When the school bell finally rang, I was done. Home never felt better
dragging that embarrassing afternoon to a close. I didn't even remember what half my teachers said after lunch. My brain was still stuck on "I collect experiences" like some kind of emotional tax collector.
By the time I got home, I was ready to collapse.
Daphne was already in the living room, legs crossed on the couch, scrolling through her phone like a bored celebrity. She looked up as I stepped in.
"You're back early," she said, eyeing me. "Did you drop out mid-semester or…?"
I dropped my bag by the door. "No, I just got emotionally assassinated in public, thanks for asking."
That caught her attention.
She put her phone down. "Oh? Do tell."
I flopped onto the couch. "Met a girl."
"Ouuuuu," Daphne grinned. "That's either great news or horrible news by that look on your face. Which one?"
I stared at the ceiling. "She's beautiful. Feminine. Dangerous. Soft voice, toxic soul. Came with a whole entourage like she runs the school."
Daphne's grin got wider. "I like her already."
I sat up, frustrated. "Bro, I tried to be charming and she embarrassed me in front of the whole cafeteria."
"What did she say?"
"She said—and I quote—'I don't collect numbers, I collect experiences.' Like I was just….. an embarrassing experience she's adding to her cute little scrapbook."
Daphne burst out laughing. Full body laughter. Fell sideways on the couch.
"Oh my God," she gasped between laughs, "you got curb-stomped by a girl with lip gloss. That's art."
I groaned. "I hate you."
She wiped tears from her eyes. "No you don't. You love me. Anyway—you're definitely into her now."
I stayed silent. Which was basically admitting guilt.
Daphne smirked knowingly. "Mhm. Thought so."
I laid back again. "I don't even know why I'm pressed. She's literally mean. The nice kind of mean. The kind where you wanna hate her but you don't."
"That's called having bad taste in women," Daphne said like a doctor diagnosing a terminal illness. "You'll grow out of it. Hopefully."
"Unlikely," I muttered. "I'm already plotting my revenge arc."
Daphne raised an eyebrow. "Revenge? What are you gonna do—challenge her to a staring contest?"
"No," I said, sitting up straight, serious. "I'm gonna make her like me."
Silence.
Daphne blinked. "That's not revenge, idiot. That's flirting."
"yh whatever you call it buhh i think im up fr the run" i grinned
Later that evening…
Dinner rolled around, and I wasn't really in the mood to eat at home with Daphne still randomly breaking into laughter every five minutes over my "experience collection" moment. So I dipped to the diner spot just down the street—the usual chill hangout for students after school.
And of course, as fate would have it, that's where I bumped into Malik.
"Ayeee! If it isn't Mr. First Day Drip," Malik said, standing in line ahead of me, dapping me up like we'd been at war together. "Bro, you had the whole school cafeteria in a chokehold today."
I winced. "Please don't start."
"Nah nah, we gotta talk about this," Malik laughed, sliding his tray forward. "You tryna bag Zaria on your first day back? Mad respect. But."
"But what?"
He turned to face me, deadly serious. "But you forgot that Zaria is not normal."
"Oh, I noticed," I muttered.
"Bro," Malik lowered his voice like he was sharing national secrets, "Zaria's got that soft-but-scary vibe. She'll smile at you while stealing your wallet."
I raised a brow. "You say that like you speak from experience."
Malik's face went flat. "Don't ask me about that."
I couldn't help but laugh.
We grabbed our food and slid into one of the booths by the window. The city outside was busy, but inside it was just chill lighting and low conversation—perfect spot for post-embarrassment therapy.
"I'm telling you, bro," Malik said between mouthfuls of fries, "Zaria doesn't do relationships. She does chaos."
"I figured that out around the time she clowned me in front of her whole fan club."
"And you still wanna go back for more?"
I looked at him for a second, seriously thinking about it.
Then I nodded. "Yeah."
Malik stared at me like I was an unsolvable math problem. "You're different."
"I know."
"You're gonna get your feelings hurt."
"Probably."
Malik grinned. "I like your energy."
I smirked, shaking my head. "Nah. I'm not chasing her, bro. I'm gonna make her chase me. Just watch."
<
Malik let out a loud "HA!" like I just told the world's funniest joke. "Bro. Zaria doesn't chase. Zaria walks, and people fall."
"Then I'll make her trip."