9. Maria

I'd written a letter.

My friends had given me the idea that it would be more exciting if I wrote a letter and kept it in his locker, keeping myself anonymous and all. I was kind of onboard with everything because he didn't know my handwriting anyway. My mom even gave her approval.

After how many corrections, courtesy of Kat. The letter was simple and went like this:

Hi, Val or Valentine (whichever one prefer).

So, I wanted to tell you how handsome you are. Brown eyes, beautiful smile whenever the opportunity comes, and then the glowing brown skin of yours.

I've liked and noticed you for the longest time and I've decided that I'm tired of chickening out on telling you or waiting for you to notice me somehow, which was foolish of me. I mean, your baby is art and video games, what did I expect? Your art is beautiful by the way, not as beautiful as you though.

Anyway, I willingly tell you all these because I know I might get rejected. But because I'm not really great with words face-to-face, I figure it's better to praise you like this. I'm doing this in preparation for tomorrow- the time of the year where you show love and do everything concerning love. I hope I'll be able to win your heart somehow, or that I have some place in it by now.

And, yes. You know who I am. It's even risky telling you the first letter of my name.

I really hope you'll be my valentine tomorrow though. I've prepared a lot just for you.

- anonymous

I was still nervous about the letter, and rightfully so. I'd said all of nothing there, but nobody corrected me much, and my aim was stated in the letter. It was for Valentine's day.

I came pretty early to school just to sneak it in Valentine's locker. Some busybody might see me and then tell him that they saw me. I wanted no interruptions to my plans. At all. And it was successful.

Thank God.

***

"You're wearing a green shirt," Valentine smiled.

"Yeah."

We were sitting together in class. I'd texted him that I'd caught him a seat since I'd noticed that he was late and everywhere was occupied. His friend was sitting with his girlfriend so it was obvious that he didn't keep a seat for him.

"It looks really good," he complimented, catching me off guard.

I felt myself blushing. I wanted to shout at myself. I was used to controlling how I felt around him, but it wasn't working now. Was it because tomorrow was Valentine's day?

"Thanks."

He nodded, probably put off by my one-word responses. I would be too if I were him. But he didn't seem to be for long because he glanced at me from the board to tell me something.

"You know, I received a letter today," he said, making my heart stop. "When I opened my locker, I saw it."

He was running late to class then so I assumed he didn't check his locker yet. He went there first?!

"Really?" I tried to sound curious. "What was it about?"

"I read till the end despite the fact that I was rushing," he said, "and I've concluded that it's like a love confession, which is weird."

"Weird?" I questioned. "How is it weird?"

"Well..."

"I bet you get letters like that all the time," I tried to tease to cover up how I was feeling.

He shook his head. "Not really."

Valentine didn't look offended or anything. He just seemed to be thinking. He probably wanted to know the person's- my- identity.

"You don't like it?"

He shrugged. "I don't mind, but I'll have to break this person's heart tomorrow. I'm not interested."

Okay, I felt my heart breaking for real. Why was it breaking my heart anyway when he didn't even know it was me? Maybe when he finds out the truth, he'll change his mind.

"Why not?"

He sighed, eyes ahead. "I think I like someone."

I gaped. What the actual...

"Are you- "

"Miss Castillo. Please, pay attention in class," Mr. Xander called from the front of the class.

Everyone's attention was on us now and that made me shut up. I'm not embarrassed but annoyed at him for interrupting me. I was so fucking curious. How was it possible that Valentine liked someone and I didn't know?! Was it someone I knew? Someone popular? Someone not popular?

God, he was giving me more reasons to worry and that wasn't part of my plan.

He gave me a small smile as Mr. Xander continued teaching.

I wanted to question him, but I would seem too invested and it would lead to questions I didn't want to answer. So, I just smiled back. Even though it killed me to.

I was going to cry to my friends later about this new discovery though.