Back then when Mint was still in EKMA, they formed a team of ten members. This includes their team leader, Juniper. Among them, the members are Bay, Coriander, Ginger, Cassia, Ringo, Kale, Fig, Anjou, and him.
Unfortunately, Anjou was the one who they got lost back then and became a big blow to them. So basically, there would have been seven men and three women. Well women even if they sometimes acted otherwise.
Mint really can't get over Anjou's death, that's why he decided to leave.
After a while of silence, Coriander probably couldn't hold back anymore, so he was the first to ask Mint right away.
"Mint. How could you ghost us? It's like we never had anything together before." She complained.
"How do I say this? I know it's not a good reason but, okay, it's not that I'm intentionally ignoring you guys and just forgetting about you. It just so happened that it was also the time when I was just starting at Aethercliff and needed adjustment. Also, I even need to fix the problems we had in my family. And my attention went to-----. Anyway, that continued until I didn't realize I wasn't responding to you anymore and we lost communication." Mint said continuously in a very guilty manner. He almost mentioned Sage.
Good thing he held himself back, otherwise they would tease him and the topic would flow there for a longer time until they got satisfied.
"Okay. We understand you. But that doesn't mean you can ghost us suddenly like that." Cassia said softly, accusing Mint 'causing Mint to look at her pleadingly.
"Cassia, I swear. I didn't mean it."
"Hmp! I'll hit you if you do it intentionally." Cassia retorted at Mint immediately.
"Hehe. So, are we okay now?" Mint asks the others hopefully.
"I swear. I won't do it again." He continued while giving them beautiful eyes, blinking rapidly at him with his big round eyes causing the girls to roll their eyes at him.
Tsk. As usual, typical Mint getting cutesy again. They're already immune to it. But when Coriander, Cassia, and Ginger looked at the men, they knew they were caught. They only laugh silently.
'You really don't stand a chance against Mint.' Then they just shook their heads.
These women are not jealous of Mint because the men adore and even spoiled him truthfully. Not like how they treated them roughly.
They, too, adored Mint, since he was the youngest among them. They'd particularly watch him grow up within those years that they trained and later on, doing missions and training the new cadets.
These guys were protective of Mint, though they looked out for the women as well. It's just that they were a bit more protective of him. Ever since Mint had confessed his gender, they'd treated him like porcelain. Like a woman too. A little sister. To them, he was the youngest—adorable, cute, and utterly lovable.
The women didn't envy Mint for getting extra attention from the men. In fact, they completely understood. They'd been just as guilty of mother-henning him back then.
"By the way, Mint. Who was that guy with you? He looked at us with that intense gaze. It seems like he's going to kill us." Ringo asked Mint.
Actually, their resentment towards Mint has already faded. They know that Mint didn't do it on purpose. Since their Major General told them what Mint's life was like after he left EKMA.
Major General Kane found out about it when his right-hand man gave him the information about the Driving School of Aethercliff.
They actually investigated Mint's character and the other personnel of Aethercliff before they gave him the gathered information.
But that's not enough for them not to throw a tantrum in front of Mint, right? That's also his payment for ghosting them suddenly. Just giving him a little scare.
"Eh? What do you mean? Maybe it's just your imagination." Mint replied to Ringo with a laugh.
"What imagination. It's true. Right, Kale? His looks were really intense." Ringo even included Kale.
Mint was a little worried actually. He knew it was Sage. He is the only one he knows who will behave like that since he will be a little bit closer to others, especially men. He's getting jealous again.
In the times he was with him, he noticed that Sage was somewhat possessive of him. He doesn't want for someone to touch, hug or even be a little intimate with him except himself, his mom and sister.
Even if it's just an acquaintance or a friend talking to him—-- though sometimes it's okay if the interaction is short and precise because he knows that I am not really a social person—- but if their conversation drags on and they get a bit too close and touchy to him. Sage starts to get jealous immediately.
Just like in the past few months, his jealousy towards Dill is really intense. He always gets jealous of him. Even Rui, who just joined Aethercliff and is one of their alumni. Also a member of their circle of friends back then until now, was included.
Because Rui too, was being so close to Mint right away after he became affiliated with Aethercliff. But what can Mint do? Those two, Dill and Rui, were really the closest to him when they were still studying in college.
Mint knows it's bad, but he felt sweet in how Sage acts towards him. He loves the possessiveness he portrays when it comes to him. He doesn't know how far this possessiveness of him goes.
Though he didn't want to think about how long because he doesn't want to think about it. He's just going to enjoy it until it lasts.
Mint doesn't want these fools to know about Sage. He'd definitely get in trouble with them if they knew and found out his relationship with him.
If they find out about it, he will definitely face a lot of sermons, complaints, and lectures from them.
"Ringo's right. Who is that guy? I even got chills on how he stares at us, silently killing us within his mind." Kale answered as he handed the Chicken Potato Salad and placed it in front of Mint, Coriander, Cassia, and Ginger so they could reach it easily.
Mint heart stays still.
They don't really want to let go with that topic.
To avoid suspicion, Mint forced himself to laugh joyfully in front of them.
"What are you guys thinking? That's not it. Among them all, they're all so kind. And even if that's true, why would he look at you guys badly? He doesn't even know you." Mint made an excuse to them.
Mint scooped some salad that Kale had brought to them.
"Mmm!! This is really delicious. Can I have some meatballs that's on your side, Fig?" Mint changed the topic, hoping to divert their attention.
They just raised their eyebrows at Mint's sudden change of topic. He looks so defensive. They smell something fishy.
It's just that they didn't want to pry since they think that it's something that is not important. Also, Mint might get even more irritated. So, they acted as if nothing happened and ignored it.
"Here. Take some. I'm glad that you like the food. I miss seeing you eat like this." Fig said softly while smiling at Mint.
Ginger chuckled at the side, "That's right. That's right. Seeing you eat like this again. My appetite boasted. I could feel like eating more than today."
"Fine. Fine. I'm gluttonous. Among all of you, I'm the one who eats the most." Mint immediately pouted at them, which made everyone at the table laugh.
"Oh, right! I heard you guys got promoted—you're officially Majors now! Even our genius captain here is a Colonel, and you, Bay, you're the Assistant Colonel! Congratulations!" Mint exclaimed excitedly, taking a sip of his lemon juice.
"Ow you. That's just titles. Nothing has changed in us actually. You would have been a Major too if you hadn't left." Juniper said, causing the other to nod continuously as if they were a chick eating grains on how fast they nod.
"Team leader. What passes is already passed. Don't be sentimental. Even if I'm not part of your team already. Our relationship is still there. That will never change." Mint answered in a sincere voice.
"Ai. Enough of that depressing topic. Mint, you try their new dish called Bangbang Cauliflower Tacos. I heard that this is just new today. " Bay said to them, interrupting their previous topic.
Mint breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing Bay interrupted them. He didn't want to get back into that kind of conversation anymore.
"Oh? The name sounds scary. But let me try." Mint said cheerfully and got one Taco.
As he bites into it, he hummed.
"Wow. It's delicious. Quick try this one." He even said while placing the taco he was holding in front of Juniper's mouth, forcing him, causing him to forcibly take a bite.
"What do you think?" Mint asks Juniper with his Cheshire smile widely.
"Hm. It's good." Nodding, Juniper said while chewing. His face is blank. Only staring at Mint with dead eyes.
Mint smiled even more and then offered the remaining Taco that he's holding to Juniper, who was still chewing.
"Ui. He's still chewing. Be good Mint. Let me take a bite of that." Ringo stopped Mint while he held Mint's hand that was holding the Taco. Guided it to his mouth and took a bite.
"Is it really delicious? Let me try." Coriander said as she approached Ringo's side and took a bite as well.
"Hmm. Yummy. You try Ginger, Cassia." Coriander offered it to Ginger and Cassia while chewing.
After that, she held Mint's hand and guided it near Cassia and Ginger so they could reach it easily.
Cassia raised an eyebrow. Before long, she still bit from the Taco. Followed by Ginger who also offered Bay, Fig, and Kale.
The taco was finished with just one bite from them each.
Mint slowly withdraws his empty hand.
Mint is so speechless at the antics of these people.
There were still many tacos on the table but the ones that he was holding were devoured by these fools.
"You guys are so good. Look. There's still so much left." Mint said to them, full of sarcasm.
"Hahaha. We want to try it. It's just a bonus that you fed us all. " said Coriander while grinning.
Mint just stared at them incuriously.
With a slight fake cough, someone interrupted their group, "Ahem. Mind if we will join you?"
Everyone looks at who is the one who said that. Surprisingly, it's Sage with a straight face who's the topic of their group a while ago.
'Why are you here?' Mint screamed innerly.
"Hmm. Sure. You can. You're our Mint's colleagues so that's fine." Bay said while his smile is so wide.
Sage's eyebrow raised for a while when he heard the word 'our'. Just how close HIS Mint is to these people? Looks like Mint has so many things that he will need to confess to him later.
"Hahaha. Glad that you agreed. Looks like Mint is so close to you. When did you meet him?" Caraway asked the group after he sat down.
While the others began ordering their own preferred dishes, there was still plenty of food left on the table. Of course, they were too shy to touch what belonged to someone else.
Mint saw that Sage didn't order any food so he took the initiative to choose food for Sage according to his preference.
He always enjoys food with a slightly spicy taste on it so he will choose some spicy food for him.
Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Cucumber Kimchi sounds nice.
Mint's previous teammates probably saw what he did. Thankfully they didn't comment on it.
After a short wait, their food was finally served. When the server asked who ordered the Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Cucumber Kimchi, Mint casually said it was for Sage.
That immediately made him the target of teasing looks from his former companions—especially Coriander—while his coworkers from Aethercliff could only stare at him in confusion.
For a moment, Mint tried to think of an excuse—anything to stop them from getting the wrong idea. But then, memories from the past surfaced. He remembered all the times he'd gone out of his way to keep people from finding out that Sage was already his boyfriend—how he'd avoided Sage whenever others were around, and how he'd stubbornly denied their relationship whenever someone noticed.
Back then, he could always see Sage's annoyance and quiet sulking afterward. It was as if Sage hated the idea of keeping their relationship a secret.
He abruptly felt guilty. Especially for his Sage. Because of that, he keeps silent. Then, he just shrugged and didn't respond to them anymore.
He just let whatever thoughts they all had come to mind. He realized after thinking for a moment that it might be just right and okay to not hide his relationship with Sage anymore. Especially to those he left behind here at EKMA.