CHAPTER 348: WHEN ORANGE JUICE SHOULD’VE BEEN VODKA

Not much happened during the week, except that Micah had unknowingly gained a stalker. Sally trailed after him like a ghost, peeking around corners, pretending to be busy whenever he turned his head, her hair falling forward to shield her dazed eyes. Micah, however, remained blissfully unaware. His attention was elsewhere, assignments, his friends, Darcy’s schedule, and of course lack of Clyde’s presence. Sally could have fallen right into his arms while following him, and he still wouldn’t have pieced it together.

Another noticeable change was that the dormitory rules suddenly became more lenient. The university issued a neat, formal announcement pinned to the notice boards and through the student app: students who had family in Isatis City could apply for an exemption to leave during weekdays as well.

Micah read it once, shrugged, and thought nothing of it. Rules shifting didn’t interest him much. But then, a day later, it struck him that the new policy meant Darcy could leave campus to visit his mother and sister more often, stay the night if needed, without worrying about curfew or penalty. That, at least, made Micah glad.

But what worried him was Flora, his biological mother. She was being discharged soon, and going back to that run-down apartment... Micah didn’t like it. He tapped his fork against the plate, his appetite fading. The thought of offering them a new place briefly crossed his mind. But he couldn’t just come and say, ’Please accept this house and live here from now on.’ Could he? No.

It would seem too suspicious, even unreasonable. Almost like some strange scam. He sighed, shoulders dropping.

Darcy, seated beside him at the crowded restaurant, paused mid-spoon. "What is it this time?" His tone was filled with a subtle weary fondness.

"You know, you are starting to sound just like my family. Always expecting the worst!" Micah grumbled.

Darcy smiled. "Well, I can’t say they are wrong though."

"Hey!" Micah smacked Darcy’s arm lightly. "What did I do?"

Darcy placed the spoonful of rice into his mouth calmly. "Are you really asking me that?"

"Tsk," Micah clicked his tongue. "You spend too much time with me. It’s time to make a new friend."

Across the table, Nick burst into laughter, nearly choking on his soup. He slapped the table with his palm, eyes watering. "Like hell anyone wants to be your friend."

Micah glared at him. "Eat your meal. Didn’t you beg me to bring you here?"

"Beg you? Ha!" Nick snapped. "This is your payment for ditching us."

"This is the third time," Micah shot back. "You are just milking me."

"So what? I bet that night was far more lavish than the meals you treat us to." Nick argued, leaning forward like he had Micah on the ropes.

"Fine. Fine. Just enjoy your meal," Micah said, waving a hand. "You’ve chewed my ears off these past few days. Birthday this, birthday that. Ahhh..."

"But I say," Emile cut in smoothly. "I was shocked you didn’t invite Darcy to your birthday, too."

"Who said I didn’t?" Micah retorted.

"Ha? Then why didn’t I see him there?" Emile asked, voice filled with confusion.

"Do you have to rub it off on our face that you went there and we didn’t?" Eddie scowled, displeased.

"Using his family connection... tsk, tsk," Nick shook his head in disapproval. "If someone didn’t know, they would think he was invited personally!"

"Yeah. He was shunned like the rest of us."

"Hey, you two!" Emile pointed his fork at Nick and Eddie. "Knock it off."

Micah gulped down his orange juice in dismay, thinking why he couldn’t use magic. If he had supernatural powers, he could have secretly turned this glass of juice into strong alcohol. At least he would have been floating in a happy zone the rest of the night, not listening to the banter of these noisy friends.

Nick turned toward Darcy. "Seriously, if you were invited, why didn’t you go? At least you could’ve handed the invitation to me. I missed such a good opportunity to eat scrumptious food."

"Who cares about food? Girls! Hot chicks!" Eddie wailed.

"Aren’t you his best friend?" Emile added. "You two are like adjoined twins or something, always sticking to each other like glue. I thought you would be there for him."

"What’s with you guys?" Micah snarled. "Leave him alone. Emile, you didn’t see him because he arrived late." He turned toward the other two. "He didn’t get to eat anything or flirt with any girl because I dragged him to see my grandma. Satisfied now?"

"Huh? Why would you?" Eddie blurted out. "Meeting elder? What is he? A potential in law or something?"

Darcy choked. He coughed into his hand, ears blazing red.

Micah patted his back in worry. "Hey, are you okay?"

Darcy nodded rapidly, still coughing lightly, half his face turned away to hide his embarrassment.

Micah shot a glare across the table at Eddie. What nonsense was he spouting? It was Darcy’s biological grandma! What in law? But he couldn’t scold Eddie openly. So he just resumed throwing daggers with his eyes in his way.

Emile covered his mouth, snickering. He fished out his phone and texted in the family group chat. A bold move, you could say. Ever since that Monday night when Micah spilled carelessly that Clyde liked him, Emile had taken to using the family group chat as his personal stage. He would send little updates about Micah’s activities. Dean and Jacklin usually responded with question marks, too baffled.

Well, his little uncle never told him to stop. He even liked the messages. Now, he typed quickly with a smirk.

’Uncle! Did you know Micah brought Darcy to meet his grandma?’

He waited, ready to see Clyde panic. But nothing. The chat remained silent. Dean and Jacklin had completely given up on him, not even bothering to ask why he was doing this.

Emile was shocked. Why didn’t Clyde react? Shouldn’t he have bombarded him with questions? Asking what had happened? Or call him?

On the other side of the city, Clyde set his phone down, pinching the bridge of his nose. Of course, he didn’t react. Micah had told him about it already. And Darcy was meeting his relative. There was no other meaning to it.

The past few days, his contact with Micah had been minimal, just a few texts here and there. He didn’t want to affect Micah’s studies or come across as some crazed, clingy boyfriend who couldn’t give space. He would rather wait for Micah. Wait until he reached for him first.

His eyes shifted toward the other relative in the room. Dean and Jacklin.

He knew if his nephews and nieces found out the truth, it would only cause headaches. First, Emile, with his constant, snarky texts, was stirring trouble. Now Dean and Jacklin had come demanding answers.