After what Tian said yesterday ("Anto's afraid of losing the competition... to his brother—"),
I've become... suspicious.
Very suspicious.
And that made me want to keep my distance from Anto for a bit, just so I could think clearly.
The result?
Complete chaos.
🔥 MORNING — Rina Avoids, Anto PanicsI walked into class without looking back.
Usually, Anto would shout:
"RINAAAAA! GOOD MORNING, MY LOVEEE~~!!"
But when I entered, the classroom was silent. I looked toward the back...
Anto was crouching under his own desk. Like a lost pet that had lost its sense of direction.
Tey whispered to me, "Rin... please talk to him. He's been hiding there for ages."
I approached him. "To?"
Anto crawled out slowly, hair messy, face pale.
"R-Rina... are you mad at me?"
"No."
"Do you hate me?"
"No."
"Do you want to break up—"
"WE ARE NOT DATING."
"Oh, right..."
He looked mentally defeated. I felt guilty... a little. Just a tiny bit.
🍜 BREAK TIME — Rina Goes to the Canteen Without Anto (A Fatal Mistake)Eli and I went to the canteen. Without Anto.
I'd only been ordering food for twenty seconds when...
ANTOOOO arrived, sprinting like a cop chasing a thief.
"RINAAAAAAAAAA! WHY DID YOU LEAVE WITHOUT MEEEEEE?!"
The entire canteen stared. I wanted to evaporate into dust.
"To... I just wanted to eat normally."
"EATING NORMALLY WITHOUT ME IS NOT NORMAL!!"
Eli nearly choked on her tea. I covered my face with my hands.
💥 The Squad Arrives for an "Emergency Love Meeting"Tey sat down, nudging Anto. Kane brought his books. Tian appeared with a meat bun from heaven-knows-where. Juke had his phone out, documenting everything.
"Rin, we've analyzed the situation," Kane said.
"And?"
Tey opened the floor with a serious tone: "You're keeping your distance... and Anto is basically dying."
"I'M NOT DYING! I'm just... slightly soul-crushed..." Anto whimpered.
Juke nodded. "He was pacing around the classroom earlier like a broken ceiling fan."
Tian added, "Then he tried to take a deep breath to calm down... and ended up with the hiccups."
Anto looked down at his feet. "Rina... if you're mad at me, that's fine... but don't stay mad for long... I'm fragile..."
I couldn't take it anymore. I scratched my head in frustration.
"I'm just thinking."
"Thinking about what?" they asked in unison.
I froze. I couldn't exactly say, "I'm thinking about why you liked me first," could I?
So, I just answered: "A lot of things."
Anto immediately clutched his chest. "She's thinking... about me!!!"
"NO."
"She's thinking about us!!!"
"NOT THAT EITHER."
"Hehe, yeah, yeah, you're just shy," Tey said with a wink.
I wanted to bolt to the school rooftop.
📘 AFTER SCHOOL — Anto Follows Rina (Unsuccessfully)I was walking home with Eli. After only a few steps—the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind us.
Tap tap tap tap tap—
I turned around.
ANTOOOO was trying to hide behind a telephone pole. He whispered loudly, "I'm not following you, okay! I'm just... passing by. Exactly... behind you."
I slapped my forehead. "To... if you want to walk with me, just walk with me. Don't hide."
Anto popped out from behind the pole like a wild Pokémon.
"Okay, I'm coming! Because love—"
"I'm leaving if you say 'love' one more time."
"—because... have you eaten yet?"
I glared. "FINE."
📚 At the School Gate — Enter AdrianJust as we reached the gate, Adrian walked by, bag slung over his shoulder. He saw me and approached.
"Rina. Going home? Want a ride?"
I opened my mouth—
Anto immediately jumped in front of me like a bodyguard.
"NOOOO! I mean... she already... has company!"
Adrian raised an eyebrow. "You?" He pointed at Anto.
Anto stood tall. "YES! ME! HER OFFICIAL ETERNAL COMPANION—OW!"
I pinched his arm hard.
Adrian gave a small laugh. "You two are funny. If you need help with the assignment, let me know."
He walked away. Anto immediately dropped to his knees dramatically.
"WHYYYYY DOES HE KEEP SHOWING UP AT CRITICAL MOMENTS FOR MY LOOOOOVEEEE?!"
"We aren't dating, Anto."
"BUT MY HEART IS."
I was speechless.
❤️ Rina Starts to Realize Something…Back at home, I stared at my phone for a long time.
It wasn't a message from Adrian. It wasn't any notification at all. It was just what Tian said yesterday:
"Anto's afraid of losing the competition..."
And the look of sheer panic on Anto's face every time Adrian appeared.
And the way he followed me around like a lost puppy.
And the way he crumbled the moment I pulled away.
I hugged my pillow tight.
"Don't tell me... he liked me long before that bet..."
My heart made a strange thumping sound. I was restless. Annoyed. Confused.
But happy.
Dammit. Why am I acting like this?