Chapter 110 - Straightening Their Agreement (2)

Gone are the days where he's wallowing alone in his room after failing his exam. The days where he felt too useless to continue striving since he knew that the path in front of him was a dead end.

The IDLE Database delivered its promise as it successfully changed his average worthless life into something else. That's why his previous confidence in himself also gradually returned.

Aldrin was never dense. He's just someone who lost confidence in himself.

Although there were a lot of things lined up in front of him; his plan to fight Carlos and whatever's waiting for them in this Dimension, he somehow considered this to be the best time to deal with what's going on with this fake relationship he has with Irina, before he also got carried away and think differently.

Irina flinched slightly from what he did but then she only stared at his hand for a moment. Silently, she allowed his hand to rest on her slender waist as a slight smile peeked from her lips. "I see. So that's it. You got bound with that payment. You won't act beyond what we agreed upon. Will you believe me if I tell you that I'm not acting with how I want to get closer to you?"

"Like you said, it's painfully obvious by now, Irina. I'm not blind. Do you seriously like me? I'm just your ordinary guy and we've only known each other for less than two weeks. I don't see any reason why…"

"If you still see yourself as someone ordinary then you're right for calling yourself foolish, Aldrin. But let's see. I probably like you in a certain sense that you're our dependable leader. Also, I know I can trust my back on you. I said that I didn't want to enter a relationship yet. However, if it's with you, I'm not seeing it as a bad idea. After this Training Camp, we can work together. Even if we're from different organizations, we can travel to different cities or visit places like this Dimension. We're going to progress step by step as an Energy Refiner and maybe create our own lineage." While listing all those, Irina's slight smile turned to a sheepish one as she leaned her head on Aldrin's shoulder. At the moment, with Aldrin's arm on her waist, they definitely looked like a real couple.

And upon hearing all of that, Aldrin somehow imagined that life. However, if he considered the mysterious program that seemed to be pulling or guiding him to an unexplored abyss, that life might become short-lived.

"Dependable… I'm the oldest among you. Although it might come off as rude, I am actually treating all of you as my juniors."

He intentionally didn't comment on the latter half of what Irina said.

And noticing that, Irina's smile turned bitter. She recovered seconds later and snorted at his words. "Do you think that's not apparent? You're acting like an old man with a lot of wisdom. You kept on giving advice to everyone. Even to Clark. Anyway, I get it now. The reason why you brought me here. Are you uncomfortable with how I acted?"

With everything laid bare, she decided to go all out and also straighten up their current situation. She's clearly aware that Aldrin wasn't that keen on acting as her boyfriend at first. She suddenly came up to him with that offer after all. But now that he showed that he could make a move if he wanted to, despite him ignoring that fantasy she uttered, her hope was ignited.

Aldrin's next words blew that off though.

"Not really. I told you, I liked it. But, Irina, isn't it better if we both know where we stand?"

"You're right. Then… since it's in our agreement. I want you to be my fake boyfriend until the end of the camp."

"Noted."

"And I like you, Aldrin. I'm going to confess to you again after this agreement of ours expires." She reached for Aldrin's cheek and endearingly caressed it. She's going all out in trying to appeal to him. And seeing that he's at least reacting to it, the fire of hopes burned once more.

On the other hand, Aldrin shook his head inwardly, 'Doesn't this count as a confession, already? It's not like I will forget her words easily.'

While putting on a difficult expression, he placed his hand over Irina's hand on his cheek, "Really, you're putting me in a bind, Irina."

Irina giggled at his words. "Blame that on yourself. Duh! You can choose not to answer anyway. Like I told you, I also want to see how high you can reach. I might be prideful or selfish but I'm not petty enough to drag someone down. I consider myself your friend. Closest friend, in this case."

And that's her true feelings. Their only interaction was only at the camp where they eat and train together. That's why she's clearly aware that Aldrin might not feel the same way. She saw him as the busybody who's always staring at his phone with a serious expression. She's aware that his whole person was somehow wrapped in a thick veil of mystery. Especially his exceedingly quick progress that already left her behind.

Aldrin, on the other hand, was slightly conflicted. There's Renissa, after all. And most of his time was actually relegated to the IDLE Database. He did bring Irina to clear up things between them so he expected an outcome close to this.

"Mhm. Thank you for being honest with me, Irina. I'm also your friend, of course."

"No. You're my boyfriend. Also, you mister have been holding me this close. Won't you kiss me already?"

"Now, you're teasing me. Don't mind if I do, then." Aldrin smirked, grabbed her chin between his fingers and raised Irina's head. 

Upon seeing how Aldrin gradually lowered his lips to hers, Irina swiftly closed her eyes and twisted her head to the side. "Wait, I'm joking!"

An hour later, with the red-faced Irina in tow, Aldrin regrouped with Frederic and the others before joining the others from the same camp.

On their way back to the hangar where they left their Metadomes for inspection, their group intersected with the ones from the Inkdragon City and the Paleheart City.

The green-haired girl from Paleheart once again looked at Aldrin, her eyes burning with challenge. And although he hadn't met the 'genius' from Inkheart, he easily spotted him because of his unique demeanor. Or arrogance for that matter. He's a long-haired guy with sword-like eyebrows. His chin was angled upwards and his arms crossed haughtily.

'Will he still be able to raise his head like that after seeing what's awaiting us here?' Aldrin mused.