Chapter 29: Public Moves (That Should've Never Happened)After the "Anto falls into the storage room because he was trying to act cool" incident, I walked into class today with a... strange feeling in my heart.
I like him.
Ugh.
I hate it.
But also... I don't.
And I really, really want to hide from this feeling.
Rina is Sweeter... By AccidentThe moment I sat down, Anto popped up beside me as usual.
"TADAAA RINAAA!! GOOD MORN—"
I looked at him instantly. It was a reflex.
MY CHEEKS IMMEDIATELY BURNED.
I quickly looked away. "M... morning."
Anto froze.
Tey stopped in his tracks.
Tian dropped his bread.
Kane closed his book.
Juke zoomed in on my face.
Anto whispered, "Rina... you just... that greeting... was so sweet..."
"I was just... talking normally."
"Your 'normal' is usually 'MORNING ANTO, GO AWAY'!"
I slapped his shoulder lightly.
Anto looked shocked. He gripped his shoulder as if I had just touched him with a bar of solid gold.
"To... don't be dramatic."
"I AM NOT DRAMATIC!! I—"
He stopped himself. He knew I was feeling sensitive, and that only made him more confused... and even more of a simp.
🎯 The Squad's Mission: PUBLIC P.D.K.T.At recess, Anto's gang gathered. Tey rolled out a giant piece of paper.
It read:
MISSION: PUBLIC P.D.K.T. (Approach)
(Level: High Danger)
I immediately wanted to go home.
"To..." I warned. "DON'T."
Tian answered, "We're just helping! Yesterday you were mad because he was acting 'cool,' and now you're being sweet to him—this is a sign the relationship is leveling up!"
"What do you mean 'leveling up'?! He hasn't even done anything!"
Tey tapped his chest. "Exactly! That's why we're forcing the level up! This mission only needs one thing: Anto has to make a PUBLIC MOVE in front of everyone."
I let out a small shriek. "NOOOO!!!"
Too late. Anto was already standing up.
"To. Sit."
Anto sat.
But half a second later, he stood up again.
"To. SIT."
He sat.
But he stood right back up because Tey yelled, "GO!"
💥 THE PUBLIC MOVE BEGINSIn the cafeteria.
Crowded.
The perfect setting for mutual embarrassment.
Tey gave the signal: "ANTOOOO! PLAN A!"
Anto stood up on a chair. "RINAAAA—"
I stood up immediately. "NOPE. NOPE. GET DOWN."
"I just wanted to say that you—"
"TO!!"
Tian shouted from the back, "SAY IT ANTOOO!! DON'T GIVE UP!!"
Anto froze, looking at me, his face as red as a tomato.
"Rina... I... I..."
I covered my face.
"I really like your hair today!!"
The entire cafeteria facepalmed.
Juke took a photo immediately.
Kane wrote a note: "Mission failed. Only complimented her hair."
I sat back down, wishing I could disappear.
🔥 Adrian Enters — And It Gets HotterAdrian walked by with a book in his hand. He approached our table.
"Rina? You okay?" He smiled softly.
I nodded.
Anto stood up straight, ready for war.
Adrian noticed the plastic flower I still kept in my bag (yeah, I've been carrying it around for some reason).
"Hm? You're still carrying that flower?" Adrian smiled. "It's cute."
I quickly zipped my bag shut. "It's... it's nothing."
Anto exploded. "THAT'S FROM ME!! SHE KEPT IT!! THAT MEANS SHE—"
I kicked Anto's leg. Shut up.
Adrian looked at me deeply. "If you want real flowers, just let me know."
Anto looked like he just got hit by a 220-volt lightning strike.
"I-I can give her real flowers too!! I'll give her... the whole tree if she wants!!!"
I slapped Anto's arm. "Quiet."
Adrian just smiled before walking away.
And as he left... I realized something.
Anto was genuinely jealous.
😳 Rina Gets Jealous (But Denies It)After Adrian left, Anto approached me slowly.
"Rina... were you happy when he talked about the flowers...?"
"NO."
"You smiled."
"THAT WAS A REFLEX!!"
"You hid your bag so fast... that means you—"
"ANTO, IF YOU DON'T STOP TALKING I'M GOING TO THE LIBRARY."
Anto snapped to attention. "OKAY, I'M SHUTTING UP."
But my heart... ugh. It was a mess.
I was annoyed when Adrian was being too sweet.
But I was also happy.
But Anto... he makes my heart want to explode.
Why is my life like this?
📚 Rina in the Library — Anto Follows Like an IdiotI went to the library to find some peace.
But 2 minutes later...
The small sliding door went: CREEEAK...
Anto entered. Hunching over. Almost crawling.
"To. WHAT ARE YOU DOING."
"I'm... accompanying you while you think."
"I want to be alone."
"I'll sit waaaay over there..."
He sat behind a bookshelf. But I could still see the top of his head.
I looked at him, exhausted.
But a small smile appeared that I couldn't hold back.
Damn it.
❤️ Rina Realizes SomethingOn the way home, I walked alone.
My mind was still full of Anto.
His stupid antics. His jealousy. His nervous stares.
The failed public move. But it was sincere.
I held the plastic flower.
Why do I care? Why am I carrying this around?
Why do I get mad when he acts "cool"?
Why do I feel happy when he panics?
I stopped in front of my house.
"...because I like him... way more than I thought..."
I covered my face.
And my heart was beating way too fast.