Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 1: The Queen, the Cat, and the Observer ๐๐โโฌ๐
(Akari's Perspective)
The only moment of peace in Akari Hoshino's (ๆ้) day was this one. Here, on the cold concrete steps of the apartment complex, far from the noisy hallways and curious glances of Seiryo Academy, she could let her guard down, if only for a little. Crouching, her uniform skirt carefully folded so it wouldn't get dirty, her fingers tangled in the soft, orange fur of Tama, the stray cat who had self-proclaimed king of this small territory.
The furious murmur she had been muttering all the way from school faded away with the feline's deep, vibrating purr. ๐ It was a sound that calmed the chaos in her head.
"Idiots..." she whispered, scratching behind his ears just the way he liked. The word was aimed at the anonymous horde of her classmates. The latest rumor had reached her during lunch, courtesy of Yumi. Apparently, the new transfer student, an Argentinian, was a "big shot" and was coming to "challenge her for control of the school."
Control? Akari almost snorted again. What control? The "control" that made people get out of her way? The "control" that meant no one dared to speak to her unless it was absolutely necessary? It wasn't control; it was isolation. A moat she had dug herself that people now mistook for a throne. Her nickname, the "Tempest Queen" (ๅตใฎๅฅณ็) โ๏ธ, was a burden she had learned to wear like armor. At first, it protected her. Now, sometimes, it felt like a cage. But it was her cage. And she didn't need some foreign idiot trying to get into it.
Her gaze fell on the two ceramic bowls next to the stairs. One with a small mountain of kibble, the other with clean, fresh water. She hadn't put them there. They had been there for a couple of days. Her first reaction had been annoyance. Who was encroaching on her territory? On her secret routine with Tama?
But then, Mrs. Tanaka, the elderly woman from 3B, had seen her that very morning. "Ah, Akari-chan, it's so nice that you take care of Tama too," she had said with a wrinkled smile. "The new tenant in 301 is a very kind boy, isn't he? He always makes sure Tama has fresh food and water."
The contradiction made her frown, a crease forming between her eyebrows. ๐ค The "challenge." The "big shot." Was he a boy who stopped to feed a stray cat? It didn't make sense. Bullies didn't do things like that. Rivals didn't care about animals.
Tama rubbed against her hand, purring louder, demanding more attention. Akari gave in, scratching under his chin, losing herself for a moment in the simple, honest need of the animal. There were no judgments here, no rumors, no expectations. Just the warmth of a small, furry body and a purr that fixed everything.
It was in moments like these that she hated returning to reality. A reality that, unbeknownst to her, was about to be interrupted by the sound of sneakers coming down the stairs.
(Switch to Ender's Perspective)
Ender Flor walked down the stairs with the unhurried ease of someone with nowhere to be. The afternoon sun reminded him of the sunsets back in Argentina. He was about to reach the last landing when he saw her. And he stopped.
Leaning against the railing, he watched the scene. She was a tall girl, almost as tall as him, with a presence that filled the space. But what took his breath away was the contrast. On one side of her head, intricate, rebellious braids close to her scalp screamed defiance ๐ค. The rest of her hair, a deep gold ๐ with hints of pastel purple ๐, fell softly to the other side, framing a face of almost insulting beauty, even though it was currently adorned with a frown.
She was the girl he had heard about. The Tempest Queen.
But the image didn't fit. Because that girl, with her punk hairstyle and intimidating aura, was petting a stray cat with a tenderness and delicacy that completely betrayed her. Her long fingers moved through the animal's fur with a softness that belied the stiffness of her posture. She was a puzzle ๐งฉ. A beautiful, stormy puzzle. And Ender, a smile forming on his lips, knew he had to talk to her. He decided to start with a joke. ๐
(Switch to Akari's Perspective)
The sound of sneakers on concrete pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up, ready to shoot a sharp glare ๐ at whoever it was, and she froze for a moment.
It was him. She didn't know him, but she knew it was him. The famous transfer student.
His height rivaled hers, which was rare. The school uniform, usually baggy, failed to completely hide an athletic, well-built frame. His hair was an undercut with a controlled mess on top, jet black sprinkled with strands of a surprising pastel blue ๐ง, a touch of rebellion that competed with her own. And then there was his face. He didn't look like a bully. In fact, he had a lopsided smile and a relaxed, almost lazy expression that disarmed and irritated her in equal parts.
The boy stopped a couple of steps above her and, instead of looking intimidated by her frown, his smile widened slightly. He looked at the cat, who was now ignoring Akari to sniff his sneakers, and then back at her.
"I see you've met the real boss around here," he said.
The voice. It was different from anything she'd heard at school. It had a strange musicality to it, a foreign accent that softened the edges of the Japanese words. And it was filled with a confidence that instantly put her on the defensive.
Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 2: The First Clash ๐ฅ (Extended Version)
Akari shot to her feet, a movement so abrupt and sudden that Tama himself jumped and scurried away. It was as if she'd been hit with an electric shock. She'd been caught! She'd been seen in her only moment of weakness, when the Tempest Queen (ๅตใฎๅฅณ็) was nothing more than Akari Hoshino, a girl who liked cats.
She snatched her hand away from Tama, as if the soft fur had suddenly burned her. She brushed off her skirt with unnecessary roughness, a useless gesture to recompose a dignity she felt was in tatters. A stupid heat crept up her neck, spreading to her cheeks. She hated it with every fiber of her being. ๐ณ
She crossed her arms over her chest, her default defensive move. It was her shield, her barrier against the world. She tried to regain her composure, to summon that aura of threatening indifference that had taken so long to build. The mask of the Tempest Queen had to be put back in place, and fast.
"What's it to you?" she snapped. Her voice, usually a sharp weapon, came out a little higher-pitched than she intended. "I was... I was just making sure he wasn't causing any trouble." The excuse sounded weak and pathetic even to her own ears. Trouble? The cat that had been dozing peacefully? She gestured with her head toward the food bowls, a disdainful motion that failed to hide her nervousness. "Whatever, it's none of your business."
She expected him to be intimidated. To apologize with a nervous bow. To leave. That's how things worked. She bared her teeth, and others backed down.
But, of course, he didn't. Ender just let out a soft chuckle, a playful, relaxed sound that was like a small needle popping her bubble of anger. It wasn't a mocking laugh, but one of pure amusement.
"Shh, shh, shh ๐คญ," he said, a sound that completely threw her off. Then, he pointed with his chin to the Seiryo Academy emblem on his uniform, identical to hers. "Looks like it is kinda my business, since we're wearing the same school uniform. We're on the same team, aren't we?"
Akari was speechless for a second. He had cornered her with such simple, crushing logic that she didn't know what to say. Before she could formulate an insult, he took a step down, closing the distance between them, and his hand landed on her shoulder.
It was a friendly touch. Casual. And for Akari, it was an invasion.
She tensed as if struck by lightning. โก She flinched violently and jerked away, slapping Ender's hand off her as if it were a venomous spider. Who did he think he was, touching her with such confidence?! Nobody touched her!
"D-don't touch me so casually, you idiot!" she hissed, taking a step back to create a safe distance. Her heart was pounding, a mixture of indignation and a panic she didn't understand. ๐ข
Ender held up his hands in a universal gesture of peace, still smiling. He didn't look offended, but rather amused by her explosive reaction. "Come on, it's getting late," he said, and his tone shifted, becoming playful, challenging. "Last one there is a rotten egg."
Akari's violet eyes narrowed into slits. There it was. The challenge the rumors spoke of. It wasn't for control of the school. It was something much simpler, and at that moment, much more personal. The humiliation of being caught, the annoyance at his unwavering confidence, the fury at his casual touch... it all channeled into a single point. A challenge. To her.
A dry laugh, devoid of any humor, escaped her lips. "Rotten egg...?" she repeated, savoring the word. Competitive adrenaline drowned out the panic. She lifted her chin, looking down at him with all the superiority she could muster. "Who are you calling a rotten egg, transfer student?! You'll be the one eating my dust!" ๐ค
Without waiting for his response, she spun on her heel. Her hairstyle of tight braids and loose hair swung with the sharp movement. She took off, her legs moving with a speed practiced over years of P.E. classes.
"Loser buys the winner lunch for a week!" she yelled over her shoulder, the wind carrying her words. A crooked, defiant smile finally appeared on her face. The adrenaline was intoxicating. ๐ "You'd better not cry when you lose, neighbor! ๐"
Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 3: The Bicycle Lesson ๐ฒ
Akari ran as if her life depended on it. The asphalt flew under her loafers at full speed, and the wind whistled in her ears, a sound that was music to her competitive spirit. A smug smile, genuine and a little wild, spread across her face. Ha! That transfer student didn't stand a chance. He might be athletic, but she was fast. She always had been. She could already taste victory, the sweet nectar of seeing the look of defeat on his confident face. And, of course, a whole week of free lunches.
She was so immersed in her fantasy of triumph that it took her a moment to register the other sound. It wasn't the sound of her determined footsteps on the sidewalk. It wasn't the sound of her ragged breath. It was a new, constant, metallic sound. A soft... whirring.
At first, she ignored it, thinking it was a distant car. But the sound grew louder, closer. It was the soft, rhythmic click of a bicycle chain. ๐ฒ
She glanced back slightly, not wanting to lose speed, her breath already burning in her lungs. And then, her jaw nearly unhinged. ๐คฏ
Ender passed her. Not running. Pedaling.
He glided past her on a light-looking bicycle, with an exasperating calm, almost effortlessly. The wind gently tousled his light-blue streaks as he gave her that same lopsided, cheeky grin. There wasn't a drop of sweat on his brow.
And then, to add insult to injury, he spoke.
"Shh, shh, shh ๐คญ๐ come on, sweetheart, we're almost there."
The word "sweetheart" hit her with the force of a brick.
Akari skidded to a halt, her loafers screeching sharply on the asphalt. The momentum nearly made her trip, and she had to flail her arms to keep her balance. She stood there, in the middle of the sidewalk, panting. Her lungs burned from the useless effort, and her heart, which a second before had been pounding with the adrenaline of the race, now hammered in her chest with pure, white-hot fury.
"SWEET... HEART...?" she repeated, spelling out each syllable with icy venom. She felt all the blood in her body rush to her face, dyeing it a furious red. If looks could kill, he would have dropped dead on the spot. ๐ก
She pointed a trembling finger at Ender's back as he calmly rode away.
"YOU! YOU CHEATER!" she screamed, her voice breaking with indignation and shortness of breath. "THAT'S CHEATING! THE CHALLENGE WAS A RUNNING RACE, YOU IDIOT! ๐จ"
She kicked the air hard, an explosion of helpless frustration. Her hairstyle! Her dignity! Her all-but-certain victory! All ruined by this... this cheater with a bicycle!
"AND DON'T YOU EVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN, YOU SCOUNDREL! DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH?!" her scream echoed down the quiet morning street. But he was already turning the corner, probably without even hearing her, or worse, hearing her and laughing.
She stood there, alone in the middle of the street, her body trembling slightly from the effort and anger. The hair that had come loose from her hairstyle now fell across her face, stuck by a thin layer of sweat. The expression on her face was a storm of complete and utter humiliating defeat. ๐ข
"Aaaaaargh..." she growled, clenching her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. "That... that guy... You're going to pay for this, Ender Flor! I swear you're going to pay!"
And with that promise echoing in her head, she began to walk at a fast, furious pace toward the school. She wasn't running anymore. Now, she was marching. And with every step, her mind schemed a thousand and one ways to make him pay for this affront. And for calling her "sweetheart." Especially for that. ๐
Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 4: The First Battle at the Gates
I arrived at the gates of Seiryo Academy with a deeper frown than ever and a dark aura that made the first-year students part ways for me. ๐ฟ And there you were. Leaning against the wall, your bike locked up nearby, and that smug expression that made me grind my teeth.
"You're late, sweetheart," you said, emphasizing that word that made my blood boil.
I strode toward you, stopping just a step away. My height allowed me to look you directly in the eye.
"First of all," I began, poking your chest with an index finger. "You're a cheater for using your bike, it was supposed to be a fair race." My voice was a low, dangerous hiss. "And second of all..."
My finger pressed harder.
"Call me that again and I swear I'll take that bike of yours apart piece by piece and use the spokes to puncture your tires for life," I threatened, every word laced with venom. ๐
I was about to unleash my entire repertoire of insults on you when you spoke first. You calmly held up a hand, as if stopping traffic, and a mocking smile played on your lips.
"First of all," you began, and you gave me a gentle tap on the forehead with your index finger, making me recoil in surprise. "We never specified the rules. Running was your assumption. A smart racer knows the terrain and uses their tools." Your voice was relaxed, but there was an unmistakable challenging tone to it. "And second of all..."
You leaned in a little, bringing your face close to mine, and your smile widened.
"...You owe me lunch for a week. Sweetheart." ๐
I froze. ๐ฅถ The audacity... The sheer, absolute audacity! My brain scrambled to find a comeback, an insult sharp enough to cut through that confidence of yours, but I was speechless. I felt a nervous twitch in my eyelid.
Just at that moment of maximum tension, the bell rang, shrill, announcing the welcome assembly. The courtyard began to empty around us. And to make matters worse, the imposing figure of Mr. Tanaka, the head of discipline, appeared in the doorway. His hawk-like gaze located us immediately.
"You two! What are you waiting for? A personal invitation? To the auditorium, now! And break it up, you're not on a date!" he bellowed.
The mention of a "date" sent a fresh surge of blood to my cheeks. How embarrassing! ๐ณ
"Tch..." was all I managed to articulate. I shot one last murderous glare in your direction, one that promised a slow and painful revenge. "This isn't over, Flor," I hissed your last name like a curse.
I turned so abruptly my braid almost slapped you and stalked toward the auditorium, feeling your amused gaze fixed on my back. I dropped into an isolated seat at the back, crossing my arms tightly.
From my seat, I watched you enter and sit a few rows ahead with a group of boys who already seemed to be laughing with you. My frown deepened. So not only were you a cheater and a scoundrel, but you also made friends with insulting ease.
Everything about this Ender Flor was... exasperating. ๐ค And the worst part of it all was that I now owed him lunch. For a whole week. It was going to be a very, very long week.
Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 5: Hostile Territory
The assembly was an endless torture. The principal gave a speech that seemed recycled from the previous year, and the student council president spoke with an enthusiasm so fake it made me want to vomit. ๐คฎ The entire time, I felt your presence a few rows ahead, though I refused to look in your direction.
Finally, the bell released us, and we headed to our new classrooms. To my absolute and utter dismay, when I walked into class 2-B, I saw you there. You were standing next to an empty desk at the back, near the window... right next to mine.
Fate, it seemed, had a very cruel sense of humor. ๐
The teacher had us introduce ourselves. When it was your turn, you stood up with that relaxed confidence of yours.
"Hey everyone, I'm Ender Flor. I transferred from Argentina. I like calisthenics, video games, and cats. I hope we can get along," you said with an easy smile that seemed to charm half the class.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye several girls whispering among themselves, blushing. I rolled my eyes. So predictable.
When it was my turn, I stood up reluctantly. "I'm Hoshino Akari. Don't bother me, and we'll get along fine," I bit out before sitting back down. The whispering stopped. Good.
The first class, literature, began. I was trying to concentrate on an ancient poem, frowning to decipher the complex characters. A strand of my bangs, which had come loose from my braid during the morning's "race," fell over my eye, annoying me. I pushed it away with an impatient gesture, but it fell back. I tried again, irritated.
"Tch..." I muttered under my breath. Just as I was about to push it away for the third time, a hand appeared in my peripheral vision.
Before I could react, your surprisingly gentle fingers brushed the rebellious strand aside and tucked it delicately behind my ear. โจ
...My entire body went completely rigid. A short circuit. โก
I felt the brush of your fingertips against my temple and my ear, a fleeting contact that seemed to burn my skin and last an eternity. My breath caught in my lungs. No one... no one touched me like that. Ever. People kept their distance, either out of fear or respect for my bad temper.
I whipped around in my seat, my eyes wide and a furious retort ready on the tip of my tongue. But I found you already looking at your own book, with a completely neutral expression, as if you had just pushed a stray pencil back onto my desk. There was no trace of mockery, no flirting... just a simple, direct act.
The lack of malicious intent completely disarmed me, which only enraged me more. ๐
"What do you think you're doing?!" I hissed in a fierce whisper, leaning over the aisle that separated us.
You turned your head slowly and gave me a small, quiet smile. "Huh? Your hair was bothering you," you replied with a simplicity so crushing it left me speechless. "This way you can concentrate."
And with that, you returned to your reading. ๐คฏ
I was left gaping, staring at you. I wanted to scream, I wanted to hit you, I wanted... I didn't know what I wanted. I slumped back into my chair, feeling a furious heat on the cheek you had brushed. ๐ณ I spent the rest of the class in a state of daze and indignation, unable to concentrate at all.
Later, at lunch...
I sat at our usual table on the rooftop with my only two friends, Yumi and Hana. Yumi, with her short hair and mischievous eyes, was already devouring her bento. Hana, calmer and more observant, sipped her tea quietly.
"I can't believe that idiot is in our class," I grumbled, stabbing a piece of omelet with my chopsticks. "And sitting next to me, no less."
Yumi swallowed and smirked. "Oh, we saw. We saw how the 'idiot' touched your hair," she said, mimicking the gesture with a flourish. "It looked like a scene from a shลjo manga. So romantic~ ๐"
"It wasn't romantic!" I snapped, slamming my hand on the table and making the chopsticks rattle. "It was... an invasion of my personal space! An act of subtle aggression!"
Hana put down her cup and smiled gently. "Akari, I think this is the first time I've seen someone who not only isn't afraid of you, but completely ignores your bad mood. It's... refreshing."
"It's not refreshing, it's exasperating!" I protested, though I felt my cheeks heat up again. "First he beats me by cheating, then he calls me 'sweetheart,' and now... now he touches me like it's nothing. Like he has the right!" ๐ข
"And you owe him lunch," Yumi reminded me, poking me in the side. "It's going to be very hard to maintain your 'untouchable bad girl' reputation if you have to go buy him yakisoba bread every day." She laughed. "Hey, what if he asks you to feed him? You know, 'say ahhh'? Shh shh shh ๐คญ"
"YUMI!" I yelled, completely flushed and mortified. ๐ก
I covered my face with my hands. They were insufferable. But deep down, beneath all the anger and embarrassment, a small part of me was confused. His actions didn't fit the image of the rival I had built in my head. They were... kind. And that, more than anything else, was what I found absolutely terrifying.
Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 6: The Invasion of Personal Space
The rest of the day passed in a haze of resentment. Every time I felt a gaze in my direction, I assumed it was yours and refused to turn, keeping my back stiff and my eyes forward. Every laugh I heard in the hallway, I took personally. I was on high alert, and it was exhausting. ๐ฉ
The final bell rang, a blessing that signaled the end of the school day. I gathered my things with record speed, nearly forcing the books into my backpack.
"See you tomorrow, Akari!" said Hana with her usual calm.
"Don't forget your lunch date tomorrow~" Yumi chanted, narrowly dodging the swing I took at her with my bag. "Shh shh shh! ๐คญ"
"Shut up!" I snapped, though without the usual force. I was too tired to argue.
I hurried out of the classroom, hoping to escape before you could intercept me. If you didn't see me, maybe you'd forget about the stupid deal. I strode across the courtyard, my mind already savoring the peace of my apartment.
"Hey, Hoshino-san!"
That voice. That relaxed accent. I stopped dead in my tracks, gripping my bag's strap so tightly my knuckles turned white. Slowly, as if in a horror movie, I turned around.
You were there, a few feet away, your backpack slung over one shoulder and an expression of genuine curiosity on your face.
"You were leaving without paying today's debt," you said, not as an accusation, but as a simple observation.
I snorted. "Lunch is over, in case you hadn't noticed. You'll have to wait until tomorrow." It was a weak excuse, but it was all I had.
You shrugged and walked closer. "Well, but the deal started today. So you owe me a drink from the vending machine, at least. It's only fair, don't you think?"
I stared at you, dumbfounded. The logic was irritatingly solid. Defeated, I let out a grunt and stalked over to the row of vending machines near the entrance. I pulled out my coin purse with jerky movements, dropped the coins in with more force than necessary, and pressed the button for a random barley tea.
The can dropped with a thud. I bent down to pick it up, and as I stood, my bag became unbalanced and slipped off my shoulder. Books, notebooks, and my pencil case spilled all over the ground with a chaotic clatter. ๐ซ
"Dammit!" I exclaimed, feeling a wave of humiliation.
I knelt immediately, beginning to gather my things with clumsy anger. Before I could grab more than one notebook, you were already crouching in front of me, calmly picking up my belongings. You retrieved my pencils that had rolled under the machine, stacked my books, and picked up the case.
You held everything out to me in a neat pile. Our fingers brushed as I took the books, and I snatched my hand back as if I'd been burned. ๐ฅ
"Th-..." I started to say out of sheer habit, but I cut myself off instantly.
You smiled slightly, took the can of tea from my hands, and opened it with a click. You looked at it for a second, tilting your head.
"Hmm, barley tea," you said, thoughtfully. You took a small sip, and your expression changed to one of mild dislike. "Well, I'm not really a fan of this, to be honest."
My brow furrowed. Were you now complaining about the payment for your own debt? I was about to let loose a scathing retort, but then you looked at me, and your smile softened, becoming a bit more genuine.
"But..." you continued, raising the can in a small toast. "...I guess if a cute girl gives it to you, the least you can do is drink it." ๐
My brain short-circuited. Again. It came to a complete stop.
Cu... cute girl? ๐ณ
I felt as if all the blood in my body had rushed to my face. My ears were burning. My mouth opened and closed a couple of times, but no sound came out. It was as if you had cast a silencing spell on me.
You just chuckled, a soft, genuine laugh. "See you tomorrow for lunch. Don't be late," you said, and this time, it didn't sound like an order, but almost like an invitation.
And with that, you turned and walked away calmly, occasionally sipping from the can of tea you clearly disliked, leaving me there, kneeling on the ground, my things in my lap and my face the color of a ripe tomato. ๐
I stared at your back as you walked away, completely disarmed. It hadn't been a taunt. It hadn't been an insult. It had been... a compliment. A direct, unfiltered, and totally unexpected compliment.
I stood up, dusted off my skirt, and shoved everything into my bag with a confused fury. This boy... this Ender Flor... was a walking contradiction. A kind cheater. A sincere scoundrel.
And he had just called me cute.
"Idiot..." I whispered to the air, but this time, the word was completely devoid of venom. It sounded more like a sigh of surrender. ๐คโค๏ธ
Chapter 1: The Argentinian and the Queen
Part 7: An Unexpected Compliment
The walk home felt strangely long. My steps, usually firm and decisive, today seemed to echo with uncertainty on the pavement. Every few moments, that transfer student's words would pop back into my mind uninvited.
"...if a cute girl gives it to you..."
I shook my head hard, as if to ward off an annoying mosquito. Idiot! It was just a line! A cheap tactic to fluster me! And yet, I felt a residual heat in my cheeks that refused to disappear. ๐ณ
I reached the entrance of the apartment complex. There were the stairs where I had met him, where the cat Tama was now sleeping peacefully, probably with a full stomach thanks to him. I climbed the steps, passing by his apartment door. And then, I stopped.
There was something new. A small, polished metal plate next to the doorbell. In elegant script, it read a last name that was now irritatingly familiar to me: Flor.
I stared at the name for a moment. Flor. It was a... soft name. It didn't fit at all with the cheeky, cheating boy who had beaten me in a race, touched my hair without permission, and called me cute, all in the same day. The contradiction was... confusing.
"Tch. What a stupid name," I muttered to myself, though the phrase lacked conviction. I looked away and hurried to my own apartment door, just a few steps away.
I put the key in the lock and went inside. "I'm home..." I said softly, taking off my shoes in the genkan. The delicious aroma of curry coming from the kitchen told me my mother was in her element.
"Welcome home, Akari!" I heard her cheerful voice. "Put your things down, dinner is almost ready. How was your first day?"
"It was fine," I answered automatically, walking into the living room to drop my bag. My mind was still elsewhere, replaying the day's events.
My mother came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. She's a woman with a perpetual smile and eyes that, to my misfortune, saw far too much. She stopped in front of me and tilted her head.
"Oh my... Are you okay, honey? Your cheeks are very red," she observed, moving closer and narrowing her eyes. "Did you run all the way home or something?"
I tensed up. Damn it! I was still blushing! "N-no! It's just hot outside! The sun was strong!" I defended myself, waving a hand in front of my face as if to fan myself. The excuse sounded weak even to me. ๐ซ
My mother didn't seem convinced. She brought a hand to her chin, with a mischievous look I knew all too well. A slow, teasing smile spread across her face.
"Hmmmm..." she hummed. "Or could it be that my little, grumpy Akari... has finally gotten herself a boyfriend on the first day of school?" ๐
The world stopped.
"WHAT?! WH-WH-WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT, MOM?!" I exploded, feeling my face go from red to scarlet in a second. ๐ "DON'T SAY SUCH STUPID THINGS! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE! ABSURD!"
"It was just a joke, just a joke..." she said, holding up her hands in surrender, though she couldn't hide the laughter in her eyes.
"WELL, IT'S NOT FUNNY!" I yelled, completely mortified. I grabbed my bag from the couch and stomped towards my bedroom. "I'M GOING TO MY ROOM! DON'T BOTHER ME!"
I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, my heart beating a mile a minute. I slid to the floor, hugging my knees. A boyfriend? Me? With that guy? The idea was ridiculous!
And yet... as I looked at my reflection in the dark mirror of my closet, my cheeks still burning, the only word that echoed in the silence of my room was... cute.
"Ender Flor..." I whispered his full name, as if it were a curse. "I really... hate you." ๐ค