Chapter 11 Catching The Breeze

• “A prepaid card!”
• Chauncey laid out his conditions.
• Mitchell's eyes sparkled. After a moment of contemplation, he raised two fingers.
• “Two cards!”
• “Oh, I'll get someone else...”
• “Sigh, no, no, no. I'll go, I'll go. Just one will do. You have to keep your word!”
• “Deal!”
• “Roxanne, what are you doing here?”
• When Wendy stepped out of the classroom, she spotted Roxanne standing near the back door of Class 3, close to the front door of Class 2.
• She furrowed her brows, a thought flashing through her mind.
• “You're not waiting for Chauncey, are you?”
• This spot used to be frequently taken by someone—Chauncey.
• During the ten-minute break between classes, if he didn't need to use the bathroom or attend to anything else, he would stand there, horsing around with his classmates.
• In reality, as soon as Roxanne appeared, he would find an excuse to approach and speak with her.
• So why is Roxanne standing there now? She used to detest passing through the back door. She often complained that those boys kept stalking her, something she didn't appreciate.
• “H-How could I possibly be waiting for Chauncey?”
• She was simply curious about what was going on with Chauncey. She wondered why he had given the roses, which were originally meant for her, to their teacher instead, and why he had said those things on the podium.
• Her shoelaces were never untied.
• She was more curious as to why, after the pep rally, Chauncey acted as if he hadn't seen her and left directly.
• He didn't even offer her an explanation.
• That's right! All I want is an explanation!
• A class period had already passed, and it was about time Chauncey gave her an explanation.
• She stood there, merely to make it easier for him to do so, and wasn't really waiting for him.
• Seeing that Wendy was clearly skeptical, Roxanne's expression became somewhat flustered.
• “I was just feeling hot, so I was standing here to catch the breeze.”
• “Catch the breeze?”
• Wendy glanced at the weather outside.
• The final semester of twelfth grade had just begun. It was only February, and the temperature would occasionally drop below zero, chilling to the bone. The weather forecast even predicted snow in the coming days.
• Catching the breeze at a time like this?
• “Yeah, don't you think it's stuffy inside the class?”
• In a class of seventy to eighty people, it is indeed a little stuffy. But surely it isn't to the point where one needs to come out to catch such a cold breeze, right?
• Wendy noticed that Roxanne's ears had turned red from the cold.
• “Roxanne, you—”
• “Forget it, I'm going to the restroom!” Roxanne interrupted Wendy and swiftly left.
• If she stayed any longer, she didn't know what kind of nonsensical things she might end up saying.
• A look of confusion crossed Wendy's face. “What's going on with her?”
• Roxanne hung her head low, moving awkwardly in the direction of the restroom.
• Throughout the journey, she looked like she had lost her soul.
• What on earth is Chauncey doing? Why hasn't he shown up yet?
• As she was deep in thought, she suddenly heard Mitchell's voice.
• “Huh? Chauncey, Roxanne.”
• After losing Natalie, the two of them went to the restroom together.
• Since Mitchell happened to be in the next urinal from Chauncey, he was compelled to compare himself to the latter.
• Then, while cursing under his breath, he quickly pulled up his trousers and left the restroom, heading back to the classroom.
• Unexpectedly, he encountered Roxanne on the way.
• Roxanne looked up to see Mitchell standing together with Chauncey.
• She completely ignored Mitchell, excitedly calling out, “Chauncey.”
• Chauncey tucked away his smile. “You guys talk. I'm heading back to the classroom first.”
• Having reincarnated, he truly didn't want any further interaction with Roxanne.
• Roxanne was left stunned on her feet.
• She looked at him, her eyes brimming with disbelief.
• “Chauncey, what's wrong with you?”
• “I'm perfectly fine.”
• “But, but...”
• Roxanne seemed rather anxious.
• She wanted to say something, but with Mitchell there, she didn't know how to broach the subject.
• Upon seeing this, Mitchell volunteered tactfully, “Chauncey, should I leave first?”
• Chauncey stopped him, “No!”
• He then said to Roxanne, “Feel free to speak your mind, Mitchell is practically family.”
• Mitchell was deeply moved by the latter half of the sentence, but it was clearly not the time for sentimentality.