Chapter 104 - 104: Lunch With His Blockmates

(Third POV)

Since there was no traffic, Anthony and Michelle arrived at the parking area of Choi palace restaurant in just 10 minutes. Once parked, Michelle turned to look at Anthony only to see that his hair was a bit messed up. Opening her bag, she brought our her comb.

"Ah… Anthony… your hair…" she began shyly. She wanted to brush his hair for him but felt that suddenly doing so without asking for his permission would be rude. 

Anthony who just successfully parked his car turned to look at Michelle. Seeing her blush made him smile. "Is it messy?" he asked. Then, he looked at the rear-view mirror and tried to fix his hair using his fingers.

When Anthony looked at her, Michelle felt like her heart was hit by an arrow. His slightly messy hair and his reddish lips were all her work and ah. He looked extra hot and sexy. Anyway, she observed him as he tried to fix his hair to no avail. Seeing the comb on her hand and wanting to act sweet and girlfriend like, she gathered her courage and said, "H-here, let me help you…" 

Anthony faced Michelle, he smiled gratefully, "Okay." He simply accepted. Then, he leaned forward towards Michelle.

Michelle wanted to bite her lip in pure bliss. With trembling hands, she held his chin as she brushed his hair. Don't know if Anthony noticed but her heart was pumping a mile a second! She still can't believe this was happening. Would it be alright if she were to kiss him again? 

Anthony was a bit astonished when she held his chin, but then, he liked how it felt so he did not protest. As she gently brushed his hair, he observed her face which was filled with concentration. Her pink luscious lips were calling him to just kiss her. 

Michelle finished fixing his hair and when she was about to tell him, their eyes met and… Anthony's phone rang.

The spell was broken. Anthony pulled back and answered his cellphone. "Hello?"

"Hi Anthony. Where are you?" Loraine said. 

"We just arrived. We'll come in shortly. Thanks." 

"Ok, see you."

Then they both hanged up.

Anthony looked at Michelle, "Let's go?"

Michelle nodded and smiled.

--

Inside the restaurant, Anthony's blockmates were all curious about the girl Anthony would be bringing. Given his handsomeness and wealth, most of the girls in his block secretly harbors a crush on him. 

The prettiest girl in their block was Loraine and the boys mostly had a crush on her. However, in one of their lunch-out without Anthony joining them, she admitted to everyone that she likes him. With that revealed, some were supportive, but some were also jealous. In any case, everyone wanted to get along so they were all supportive at the surface and said that they will help her. 

So, whenever there's an opportunity, they will leave the seat next to her vacant because they all knew she's reserving that seat for him and, also to tease them. Anyway, most thought that since she's their block's flower, she's the only one deserving of their prince's affection. It helped that Anthony was nice to her and seems receptive.

Of course, the other girls were jealous, but what can they do about it? they can only feel bitter as they must keep the harmony in their block. Anyway, now that Anthony's bringing a girl, well, they didn't know what's going on. 

"So, Loraine, who's the girl that's coming with Anthony? Do you think that she's… his girlfriend?" One of the girls asked. 

"Ah, she is Michelle Lui. She's our classmate in English. I also asked Anthony about her, and he just said that she's his friend." Loraine answered amicably. 

"Just a friend that is a girl but bringing to meet his blockmates? I say that if not his girlfriend, he must be really interested in her as he's already showing her off." A girl who was jealous of Loraine said. She was happy to see the misery of their class flower. She thinks Loraine is a white lotus anyway.

"Hmpft! I still like Loraine better for Anthony. That Michelle girl, I think she's just a stalker. Guys, didn't you see her outside our class? I think she must be pursuing Anthony and knowing how nice he is, he's just being polite and bringing her along!" the girl closest to Loraine and sitting on her right said. (recall DUFF? hahaha)

"Fiona, that's not nice to say…" Loraine said.

"Well, if I were Anthony I'll be endlessly flattered. She's hot." One of the guys answered truthfully. 

"Still weird though." Another guy who liked Loraine said.

"I think Michelle is nice. She's also my classmate in English. Though I have to agree, she's a little weird with Anthony around." Philip, who was also in their English class, said.

"Hmpft, I don't like her for Anthony then, she's a weirdo stalker." Another girl chimed in.

Their block representative shook his head, "It's not our business who Anthony sees. Besides, I think it's not nice to be prejudiced about a person we haven't even spoken with."

"Shh guys, Anthony's here with the girl!" one of the girls said.

--

Upon entering the restaurant, Anthony looked around to find where his blockmates were seated. He saw some of them waving him over. He waved back, then he turned to Michelle, considerately asking her to follow him.

Michelle smiled and said 'okay'. As she walked beside him, she observed his blockmates. They were all seating in the largest round table in the restaurant which was good for 20. There were 8 girls and 9 boys. Out of the 17, she only recognized 2 people who were also her classmates in English, Loraine and Philip. 

Once the two reached the group, Anthony's blockmates greeted him, then they curiously looked at Michelle. She was just the star of their gossip before they arrived.

"Guys, this is my friend, Michelle. Michelle, these are my blockmates." Anthony introduced.

Michelle noted that Anthony only introduced her as a friend, still, she positively thought that later that will change to girlfriend. Anyway, she smiled at everyone, "Hello. Thank you for having me today. It's nice to meet you all." She greeted trying to sound extra nice. What? she wanted to impress the people surrounding Anthony. She was positive that they would be judging her and telling Anthony about it when she's not around. 

"Hi Michelle. Nice to meet you." Some said in greeting, while some gave her a nod.

The ears of the girls, hearing Anthony introduce her as just a friend, perked up. 'Oh, so really just a friend?' They thought. Then they all sized her up. Ok, they admit that she's very pretty, even more than Loraine. 

Anthony looked around the table to spot where to sit. He saw that the seat beside Loraine and the one next to it were vacant. "Michelle, let's sit down." He said.

"Ok…" Michelle answered and followed him.

Everyone looked at them walk to the other side of the table. Then they also looked at Loraine. All were curious.

When they reached the other side, Anthony pulled the sit beside Loraine.

Loraine's heart gave a hitch… so Anthony still chose to sit beside her! She thought.

Michelle looked at Anthony. He was also looking at her. At first, she thought that he would just sit down, but then she realized that Anthony ever the gentleman must have pulled the chair for her! 

Anthony smiled, "come sit down." He told her. 

With that, his blockmates realized that Anthony did not put Loraine in his heart. He most probably liked Michelle instead. The boys became happy, with Anthony already seeing a girl, hopefully, it would be their time to shine. The girls were feeling unhappy.

Anyway, to be fair to Anthony, he did not think that his move would mean anything. He just thought that since Michelle knew Loraine since they were classmates in English, it would be better if they sat together. As to him pulling the chair for her, he's just like that as he invited her.

And so, with everyone seated, lunch arrived.

--

Choi palace was a Chinese restaurant and his blockmates ordered a set menu. Their table has a round glass at the middle that can be turned so everyone can get food. 

Every time a dish would pass Anthony, he would put food on Michelle's plate. He's so nice and sweet like that. She thought.

His blockmates, since it's the first time they ate there together in that kind of set-up also thought the same.

The girls were all dying in jealousy.

Anthony honestly did not think anything about it. He's just that way normally. He does the same for his girl cousins, friends that are girls, or the elderly women that sits beside him depending on the occassion. Thankfully, the person sitting on his other side was a guy.

Anyway, when they were all done with lunch, everyone was supposed to chip in for the final bill. However, Anthony this time, since he invited Michelle volunteered to settle it himself. 

Michelle could only think, 'is he flaunting to impress me!!!???'

His blockmates thought, 'was Anthony trying to impress Michelle?'

Anthony...

Anyway, some tried to reject politely, but of course who would not want a free meal? Besides, they all knew Anthony was loaded by the car he's driving (they dont know he's part of the exclusive 8 though). Thus, in the end everyone cheered!

--

TBC