Slap!
The sound echoed sharply in the quiet space.
Angela's hand trembled slightly as she pulled it back.
Her eyes burned, not with tears this time, but with anger and disbelief.
"Next time, you won't dare mess with Angela," she said sharply, her voice full of anger as she turned to leave.
But she didn't see Jerry who was walking toward her and bumped straight into him.
He stepped back slightly, his eyes widening as he took her in. "Wait… did you just slap him?" he asked, his voice a mix of surprise and disbelief. "And… you're here for the party? So… Fiona was right about you?"
He looked her up and down, clearly stunned. Angela could feel his gaze lingering, assessing her from head to toe. She could tell he was shocked that someone like her.. so fierce and unafraid, could also be this beautiful, confident, this sexy.
Angela said nothing. She pushed past him without a word, her heart beating fast, and hurried away before he could say anything else.
Angela rushed home that night, her steps quick and unsteady. She felt exhausted, both physically and emotionally.
Anger and regret battled within her.
Why did I slap him like that? she wondered, pacing around her small room. That was a bad idea… a really bad idea.
She dropped onto her bed, staring at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts.
What would Chris do when he saw her the next day at school?
Would he be angry?
Would he confront her?
Or worse… ignore her completely?
The thoughts kept circling in her mind until sleep slowly took over. Her chest tightened slightly as another thought followed.
But… at least he noticed me.
She swallowed hard.
He actually saw me… not just as another face in the crowd.
Her fingers clenched softly against the bedsheet.
He even tried to kiss me…
The memory made her heart beat faster, though she wasn't sure if it was from confusion, fear, or something else entirely.
Even if he was drunk… he still noticed me.
She closed her eyes slowly, her thoughts tangled between doubt and a fragile sense of hope.
The next day, Angela finished her punishment early.
She felt a little relieved. Mr. Matt had been kind and understanding, helping her whenever he could.
Afterward, she walked to her locker and carefully placed her books inside.
"Hey, Angela! Aren't we going to the sports field? You know today is games," Elsa called out, walking toward her.
"Really? Okay then," Angela replied with a smile, quickly closing her locker.
Together, they headed to the sports field.
The field was large and beautiful, filled with students and lively activities. Everything was well arranged, from the basketball court to the open spaces where students strolled and laughed. The atmosphere felt refreshing and full of energy.
They found a bench close to the basketball court and sat down.
On the court, Chris was playing with his friends. His movements were confident and effortless, drawing attention from almost everyone around.
Angela's eyes lingered on him for a moment before she spoke.
"Do you think I should apologize to Chris?" she asked, her voice filled with uncertainty. "About yesterday… I was really upset because of his attitude. I think he was drunk, that's why."
Elsa turned to her, slightly surprised.
"Really? Where did you even meet him yesterday?"
"At the party," Angela replied. "And I really don't like that Jerry, or whatever his name is."
Elsa nodded. "Jerry is kind of a bully. I don't like him either."
Angela looked back at the court, her gaze fixed on Chris. A small smile formed on her lips.
"You know… I really have a crush on him," she admitted quietly.
Elsa followed her gaze, then sighed.
"Yeah, he's cute," she said. "But Chris can be a bit full of himself sometimes. I don't want you to get hurt, Angela. It might be better if you just forget about him."
Angela shook her head gently.
"I didn't choose to feel this way," she said softly. "It just happened… I like him. I like everything about him…"
Her voice trailed off as she continued watching him play, her heart caught between doubt and something she couldn't quite explain.
"Sometimes, I think I dream too big. Who would ever want to love a poor girl… a bar dancer like me?"