Today, I just wanted to live in peace.
But of course, life said:
"HAHAHA, NOPE, RINA.
You have Anto."
The moment I sat down at my desk, I saw something that immediately made my skin crawl.
On my desk sat:
A pink sticky note.
Taped down in the shape of a heart.
Written in glitter marker.
With terrible handwriting.
And it read:
"HAVE A GREAT DAY TODAY RINAA~ FROM SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING ABOUT YOU AND IS DEFINITELY NOT ADRIAN."
I froze.
"...ANTO."
Anto materialized behind me like a ghost with a shrill voice:
"HEHE, surpriseee~"
I wanted to slam that glitter marker right into his face.
🎉 Turns out, the Surprises Were Just BeginningTey rubbed his hands together like a shady magician.
"Level 1 surprise: Success! Let's move to Level 2!"
My eyes widened. "What else?!"
Kane flipped open the notebook.
Romantic Mission Level 2:
Anto prepares a sweet surprise for Rina.
Minimum goal: Make her cheeks turn red.
Maximum goal: Make her want to kill Anto.
I facepalmed. "Why are those the only two options...?"
Anto stood at attention.
"I'm ready!! For the sake of love!!"
"Shut up, To."
"I'm ready for the sake of Rina!!"
"Do you want me to throw this chair at you?"
"OKAY, I'M READY FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHAIR!"
🎂 A "Sweet" Surprise (In Heavy Quotations)First break. I was sitting with Eli.
Suddenly...
ANTOOOO arrived, carrying a piece of bread with a birthday candle stuck in it.
In the middle of the canteen. With the candle lit.
I stared at him in horror.
"To... it's nobody's birthday."
Anto grinned.
"It's the birthday... of our fake relationship, Rin~"
"WHAT EVEN IS THAT???"
"Well, we've been close for a long time~~"
Eli coughed. "Close? More like you're just a permanent attachment, To."
Anto placed the bread on the table. Written on it in sauce was:
"HBD OUR RELATIONSHIP"
I wanted to die right then and there.
"To... put out the candle before the sprink—"
PHWOSHHH!
The candle went out, but it sent up a massive cloud of smoke. The canteen alarm almost went off. Every single person was staring at us.
I covered my face.
"Anto... I'm begging you... please stop."
Anto's face fell instantly. "Eeh... sorry, Rin. I just... wanted you to be happy..."
And that... strangely... made my chest feel a little warm.
💥 Enter Adrian: Timing Is Always TerribleJust as I was trying to catch my breath, Adrian walked by. He stopped.
"Rina, are you... throwing a birthday surprise? For who?"
I wanted to evaporate.
Anto immediately stood in front of the bread, blocking the sauce-writing.
"THIS IS NOT A BIRTHDAY! THIS IS JUST... ABSTRACT ART!!"
Adrian looked at me. I gave him a stiff, awkward smile.
"It's just... an idiotic surprise," I muttered.
Adrian laughed. "If you want a surprise that's actually sweet, just let me know."
Anto went silent. It was like he'd been struck by lightning.
Adrian left, leaving me and Anto standing in a cloud of candle smoke.
Anto hugged his water bottle tight. "...Rin..."
"What?"
"Don't... don't like that senior, okay?"
I rolled my eyes. "To. I'm just eating bread..."
But his face was dead serious. And it made my stomach do something weird.
🎯 The Gang Continues the MissionTey whispered, "Data analysis: Rina's cheeks are red."
Kane took notes, "Mission Level 2: 89% success rate."
Tian patted Anto's shoulder. "Nice work, To. Even if it was moronic."
Anto grinned proudly. "Rina turned red because of me..."
"I turned red because I was embarrassed, Anto."
"Well... it's the same shade of red anyway..."
"ANTOOO!!"
❤️ Rina... Losing Her GripWalking home after school, I was by myself. The air was cold, the sky was overcast.
I thought about everything that happened today.
That stupid note. That stupid bread. Anto, who is so tacky but so sincere. His jealousy. His face when Adrian appeared. The way he panics whenever I'm mad. The way he tries to act tough even when he's shaking.
I wanted to be angry.
But instead... a small smile crept onto my face.
I stopped in the middle of the street, clutching my chest.
"What is wrong with me..."
Dammit.
This... is starting to get dangerous.
For me. And for Anto.