The next day, the real chaos began: deciding roles.
The blackboard was already a mess of names and arrows, groups forming for props, costumes, lighting, and script editing. Everyone wanted to pitch in somehow, and the energy was buzzing. But the biggest question was still hanging in the air: *who would be the leads of the play?*
"We need someone confident!" the class rep announced, slapping a piece of chalk against her palm.
"No, we need someone who can act natural!" another student argued.
"Forget that—pick someone the audience will actually enjoy watching," a boy from the back added with a laugh.
That's when someone shouted, "Eli should do it!"
Eli's head snapped up so fast his chair squeaked. "What? No way!"
"Yes way," his friend shot back with a grin. "You're super expressive. You'd pull it off."
"Expressive? That's just another word for *making stupid faces*!" Eli protested, throwing his arms in the air. But his words were drowned out by laughter.
The class rep only smiled slyly and scanned the room again. "And for the other lead…" She paused dramatically, letting the silence build before pointing with her chalk. "Kai."
The reaction was instant.
"Yes! Perfect!"
"Eli and Kai together? That's too good!"
"Ohhh, imagine them in a *romantic play*—that would kill!"
Eli nearly toppled out of his chair. "WAIT—why me and him?!"
"Because it works," someone teased.
"Don't fight it, Eli. The audience will love you two."
Eli's ears burned so hot they felt like they'd catch fire. He turned sharply toward Kai, desperate. "Say something! Tell them you don't want to!"
But Kai didn't look the least bit flustered. Sitting calmly in his seat, he rested his elbow on the desk, chin in his hand. His dark eyes met Eli's, steady and unreadable. For a long second, he just looked at him, as if weighing something silently.
Then, with the smallest curve of his lips, Kai said, "I don't mind."
The classroom erupted. Cheers, laughter, and teasing filled the air, bouncing off the walls. Someone even started chanting their names together, which only made the noise louder.
Eli groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I'm doomed," he muttered into his palms.
When he peeked through his fingers, Kai was still looking at him—calm, almost amused, like this was all unfolding exactly how he expected. That faint smile of his hadn't left.
And the worst part? Eli's heart wouldn't stop racing.
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