The next morning, I arrived at school in an unbelievably good mood.
All because of Adrian's message last night.
"Rina, are you okay? You looked stressed."
It was a short message, but enough to make me wake up earlier, shower faster, and walk to school while holding myself back from dancing in the middle of the street.
Eli just stared at me.
"Uh... who are you? Rina? Or Rina's parallel-universe twin?"
She scanned me from head to toe.
"I'm just... yeah... fine," I said, smiling stupidly.
Eli narrowed her eyes.
"FINE BECAUSE OF WHO, HUH~"
I was about to deny it, but-
Someone suddenly appeared.
Calm footsteps.
The familiar sound of shoes.
A scent of perfume I knew very well.
Adrian.
"Morning, Rina," he said with a smile.
I froze like an ice cube.
"M-morning..." my voice came out half-breathless.
Adrian smiled warmly, then rubbed the back of his neck.
"About my message last night... I just wanted to make sure you're really okay."
My heart bounced straight into the clouds.
"I-I'm fine. Thank you... really."
"Good."
Adrian looked relieved.
"If you need anything... just tell me. I'm here."
That sentence launched fireworks inside my brain.
I was this close to smiling myself unconscious when suddenly-
KRIIIINGGGGG-!
Not the bell.
Not an alarm.
The shouting of Anto's gang.
"RINAAA!! SHE'S HEREEE!!"
I covered my face.
I'm dead. They're here.
Tey ran in first, waving his phone wildly.
Kane followed behind, carrying a huge notebook.
Tian was holding a piece of bread for reasons unknown.
Juke swung a tripod back and forth.
And Anto...
Anto came last, jogging lightly, his face shining like he'd just seen a living sun.
"MORNING, RINAA!! Oh-eh-is this Adrian? HELLLOOO!"
Adrian smiled politely.
"Morning, Anto."
Anto stepped closer... and without realizing it, stood very close to me.
So close I wanted to push him away.
But he was completely innocent.
He just looked at me from head to toe, then-
"HEY RIN! YOU'RE SUPER CHEERFUL TODAY!
DID YOU HAVE A GOOD DREAM OR WHAT?!"
I choked on air.
"WHAAAT?!"
Kane chimed in, totally clueless.
"Yeah, yeah! Look at her cheeks! They're red!
Like she just watched a funny video!
You're not stressed anymore, huh? Wow, impressive!"
Tian nodded firmly while chewing his bread.
"Looks like Rina's finally accepted her fate of dating Anto."
I shot Tian a death glare.
Adrian looked at me, confused.
I got goosebumps.
Meanwhile, the gang...
THEY HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA
THAT EVERYTHING THEY WERE SAYING
WAS ACTUAL BULLYING.
Anto got even more cheerful.
"I KNEW IT WAS BECAUSE OF US, RIGHT RIN?!"
He grinned proudly, completely sincere.
I wanted to do a backflip into the void.
"It's NOT because of you guys!" I snapped.
Adrian looked at me.
Anto looked at me too.
But the difference was-
Adrian looked like he was starting to understand.
Anto looked like a lost baby chick.
Then Anto spoke again, super casually.
"Well, whatever. It's good you're motivated again.
Let's do today's mandatory moment, so you'll be even happier!"
Tey immediately shouted,
"YES! Mandatory Moment #7: Anto helps Rina study!!
Perfect timing! Rina's in a good mood!"
I glared sharply.
"I'M HAPPY NOT BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS!"
Anto's gang:
"HAHAHAHA YEAH RIGHT, YOU'RE JOKING, RIN!!"
They laughed.
Thinking I was kidding.
Meanwhile, Adrian stood beside me-clearly confused, but still calm.
"Rina... if you're uncomfortable, you can say so."
I almost melted.
Anto's gang?
They thought Adrian was giving an OSIS-style speech.
Tian whispered to Juke,
"Hey, Adrian moves like a talk show host, don't you think?"
Juke nodded. "Yeah, yeah. He'd make a good cameo."
I wanted to sink into the floor.
Anto suddenly looked at me for a long moment, his eyes completely innocent.
"Anyway, we're all really happy you're spirited again, Rin."
I went quiet.
Angry, embarrassed, and weirdly amused all at once.
But out of everyone there...
Anto was the only one truly smiling without suspicion.
Without realizing.
Without understanding the context.
And without thinking too far ahead.
And somehow,
that was exactly what made my heart feel a little warm.
Just a little.