Episode 13: Chocolates 2

"Desmond, are you gonna come to practice later?" my teammate and also friend, Harry, asked.

"Of course," I said. "I fully recovered from that already."

"Ha ha!" He laughed as he left the classroom.

I continued to sit on my table, staring at the blue sky. Currently, eating is what I am supposed to be doing. But there's something troubling me. Well, it might be to be expected: Valentines.

I've been wondering about this ever since this morning when my mom just told me about it. Why is it this late, you may ask? Of course, I've been sick for days; how am I even supposed to get a glimpse of that?

Enough complaining but instead, I should focus on what to get for Rita. She'd sure hate me if I don't get her something for today. I wonder what's the best I could do from inside the school...

And so, I stood up and left the classroom. Destination is the canteen. Objective is to search for a possible gift. This is "Operation Urgent Valentine" and should be accomplished at any cost.

By simply coming to the canteen, the valentine atmosphere is around the air. Some were eating together at a table while others were just standing in the corner conversing.

I noticed that the line on the counter is unusually long. With that, I searched for signs that could possibly help me with the operation. And my eyes locked in on a poster hanging by the ceiling. It says, "Limited Edition Snack: Crinkles".

I went to see the whole line of people in search of someone familiar. And yes, I did find one. I went straight to her and prepared myself to ask a favor.

"Hey, how has it been?" I asked the girl who's wearing a hoodie on this hot afternoon. Next to her is a schoolmate of mine. Probably familiar to her but I kinda forget how.

"Yo, Desmond," She reacted upon seeing me. "You're here for the special valentines snack?"

"Yeah, kinda." I looked at the line before them. "But it seems I can't get the chance."

"Ah! That's why you're here." She laughed at me. "Yeah sure, you can stay here with us."

"Heh, thanks."

"Don't worry Desmond, you're our close friend!" I smiled as a reaction. "Right?" She asked the guy next to her.

All he did was make a thumbs-up in his left hand while he looked at me. I figured and realized who the guy is now. It was her boyfriend, the one I've seen once before.

"Thanks," I replied and went together with them on the line, not thinking of others' reaction to me cutting it.