Chapter 5
Exams came, and let’s just say... I don’t want to talk about it. The stress, the cramming, the what-the-heck-am-I-even-doing-here moments. Let’s just call it “hectic” and leave it at that. No need to mention how my brain almost exploded trying to remember anything. Ugh.
But after the chaos, it was finally over. Quarantine time, baby! I was locked in my room like a prisoner, only with more snacks and less danger. Just when I thought I’d survive the boredom, I got a notification. It was from Leo.
My first thought? Oh no, not him again.
But... I opened it anyway.
He asked me to help him find something. Of course, I agreed. Because why not? It’s Leo, after all.
The next day, the teachers brought our exam papers in. I was half-expecting bad news... and I got it. Leo? He scored high. But there were Toppers who made him look like a casual gamer in comparison. And me? Oh, I barely scraped through two subjects. Classic me.
Well, what can I say? I’m lazy. But hey, we all have our strengths, right?
After class, we all went home. Some were beaming with pride, some were sulking like sad puppies. As for me? I was just ready to go home, curl up in my blanket, and pretend I didn't exist in the world of academia.
Winter was coming. The weather was colder than my heart, and all around me, couples were professing their undying love in the most romantic way. Meanwhile, I was still single, with no one to call mine. The most romantic thing about my life? Checking my phone for messages from Leo. That’s it.
It had been a while since we’d talked. So, one random night, I decided to break the silence. I sent him a casual message, and to my surprise, he replied almost immediately. But this time, there was a twist: Leo was drunk.
He was all over the place, texting some really random things. At one point, he just... straight-up said I was cute. I was like, Excuse me? Did he just say I was cute?
I blinked. Twice. Then I texted back, “Thanks?” because that seemed like the right response. I wasn’t about to confess my undying love over text... yet.
Then, as if he knew what he was doing, he said he was dizzy, and we had to end the conversation. I was left sitting there like, Did that really just happen? I was on cloud nine, trying to figure out if this was a dream.
Naturally, I had to tell Shine everything. I mean, who else would I tell? She was just as shocked. But... she wasn’t thrilled that I hadn’t told her how I got his number. I had to give her the full backstory, of course.
Turns out, Leo’s the type to avoid contact with girls. He’s all mysterious and cold on the outside, but I knew he was just shy. It was kinda cute, honestly. But deep down, the guy’s a brainiac — I was shocked.
