Chapter 6
510 Words
The cafeteria filled with midday bustle the next day.
A thick crowd clustered around the sprawling lawn, where Jasper sat beneath an ancient oak tree, a guitar balanced across his lap.
I balanced my lunch tray and leaned towards a gawking girl beside me. "What's everyone gathered for?"
"He's confessing his crush!" She held her phone high to record the scene. "He dropped a heads-up in our group chat last night—said he'd pull off a huge surprise for Mia out here at noon."
I hummed a quiet "I see" and claimed a window-side table, ready to watch the spectacle unfold.
Two boys at the adjacent table chatted in hushed tones.
"Dude, he's rushing this way too hard. Mia promised that yacht trip ages ago, and the whole class has been blowing up the chat asking when it's happening. He's probably trying to prop up her image before everyone writes her off."
The second boy whispered back, "That's not his real motive, not even close. He's just chasing clout and connections. He's spammed the group nonstop, begging for that yacht outing, all to leech off her supposed wealth. Now that she can't deliver, he's scared he'll look just as fake by association. This big confession's his last-ditch Hail Mary."
"Sounds like a roundabout play. Win her over with a dramatic public gesture, lock down a relationship, then pressure her for yacht access and fancy connections once they're official?"
"Pretty much. I caught him rewriting his confession script last night—five different drafts, every single line tailored to flatter her. All just to make her follow through on those promises."
I bit into my turkey sandwich, suppressing a dry laugh.
A twang of guitar strings cut through the hum of chatter a moment later.
The sappy, corny love ballad came out slightly off-key, his chord work unsteady, but the surrounding crowd screamed and cheered on cue anyway.
He set the instrument aside once the final note faded, shot to his feet, and cupped his hands around his mouth to shout up towards the second-floor classroom windows, "Mia! Will you be my girlfriend?"
A window on the upper floor slid open with a sharp whoosh.
Mia leaned her torso out, scanned the crowd below, lined herself up perfectly with every student's phone camera, and called down her answer without hesitation, "Yes!"
Before anyone could process the reply, she tacked on a bold add-on. "That yacht trip I promised everyone's locked in for next week! Jasper and I will take the maiden couple voyage first, then split groups so everyone gets a turn out on the water!"
Cheers erupted across the lawn, far louder than the noise that had greeted his confession moments earlier.
Several students roared, "Mia for the win," and Jasper beamed, blowing a dramatic kiss towards the window above.
I tore my gaze away and slowly finished the last bite of my sandwich.
Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my cell phone and placed a crisp call. "Marina management? Cancel all yacht charters scheduled for next month."
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