Pinched

Kei was the sort of person who existed in the margins. Preferring the silence of her own thoughts to the hum of the classroom, she sat tucked away in the back corner, her gaze fixed on the world beyond the window. Eventually, the steady rhythm of the distant trees swaying in the wind lulled her into a daze. She lowered her head onto the cool surface of her desk and let sleep take over. The door creaked open, and the atmosphere shifted instantly. Fay arrived like a burst of morning light, her long brown hair swaying as she moved. She was the heart of the class, greeting everyone with a radiant smile and a cheerful "hello." Yet, as her eyes landed on the quiet figure in the corner, her confident stride faltered. Nervousness flickered across Fay's face. She hesitated, glancing back at her friends for reassurance. Angel and Len gave her a knowing look, gesturing for her to go for it. Taking a steadying breath, Fay leaned in, her movement slow and deliberate. She bent down until she was inches away, the scent of her perfume mingling with the stale classroom air. "Good morning," Fay whispered directly into Kei's ear. Kei's eyes fluttered open. She shifted upward, only to find Fay's face startlingly close to her own. For a long, suspended heartbeat, neither moved. They remained locked in a silent gaze, the rest of the room fading into a blur until the sharp click of the teacher's heels snapped the tension. "Alright class, take your seats," the teacher announced, dropping a stack of papers onto the podium. "Let's begin the lecture." Fay scrambled back to her desk, her face turning a shade of red that rivaled a ripe tomato. Try as she might to focus on the chalkboard, her eyes kept drifting back to Kei, tracing the profile of the girl who always preferred to be alone. IN THE AFTERNOON The following afternoon, the air was thick with the chatter of lunchtime gossip. Fay, Angel, and Len were huddled together, the conversation turning as it often did to the topic of "types." "My type is definitely someone TDH," Angel declared, leaning back with a confident smirk. "TDH?" Len and Fay asked in unison. "Tall, Dark, and Handsome," Angel clarified, counting the traits on her fingers. Len chuckled, looking thoughtful. "Well, my type is actually quite simple. I like girls." The admission hung in the air for a moment. Fay and Angel's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, really?" Fay breathed, her curiosity piqued. "Do we know her?" Len simply offered a mysterious smile, refusing to budge. Instead, she turned the tables. "What about you, Fay? What's your type?" Fay's smile turned shy, but before she could utter a word, Angel and Len exchanged a mischievous glance. A shared grin spread across their faces. "Oh, we already know," Angel teased, leaning in close. "It's Kei, isn't it? Yieee!" "What are you even saying?!" Fay exploded, her face instantly blooming into a deep crimson. "It's not like I like her or anything! Don't be ridiculous!" "So you hate her then?" Angel asked, her grin widening into a predator's smirk. "NO!" Fay stammered, her hands flying to her hot cheeks. "It's just... it's just..." "Just what? Hmm~" Len stepped in, though her eyes danced with amusement. "Maybe she just wants to get to know Kei better... as a friend." "Yes! That's exactly it!" Fay huffed, crossing her arms and looking away. "It's not like I have feelings for her. Hmph." Len and Angel didn't say another word, but the look they shared said everything. To them, it wasn't just a crush it was the most obvious thing in the world.