Do you think I'm annoying?

Lying on his bed, Poll stares at the message he has typed on his phone. He considers hitting the backspace for a second before he decides against it and taps the send button. With a sigh, he sets his phone down on his bed and covers his eyes with the back of his right hand as he ponders.

It has been days since he and Eujae had a row in a grill restaurant and they have not seen each other since then. It doesn't take a genius to understand that Eujae is determined to avoid him. Following the incident at the restaurant, the guy has not joined their friends for lunch even once. It is not like Poll wants to see him—of course not—but he'd be lying if he said it didn't bother him when their friends kept asking where Eujae was. Their group never talked about what happened between him and Eujae again and they made sure not to make him feel bad about it. Nonetheless, Poll can't help but feel guilty. Guilty for their friends not for Eujae.

He sits bolt upright in bed, screaming. He grabs the closest thing his hand can get to—a Charmander plush—and throws it across the room, hitting his Fairy Tail poster on the wall.

"And you always call me immature but who's acting like a child between us now?" he grumbles, glaring at the poor stuffed toy that has fallen on the floor.

It has taken him a full minute to calm down and get off his bed to pick up the thing that he'd thrown. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to take it out on you," he speaks softly to the stuffed toy as if it is a living being.

Hugging Charmander, he walks back to his bed, just in time to see his phone light up and vibrate. With an arm still around the plush toy, he sits on the edge of his bed and opens the new message on his phone.

From: Gaele

Nope. I never think you're annoying, Ten-Ten. Talk a lot? Yes, but you don't need to worry about it because I like listening to people. I'm more of a listener than a speaker actually, and I never think you telling me a lot of stories is annoying. If anything, I find it endearing. So can you tell me now, did something happen that made you suddenly ask the question?

A faint smile spreads over his lips as he reads the message. His online friend knows. Gaele always knows when he's upset and what to say to make him feel better. How does he do that?

Poll opens their chatbox and sees the green dot beside his friend's handle name. Gaele is currently online so he quickly types his reply.

Ten2: well I was supposed to tell you about that day but I dont know mayb because I have been feeling bad and guilty about a lot of things, been thinking maybe my friends find me annoying because of that one stupid thing i did that it made me think what if you find me annoying too because I keep on venting out to you. so I couldnt bring myself to tell you about it

Gaele: And here I was thinking you got bored of talking to me since all I received from you these past few days are good mornings and good nights. Okay, I think I already covered the fact that I like to listen more than I like to talk so it's fine if you continue venting out to me. Believe me, Ten-Ten, it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, it makes me feel better as I like being depended on. Also, did any of your friends tell you you're annoying?

Poll is just about to type about that certain guy who keeps calling him annoying and childish, but stops when he remembers that Eujae is not his friend. He scowls. Gaele was asking about his friends, not his enemy. Why did he even think about that jerk?

Ten2: no, they never told me anything like that and I think they are actually making it so I wont feel bad about what happened

Gaele: See? So stop thinking about useless things, alright? I honestly don't see a reason why people will find my cute, li'l Ten-Ten annoying.

Ten2: don't call me cute. -_- you dont even know what I look like. alright, im sorry for doubting you and im sorry for not talking to you these past few days. Just so you know there is no way i'll get bored talking to you

Gaele: Cute is subjective and it doesn't have to be about physical appearance, so there's no need for me to see how you look to know that you're cute. It can be all about one's personality. I think you're cute because you sound really cute. And apology accepted. I hope you won't underestimate my loyalty to you again, Ten-Ten. So tell me, you missed talking to me, didn't you? You did.

Rereading the whole text, Poll feels his face start to get warm. Jeez, he knows they were just joking around when Gaele said that he had a harem and when he dubbed Gaele 'Casanova' but if his online friend can make him—a guy—blush with those simple words through a text message, then what does it say about the real him? Is he a womanizer? Maybe not. Poll believes that Gaele sounds too decent to be like that. Lady-killer? That seems closer to the impression that Gaele is giving, although Poll can tell his friend's charm may work not only to ladies but also to gentlemen. And rather than Casanova, doesn't he sound more like Romeo?

Ten2: save your sweet talk for your girlfriendsssss, romeo. and i am just saying i am 173cm so you cant really call me cute and little

Gaele: Eh, why? Did I make you blush? That's girlfriends too many. I don't have one though. Also, I'm a couple of cm taller than you so you're cute li'l Ten-Ten to me.

Ten2: you and your stupid logic. -_- a boyfriend then?

Gaele: I told you it's called Gaele's logic, not stupid logic. I don't have a boyfriend either, but thank you for asking.

Unsure what else to reply, Poll pauses and stares at his phone for a minute. He is thinking about what to type when he receives another message from Gaele.

Gaele: So do you feel better now?

Poll smiles softly. How can he not feel better if he has someone like Gaele to talk to?

Ten2: yes. thank you bro

Gaele: Anytime. By the way, I have to go for now. Need to go out to buy stuff. I'll catch you later, alright?

Ten2: okay catch you later

With a smile on his face, Poll closes the app. He lays his phone on his bed and hugs his stuffed toy tightly.

He is still in a good mood when the door to his room opens. He looks up to see his twin sister giving him a strange look. Unhappy with the intrusion, the smile slips away from his face just to be replaced by a frown. "Don't you know how to knock, Tem?"

The female twin rolls her eyes. "And missed seeing you make out with your stuffed toy? No thanks. Anyway, I just came here to ask if you want to come with me and Cloud to the mall."

"And what makes you think I want to be a third wheel on your date?"

"Nope." Tem shakes her head. "I am inviting you because I thought you need to unwind."

Confused, Poll's frown deepens. "Unwind? I'm good. Why would you even think I need that?"

"I don't know, Poll. You tell me. I heard you screaming earlier and I thought I had to check on you but when I came here a few minutes after that, I found you grinning like an idiot while making out with that orange stuffed toy. I am honestly worried about you, dear brother." Despite her words, Tem makes an expression that is akin to a grimace.

"I am not making out with my stuffed toy! And he has a name!"

"I don't care about his name." Tem sighs. "So are you going with us or not?"

Poll would tell her no but he remembers he's missing a color for his painting. "Fine. I need to buy acrylic paint anyway."