After that super fail acting scene at drama club, I just wanted to disappear. Like, Poof! Goodbye, Yeli. But of course, the chaos of my day wasn't over yet.
"Yeli," River called out while I was walking to the gate. "Where are you going?"
"Home. To reflect on my bad life decisions," I answered without even looking at him.
"Come on," he said, walking beside me like he was part of my choices. "There's a new milk tea spot across the street. Let's go."
I stopped. "Wait—are you asking me out?"
River raised an eyebrow. "Wow, you're full of yourself. It's not a date, loser. I'm treating you because you look pathetic today."
"Thanks, I guess?" I replied, though deep inside… butterflies. Wrong. I'm just hungry. Not feelings.
At the milk tea shop, we sat in the farthest corner. Quiet. Peaceful. I thought it was just normal bonding. Then suddenly...
"Yeli," River leaned in, resting his chin on his hand. "Do you really like Kairo?"
I choked on my pearls—the ones in the drink, not actual jewelry.
"W-What?!" I almost screamed. "What kind of question is that?!"
"Nothing," he shrugged. "You stare at him like you're decoding the universe. And you blush when he talks."
I blinked. "Are you observing me?!"
He grinned. "Nah. I just notice things."
Ugh! That smile. That smirk. That smug, messy, annoying River smile.
"How about you? Do you like—" I stopped because he suddenly started drinking his milk tea like he was in Fast & Furious. "Don't change the topic!"
"Why?" he said, flicking a pearl at me playfully. "Jealous?"
"Of what?!" I said, wiping my shirt. "Your zero brain cells?"
He laughed. Like, full-on laughed. And okay, kind of annoying because—why did it sound… cute?
"Just admit it," he leaned closer. "You enjoy being with me."
I froze. Why did his voice sound like that? Why didn't it feel like a joke anymore?
I looked him straight in the eye, hand tightening around my cup. "You're weird."
He smiled again. This time, softer. "You're weirder."
Then silence. A weirdly comfortable silence. Until, of course, I ruined the moment.
"River," I said. "If you throw one more pearl at me, I will launch this whole drink at your face."
He flicked another one. "Bet."
So I did.
SPLASH!
Milk tea all over his hair, hoodie, and face.
He blinked, and I gasped.
Sheesh!
"RIVER, I—OH MY GOD—"
Then he just—laughed. Like full belly laugh. No shame.
"I deserved that," he said, wiping his face. "But at least now I know. You really don't like Kairo."
I gaped. "What?! Why would—WHAT—I DID NOT SAY THAT!"
He winked again. "You didn't have to."
So yeah, after I milk tea-baptized River—and he laughed like a total weirdo—we were walking back to campus. No more milk tea. No more dignity. Cool.
"Aren't you mad?" I asked, head down. Because hello, he still had pearls in his hair.
"Mad?" he said. "Yeli, I've been slapped with a fish before at theater camp. Milk tea is nothing."
I stopped. "Wait, what?"
"Long story," he shrugged. "Point is, chill. Your reaction was kinda cute."
CUTE?
My brain is glitching.
"Anyway," he continued, "thanks for the free shower."
"I hate you," I muttered.
"No, you don't."
And my brain? Full stop again.
"What makes you so sure?" I asked, trying to sound cool, but my voice wavered. Oops.
He looked at me—seriously this time. No smirk. No teasing.
"Because you don't look at me the way you look at Kairo," he said. "You fight me. You roll your eyes. But you never avoid me."
I blinked.
Wait… what?
"And besides," he added, grinning again, "you only waste milk tea on people you care about, right?"
"Shut up," I muttered, as we approached the gate. My heart? Still malfunctioning.
Then suddenly, someone threw their arm around me from behind.
"Yeli!"
It was—Kairo?
Of course. The moment I'm about to process all this emotional confusion, he shows up like a plot twist.
"Miss Liora's looking for you at the drama club," he said. "We're reshooting the final scene."
River raised an eyebrow, stepping back. "Final scene? The confession part?"
"Yeah," Kairo said. Then looked at me. "You ready, Yeli?"
And I just—panicked.
"Uhh... yeah, sure, let's go," I said, quickly stepping away from River.
But before I could walk away, I heard River—soft, barely a whisper.
"Break a leg, actress."
I turned to look at him. He wasn't smiling.
And for some reason, that hit harder than any milk tea splash ever.
'_'