Chapter 30 Chaotic Happy Ending
Peace lasted exactly one day.
One.
Single.
Day.
And honestly, Oom Eisaya should have known better.
Because dating Bam Saralee—openly, publicly, actively—was never going to be quiet.
It was never going to be subtle.
And it was definitely never going to be normal.
“…why are people staring again,” Oom muttered under her breath as she walked across campus.
“They’ve been staring for three days,” Yada replied, completely unfazed.
“This is increased staring.”
“That’s because you’re holding hands again.”
Oom glanced down at their hands.
Still intertwined.
Still warm.
Still very visible.
“…this is your fault,” she whispered to Bam.
Bam didn’t even look at her. “You didn’t let go.”
“That’s because you didn’t let go.”
“That’s correct.”
Oom sighed.
“I’m trapped.”
“You’re choosing to stay.”
“That’s worse.”
Bam’s lips curved slightly.
---
If the public soft launch had shaken the campus—
Today will destroyed it.
Because Bam Saralee, the untouchable, admired, emotionally distant senior—
Was now casually affectionate.
And not just occasionally.
Not subtly.
Not discreetly.
Casually.
Consistently.
Publicly.
“…she just hugged her from behind,” someone whispered near the hallway lockers.
“…no way.”
“…I’m witnessing character development in real time.”
“…this is illegal.”
---
Oom stood frozen near her locker as Bam wrapped her arms around her waist from behind.
Just—
Out of nowhere.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Like they were alone.
Like there weren’t at least twelve people pretending not to stare.
“…you can’t do this here,” Oom whispered, her entire body stiff.
“I can.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I will malfunction.”
Bam rested her chin lightly on Oom’s shoulder.
“I’ve seen you malfunction.”
“That was private.”
“This is still manageable.”
“It’s not.”
Bam tightened her arms slightly.
“You’re fine.”
Oom grabbed her hands.
Not to push them away.
Just to—
Hold on.
“…I’m not fine.”
“You are.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Oom closed her eyes.
“…I hate that you’re calm about this.”
“I like that you’re not.”
“That’s evil.”
“That’s accurate.”
---
Across the hallway, Yada clutched Tantan’s arm dramatically.
“She’s hugging her again.”
“I can see that.”
“This is escalating.”
“It is.”
“I’m proud.”
“You had nothing to do with this.”
“I emotionally supported it.”
“That doesn’t count.”
“It counts to me.”
Tantan sighed, but her lips curved slightly.
“…you’re impossible.”
“And yet you’re still here.”
“That’s my mistake.”
Yada grinned. “You like me.”
Tantan didn’t answer.
Which, at this point, was basically a yes.
---
If the campus thought things would calm down—
They were wrong.
Because lunch happened.
And lunch—
Was where chaos peaked.
---
The cafeteria buzzed with noise, chatter, and the occasional whisper that absolutely wasn’t subtle.
Oom sat across from Bam, trying very hard to focus on her food and not the overwhelming awareness that they were being observed.
“…I can feel it,” she muttered.
“Feel what?”
“The judgment.”
“That’s curiosity.”
“That’s judgment.”
“It’s both.”
Oom sighed.
“I don’t like both.”
Bam tilted her head slightly.
“You’re still here.”
“That’s because I like you more than I dislike both.”
Bam’s gaze softened slightly.
“…good.”
Oom looked up—
And immediately regretted it.
Because Bam was looking at her like—
Like she always did now.
Soft.
Present.
Intentional.
“…stop looking at me like that,” Oom whispered.
“Like what?”
“Like you’re about to do something.”
Bam didn’t deny it.
Instead—
She stood up.
Oom blinked.
“…what are you doing.”
“Come here.”
“I am here.”
“Closer.”
“I’m already close.”
“Closer.”
Oom narrowed her eyes.
“This feels like a trap.”
“It’s not.”
“That’s suspicious.”
But she stood anyway.
Because of course she did.
And the moment she was within reach—
Bam’s hand moved.
Gripping her wrist gently.
Pulling her just slightly forward.
Oom’s breath hitched.
“…Bam.”
“Yes?”
“We’re in public.”
“Yes.”
“There are people.”
“Yes.”
“They are watching.”
“Yes.”
Oom swallowed.
“…what are you doing.”
Bam didn’t answer with words.
She leaned in.
And kissed her.
Not quick.
Not accidental.
Not subtle.
A soft, deliberate kiss—
Right there.
In the middle of the cafeteria.
Oom’s brain stopped.
Completely.
Entirely.
System failure.
---
“…OH MY GOD.”
“…SHE DID IT AGAIN.”
“…IN brOAD DAYLIGHT.”
“…I NEED WATER.”
“…THIS IS NOT A DRILL.”
---
When Bam pulled back, Oom just stood there.
Frozen.
Unresponsive.
Processing.
“…are you alive,” Bam asked calmly.
Oom blinked.
“…no.”
“That’s inconvenient.”
“I have ascended.”
“Come back.”
“I cannot.”
Bam’s lips curved.
Then—
She gently squeezed Oom’s hand.
Grounding.
Warm.
Real.
Oom exhaled slowly.
“…okay.”
---
If that wasn’t enough chaos—
The real disaster came later.
At home.
---
Aunt Cherry had been suspicious for days.
Not subtle suspicion.
Not quiet suspicion.
Loud.
Observant.
Very invested suspicion.
So when Oom walked in with Bam—
Holding hands—
Smiling—
Alive but barely functioning—
Aunt Cherry did not hesitate.
“…who is this.”
Oom froze.
“…this is Bam.”
“I can see that.”
Aunt Cherry crossed her arms.
“…and why are you holding hands.”
Oom opened her mouth.
Closed it.
Opened it again.
“I—”
“She’s my girlfriend,” Bam said calmly.
Silence.
Absolute.
Complete.
Oom turned slowly.
“…you just said that.”
“Yes.”
“…out loud.”
“Yes.”
“…in front of my aunt.”
“Yes.”
Oom looked at Aunt Cherry.
Aunt Cherry looked at Bam.
Then—
Aunt Cherry smiled.
Wide.
Too wide.
“Oh.”
That was not a normal “oh.”
That was a dangerous “oh.”
“…you’re staying for dinner.”
Oom panicked.
“She doesn’t have to—”
“I’d love to,” Bam said.
Traitor.
---
Dinner was chaos.
Pure.
Unfiltered.
Domestic chaos.
“So how long have you been dating?” Aunt Cherry asked.
Oom choked on her water.
“We—uh—”
“Recently,” Bam answered smoothly.
“How recently?”
“Not long enough.”
Oom stared at her.
“…what does that mean.”
“It means I want more time.”
Aunt Cherry gasped.
“That’s so romantic.”
Oom wanted to disappear.
---
Meanwhile—
Yada and Tantan sat across from each other.
Watching.
Observing.
Analyzing.
“…so,” Yada said casually, “are we going to talk about us.”
Tantan raised an eyebrow.
“There is no ‘us.’”
“That sounds familiar.”
“That’s because I heard it earlier.”
Yada grinned.
“And look how that turned out.”
Tantan sighed.
“…you’re persistent.”
“I’m interested.”
“That’s dangerous.”
“You like dangerous.”
Tantan didn’t respond.
Which, again—
Was basically a yes.
---
Later that night, after everything settled, after the chaos quieted, after the laughter faded into something softer—
Oom sat beside Bam on the couch.
Close.
Comfortable.
Real.
“…today was insane,” Oom said.
“It was.”
“…you’re really like this all the time now.”
“Yes.”
“No more switching.”
“No.”
“No more running.”
“No.”
Oom leaned slightly against her.
“…that’s dangerous.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m not strong enough for this level of affection.”
Bam’s arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Pulling her closer.
“You’ll survive.”
Oom huffed softly.
“You keep saying that.”
“Because it’s true.”
Oom tilted her head slightly, looking at her.
“…so you’re just going to keep doing this.”
“Yes.”
“Forever?”
Bam paused.
Then—
“…only with you.”
Oom smiled.
Soft.
Real.
Not overwhelmed.
Not panicking.
Just—
Happy.
“…okay.”
And for once—
That was enough.
The End.
---