… 

"Are you not going to scold me?" 

Xavier shook his head, "I'm not letting your pervertedness ruin my mood."

Adrian gave him a dirty look, beginning to dislike this Xavier. He wasn't usually this chatty, or anything like he was when he wasn't in a good mood. 

'Will grumpy Xavier ever return?' Adrian asked, beginning to wonder if this version of his friend would stay. He reasoned, 'Hmm, what a weird way of putting it. I doubt he won't return though.'

Moving on, Adrian had a new appreciation for Madeline. She had worked wonders on Xavier. 

Without her, he wouldn't have had the chance to have breakfast with his friend, or even be talking to him so informally. It was great, Xavier was more friendly to him that day than he ever was in the past. 

He hadn't expected Madeline to do something like that. She had made sure Xavier had taken care of himself before he got to work. 

That was someone you wanted by your side. Someone who'd remind you that work was not as important as one's health. 

"Now when do I get someone like Madeline?" Adrian joked. 

Xavier narrowed his eyes, "And what do you mean by that?"

"I'll leave you to figure that out on your own," Adrian said to his friend, hiding a crooked smile from his face. 

"Hmph," Xavier said, irritated by Adrian's tone. 

"I thought you said you wouldn't let me ruin your mood," Adrian chimed in. 

"You didn't," Xavier admitted. 

Chuckling, Adrian said to his friend, "I'm just glad we got to talk like this." 

Then suddenly, Adrian thought of something. Blinking innocently, Adrian asked his friend, "Can I ask you something?"

Sensing the change in Adrian's tone, Xavier answered, "Proceed."

"Can I have a hug?" Adrian inquired. 

Xavier took a step back from Adrian. 

What was happening? 

"A hug? Why would you want a hug from me?" 

"It's normal for friends to hug each other, and besides, I never asked you anything excluding anything to do with work. So, please?"

Xavier knew it was futile to resist. Adrian would keep pestering him again and again and again until he got what he wanted, his friend was the type of person to do that. 

However mortifying Xavier found the idea to be, he placed his feelings aside and took a deep breath. 

"Fine, but don't touch me," Xavier said, his face serious and stern. 

"Alright," Adrian nodded enthusiastically.

And like he had asked, Xavier hugged his friend. 

"There. And don't you tell anyone, Adrian, or I swear—"

Adrian saluted him. 

"Don't worry! I won't tell a soul about it, my lips are sealed tight," he said to Xavier. 

Xavier would have laughed, had he not just hugged Adrian. 

No one would know of what happened that day. 

And also, Xavier hoped that no one knew of his doings last night. They were quick to make assumptions whenever they heard even the teensiest of gossip, so if they heard that he spent the night in Madeline's room and left at the crack of dawn… Who knew what stories they'd try to spin, as well as the rumours they'd try to create? 

As much as he hoped no one would know, someone was destined to find out. That was how Eudora worked. Hiding something from the rest of the pack was futile. 

He sighed.