#ada;

“Sorry, I... I didn’t mean to stare.”

The young woman blinked and looked away, clearing her throat. But her eyes kept straying again, and at last she sighed and gave up.

“You just look lovely. And I’m not only saying it just because.”

“Tiki, hang on... what on earth are you talking about?”

Have a confused and very worried Ada blinking at Teek while she puts her sweater on and ties her shoes; it’s time to leave, the karate classes are over for today.

“Why would you call someone like that?” She hates that word, of all the swear words out there, and finds it the most offensive. “And why on earth would you steal their phone? I mean... has he done something to hurt you, and you wanna get back, or what?”

“Why don’t you train a bit, go for a jog, punch a pillow or a cushion? That might help.”

Ada knows exactly what the other is feeling like. She does not know him, she has no idea who he is, and it’s so not typical of her to jump into random conversations with strangers like this - of her, the most introverted of the gang.

The coach leaned against her hand in thought.

“If you put it that way... it’s the weirdest thing.” It wasn’t something she thought of too often. When she did, however, it occupied her mind for hours on end, if not days.

“To me, it’s not the same. At least I don’t like to think of it so.” Ada chose her words carefully. If you focused on her face, you could almost see the little gears turning in her mind, her thoughts reaching out from somewhere inside her and stretching into somewhere out into the universe. She liked to talk, though thinking often proved even more fascinating.

“Martial arts are... a means of protection. Not an attack - an action against someone’s provocation. In a way, the other person starts it all, too. They take the offensive. And you’re the defensive. You stop them from doing you harm. Though I’d say in the long run things go deeper.”

“I see. I don’t think I know her very well but she’s incredibly beautiful. So, thank you?” ( @lovebcrned )

Casimir couldn’t help but let out a snort, shaking his head once as he looked down at the drink on the table in front of him. It wasn’t alcoholic, though he wished it was. “I’ve always been the second choice,” he objected, his eyes flicking up to look at his younger sister. “But those were the good days. I was always third, or fourth. You don’t have to make me feel better by trying to sugarcoat it.” 

He tapped his fingers against the table and sighed, deeply, shaking his head yet again, as if trying to rid his mind of the intrusive thoughts that were threatening to overshadow everything else. He ran a hand over his hair and rested back against the back of his chair. “He’s using my relationship with Ainsley to his benefit. I should be happy. I get to marry the only woman I ever imagined myself with in that capacity.” He swallowed tightly. “But all I want to do is punch something. Him. For using me now when he has never deemed me useful before.”

He looked at his sister and gave her a sad, frustrated smile. “The only reason I’ve ever been his second choice was because I am male and the second born. No other reasoning other than that.” 

❖   POSITIVE.

I think you’re awesome ║ I like you ║ I want to go on a date with you ║ I love you ║You’re cute/handsome ║ I want to marry you ║ You’re attractive ║ I wish we could spend more time together! ║ I’d like to get to know you better ║  I admire you ║ You’re someone that I look up to ║ You’re very kind ║ I consider us friends ║ I secretly have a crush on you ║ I have high respect for you ║ We have common interests ║ I’m happy that I met you

❖   NEGATIVE.