The Encounter

Confession day. It's one of the most popular event in Lunaris High School. Every 3rd month since the class start, this event will take in with the official approval of Student Council President. It's always happened after the first quarter examination to help students regain their motivation after the hell week.

Kinrue Cienfuegos, 17 years old, is not an exemption for this event. It's one of her favorite event inside the school grounds where anyone is free to confess their feelings to someone they admire. Since her first year, she always partook in the event, but got rejected for four straight years. This time she's looking forward to confess her feelings. There's a man named Lorcan Lenoir's 12th grade student and part of the basketball team. He's a year older than her, last year in high school and a famous person at Lunaris High. One of the heartthrob. Lorcan helps her a lot of time during the last year's sports festival and has given a chance to talk to him if they met in the hallway. Since then, she develop a romantic feeling so, today she'll never waste the opportunity given by this event. Despite of her nerd look, small height and thin body, one of her charm is self-confident. She can make friends and adapt to her surroundings faster than anyone. One of her nickname is 'hopeless romantic queen', even if she got rejected a lot of time, the word give up is not on her vocabulary.

"Okay, class, look at page ten of your bo—"

Before Mrs. Lehmann, the English teacher, finishes her words, the school bell rings. It's a sign that it's already lunch break. The students inside, most are girls, looking at each other as if they try to feel their next move.

"Let's continue the discussion tomorrow. Class dismiss."

"Thank you, ma'am!"

They all said in unity as those women run outside before Mrs. Lehmann leave the classroom. She shrugs her head in disbelief, arranges the books she used and leave chuckling. Only a few students left inside the classroom, including Kinrue, who's checking the paper bag that contains her gift. It's a simple cupcake that she bakes overnight for this d-day. A week before, she collected a data about Lorcan's favorite food and many more, but then end up choosing a red velvet cupcake. She even work a part-time job just to buy the ingredients needed. After she arranges everything and herself, a deep sigh escape from her mouth before she stand-up.

"Oh, Ms. Hopeless Romantic, who will be your victim now? Will you find your love one at last?" Kendall asked, one of her classmate that always tease her.

"Mind your own business," she roll her eyes before she walks outside the room.

She looked around the hallway and saw someone confessing on the way. Right or left, everyone is on a high spirit. Tomorrow they will post in Lunaris High website those who become couple today and will have a raffle for three lucky couples to have a couple coupon date. Just thinking about it, Kinrue's heart beats faster rather than nervousness, as she wants to find Lorcan as soon as possible.

Kinrue went straight to the cafeteria, but Lorcan or his friend are not there. She went to the gym, but no one was there too. Some woman is searching for him too, but then they don't seem to find his trace. She leave a message to him just in case this thing happen until now he has no reply. A deep sigh escape from her mouth again continue to walk in the ground floor hallway. Until she bumps into someone, it's a senior from class 12-A known for being on top, but she looks like crying while running with head bows down. She's about to ignore it when she heard a familiar voice behind the school building. It's Lorcan's voice. Her feet move back in instinct and look to the left side. There she saw Lorcan, who walk back inside the school building. Both eyes sparks when he saw him wears his basketball jersey and a black sweatband on its head. He looks cool even from this distance. She came back to her senses after hearing the woman's voice behind. It's the woman who is looking for Lorcan, too.

"Kinrue? What are you doing there?" Lorcan asked when their gaze lock on each other.

She clear her voice before pulling him behind the wall near them. Lorcan's about to speak, but she covers his mouth—corner him out of instinct.

"Lorcan is not here. Where did he go? Let's check on the cafeteria again."

"Looks like we don't have any choice."

Couple of footsteps from those women heard on their position. Kinrue glance back in the hallway and heaves a sigh after they walk away.

"Thanks, I'm hiding from those women, though you give me a shock." He chuckles.

"I-I'm sorry, it's just an instinct."

"We have a practice match after class. I'm in a hurry so..."

"W-wait, didn't you receive my text?" She asked.

"Did you send one? Sorry, my phone is in my locker. Do you need anything?"

Kinrue grip tight on the strap of the paper bag. "A-ah... L-Lorcan... Y-you know..." She stutter, gaze moves left and right—doesn't know where to look anymore.

"I will be late for our meeting. Let's talk later, Kinrue."

Both eyes almost pop-out in surprise when he walks inside again. This is not the outcome she expected to happen. Lorcan always smile genuine and talks kind to her. It's only the last chance she has to confess.

She gulps three times. "L-Lorcan wait,"

"What is it?" He turns his look towards her again with the same genuine smile.

"L-Lorcan... I-I... Y-you know... I always..."

"Kinrue? I'm really in a hurry. Let's talk later."

"Y-you know, you're handsome, kind and good at basketball. It's doesn't end like that because you're good in study and communicating with someone. Smile, every time you smile it makes my heart flutter so Lorcan..." she looks straight to his eyes.

"I like you! / I don't like you!"

A long moment of silence echo on the back of the school building as the wind blows, birds' chirps and only the sound of leaves rustling near them. Those words still rings inside Kinrue's ears. Four words from an unfamiliar voice has ruined her most awaited confession. As soon as she utter those words, a voice of an unfamiliar man spoke at the same time with the same loudness as hers. Opposite meaning of words, utter in a same time, same place and in the most awkward situation.

Kinrue frown before she looks back. There she saw a man with frown brows too. He's tall with brown hair, fair skin, a high-bridged nose and natural red lips, but his eyes are cold as ice. It's her first time meeting this man, but he ruined everything. All the courage she gains, lost by those four unforgivable words. 'Why does he need to say those words at the same time?' Kinrue keeps talking inside her head.

"A-ah... L-Lorcan."

"Lorcan, Coach Rey, is waiting inside the gym. Hurry." One of Lorcan's teammates call him over.

He looks behind and looks back to Kinrue again. "I'm sorry, Kinrue. I already have a girlfriend, sorry."

"Y-yeah." She give an awkward smile—watch him walk away together with his teammate. A few seconds past someone bump her from behind and saw the woman run, wipe her tears away.

She's got rejected. It's not new but didn't know if she'll get sad or mad. Few seconds after the woman bump her, the man who ruined her confession bumps her too. Her grip on the strap of the paper bag tighten—bite her lower lip in anger. Without thinking, she grabs the man's blazer; it made him step back. Both of them glare at each other, but he slaps her hand away.

"Argh! You... Who the hell are you to ruin my confession?" She snap, hits the man with the paper bag.

He hisses. "Woman really annoys me. Who cares about your confession?"

Kinrue's blood feels like rising to its extent, just looking at how this man stares at her without a sense of conscience.

"You're the one who is annoying here. Who the hell are you to ruin my moment? This is my last chance. I won't forgive you." She continues to hit him with the paper bag.

The man clenches his fist in annoyance—grab the paper bag and pulls it closer to him. It made Kinrue pulled too since she's holding tight to it. He's about to speak when a flash of camera came from both sides. It's from the member of the photography club.

"Congratulation, you're one of the new couple." A woman's voice came out behind the man's back. It's Larisa Chien, the Student Council President.

"W-what?" Kinrue eyes almost pop-out as another flash of camera came. Reality hits her when she notices their position.

They are standing close to each other, as if this man in front already accepted her confession gift. It will lead to misunderstanding.

"This is your raffle number. Please wait for the outcome this midnight. I hope your relationship went well throughout the year." Larisa smile wide.

"H-huh? N-no. I-It's not what you think."

"President, this photo looks good. The way they stare at each other."

"A-argh! Get away from me." She pushes the man away. "This is not what you think it is, P-President."

"Good day, Ms. Hopeless Romantic. You did a good job finding you're the right one." Larisa raise her thumbs up and left together with other while looking on the camera.

"N-no... This..."

"What an annoying piece of sh*t," the man said before he throws the paper bag towards Kinrue and walk away.

"You're the piece of sh*t here! How can you act not bother? Who the hell are you to ruin my love life?" She said, shouting full of frustration.