"What are you doing here? Perseus Reiss."
In the hallway leading to restroom. Quiet and still. Only faint sounds of the mall's commotion could be heard. Footsteps, or people chatting over the mall's loudspeaker. Or music from a restaurant near the restroom.
"Let's talk somewhere more comfortable."
They walked out of the mall. In the emergency stairwell, there were only Perseus and Iris.
"If this is your plan again, I won't follow it. Vincent finally became my friend again, I won't let you ruin it like before."
Perseus smiled. Meanwhile, Iris glared at her angrily like a cat unwilling to see the face of its arch-nemesis. Her eyebrows were constantly furrowed, almost meeting. All her life, she had only made such a face at Perseus, who had made Vincent forget his childhood friends.
"I won't, I won't go back to how I was. I also finally became friends with Vincent again." Perseus said calmly. She didn't seem intimidated by Iris's angry gaze, which was now slightly softening.
"Then? What do you want? You wouldn't call me just to say that."
Perseus gave a small smirk.
"This is a competition, Iris. Whoever wins Vincent's heart first is the winner. I know you've loved Vincent for a long time. Among the four of us, you were always the one sticking close to him and his mother. But unfortunately, he chose to leave and forget everything."
Iris stepped forward and grabbed the collar of Perseus's dress.
"Perseus! You must remember who caused his mother's death! You must remember who made Vincent lose his childhood memories! That was your doing! You ruined our friendship of five! You slut!"
Iris raised her hand. Iris desperately wanted to slap Perseus's face, which was still smiling sweetly and calmly. Perseus even gently touched Iris's cheek.
"That was an unavoidable tragedy, Iris. I never wanted such an outcome. I didn't mean to ruin our friendship. But you know, your feelings for Vincent grew uncontrollably. Just like mine and the others'. That's why *she* had to prevent us from ruining Vincent in the past."
Iris stepped back, clenching her fists tightly and biting her jaw, unwilling to accept that fact.
"Vincent is mature enough now. Even though he's forgotten us and his past, I want us to rewrite our relationship properly this time. Like Aria did."
Perseus said with a sincere tone. Iris, still angry, could only snort and turn her face away.
"Among the four of us, the friend I hate the most is you, Perseus. You're manipulative, deceitful, a liar, and sweet-talker. You're not after Vincent because you love him, you're after Vincent because you're jealous of him."
Iris said, looking directly into Perseus's eyes. Perseus closed her eyes.
"But not anymore. I want to start over. I want to try to be human like you this time."
Then she opened her eyes. Perseus's gaze looked truly serious. Making Iris feel like she had to trust her this once.
"I won't let Vincent fall into your cunning plans again. I will protect him, from you, from all of you."
Perseus smiled.
"Let's fight fairly, Iris. But this time your enemy isn't just me. Aria, Vincent's stepfamily and aunt. One day, one of them or one of us will be the winner. Only one person will get Vincent's love."
"..."
Iris didn't answer anything. She then turned around and left the emergency stairwell as quickly as possible.
"Humans are predictable. They are so afraid of losing something precious. Whoever among us wins, Vincent will still fall."
Smiling provocatively.
***
"Ah, Iris, you were in the restroom for so long. Did something happen?" Aria was the first to ask. Vittoria beside her wanted to ask too but her mouth was full of a burger.
"Nothing. Just.." Iris glanced at Vincent who caught her gaze. "A little stomach ache..." She said in a soft voice.
"Ara. In that case, we should rest immediately. Ah, since we have a new hotel now, how about we have a party there?" Violet said softly and enthusiastically. It seemed she really wanted to party after being invited by those playboys this morning.
"Oooh! Good idea! We have enough people to have a party. Vincent and I will buy the party supplies. I want to buy preparations for an orgy party tonight muehehehe~" Vivian said with a lewd smile at Vincent. The young man shook his head repeatedly while Gregor beside him nodded enthusiastically many times.
"No. No. No. You go shopping by yourself, sis Vivi. And don't buy any more weird adult equipment." Vincent shook his head firmly, making Vivian look disappointed.
"Ara~ my daughter~ save that party idea for home~ For tonight, we'll party to give little Iris pleasant memories with us. Fufufu..."
"Ah.. no need to bother—"
"Ah! Good idea! Vittoria, Iris and I will buy drinks for the party! Gregor and Vincent will buy the food. Aunt Violet, Sis Vivian, Sis Valian, little Vani don't need to bother shopping for party preparations. Leave it to us!" Aria cut off Iris's words with full enthusiasm. Her eyes sparkled imagining the party tonight.
"Ah! Ah! Vani wants to come too!" Vani raised her hand like a child who wanted to go shopping with her parents.
"Okay! Little Vani will come with us."
Vani nodded cutely, happy. Meanwhile, her sister felt reluctant.
"Wait, who said I'm coming?" Vittoria said.
"You have to come. If you can't afford drinks for the party, then what can we do. I'm sure Vincent prefers a reliable girl—"
"Alright, I'm coming! Hmph!"
Aria chuckled seeing Vittoria's tsundere expression, not wanting to lose from her. Meanwhile, Iris remained silent like an unimportant ice statue.
"Alright then, Aria, Iris, Vittoria and Vani will buy the drinks, while Gregor and I will prepare the food. Stepmother, Sis Vivi and Sis Vali can wait at the hotel first. The hotel manager has provided the entire top floor for us. There are spacious rooms there. You just need to ask the receptionist."
All heads nodded in agreement except Gregor and Valian.
"Wait, am I coming? I mean, I'm.. just your classmate, Vincent, it feels a bit awkward to have fun with your family.." Gregor looked pessimistic, even though his stomach was already bloated like Zhu Bajie. He was like a greedy reincarnation.
"It's too late for you to feel awkward. Look at your stomach, you idiot." Vincent said, shaking his head. Meanwhile, Gregor just grinned.
"Ara~ little Gregor should come too. A party without men won't be fun~"
Finally, Gregor nodded enthusiastically in agreement. He immediately transformed into an optimistic, confident young man who never looked in the mirror. So typical Gregor.
"Ah, I want to buy something here, mom and sis Vivi can go to the hotel first." Valian raised her hand.
Vincent nodded, "Alright, we'll be back later this afternoon."
Everyone now nodded in agreement. And began to leave the large dining table. Heading to their respective tasks.
***