Minty: "You smiled just now talking about him sleeping in class. If you could go back to one of those quiet afternoons in the 12th grade—when the room was still, the teacher's voice was a hum in the background, and he was there in that denim jacket, fast asleep—would you change anything? Would you wake him up to tell him about the poems, or is that quiet, one-sided moment of just watching him exactly how you want to remember it forever?"
[The studio lighting dims just a fraction more, casting a soft glow over the set as the audience waits, captivated, for Yvonne's answer.]
Yvonne: "Who would wake the love of their life in their peaceful nap and stop looking at their beautiful person? [Widened eyes] Not that I see him as the love of my life or anything! [Mumbling] Wait, did I really? [Shakes head]My simple answer is no! Wait, what was the question again?"
[The audience is absolutely losing it. People are doubling over in their seats, and one guy in the front row is literally slapping his knee. The kilig has reached a fever pitch! Minty is clutching her notebook like a lifeline, her face turned slightly away as she tries—and fails—to stop her shoulders from shaking with laughter.]
Minty: [Through breathless giggles] "You said it! You said the words! 'Love of your life'—everyone, did you hear that?! The lady has spoken!"
[The audience cheers, "We heard it!" and "Aiyooo!" while a few people fan themselves. Minty takes a dramatic, deep breath, trying to be professional despite the chaos.]
Minty: "The question was... whether you'd wake him up or just keep the memory as it is. But I think you answered it perfectly! You'd just stay there, in the quiet, looking at your 'beautiful person'—your words, not mine!—and letting him sleep."
[Minty wipes a stray tear of laughter from her cheek and adjusts her posture, finally letting the high-energy vibe settle into something a bit more grounded.]
Minty: "Honestly, Yvonne, that is the most honest, 12th-grade-crush answer possible. You don't want to break the spell. You just want to exist in the same room as them. It's pure, it's simple, and it's... well, it's why people are falling in love with this book."
[Minty pauses, giving Yvonne a supportive, 'you survived' wink.]
Minty: "But okay, okay! I'll give your poor heart a break from the 12th grade for a second. We've talked about the weight of the book and the man in the jacket."