Well, what the Arts Teacher announced was surprising, even bizarre, but here we are.
After school, despite the strange mood lingering in the air, we still followed through with the so-called "hangout." Not that I knew what we'd be doing exactly… so I just went with the flow for now.
There were ten of us. Raisa walked up front. At her side, Tiara and Leo.
And Leo, for some reason, kept throwing glances my way. That smug smile, like he'd just won some contest I didn't know I was part of.
Get over yourself.
So, those three led the charge.
Behind them, a mix of boys and girls, probably Leo's underlings and Raisa's entourage, seven in total.
And then there's me, trailing behind.
Like a shadow that wasn't invited to the light.
Which is fitting… since I'm not part of this group anyway.
So there are eleven in total if I was included.
Up front, Leo kept trying to crack jokes at Raisa.
Raisa responded with her signature small laugh.
Fake, of course. I could see it in her eyes.
Tiara didn't even bother to react.
But Leo, being Leo, took every forced chuckle as confirmation of his charm.
And every time Raisa "laughed," he turned to look at me. That smug grin again.
'Dude… what's your problem?'
I tuned him out. My ears were focused elsewhere, on the conversation happening behind them, among the followers.
"…Don't you think Mr. Liam's assessment is a bit weird?" A short-haired girl asked, her brow furrowed.
"You think so too? Fuck, I don't even know how to play an instrument. What the hell am I supposed to do?" A boy in a hoodie grumbled.
"Well~ you can always sing, right?" A blonde girl replied casually, her uniform slightly too styled, like she was trying to imitate Raisa.
"That's the problem. I don't even know how to sing," The hoodie boy shot back.
"Haha~ what's so hard about singing? Even elementary school kids can do it" That came from a bulky guy with more muscle than tact.
"That's why you shouldn't just train your muscles. Ugh, I don't even know how I became friends with someone that stupid." A boy with glasses shook his head. "Sure, anyone can sing. But this isn't just about singing, we have to upload it. People will see it. If it's bad, we won't get grades. We'll get roasted"
Then, a short girl chimed in.
"Speaking of singing… wasn't Akia once a famous idol? If we make a band with her, we'd get full marks for sure"
What? Akia? A former idol?... Now that's interesting.
"Well~ good luck asking her to join," The last girl said, the one with… notable 'assets.' "None of you have the guts. She'll probably go solo anyway"
Then, all of a sudden, their gazes fall on me.
"...Hm?"
"Rey, what will you do?" The hoodie boy asked.
"Me? Solo, probably. I know how to play guitar a bit"
That's a lie. I can play almost every instrument, not a prodigy or anything, but enough to hold my own.
"And I'm confident in my singing. So yeah, I'll go solo"
"Really, Rey?!"
Raisa suddenly appeared at my side, hands clasped behind her back, a smile blooming like a flower.
A beautiful flower.
If only it weren't laced with poison, maybe I'd pick it.
But I didn't.
"I learned to play back in middle school," I added casually.
"Good! I've decided, Rey, you're going to be with me"
"...Huh?"
"Wait, Raisa!" Leo stepped in, voice tight. "But I asked you first! I can play guitar too, remember? I even sent you that video a few days ago!"
He looked at Raisa like a devoted puppet abandoned by its master.
And at me… like I'd just stolen his bride at the altar.
"Ahh~ you did?" Raisa tilted her head slightly. "I forgot. Forgive me~ Hehe~"
She didn't even bother watching it. Yap, poor Leo.
"So, you'll be with me, right?"
What? Isn't that basically a confession?
Now this is interesting… What's your next move, princess?
If you accept him, he'll think he has a chance. But if you choose me over him… I can already see the chaos.
I glance at Raisa, my face calm, my expression carefully shaped like someone waiting for something.
"...Hmm~ What should I do~"
"Raisa, you know how I feel-"
"Raisa, where are we going?"
Tiara cut in, voice like a knife through a fog.
"Ahh! You're right, Tiara!" Raisa clapped her hands like she just remembered. "We were going to karaoke, right? Let's go!"
She turned and walked ahead, Leo quickly trailing her like a loyal, but slightly wounded dog.
The seven others followed suit, a wave of laughter and chatter forming behind them.
Now it's just me and Tiara.
I look at her. She looks tired.
"...Is he always like that?"
"Leo? Yeah." She exhaled lightly. "He takes every opportunity to express his feelings. No matter the place. No matter the time. But... he wasn't this bad before. Maybe it's because of your presence, he's getting worse"
"And your job is to stop him before it gets out of hand, huh? Must be hard for you, Tiara"
"You know," She said quietly, eyes sharp, "so please… don't provoke Raisa's pride more than this"
"What?" I raise an eyebrow. "I haven't even done anything"
"You don't do anything. That's the problem, Rey." Tiara's voice was calm, but there was a subtle sharpness in it. "Usually... a boy wouldn't be this calm in front of Raisa"
She pauses, eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger, but in thought.
"No one ever expects you."
I blink. "...Is that a compliment or a warning?"
Tiara doesn't answer right away. She looks ahead, toward the others, Raisa laughing, Leo hovering, the followers tagging along like shadows.
"Just… be careful," She says finally. "People like Raisa don't like being unsure. And right now? You make her unsure"
I chuckle, soft and dry. "Good. That means I'm doing something right"
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