chapter 2 - delusional at school

Finally, I made it to my locker, opened my bag, and grabbed the textbooks I needed for history class. With a forceful shove, I crammed my bag into the locker as though I were trying to strangle it.

I was about to close the locker when a step halted behind me.

I froze, hoping the person would simply pass by.

"Good morning, Gift," a voice called out, soft yet rich with a calmness that resembled the gentle rhythm of ocean waves—comforting and serene.

Shocked, Gift stood stock-still, her eyes wide as though she had seen a ghost.

Is that…? Could it really be…?

"Tony?" she whispered in disbelief, as though she were addressing a phantom, before slowly turning to face him. His smile was as effortless as ever, a familiar sight she hadn't encountered in years.

"It's been a while," he said, and at the sound of his voice, Gift's smile twisted awkwardly. The last time they spoke was back in middle school, or perhaps the early days of high school. Tony had always been at the top—untouchable and aloof, like a ghost drifting in and out of her world. No matter how much she admired him, their conversations had always been limited to fleeting exchanges.

"Good morning," they'd say, with nothing more, nothing deeper.

"Yeah... it has been a while," she murmured, her voice betraying the trembling excitement coursing through her. Tony noticed, amused by her visible unease.

The last time he truly saw her was during their second year, when she had saved his friend Eric from drowning. The memory lingered with him—the way she panicked for someone else's life, her raw, unfiltered emotions on display. It was funny, in a way. And yet, it was compelling. Her genuine concern, her frantic cries, her tears—he couldn't shake the image of her begging Eric to survive.

Stay with me. Stay alive. Don't die on me. She had shouted these words, desperate and pleading, as she performed chest compressions on a stranger.

Tony couldn't forget the sight. Here was a girl so consumed by emotion, crying for someone she barely knew, someone who didn't even like her. Yet she fought for his life as if he mattered more than her own. It was both fascinating and perplexing. If she could be so tender with a stranger, how would she act around him—someone she secretly admired?

Tony had always noticed her, never in a way that felt burdensome. He didn't find her affection irritating, like others might. In fact, he found it... intriguing. For the first time in his life, he longed for something more genuine. A connection. A feeling of being cared for. It was something he lacked, something he craved—her warmth, her sincerity.

He watched her, not just in that moment but from afar, learning her, wanting to understand every nuance of her emotions. And now, here she was, standing before him, a dream he never dared to hope for.

He wanted to possess her—her thoughts, her words, her heart, her very soul. He wanted to be the center of her universe, the only one she could think of. Every waking moment, he longed to be the one she loved, the one she needed.

He had waited long enough. It was time to take the first step.

"It's been so long since we spoke, Gift. And with prom approaching, I wanted to ask you…" Tony paused, his voice deliberately slow and steady. He held out a small box, revealing a chocolate cake with a simple inscription: Go to prom with me?

Gift blinked, her mind struggling to process the words. "Prom? You… you're asking me?" she stammered, pointing to herself as if confirming she hadn't just imagined it. "To prom? With you?"

She let out a burst of nervous laughter, pinching herself as though to test whether this was a dream.

"Ha, hurts," she winced, rubbing her arm as if to shake off the shock.

Tony watched her with a sense of satisfaction, his amusement growing as he saw her flustered, her mind overwhelmed by the unexpectedness of the situation. Her confusion only fueled his desire for her.

"So, will you be my date to prom?" he asked, his voice a dark promise, his smile turning sinister yet playful. This is going according to plan, he thought to himself.

Gift nodded, her words tumbling out in a frantic rush. "I… I will. I mean, I'd love to. I'll be your prom date, yes! That's what I mean!" She tried to calm herself, but her trembling body betrayed her excitement.

Inside, her heart was racing. She might have fainted right there from the sheer intensity of emotion coursing through her. She couldn't quite believe it. Was this real? Was this truly happening?

If this is a dream, don't wake me up. Please, don't let me wake up.

Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, all jumbled with joy and disbelief. It felt like something out of a fairy tale.

But even as she reveled in the moment, Tony heard her whispered thoughts, her fragile hopes. He could feel his own twisted satisfaction grow, knowing he had her exactly where he wanted her.

"I have to go now. I'll pick you up at your house on the 6th," he said, flashing his white teeth in a smile that was both warm and unsettling. He placed a moon-petal pearl hairpin in her hair as a final, symbolic gesture.

As he turned to leave, he glanced back over his shoulder, savoring the sight of her emotional display. Fireworks seemed to explode in her eyes—her joy so bright, so evident. It was as if all his effort had finally paid off.

Gift stood frozen, her heart fluttering with disbelief.

He knows where I live. Tony knows my address. The realization hit her like a thunderclap, and she clutched the edge of her locker for support, unsure whether to cry or laugh.

"Wait a minute…"

Her mind reeled, still trying to piece everything together. The weight of the situation sank in.

"He said he'd pick me up… from my house, on the 6th." Her voice trailed off, her legs shaking beneath her as she stumbled toward class, unable to contain the tremors of excitement flooding her body.

Best. Day. Ever.