Chapter 279.
Chapter 279. The Planetarium, Operation Hook Up: The Post Show. (2/4)
“Kid, can you let go of my hand?”
“K-Kid?” Zale awkwardly stuttered out when Angela showed little courtesy. It was obvious Angela wasn’t the slightest bit moved by his looks.
“Yeah, you’re in high school, so it’s only appropriate that I call you ‘kid.’”
Well, Angela was a celebrity after all. She was around attractive guys all the time so Zale was just another one of those guys.
Hehehe, it had all worked out so well. He’d taken blow after blow to his inflated pride. My objective was to humble him, and everything had gone so well it was almost scary. When would something go wrong? Things couldn’t possibly play out in my favor forever.
It’s probably best for me to make my exit and slip away while they’re all distracted with each other so I can avoid anything going horribly wrong for me. The worst-case would be Angela discovering me here and everyone else discovering my connection to Angela.
It’s not that I intended to hide it forever from Alicia, Rosa, and Irene. It’s just that I needed a way to test the waters. I needed them to meet naturally on their own like this. For them to become acquainted and get on good terms.
This was a side objective in inviting Angela here today. It was a seed planted for the future. I needed to know if I could trust Angela if she came to know the women I was entangled with. That she wouldn’t try to harm them. If they built up a positive relationship first, I wouldn’t need to worry as much in the future should everything come to light.
While nobody was paying attention to me, I took a step back, turned around, and exited out the back exit in the main hall on the planetarium side undetected.
Outside I removed my phone from my hoodie pocket and held it up close to my ear to listen in on their conversation inside. This was the reason I’d gone through the effort to call myself from Alicia’s phone in advance. It was in the event we successfully initiated contact with Angela. I knew I couldn’t say anything in front of her, so it’d be useless if I stayed behind, but I still wanted to know how things played out so I could plan my next course of action.
“Ugh. This is starting to get troublesome,” Angela let out a distressed complaint through the phone.
What was troublesome were the eyes that had gathered on the group right when I slipped out.
“Look, I’m really not a criminal. I’m actually just wearing a wig because...” I couldn’t hear the continuation of what Angela said.
“What!”
“That voice... no way... seriously? Your identity... is...” Agitated, Alicia hesitantly sought clarification.
Judging by Alicia’s startled reaction over the phone, it seemed Angela had quietly whispered her identity to the trio using the distinct voice she was best known for.
“Yes. So, can you guys please not go around blabbing to everyone that you saw me here?”
“But of course! We wouldn’t ever do something so discourteous!” Zale enthusiastically responded on behalf of the group.
“Ria, you promise too.”
Since Alicia wasn’t asked to promise the way Izora was, I assumed she’d vehemently nodded her head in agreement with what Zale said. By her reactions, it seemed Alicia was most likely a bit of a fan and enjoyed Angela’s music.
I’m her boyfriend though.
I wonder what sort of expression Zale would have if I said that. Well, not that I’d ever go and reveal that to an enemy.
As I listened to their conversation, I made my way around the building on the outside and entered through the entrance near the coatroom. While they chatted, with my hood up, I slipped in amidst the crowd of students as they excitedly chattered and discussed the show. Nobody paid any attention to me.
I yanked my jacket off the hanger as I passed by, retrieved my bag from the locker at the back, and changed my clothes in the restroom. I removed the red spiked collar around my neck, earrings from my ears, and pink contacts from my eyes. I stuffed the wig into my bag and returned to my usual appearance.
Once Alicia and Zale departed with their class, I’d be free to leave.
“Hey, shouldn’t you two be leaving with your class now?” Angela suddenly posed that question to Zale and Alicia. It seems she didn’t assume Ria was in high school. Well, that was natural with the way she was dressed right now when compared to the two who were in their school uniforms.
“Oh? You’re right. It looks like everyone’s almost ready to leave.” Alicia agreed.
“We still have some time.” It was clear Zale didn’t want to miss out on this chance. However, Angela had made it pretty clear from their interaction that she had little to no interest in Zale. The way she interacted with him sounded like she wanted to get rid of a pest.
“Do you mind me asking what your plans are today? Do you plan to watch another show?” Zale inquired.
“Hmm? Why?”
“Oh, I was just curious was all.” Bullshit, his plan was too easy to see through. He’d head back to school, claim he was sick to go home, then return here and try to deepen his connection with Angela.
“No, I don’t plan to stick around. I’ll be leaving now.”
“Are you planning to go shopping or something?”
“No, I was planning to get something to eat at a restaurant.”
“Oh? Really? I’d recommend this restaurant at the mall, I know someone there. If you tell him I referred you, the food’s on the house. But, I suppose you wouldn’t care for free food when you’re as well off as you.”
“Not at all. I’m actually low on funds. Every penny counts.”
Hahaha, so things were progressing on that end.
“You? Low on funds?”
“Well, recent investments.”
“I see. For an investment you made to have you low on funds, it must be something big.”
“Well, you could say that.”