Chapter 05: "Opportunity"

"Bro, are you giving up on Miya?" Chet asked while trying to open his lollipop.

Luke took the lollipop and opened it for Chet.

"I couldn't even find a time to talk to her." I pouted.

"Isn't she going out with the council president?" Luke asked as he fed Chet the lollipop.

"It's not confirmed yet. I might still have a chance." I can't give up so easily.

"I guess it's not that easy to confess yet. Well then, I have the solution for you, my friend." Chet put his hand on my shoulder, looking all serious, while chewing on the lollipop.

"Then, what is it now?"

"Call me Love Master!"

"Alright!" I bow down in front of Chet and put my palm together. "What should I do, Love Master?!"

"Make your enemies close, and your friends closer!" He exclaimed.

"Isn't it the other way around?" Luke joined in.

"Well, whatever! It's the same thing."

Luke smirked and sighed, "If you say so."

"Anyway, Jian, my hopeless friend."

I sat straight and looked at him. "What's with that nickname?"

"If you want to get close to Miya, you need to get rid of the hindrances first. Therefore, you need to get rid of Zen Liang!"

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"You have two option. First, you find a way to get close to him and bribe him into leaving your girl alone." He pointed his finger up, symbolizing the number 'one'.

"That's not a bad idea... But how am I gonna get close to that bastard?!"

"Or you can beat him up." He shrugged, "I doubt that you can take him down though." Chet mumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean huh?!"

I guess I have no way in winning Miya!

"Why don't you just seduce him. He might actually be into you." Luke teasingly suggested.

"The hell... no way! What's up with that guy anyway?" I slammed the table. "He just accused me of being a stalker."

"Isn't it true though Hahaha"

"I wasn't following him!"

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What actually happened yesterday...

"Are you interested in me?"

"That's right I— HUH?!!"

"Please refrain from following me around. Stalking is a crime. I'll sue you if you do."

I was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

"He thought I was stalking him?!!"

"What the hell?! I wasn't stalking you!!" I furiously pointed my finger on him.

"First, I saw you on the school's fence."

"That's because I was late! And you didn't even helped me!"

"Second, you were also at the gate this morning. You grabbed on my shirt." He continued.

"That was just a coincidence!" I defended.

"Then, during our PE period. You were eavesdropping."

"I wasn't!" It's not because of you!

Wait... Did he actually noticed me...?

"Your unnatural red hair is annoying. It's hard not to notice." He added.

Yeah, right. This jerk is a perfectionist.

"Leave my hair alone!" I replied while I put my hands to cover on my hair.

"And now... You even followed me here. What exactly are you up to?" He glared at me as if I was some sort of a criminal.

"Dude... It w-was just a coincidence, o-okay?" I definitely don't want to get in trouble again, that's why I'm trying to escalate things from here.

"You..." As he moves closer to me, his hand also extended. It looks like he'll beat the crap out of me.

I want to fight back but things will get messy. I'll just have to take this one up.

I closed my eyes and I was ready to take his fist.

"You got a leaf on your hair." He calmly said as he took off the leaf that fell on my head.

"H-huh?" I opened my eyes and to my surprise he didn't intend to punch me.

My face turned red due to embarrassment.

"Why am I always embarrassing myself?!"

"Did you thought I'll kiss you—" Before he could finish that sentence, I quickly ran away. I don't want to die from embarrassment.

"My m-mother's calling me!" I ran away as fast as I could and didn't dare looked back.

Nope. Not anymore. I already did a lot of embarrassing things for today.

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"That's it. Don't forget to pass your assignment tomorrow." The teacher bid her farewell as the class ends.

"Dude, let's play." Chet invited us to play the famous online game around this time.

I really wanted to play too, since I'm pretty sure I could beat them up so easily. I've already played the game multiple times before.

"I'm in! Hahaha I'll beat you up."

"You wish! I have Luke on my side!"

Before I could even set my foot out of the classroom, our class president grabbed on my shirt's back collar.

"Where do you think you're going?" She said threateningly.

"I-i guess we'll go first! Bye, dude!" Chet escaped along with the others.

"Those bastards just left me behind..." I thought to myself as I accept my fate.

"Don't even think of running away from cleaning duties." The class president handed me the broom.

She's really fierce sometimes.

"Y-yes..."

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"Ugh... I didn't came back from the future just to clean." I complained as I sweep the corridor.

While sweeping, a pen roll down beside the broom I'm holding. I can see someone's shoes approaching, it seems like it's their pen.

I picked it up. "Is this yours—" as I was to hand it over to the guy standing in front of me, I suddenly stopped.

It's Zen Liang. Of all the people I could encounter today.

He took the pen from my hand. He looked at me for a second and left afterwards.

"That jerk... He didn't even thanked me!"

"Get back to work!" Class president said while wiping the classroom windows.

"R-right away, ma'am!"

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"Finally! Class pres wouldn't leave me alone. I just have to throw the garbage and I'm free." I was talking to myself on my way to dispose the garbage.

"Hi!" A sweet voice call upon me.

It's the girl of my dreams! She's in front of me right now and she's talking to me!

"H-hello..!" I am stuttering again.

"I don't know if you still remember me. I'm Miya, you're Jian, right?"

I felt like I was talking with an angel.

"Y-yeah.. that's m-me!" Damn it, why am I stuttering?!

She smiled. Her smile alone made my day.

"I know this is a bit sudden, but... I saw you with Zen yesterday. You were talking..." She's blushing as she speaks.

"Could it be that she overheard what I said yesterday?!! Does she already know that I like her?" I couldn't utter a word for a second. I can feel my cheeks heating up.

"Y-yeah..."

"Oh, I was right. Umm... Are you perhaps..." She was quite hesitant to ask.

It seems like she already know. Then, I have no choice, I'll confess!

"Are you perhaps friends with Zen?"

"YES! I'VE ALWAYS LIKED—"

We both spoke at the same time. I was dumbfounded.

Hold on! She was asking about Zen Liang?!

"R-really?" Her face brightened and it was full of excitement.

I guess she misunderstood.

"Well... Actually..."

"I'm glad you are close with him."

"Close with him??"

"Mhm!"

Yeah right, I'm close to losing my patience with that guy!

"There's a favor I want to ask you... Jian. If you don't mind. B-but if it's to much trouble you, don't have to—"

Ackk! She's so cute shyly explaining things.

"N-no! It's fine."

"You see, I really want to know what Zen's likes and dislikes."

I can feel my whole body turning into stone. Zen Liang is so lucky!

"I want to know him better. He won't open up with anyone. S-so, if it's possible. Could you help me? Since you two are close..." She continued.

This actually hurts more than my first break-up!

"Uh... The truth is..." I don't know how to respond.

"So that confirms it, she really like him! And on top of that, this is all a misunderstanding! I don't know a single thing about Zen Liang."

"Although... Maybe this is actually a great opportunity. Perhaps, Chet's plan might just work out. Instead of fighting him, I could befriend him. That's right! When I pretend to be Zen Liang's friend and fake help Miya into getting close with him, I will get closer to her. Then, if Zen Liang and I becomes best buddies, he will eventually leave Miya to me! It's like hitting two birds with one stone!"

As I was doing a monologue in my head, I didn't noticed that Miya is still in front of me.

"Umm... Jian?" She waved her hand in front of my face.

"O-oh! Yeah! I'm sorry about that..." I came back to my senses.

"So... Can you help me?"

"Well, yes! As you can see, me and Zen Liang are like two peas in a pod! Helping you would be a piece of cake!" I assured her with a bright smile.

I can see the happiness on her face. "Wow! Thank you, Jian!"

"Ah.. hehe... No problem."

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"Hey there, buddy." I started my day getting on the top student's good side.

"..."

But I get ignore everytime.

"What are you up to—"

"None of your business."

This son of a...

"Do you need help—"

"No."

"Do want a soda, my treat."

"No."

"Iced coffee then?"

"No."

"Milk—"

"No."

"Juice??"

"No.

"Bubble tea?? Ice tea?? Water??"

"No."

Then what the hell do you want?!!

I spent my day following this jerk around. He wouldn't even talk to me properly. He just kept on walking pass me as if I was a thin air.

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"No wonder that guy doesn't have friends! He's as cold as an ice."

"Don't let him get to you dude. Show him what you got!"

Chet is right. I can't get that meanie get into me!

"That's right. I won't give up on you, Zen Liang. You'll see! You will beg for me to be your best friend! WAHAHAHA!" I exclaimed and put on the evil laugh, imagining that day to happen lifted up my spirit.

"That's my child!" Chet cheered as the crowd looked at us like we're going insane.