CHAPTER 215: NOT WORTH CELEBRATING

"Why did you slap yourself—"

"It’s okay." Zaque laughed nervously and pulled his hand away from his face, a noticeable pink handprint on his pale cheek.

"It’s okay? Your cheek is red! How is that okay?!" Coco exclaimed, her eyebrows furrowed in worry as she stared at the handprint on his skin, making Zaque feel guilty for making her worry.

"He said he’s fine." Quizen grumbled, straightening his posture as he let go of Coco’s body.

There was a hint of annoyance in Quizen’s voice and he made it clear by how he shot a glare at Zaque’s way, his blue eyes narrowing.

Zaque raised an eyebrow, immediately noticing the displeasure on Quizen’s face.

"What’s wrong with you?" Zaque asked, leaning on the table and putting his other hand on his hip, returning the intensity of Quizen’s glare.

"He wasn’t feeling well." Coco answered and got between the two mediators, sensing that an argument may break out between them if she doesn’t interfere now, "He was supposed to be the one who will pick the three of you up from the house, but he felt sick earlier."

Zaque looked away from Quizen and turned to Coco, the glare on his face melting away to a gentle smile.

"Really?" Zaque hummed out and took a seat by her side, "Did you take care of him? Even though you’re probably tired from work?"

Coco nodded her head and smiled. "I don’t know if I helped him and I also don’t know what to do to help him, but he wanted me to stay so I stayed with him. Isn’t that right, Quizen?"

Coco whipped her head to the other side, facing the fourth husband.

Quizen scoffed and rolled his eyes. "She stayed alright, but now, I’m regretting staying here because the three of them are all dressed up while I’m in my work clothes."

As he finished talking, Alhai and Heiren reached the table, their ears catching the annoyance in Quizen’s voice.

"Your work clothes are good." Coco said, her eyes scanning the blue haired mediator’s appearance, "It actually makes you extra beautiful and the fact that you were working before this makes you more attractive."

Coco is not afraid or shy about giving people compliments, especially when they really do look attractive.

So, telling Quizen that he was attractive was just like any other day for her— merely stating the truth about his appearance and how she thinks about his clothes.

However, the mediator, on the other hand, was taken off guard when the woman called him attractive.

His eyebrows raised in surprise, a hint of a surprise playing on his face as he stared at Coco, his eyes going wide slightly— not expecting her to tell him anything regarding his looks.

He felt a rush of embarrassment, his face heating up and getting coated with a color.

He wasn’t used to being bluntly complimented on his appearance because he was rather rowdy as a musician in his workplace so his usual confidence was slightly shaken.

He cleared his throat and looked away as he rubbed his neck awkwardly, the heat in his cheeks growing hotter as he tried to come up with a response.

He wasn’t sure how to handle this situation, the words of praise making him feel both flattered and vulnerable.

Thankfully, Coco’s attention got taken away from him when Alhai spoke up— his heart racing at the of possible scenarios where Coco would compliment him like it was the most simplest thing to do in the world.

"What could possibly be important for you to have us go out of the house and meet you in this kind of place?" Alhai asked, his teal colored eyes narrowed into a glare.

"Nothing." Coco answered truthfully, raising a hand to scratch her cheek as she let out an awkward laugh, "I managed to pay off my debt today, then all of a sudden, Joachim wanted to celebrate it."

Almost immediately, the three mediators before her went silent, each one of them having different expression on their faces.

However, the red haired mediator by her side looked the most pleased with the information.

Zaque’s eyes widened, a mixture of joy and relief washing over his face as his wife told him that she was free from her debts.

His entire demeanor brightened, his shoulders straightening and any hint of tension melting away.

He felt a weight lifted off his shoulders, the knowledge that she was no longer burdened by the debts a huge relief, the thought of her earning more money for herself and not for paying the debts making a part of him happy.

He let out a sigh, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he leaned forward. "That’s an occasion worth celebrating, Coco."

"No, it’s not." Coco was quick to disagree with what he said and frowned, "I was merely doing my responsibility. It’s not something worth celebrating so don’t say that. This is something that shouldn’t have happened in the first place."

Coco’s tone was firm, making it clear for Zaque and the others that she wasn’t joking.

"We’re only celebrating tonight because Joachim and I are finally friends. Nothing more." Coco huffed out, crossing her arms under her chest.

It was silent for a good moment after that, the three mediators staring at Coco like she had grown a third head.

"The food will take a while to cook." Quizen spoke up and broke the silence, "Zaque, please come with me. I don’t want to go back home alone, but I also don’t want to stay in these clothes while the three of you wear the clothes she bought."

He sounds like he’s jealous.. But that’s not possible, right? Coco’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion before she quickly pushed the thoughts on the back of her mind.

It’s impossible to love someone who you hate after all.

"Fine." Zaque grumbled and stood up from his seat as Quizen did the same.

"We won’t be long." Quizen assured Coco.