After finishing our delivery duty, we get back into our separate rooms. My room is on the east part of the orphanage, near the headmaster's room. It is already quite late and I'm tired. Rowan and I have walked more than 10 km carrying quite heavy luggage from the market to the orphanage. From that job, we get 3 points to add to our birthmark. When I enter my room, I see Benedict welcome me back. I put my luggage on the table and lay down on the bed. That cheerful guy is my roommate, he is a bit chubby and older than me about 3 years. He always acts friendly to everyone and is somewhat popular because he can solve several problems only with his brain.

"Ilios, what do you think about this?" Said Benedict while showing a pair of brown leather gloves that looks expensive.

"... rr.. All right? Why?"

"Do you think Timothy will like it? I saw him still using worn-out gloves that he bought 3 years ago." Asked Benedict.

"It looks like someone is in love. What are you worrying about? I doubt He will reject any gift from you."

"Do you think so?"

"Do you know that even you might be the smartest guy in this orphanage, but you become a fool about this thing. It's a public secret that Timothy has tried to get close to you for months." Assure me.

"Really?"

"He even asked the staff to change his schedule to align with yours. Have you suspected why you always run into him lately? Well, now you know that your feelings are mutual. Why don't you ask him out officially?"

"Mm... I bet ... I might?"

"Ah... youth, how jealous I am."

"What do you mean? You also have Rowan, don't you?" Tease Benedict.

"Rowan? .... No! He is just my best friend, someone who is like an older brother to me."

"Are you sure? Because almost everyone in this orphanage thinks that both of you are dating and hiding it from us."

"What! Don't be silly, are you sure everyone thinks like that?" Worry me. This even got me back on my feet.

" You realize that Rowan is indeed a charming guy, right? He never accepts any proposal from a bunch of guys, in the other side, I know that you also never accept anyone's proposal. Moreover, I never see you get close to someone else than Rowan. So, I think people begin to wonder if both of you are in a secret relationship."

" That's because I never like anyone. More importantly, We are just best buddies. Do you think Rowan might have heard this silly rumor about us?"

"Couldn't tell. The probability is high, but since you also just heard it now, he probably hasn't heard it too."

"Yeah, I hope so. It will be weird for me to suddenly bring this rumor up. I will act like I haven't heard any of it toward Rowan. But I will make sure everyone else won't continue to misunderstand us."

"Well, if that's your decision." Said Benedict.

Ilios is 16 years old and although he is a healthy young boy, he doesn't have any boyfriend for his entire life. It isn’t because he can’t get a boyfriend. To be frank, He is pretty handsome and quite popular. He just doesn’t feel the urge to be in a relationship with someone, and he never feels butterflies in the stomach. When he was 15, he admired a boy from next door. But, it’s more like adoration and it’s faded away over time. Boys at his age have already experienced so many lovey-dovey things, and this thought troubles him. Ilios wonder why he is the only one who can’t feel any interest in any boys around him. Maybe because he is too picky? Well, He hope someday he could find someone that he can be fallen in love with, just like everybody else.