Chapter twelve
Raye didn't want to admit it.
Not to Jane.
Not to herself.
Definitely not to her diary app that was mostly just screaming emojis.
But every time her phone buzzed, her heart leapt like it was auditioning for a romance movie .
"Just checking in. You good?"
– Unknown Number
She smiled so hard she had to hide her face in her pillow.
Girl. Please. Be serious.
Later that day…
"Raye, are you okay?" Jane asked, watching her swirl ketchup into hypnotic patterns on her lunch tray like a lovesick witch.
"I'm fine," Raye mumbled, stabbing her fries.
"Did mystery guy say something weird again?" Jane said seeing the blush on her friend face she was quick to connect the dot together.
Jane smiled softly before saying .
"Not to be a diva, but it would be very funny if maybe you found out your secret love was an alien from Mars , and what about joshua ??.
Raye blinked. " who?"
Jane gasped. "OH MY GOD. SHE'S MOVED ON."
Raye scowled. "Shut up."
But the truth was… yeah. Something was shifting. Ever since the texts started, it was all about the guy now — with his harsh flirty words that sent her soul shooting to the moon —
Joshua didn't even register in her brain anymore.
Every guy now? Instantly compared to Mystery Boy.
Like…
That tall kid with the nice shoes?
Too loud. Mystery Boy would never yell in the hallway.
That cute guy who offered her a pen in class?
Sweet… but not enough sarcasm. Mystery Boy had range.
That football player who winked at her in P.E.?
"Why are his eyebrows so loud?" she whispered to Jane.
She was losing it.
Weekend .
"Yes aunty I promise I would be good , lock my doors at night and also read well " Raye said a phone placed on her shoulder as she tightly held it pressing her ear to the phone while she stirred a bowl of flour .
They wanted to bake some cupcakes today and probably go to the basketball court too .
"Ok ma " Raye muttered sucking her index finger where a small cream was still stuck on it and she finally held her phone . "By the way aunty I got a B+ in my art test .
Mrs valentine :
ugh that's my girl . We are so proud ....and your parents will too , just keep being a good girl like always ok .
Raye : hmm .
She hummed . Thinking about what her aunty had said .
Her parent , she hoped they were proud . Up there in heaven ...
She would do anything to make them proud .
Raye :
alright bye for now aunty , send my regards to uncle and Christabel tell her I miss her so much ".
Mrs valentine :
sure my dear , I love you be good .
Raye chuckled before saying :
ok aunty , love you too.
She hung up the call dropping the phone on the counter .
Raye's lying upside down on Jane's bed, holding her phone above her face with squinted eyes .
She was trying to hide a grin ...
"I swear, if this boy is a catfish or, like, an AI, I'm joining a convent."
Jane's painting her nails. "mhm you have started seeing it to my own point if view " she said eyes on her nails . " But I hardly doubt he is , we already know he is someone in school because he doesn't know anything about where you live and what you do at home , just you in school ...maybe he is just shy ".
She suggested with a shrug as she blew her nails staring at the black nail polish which blended with her very light - fair skin .
Raye groaned. "Then he needs to un-shy real fast. I'm losing my mind."
Jane chuckled softly before glancing at Raye at her side who had her eyes tightly shut .
"We should better go now , before they start playing ".
"That's true " Raye muttered standing up quickly before she said .
" I will go change ok ".
"Mhm ".
Jane and Raye grinned from ear and they watch their favorite group score another goal again .
"Hurrayyy YY " they both yelled out hugging each other .
After the game they decided to congratulate them with a cup cake .
Jane and Raye sat down on the bench eating a cupcake as Raye turned to Jane before asking .
"Jane are you aware why those two guy always wear a nose mask and a beanie ".
. " Na I don't know , maybe he don't want to, cause more heart ache ...look at those legs " Jane whistled saying.
Raye eyes involuntarily trailed down his leg she gulped before shaking her head to snap out of the thought.
" Don't confuse me girl " Raye muttered glaring at Jane before she asked .
"Have yout ever spoken to him ?".
Jane glanced at Raye with a raise brow .
"Why so many questions _ are you suddenly interested??".
"NO oo , I don't like him or anything ...he just give that vibes " Raye said before moving close to Jane's ear as she whispered " like the mystery texter ".
Jane frowned a few minutes contemplating what Raye had just said .
He did have the vibes .
"But girl , the mystery texter is a boy in our school not from a basket ball court we hardly attend again ".
Jane was correct she thought staring at her palms before looking back at the boy who as if in cue turned to her ...
And wink.
It was playful , something she wouldn't have noticed ,but since she was already staring too long to be considered normal and enough to draw his attention ,she wasn't able to miss it .
"Jane I think we should leave "Raye said standing up abruptly .
She was already stuck with mystery guy who seems quiet possessive now her favorite street basketball team was giving full flirt mood .
"Why !!, am having fun.... spending time here " Jane said smiling she closed her eyes . " The fresh air warms my skin".
Raye huffed glaring at Jane before sitting down .
Jane wouldn't agree to stand up even if she begged her on her knees ...she already made it clear with the lie .
Later that day .
They made popcorn. Put on a cheesy rom-com. Paused halfway to dissect a scene and yell about how unrealistic it was.
Raye texted him halfway through.
"Do you like movies with dramatic rain scenes or are you normal?"
He replied instantly.
"Dramatic rain is essential. If there's no storm while I confess my love, I'm walking out....cupcake ".
She clutched her chest.
Cupcakes she thought , why does that look alot familiar ...was he hinting something with today .
Raye frowned for a few minutes before shrugging the ideas off _ he does call her cupcake very much this days .
Later that night, alone in her room…
She scrolled back through all the texts.
Some were funny. Some random. Some sweet.
Some… made her blush so hard she had to throw her phone across the room and scream into her blanket.
"You're the kind of girl who changes everything and pretends she didn't."
What did that even mean?
Why was that the most romantic thing anyone's ever said to her?
She hugged her pillow, heart beating so fast it felt illegal.
She'd officially lost all grip on reality.
And maybe…
Maybe she didn't care.