PERCY.
My first mistake was taking Gemini to dinner. The second? Allowing Penelope to tag along. I could still hear her teasing voice echoing in my mind—a reminder of just how clueless she thinks I am about romance. After our talk about the 'not-date,' the day after I was beyond annoyed. Why would she think I wanted anything more than just buying the kid dinner?
Every time she brought him up last week, I tried to play it cool, deflecting her questions with a lighthearted rebuke, but inside, my patience was fraying.
To prove to her that buying him dinner was all there was to it, I made a conscious effort to steer clear of any topic related to him whenever we spoke for the rest of the week. Every time she brought it up during our usual nightly video calls—a ritual we'd started a few years ago as a way to stay connected whenever one of us is out of town, I'd responded with a casual shrug or a distracted nod, avoiding eye contact, pretending I didn't care. I was determined not to let that little spark of curiosity turn into something more.
"Seriously, Pen? It was just dinner, I was being nice to someone like you've always wanted." I'd told her over the phone one time, half-believing my own words even as I replayed the sound of his voice in my mind.
Despite my best efforts to bury the matter during the week, she asked me to invite him over during the weekend the moment she returned from her work trip. I remember standing there, feeling the weight of her request—her expectant eyes, like she was waiting for me to say yes. But instead, I just picked up my car keys and wallet, and without a word, I left the house. That's how much I was trying not to think about him.
Why exactly was I going in circles about everything? For the first time in my life, I felt unmotivated to do anything else. I tried to push the thoughts of him aside, focus on everything else—work, class, other activities. But somehow, I kept thinking about him. All I wanted was to see him, to hear his voice, to experience that flurry of butterflies that ignited in my stomach whenever his striking blue eyes met mine. It was maddening. How could I extinguish this mental fire when every attempt to distract myself only fueled the flames?
So, I decided to do something about it. I needed to see him again, to understand what was happening to me. It was the only way to get to the root of this strange fascination. Finding him wouldn't be hard I'd told myself—I already knew his name, his department, and that he stayed in the dorms. All I had to do was find his room number. But that was easier said than done because I cooked find him, and I was about to turn to my usual methods of getting information when a kid accidentally bumped into me in his dorm building.
"My bad, bro." He'd apologized with a smile.
"I am looking for a kid, first year, blue eyes and messy brown hair. I need his room number." I had described, only to be bombarded with loads of questions.
"Why do you want to see him? Are you friends? Do you live in the dorms? How do you know him?" The kid shot questions at me like a gunner at target practice.
Pushed to my limit, I gritted my teeth. Why do they always need to know so much? I just wanted to get in, find him, and get out. Left with no other option to stop his questions, I told him my name. The moment my name left my lips, his eyes widened, his curious expression immediately replaced by fear—good, that one I was used to. He led the way without further questions. And when I finally spotted Gemini, everything seemed to brighten again.
He must have just woken up; his hair was a delightful mess, sticking out in all directions like a rebellious halo. And yet, even in that moment, he was cute—adorably so—like a puppy freshly tugged from sleep. Then, it hit me! He's a five-foot-something human male, for God's sake! How could I possibly think he's cute?
Sigh. Something is definitely wrong with me. And strangely enough, I feel like he's the key to figuring out what that is. So, I figured I'd keep him around for now.
I had just left him, and already I was itching to see him again. My phone lay in front of me, and I found myself staring at Gemini's contact, an insatiable desire building inside me to call him, just to hear his voice. And that was when Cole's voice sliced through my thoughts.
"Why did you even come along if you're just going to stare at your phone the whole time?" he quipped, swinging his golf club back and forth with that infuriating smirk of his. "Come play a round with me; I'm even ready to bet money on it."
I give him an annoyed shrug, indicating I'm not interested, and turn my attention back to my phone, staring at Gemini's number. But just then, I hear Cole sigh loudly before take a shot, and Penelope let out a triumphant shout.
"Nice shot!" Daphne cheers, sounding genuinely impressed.
Penelope chimed in, "Instead of Percy, let me play you for fifty grand!" I caught the playful wink she shot at Cole as she glided toward him.
What's the point? I thought cynically, knowing how incredibly skilled Cole was. It was obvious he would win that bet. But whatever made them happy, right?
"Wanna play a round with me, Percy?" Daphne's voice brought me back, eyes sparkling.
"No, thanks." I replied, managing a small smile before letting my thoughts drift back to my phone.
Today was one of those rare days when all four of us had a lecture-free schedule. Instead of seizing that freedom to be productive or relax, my friends decided a day at the campus golf course would be the perfect escape.
"How delightful!" I mused looking back at them with a hint of sarcasm.
My sister had practically dragged me along since I was already on campus. I figured, how hard can it be? I just have to hang in there until they're done, right?