DEUTERAGONIST

Chapter 2: Alexander

With a deep breath, I mustered the courage to enter the classroom, expecting to face the wrath of my stern teacher, Miss Thompson. As I stepped through the door, all eyes turned to me, including the amused faces of my classmates, some suppressing giggles. "Miss Bailey, you're late," Miss Thompson said, her voice filled with disappointment and frustration. "This is becoming a habit, and it's unacceptable." Feeling the weight of my teacher's disappointment, I nodded, determined to prove myself. I settled into my desk, preparing to pack my belongings. Just as I was about to open my bag, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, I saw my classmate, Alex, looking slightly flustered.

"Hey, Layla," Alex said, a warm smile was drawn on his face. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I missed some notes during the lecture yesterday. Could I borrow yours? I promise I'll return them as soon as I make copies." My heart raced, and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The idea of letting Alex see my notes, full of scribbles and doodles that I did while trying to concentrate in class, made me feel incredibly self-conscious. "Oh, um, I-I'm not sure if my notes would be helpful," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "They might not make much sense to you." Alex was taken aback by my response, not understanding why I would hesitate to share my notes. However, he respected my privacy and decided not to press further. "Oh, okay, no worries," Alex said with a friendly smile. "Thanks anyway." I couldn't help but feel disappointed in myself for not being able to help him. I am a coward. How I wish I had been more confident and simply handed over my notes.

"Alex, wait," I said softly, trying to hide my nervousness. "I changed my mind, here’s my notes, I can lend them to you. They might not be the best, but maybe they can help." Alex turned to me, pleasantly surprised by my change of heart. "Are you sure, Layla? I don't want to impose." That smile and the way he called my name, my heart started racing. I tried to compose myself, hoping he wouldn't notice my skipping heartbeat. I nodded, "Yes, I'm sure. I-I want to help." I handed over my notes and Alex smiled warmly at me, appreciating my kind gesture. "Thanks, Layla. That's really sweet of you. I'll keep that in mind."

During lunchtime, I found myself sitting alone in the courtyard, contemplating what had happened. My heart skipped a beat; I couldn't believe that Alex, my crush, asked me for my notes. Trying to remain composed, I managed to smile while scribbling away in my sketchbook. Bringing the characters and worlds of my webtoon to life with vibrant colors and intricate details. As I gazed at the people passing by, my eyes fell upon a familiar figure. Alex is walking by with his friends. His charming smile and kind heart never disappoints, and I couldn't help but be captivated by him. Lost in my thoughts, my pencil began to move unconsciously across the sketchbook. Without even realizing it, I found herself sketching a face - a face that bore a striking resemblance to Alex’s. My hand seemed to be guided by an unseen force, capturing every detail of his features - his sparkling eyes, his crooked smile, and the way his hair fell across his forehead. Just as I finished the sketch, someone approached me with a curious smile.

"Hey, Layla! What are you drawing?". It’s Alex! I am so attached to my drawing that I didn’t notice his sudden break away from his group of friends to approach me. Startled, I quickly closed my sketchbook, trying to hide the drawing. "Oh, it's nothing, just some random doodles, "I replied, my cheeks turning pink with embarrassment. But he insisted, "Come on, Layla, let me see. I know you're an amazing artist, and I'm sure it's something special." Reluctantly, I opened my sketchbook, revealing the sketch I had created. His eyes widened in surprise as he recognized someone’s features in the drawing. "Wow, Layla, this is incredible!" he exclaimed. "You captured Alexander’s likeness so perfectly. You must really like him."

My face flushed even more as I tried to hide my embarrassment. Did he find out that I like him? "I-I don't know what you're talking about. It's just a drawing." He chuckled and patted my shoulder. "It's okay, Layla. There's no need to be embarrassed. It's natural to admire someone. I also have a confession to make”. I'm head over heels in admiration for the character Stella!" My heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Alex was a fan of my webtoon? My mind raced with excitement as I mustered the courage to strike up a conversation. I raised one of my eyebrows, my curiosity piqued. "Stella? The protagonist of the captivating webtoon entitled, “Queen of the Silver Monarch”? "Hey, are you reading that story?" I asked, my voice tinged with curiosity. Alex nodded, his cheeks turning a faint shade of crimson. "Yeah, her. She's incredible, you know? She had this flowing ebony hair that seemed to dance in the wind and eyes that held the secrets of galaxies. For me, she was not just any character – she was a muse that set my heart ablaze. Her beauty was not confined to her physical features; it radiated from the depths of her soul, resonating with me in a way that I couldn't put into words. I wish I could meet someone like her in real life." I chuckled, giving him a playful nudge. "You do realize she's just a fictional character, right?" Alex grinned sheepishly. "Of course, I know that. How about you? I can't believe you're into 'Queen of the Silver Monarch' too. It's one of my absolute favorites!" I responded, "You know, webtoons are just so cringe, don't you think?"

Alex chuckled. "But you're really into this Alexander guy, aren't you? So, you must be a huge fan of a webtoon, then. Like a superfan". With a playful grin, I responded, "Okay, fine. I admit it – I may have dabbled in webtoons once or twice."

Alex erupted into laughter, his teasing taking on a new flavor as he playfully nudged me. "Layla, you're telling me you've been reading webtoons this whole time?" I rolled my eyes, my grin growing wider. "Alright, alright. I confess – I'm a secret webtoon enthusiast. But, hey, they can be entertaining, okay?"

As we talked, I realized that our laughter wasn't just a superficial expression of amusement. It was a reflection of our growing comfort and connection. "But you see, the thing is... I've started to admire more than just Seraphina. I admire the author who created her, too. I mean, she must be incredibly talented and imaginative to bring such a world to life!". Alex’s admiration didn't stop there. He leaned in closer to me and whispered, "You know, I've often wondered about the author. Who are they? What are they like? I can't help but imagine that they're as beautiful on the inside as their stories are on the outside." My heart fluttered, but my excitement was accompanied by a pang of insecurity. I knew the author Alex admired was me. However, he didn’t know my outer beauty didn't match the worlds of wonder I painted with my words. I nervously laughed, my eyes twinkling with mischief. "Are you saying you have a crush on the author?" Alex’s expression shifted slightly; his gaze momentarily distant. "I'm sorry, Layla. I'd really love to answer your question, but I need to do something important right now. It's a bit sudden, and I can't stay."

I could sense that there was something more to his words, a sense of urgency that I couldn't ignore. "Of course, don't worry about it. Whatever you need to do, I hope it goes well." Alex’s lips curled into a grateful smile. "Thank you, Layla. I'm really sorry for cutting our conversation short. But I promise, I'd love to chat with you again sometime." Before he left, he said gently, "I know it was tough in there, but don't let it get to you too much. We all make mistakes sometimes." My tears welled up in my eyes. Although I’m used to being laughed at, it's still awful to be laughed at by everyone. But I didn’t want to show it to Alex so I just grinned.

"Sometimes, the eyes say more than words ever could. Is everything okay?", he asked. Giving him a confused expression. “Pardon?”. "You know," Alex began softly, "I can see the sadness in your eyes, Layla. If you ever need someone to talk to, or just someone to be there, you can call me. I'll be there for you." I managed a shaky smile. "Thank you, Alex”. My mind said, “That means more to me than you'll ever know."

One evening, as twilight painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, I found herself lost in thought. My heart raced as I relived the moments spent with my crush, Alex, at school. He had a kindness that lit up even the darkest corners of the hallway, and his gentle smile never failed to make my heart skip a beat. Unable to contain my emotions any longer, I let out a scream of frustration, my voice echoing through the room. I buried my face in my hands, wondering why I couldn't shake off my feelings for Alex. "Why does he have to be so sweet?" I mumbled to myself. In the midst of my thoughts, a realization struck me like a lightning bolt. My heart ached as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. Doubts and insecurities gnawed at me, “I wasn't good enough for someone like Alexander”. I saw a girl in front of me, a "fat" and "ugly one" who would never be loved by anyone like Alex. Determined to escape my own negative thoughts, I turned to my tablet. A bittersweet smile graced my lips as I whispered, "If only he knew that Alexander, the character from the webtoon he loves, was inspired by him."