Success or failure of plan?

So Vana, did you do your job?

There she was, eating a curry roll whose spices teased her nostrils even if she was a few metres away. That reminded her, she hadn't had lunch yet and the growl of her stomach emphasised the idea. Apparently infatuation didn't fill the belly

Class was almost about to start and Dave hadn't come yet. In fact, none of the boys were in yet. Were they all planning to bunk? No, no, not today...Please...

Well, I just had a few seconds until the lecturer would come, so Dave or no Dave, I had to eat. I picked up my plain bread with butter slathered on it and took a bit bite. I munched noisily and nodded yes at my classmate's question. She was asking if I had completed my assignment.

It was really a tough life, managing to eat to survive, writing hundreds of essays, reading tons of books all while being sleep deprived. Why could I not be like other lovers, who throw themselves on their bed when lovestruck. I just had to be an overthinker who would stay awake all night long trying to craft plans to make Dave fall in my trap. That sounded weird, right? I just had this vivid image of myself as a big far purple slider weaving her web to catch unsuspecting prey....

'Hey, you're Jade, right?" a voice I had been yearning to hear broke my reverie.

"Yes," I squealed and smiled goofily.

"Vana told me you wanted to play badminton," he continued.

"Yes," whispered someone whose voice sounded just like mine.

'I'll check when we can get a free court at the gymnasium and let you know. Give me your number."

It's a good thing that I had a very-easy-to-remember number as at that moment I seemed to be at a loss for words.

"See you."

And just like that one of the most intense moments of my life was over. I clapped my palm over my open mouth, my index encountering a piece of bread that had got stuck in my teeth. My joy quickly turned to embarrassment and mortification. How dumb I must have seemed...

However, despite this setback, I could not cover the tremor that ran through my body. Dave had finally talked to me...

I had been so taken up in the moment that time just seemed to fly. If only life could be played back like in a slow-motion movie so that you could appreciate the sweet moments again.

Ah, his hands with the tapered fingers and clean nails coming to rest on the edge of my desk. His sensual perfume which wanted to make me bend forward and sniff hard.

What was happening to me? I was usually so sane and now I seemed to be in a constant state of reverie, daydreaming all the time.

The back of the class erupted in laughter and I quickly peeked behind and saw a few boys from our class sitting on their desks and animatedly discussing. Needless to say, my attention centered on a certain young man, who on that day, was wearing a hazelnut colored shirt that seemed to highlight the hazelnut flecks in his eyes.

A quick movement at the front of the class attracted my attention at that moment and my eyes were drawn to a big cleavage which were about to spill from a white top. Attached to the rest of the body was a head full of wavy hair tied in a tight bun at the top. A pair of very tight jeans and plain sandals completed the look. Who was it?

Oh, it was Brynise, an exchange student from Seychelles. This detail was filled in by Gaya, a close friend of mine. I was not the only one who had turned to look at Brynise. Through the scuffle at the back, I could guess that she had also caught the attention of the boys. I did not dare to see if Dave was also looking at her. I had actually read that it was hard, both for men and women, to resist the sight of a cleavage...

What was going to happen now, I asked, chewing my bread with concentration, as if hoping that the movement would activate my brain and I would come up with an idea...

I looked down at my own body. I was what could be called a petite, with my five feet and I had previously been quite satisfied with my shape, but looking at Brynise made some of my former insecurities come out. I actually looked younger than my 19 year old self and I feared that Dave would see me as an immature girl with bread in her teeth, rather than a young woman. I was sure that all the boys were going to fall for her.

I suddenly saw her coming in my direction and warning signals started ringing in my head. Why was she coming my way? By mistake, had I articulated my thoughts?

'Hiiii, caaan Iiiii siiiiit naaxt tooo ya?'

Huh, what did she just say? It actually took me five seconds to register her words and I finally understood what her nasal voice wanted to convey.

Without waiting for an answer, Brynise plopped herself on the empty seat next to me and extending her left manicured hand to me, she said, 'Aaam Bryyynise.'

'Hey, I'm Ash. Nice to meet you.'

And it was true, it was nice to meet her. She wasn't that bad, just a hot girl with a strange accent who wanted to fit in.

It had been worrying for some time, I have to admit. I had almost perceived Brynise as a threat to my new crush, but I could now breathe with relief, not knowing that other incidents were going to revive the same stress.

What was Dave going to say? Would he still remember to book a court to play? All of these thoughts were crowding my head and I could barely focus in class. I had never been known for my patience....