Grand Hall | After Morning Assembly | Celestine
Dante listened intently, his eyes never leaving Celestine as she spoke. Her words were honest and raw, and they resonated with him in a way he hadn’t expected. He could see the vulnerability beneath her composed exterior, and it made him want to connect with her even more. He nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her thoughts and the effort it took for her to express them.
“I appreciate your apology, Celestine,” Dante replied sincerely, his tone gentle yet earnest. “Though it was not necessary. We all have our moments, and I’m just glad we’re able to talk about it now.” As Celestine mentioned the cafeteria, Dante’s stomach growled on cue, making him chuckle. “You read my mind. Lead the way!”
As they walked, Dante couldn’t help but notice the shift in Celestine’s demeanor. Her words seemed to carry a weight of vulnerability. When she stopped and expressed her guilt and confusion, Dante’s expression softened further. He was silent for a moment, thinking carefully about his next words.
“As for why I’m doing this… Well, you’re right. I could have chosen to ignore you or talk behind your back. But that’s not who I am,” Dante said, a small smile forming. “I see someone who’s passionate, has a sharp sense of humour, and is strong - someone who’s more than the image others might have of her. I want to understand that person better, because I like that person.” No matter how much Dante had teased and poked at her for her image, he liked the person who Celestine was.
He glanced down at the stack of books in her hands, a genuine curiosity gleaming in his eyes. “And for what it’s worth, those books aren’t just for show. I really do want to learn more about your passions.” his eyes then met hers, “But if you’re willing to give me a chance, I’d like to get to know you better, and not just through books, they’ve never been my strongest suit” It was some self-deprecating humour with some truth to it, Dante sometimes struggled with getting to books for school, he then let out a chuckle before continuing, "though, you’ll have to let me carry them, no way you should!"Without any discussion, he took back the books from her and put them back in his backpack.
“Never apologise for being honest” he said as soon as she shared that he shouldn’t consolidate her on this, “I’m not perfect, and I don’t expect you to be either. I just want us to be honest with each other.”
As they continued to walk towards the cafeteria, Dante chuckled softly at Celestine’s comment about the teacup gesture. “Noted,” he replied seriously but with a playful undertone. “No pinky up when drinking tea. I’ll keep that in mind.”
As they got closer to the cafeteria, Dante couldn’t help but feel hopeful. It wasn’t going to be easy, but he was determined to break through Celestine’s walls and show her that she didn’t have to face everything alone. Reaching the cafeteria, Dante held the door open for Celestine, gesturing for her to go ahead. “Let’s get some food in us before the scavenger hunt,” he suggested warmly. “We can figure out the rest as we go.”