Sky Wang's POV
I am what you might call a genius of chaos. I saw the perfect opportunity and I took it—with manicured hands and absolutely zero shame.
It started with me leaning across the lecture bench between Rain and Ren during European Law, whispering like I was plotting a heist.
"After class. You, me, Ren. Mall. Girls' day."
Rain's pen paused mid-sentence. He gave me a blank stare, then blinked slowly like he was trying to process trauma.
Ren leaned around me and asked, "What part of that sentence includes consent?"
"None," I grinned. "It's called kidnapping with love."
---
Two hours later, I was dragging two grumbling, six-foot-tall aesthetic disasters across Rome's most glittery mall. I wore a pink crop top with cherries, and they wore regret.
"Why are we here?" Rain muttered.
"To heal your soul," I answered.
"To destroy our reputation," Ren added.
I threw them a mischievous smile. "Both can coexist."
Stop One: Photo Booth Madness
We passed one of those sparkly photo booths, the kind with props and digital filters that make your eyes look like anime characters.
I ran in. They stood outside.
"Get in, losers!" I shouted. "It's memory time!"
Rain crossed his arms. "No."
I blinked. "Okay. Guess I'll have to go in alone and send all the photos to our class group chat…"
Ren shoved Rain. "Move. We're going."
Inside, I forced bunny ears on Rain and put a feather boa around Ren's neck. We took eight pictures. In the last one, Ren was mid-sneeze and Rain was trying to strangle the bunny ears.
I printed them all and taped one onto each of their backs when they weren't looking.
Stop Two: Matching Outfits
I made them try on clothes.
Ren looked like a runway model, until I handed him a lemon-yellow cardigan with sunflowers.
Rain glared at a baby pink hoodie like it had insulted his bloodline.
"You'll look like a pastel mafia prince," I said, throwing it at his face.
They changed.
They walked out of the changing room.
I nearly ascended. Ren looked like he'd lost a bet. Rain looked like he was internally screaming.
"Oh my god," I gasped. "You guys look like co-parents taking your daughter—me—to a ballet recital."
A nearby child waved. "Nice sweaters!"
Rain muttered, "I want to disappear."
Stop Three: Stuffed Animal Chaos
I insisted on buying a plush frog named Mr. Croaksalot. Then I made them both hug it. Then I made Rain carry it.
"Why me?" he asked.
"Because your vibe is emotionally repressed frog dad."
Ren filmed it. Rain looked at the frog and whispered, "I'm sorry you got dragged into this."
Stop Four: Too Many Selfies
I pulled out my phone every five seconds. Selfie with bubble tea. Selfie with sparkly cupcakes. Selfie with Rain and Ren looking like bodyguards forced to attend a princess tea party.
In one photo, Ren had frosting on his nose and Rain was holding a shopping bag full of glitter socks I'd made him buy "for character development."
"Smile like you like me!" I said.
"No," Rain said, deadpan.
"Smile like you're in love with me," I tried.
"We'd need special effects," Ren said.
Stop Five: Friendship Bracelets
I grabbed three: baby blue glittery one for me, one with tiny skulls for Ren (he hissed like a vampire), and a black one with tiny silver hearts for Rain.
"No," Rain said.
"Yes," I said, slipping it on him. "It binds your soul to mine."
Ren muttered, "That sounds like a curse."
Rain didn't take it off.
Final Stop: Public Karaoke Booth
We passed a glass soundproof karaoke booth.
"You wouldn't," Rain warned.
"I would," I said, and dragged them inside.
Twenty minutes later, I had a recording of Rain singing an Italian ballad off-key while Ren did the high notes like a dying cat.
I held up the phone. "This is blackmail gold."
Rain leaned in, snatched the phone, and deleted it with terrifying precision.
"I memorized the lyrics," I whispered.
He groaned. Ren screamed.
---
Back at the dorms, Rain finally collapsed onto his bed with the frog plush beside him, friendship bracelet still around his wrist.
Ren stood at the door, pointing dramatically. "I hope you realize we were violated."
Rain closed his eyes. "She bought us hair clips, Ren."
Ren held up the pink butterfly clip still in his hair. "And made us wear them."
Rain said nothing.
"Worse," Ren added. "I liked it."
Rain opened one eye. "Don't say that out loud."
Ren whispered, "We're the girls now."
Rain didn't disagree.
Somewhere down the hall, Sky's laugh echoed like a chaotic angel.
And both of them knew this wasn't the last "Girls' Day."