I just need to breathe.
"What about me, nerd?" I rolled my eyes.
I clicked my tongue, "Our friendship was invalid a long time ago." I continued to my seat until
I heard a ping in the deadly silent cafeteria.
I knew who that was. My frown did a 180. I hurried, grabbing my phone.
—
"Are you still at lunch?" My alpha texted.
My fingers closed around the ring I always wore, thumb tracing its smooth, familiar surface. I held it tightly, the cool metal grounding me even as longing bubbled within me. I missed him already. I texted back, "Yeah."
He texted, "I wanted to talk about our date, but something came up."
My heart fluttered with anxiety as I shot back, "What is it?" I barely noticed my half-eaten food. Suddenly, my appetite vanished.
"Our date has to be postponed until next week, don't worry, I'll make it up to you with maybe some roses and chocolates on the beach".
An image painted itself in my mind, roses scattered on the sand, waves rolling near our feet, a shared chocolate melting on our tongues as the golden horizon swallowed the sun. I smiled, cheeks growing warm.
"Could watch the sunset then while eating chocolate." I smiled, feeling my face gradually getting hot.
"Whatever you like."
"Well, will you be able to come to my home at night?"
"No, all 7 days are going to be too far."
I huff absentmindedly, kicking my legs, "Okay, just don't get hurt. I already worry about it. You don't wanna give your omega a heart attack."
"Promise I won't, I love you."
"I love you, too." I texted back.
I tucked my phone away, mind drifting through daydreams of what could have been. My reverie shattered as my friends circled, curiosity gleaming in their eyes, trying to peek at my phone.
I snatched it away, shoving it deep into my pocket, feeling the heat crawl up my neck.
"Whoa, he's blushing?" I heard my friends say I shooed them away.
"Shut up." I tried to hide my face.
They laughed.
"So you did have a lover, that's the reason you could reject a beautiful girl, Uraraka," Iida said.
"Why didn't you tell us?!"
"I didn't need to, I told Uraraka, and that is the plan."
"Aren't we your friends? There should be trust between us."
"I don't feel the need to you guys," I said defensively.
"Uraraka, tell us what he's hiding."
"I don't have the right to expose our dear friend. If he tells you, don't tell anyone." She advised.
"Thank you." I smiled at her.
Lunch ended, the din fading as everyone filed out for their next class. Suddenly, a ripple of excitement moved through the hallways as rankings were being announced on the massive screen. I broke into a sprint, nerves thrumming in my chest.
Not in the hundreds… My pulse quickened. Not even in the top hundred. I scrolled, breath held.
The top fifty… Rank 39.
I did it.
Ecstasy erupted inside me like fireworks. I'd made it. All my training, every early morning and late night, had finally brought results. Somewhere, I knew All Might would be proud of me, too.