They walked through the gates and were immediately greeted by a wall of noise. A large crowd had gathered near the main fountain, blocking the path.
Students were standing on tiptoes and holding up phones to record whatever was happening in the center.
"Oh my god," a girl near them squealed, grabbing her friend's arm. "Is he seriously proposing? On the first day?"
"That's so romantic," the friend replied, looking jealous.
Luis raised an eyebrow. Proposing? In high school? These rich kids really lived in a different world.
He felt the twins squeeze his arms, their curiosity piquing despite the nervousness.
"You guys want to go see?" he asked, nodding toward the crowd. "Might as well see what the fuss is about."
They pushed their way through the sea of students. It wasn't easy since everyone was trying to get a better view, but he managed to carve a path for his sisters. When they finally broke through to the front, the scene looked like something out of a cheesy drama.
A guy was on one knee in front of the fountain. He was undeniably good-looking with sharp features and blonde hair that looked perfectly styled. He held a massive bouquet of red roses in one hand and a small velvet box in the other.
"No way," a girl next to them whispered loudly. "That's Julian. I can't believe he's actually doing it."
"He's crazy," her friend replied, eyes wide. "But he looks so good. Look at that suit. That's custom Armani."
Julian wasn't just some random student. He was apparently a big deal.
"He's top of the class and his dad owns half the city," a guy behind Luis muttered to someone else. "If he gets rejected then there is no hope for the rest of us."
"Who is he proposing to?" Lulu whispered, standing on her tiptoes to see past Julian.
Luis looked across the gap. Standing there was a girl who was easily the best looking person there. She was tall with long black hair, but it was her figure that drew the eye.
The white blazer was buttoned tight across her chest, and the skirt seemed painted on, highlighting her curved hips and backside perfectly. She was stunning, sure, but she looked completely unimpressed by the grand gesture.
"That's Alice," someone gasped. "The Ice Queen herself."
"She's perfect," another guy said, sounding like he was in a trance. "Perfect grades and Student Council President... she is totally out of his league."
"How is she out of his league?" the girl from before snapped. "Julian is perfect too. They're literally the power couple of the second years. If they don't get together then love isn't real."
"She's just... different," the guy argued. "She rejected the captain of the basketball team last week without even looking up from her book."
The crowd kept buzzing, listing off achievements like they were reading resumes. Top grades, wealthy families and perfect genetics. It was a worship session for two people who hadn't even spoken yet.
Luis watched with a flat look. She was objectively stunning, but he felt nothing. No rapid heartbeat or sudden urge to recite poetry, she was just another girl.
'Why do they make such a big deal out of this?' he thought and glanced at the timer still floating in his vision. 'I have bigger problems than high school romance.'
Two guys behind him started arguing before Julian even opened his mouth.
"I'll bet twenty bucks she says yes," a football player type said, pulling cash from his wallet. "Just look at that ring - that's serious money right there."
His friend snorted and shook his head. "She rejected the basketball captain last week without even blinking. You really think some shiny jewelry will change her mind?"
Luis kept watching Alice's face. Her fingers tapped against her elbow in the same impatient rhythm his sisters used right before yelling at him for leaving dishes in the sink.
The jock shoved his friend's shoulder. "Make it fifty then, since you're so confident. I saw them together at parties - she lets him touch her waist when they dance."
"That's complete bullshit and you know it," his friend fired back.
"I swear to god it's true! They-"
'Then explain why she's looking at him like trash,' Luis thought, keeping his face neutral.
The guys went quiet as Julian finally spoke.
"Alice," he began, looking confident, "we've known each other a year now. You're the kindest person I know, even when you pretend not to be." A few girls sighed at that. "You remember everyone's birthdays and you help teachers after class without being asked-"
Alice crossed her arms, making her blazer pull tight, but her expression didn't change.
"-and I know you think romance is pointless," he continued, undeterred, "but that's exactly why we fit. I'd never ask you to change who you are."
The crowd held its breath. Luis saw Alice's eyebrow twitch - the sign someone was about to snap.
Julian raised the ring higher. "Alice, will you-"
"Stop." She cut him off mid-sentence. The football player fumbled and dropped his money, he knew where this was going.
Julian froze with his mouth still open.
"You're embarrassing both of us," she said, her quiet tone forcing everyone to lean in. "Get up before you make things even more awkward."
Luis felt his sisters' nails dig into his arms. This was better than any reality show they have ever watched.
Julian's smile finally shattered. "Just let me finish-"
"No." She stepped forward, looming over his kneeling form. "You don't know me at all. You've built up some fantasy version in your head." She pointed at the ring with a manicured finger. "That's meant for some shy, giggling girl who blushes at attention."
She spread her arms wide, making her uniform strain at the seams. "Do I look like the giggling type to you?"
The crowd erupted in gasps and shouts.
"Holy shit!" the football player yelled, scrambling to pick up his scattered cash.
Alice bent down until her face was level with Julian's. "Next time you want to publicly humiliate someone, pick a target who'll actually appreciate your little performance."
She walked off, everyone scrambling to film Julian's reaction.
"Worth a shot, right?" Julian said to the laughter surrounding him, but his hands trembled as he stuffed the ring box back in his pocket.
Luis exhaled slowly. The whole display left a sour taste in his mouth. Julian poured out his feelings in front of the entire school and still ended up on his knees, alone. Love really did look painful when it went wrong.
'Why do people keep chasing this?' he wondered, watching his sisters whisper about the scene. 'Everyone cheers when it works, but when it crashes you are the punchline.'
He forced himself to look away from Julian's blank stare and checked the timer again. [00:30:43]
No matter how much noise surrounded him, the countdown stayed steady. Whatever the system had planned, it wouldn't care that someone's heart just got crushed in public.