The next day.
"Good morning, Rose."
Yup. That's my mom waking me up.
Honestly, I can wake up by myself, but to be a little extra, I let her do it.
"Rose! You'll be late!"
Yup, I know. I'd better hurry.
As usual, I grab my bag, pick up the bread my mom made, and run.
Oh, my sister? Where is she?
Well, she's basically the family's favorite daughter, so guess what?
Dad drives her to school. Yup front seat in Dad's truck. So fancy.
Just wait till I'm famous worldwide I'll have my own driver to take me to school in a limousine.
But for now? Let's walk. Actually, RUN! I'm late!
At the front gate.
"You're late, missy!"
That's our security guard. A muscly, good-looking old man. He's like a knight protecting this school. Without him?
Yeah... not like anyone would actually steal anything here anyway.
"Good morning, babe."
Oh geez. He waited for me.
I glare at him. "Why don't you wait in class?"
Lucas smiles, that smug little chuckle.
"Why would I? When I can wait for my girlfriend right here?"
"Can you not call me that?"
I scowl. He smirks, "Want me to press 'send'?"
"Ugh! Fine! Do whatever you want."
I stomp away, but not before stepping on his shoe on purpose.
"Ouch. That didn't even hurt, Rose. You're too light, like a feather."
I give him my deadliest glare.
"Is there anything I can do to make you hate me?"
Then he reaches out and touches my cheek.
"You're too adorable to stay mad at."
Uff. My face burns.
"S-Shut up!" I huff and march to class.
"Good morning, Zera!"
I plop down next to her.
Zera gives me a sly look. "So... how was yesterday? Did anything interesting happen on the way home?"
My face turns red probably brighter than my hair.
"N-NO!" I practically scream.
Then a voice behind me, "She just doesn't like to share."
Lucas winks at me before strolling to his seat.
Before I can murder him, the teacher walks in.
Lucky you.
"Good morning, class!"
Yeah... our teacher is so pretty. I wanna be like her when I grow up.
Her short brown hair? It suits her features perfectly.
Anyway. Focus.
The room falls quiet.
Just the ticking clock and the sound of typing echoing around us.
Then "Hey."
A whisper. My whisper.
"Got any ideas to make Lucas hate me?" I ask Zera.
She looks at me and tries not to laugh.
"Zera maco! Rose a montasia! Quiet, please!"
Ding!
The bell rings. Lunchtime.
As usual, all our classmates rush out to the canteen.
"Zera!" I whisper, trying to be sneaky.
"Let's sneak out before—"
"Before what?"
Lucas interrupts.
Aaaaghhhh! "Can you stop doing that?!"
"Come on, it's just lunch."
He grabs my hand. I freeze for a second, then force out a little laugh.
"H-How about we make a grown-up rule, hmm?"
I grin like an evil villain about to reveal her master plan.
"You can only have me once a day."
I stand on my chair dramatically, pointing my finger right at him.
"One! Either you walk me home! Or, number two, have lunch with me! Or, number three, go to school with me! Pick one!" Hehehe. Genius plan, Rose.
"Alright!" he says without blinking.
"I choose lunch with you today."
"Aagh!" I swear my soul just flew out of my mouth.
"Fine! Zera, you're coming with us!"
At the lunch table.
I sit next to Zera. Lucas sits right in front of me,
elbows on the table, hands cupping his face just staring at me eat.
He hasn't even touched his food.
"Are you not gonna eat?" I ask, suspicious.
He gives me this soft, gentle smile.
It makes every cell in my body shiver.
"I'm already enjoying my meal right now."
"Eeeekk! Stop it! You're disgusting!"
I look away. Zera beside me is dying of laughter, fully enjoying her free drama show.
"Or... you can feed me, if you want to?" he adds, shameless.
Then suddenly, a group of girls appear.
It's Sienna and her two besties. She covers her mouth dramatically.
"Eh... so you two are couples now?"
"No!" — "Yes."
We answer at the same time. Ugh.
Sienna and her friends giggle like hyenas.
"Well, I guess I have my answer now."
She narrows her eyes at me, mischief sparkling.
"Hmm... is that why you wanted to learn how to kiss?"
Lucas shoots her a look and says,
"She doesn't need to learn. She's already a good kisser unlike someone I know."
Sienna's face goes pale. She snaps her eyes back at him.
"Right... I bet your girlfriend doesn't know who taught you your first kiss."
Okay. Wait. Hold up. What's going on?
Were they together before?
How did I not know about this?
Wait—why do I even care?!
Before I can process, Sienna and her minions storm off in fury.
"What was that about?" Zera asks, leaning in.
"I've never even seen you two near each other before!"
Lucas lets out a small, dry laugh.
"She's just trying to stir things up. You know her queen bee of the whole school."
He stands up abruptly. "I'm gonna hit the restroom."
He walks off without another word.
I turn to Zera. She's staring at me with wide eyes.
"What was that? This is the first time I've seen him so serious. Is he hiding something?"
My brain is spinning a million miles per hour.
I always thought he only ever had eyes for me.
Then poke.
Something taps my cheek.
"Eaaaaa... someone's jealous?"
Zera's voice drips with mischief.
"No! No, no, no, NEVER!"
I snap.
"I'd be happy if he disappeared from my life forever!"
But deep down, I can't stop wondering.
No way. Why am I thinking so hard about him?
Frustrated, I pull his plate closer and angrily finish all his food.
Meanwhile, somewhere else...
A big company sign. Glam & Glow.
Inside a spotless office, a man sits behind a pristine desk brown hair, sharp golden eyes, posture calm yet commanding.
Ring, ring.
His phone buzzes. He answers with a professional tone.
"Yes, boss."
A deep male voice on the other line says,
"Vincent LeClair I have a job for you."
Vincent's eyes glint with quiet certainty.
"Yes, boss."