Just a Doll Face

Fish Hunting

The department closest to the tree where Quinn had spotted her Doll Face was the Theater Arts department. After days of consideration and waiting for him to appear at or near the same spot, Quinn had finally decided that she was going to ask around. She called this task “Fish Hunting”.

By asking around, she certainly did not mean the photography major. She couldn't let her fish be fished by anyone else before she even had a chance to lay her snare around him.

Quinn mustered up the courage to approach a group of girls near the Theater Arts department. Among them, a girl with cat-like eyes caught her attention. She was captivatingly beautiful.

Quinn had a habit of seeking out beauty and distinction with her eyes, a tendency that had gotten her into trouble numerous times. She could not help it. And just like that, she picked the most eye-catching person in the group to speak with.

"Excuse me," she said politely to that girl, drawing her attention away from her friends. "Yes?" the girl replied, turning towards Quinn.

"Sorry for the trouble, but is this guy from the Theater Arts department?" Quinn asked, showing the girl a picture on her tablet. The cat-eyed girl squinted at the picture carefully. She tilted her head and looked at Quinn with confusion, and her friends followed suit, stealing glances at the tablet.

"No, he is not from this department," she replied, and Quinn couldn't hide her disappointment. The guy remained a mystery still. "But he is from the Culinary Arts department for sure. His name is Joshua, and he is quite popular."

The cat-eyed girl couldn't help but be surprised by Quinn's lack of knowledge about Joshua. In her mind, Joshua was a larger-than-life figure, an almost celebrity on campus. He possessed an undeniable charm and fame that made him well-known among students and faculty alike. She couldn't fathom how someone could have missed encountering him during their time at the university, not to mention one from the photography department.

Getting to know Joshua's name and department, Quinn's face lit up, and she gratefully held the hands of the cat-eyed girl, shaking them vigorously. "Thank you very much; you've solved a big problem for me."

The girl chuckled and shook her head twice. "No worries, but Joshua is really famous, especially in your department. I'm surprised you don't know him, considering you're a senior." The girl appeared confused, and Quinn's mind was also filled with questions.

"Do you happen to know me?" Quinn asked, pointing her index finger to her chest.

The girl responded with a big smile and nodded. "Yes, I'm actually a fan. I follow you on your social media platforms, and I'm in love with your work. And it's not just me; you're famous among a lot of students here on the campus." She expressed her admiration with a thumbs-up gesture with both hands, causing Quinn's eyes to widen in surprise.

However, in the back of her mind, Quinn couldn't help but curse her fellow photography students, as even an outsider knew about Joshua's popularity among her peers, but she was rather oblivious. Photographers usually preferred to keep their muses to themselves.

"I guess my social life is a total disaster," Quinn joked, not wanting to dwell on the pathetic state of her department, including herself. She knew she had a significant following on social media, but she had no idea she was popular among individuals outside of photography. In that moment, she couldn't deny feeling proud of herself.

"No worries, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to you like this. Despite my calm demeanor, I'm internally freaking out," she said, and one of the cat-eyed girl's friends giggled, seemingly understanding her friend's excitement.

"Well, I'm glad people enjoy my work," Quinn responded, feeling a bit flustered as she scratched the back of her head. It was always a pleasant feeling to be recognized by someone.

...

Quinn, well acquainted with the council members' schedules, found herself standing in front of Trustin at the library, a stack of books in her hands.

She had grabbed them randomly off a shelf — the librarian had already caught her clicking her camera one too many times and was watching her with obvious suspicion. She had no thirst for knowledge; her only drive was to capture every breathtaking moment in pictures.

"Hello," she greeted brusquely, causing the books to make a louder thud on the table than intended, much to the librarian's disapproval.

Trustin, caught off guard, flinched as he suddenly realized Quinn's presence. Her eyes squinted in his direction, piercing him with an intense stare. Trustin felt a rush of flustered nerves as he gulped, desperately trying to maintain his composure.

"Let's not forget that we're in a library," he implored, his voice tinged with self-consciousness. He glanced at the librarian, whose stern gaze seemed to warn them that another sound would result in immediate expulsion from the premises.

Trustin's remark was more of an attempt to overcome his own flushed cheeks than an actual concern for the librarian's glare. He wasn't ready to be exposed to Quinn just yet.

Quinn, with an awkward smile, turned her head towards the librarian, a stout woman with reading glasses. She smiled apologetically, but the librarian did not look pleased and only gave her a nasty look.

Taking a deliberate deep breath, Quinn exhaled with exaggeration before taking a seat across from Trustin. Propping her chin on her hand, she fixed her gaze on his face, refusing to look away even for a moment.

Trustin, already on the verge of hyperventilation, couldn't help but feel even more nervous under her penetrating scrutiny. The silence stretched between them like a rubber band pulled too tight.

"Quinn," Trustin began carefully. "You have that look on your face."

"What look?" she asked innocently.

"The one that means you either want something from me or you're about to voluntold me for something." He pointed between their eyes. "I know that face."

Quinn smiled slowly. "Relax. I just have a question."

Trustin exhaled — too soon, as it turned out.

"Do you know about the Doll Face?"