The bottle spun across our desks, its glassy appearance catching the gleaming sunlight. Outside, the sky was a flawless blue. Sunbeams, like liquid honey, poured through the window pane, bathing the room in a drowsy, golden haze. A gentle, moist breeze slipped in, carrying dust and the scent of grass, softening this cube-like classroom. It was an ordinary day in our school life, not calm but full of activities somewhat here and there.
At the front, our teacher stood firmly, chalk tapping on the board, squawking about whatever ludicrous lesson she was teaching. We sat right in front of her, way too close. There were four of us : Mckenzie, Anthony, Matthew and me-Krístine. Like always, we weren't paying any attention. After all, what is the meaning of studying if you don't experience freedom anyway? We were locked in a confined classroom for eight hours, with four pale, worn-out white walls, a board overstacked with awards and trophies from whatever decade it was and spider cobwebs hidden out of view.
"This is a bad lesson," Anthony groaned like a croaked frog.
"True," Mckenzie yawned before resting her head back down on her folded arms. I - Krístine was trying to appear as though I was listening, while doing my arts and crafts with a pair of borrowed scissors.
I tapped on Mckenzie's back "Wake up, you idiot!" That was when an idea suddenly popped into my head—so suddenly, in fact, that I accidentally tugged Mckenzie's hair. Maybe a little too… harsh.
"Ow!" she hissed, shooting me a glare.
"Guys," I murmured urgently. "Guys, how about a game of Truth or Dare?". They agreed. We played a few rounds. "Truth or dare?" Anthony asked, his voice low and expectant.
Mckenzie gulped, just long enough for the silence to thicken. The capacious classroom seemed to hold its breath with her, four walls pressing in, squeezing the air out of the moment. "Dare."
Matthew leaned forward. "I have something up my sleeve." He smiled, "Let's prank someone."
My heart skipped a beat. "Who?" I asked, curiosity did kill the cat.
"Your best friend, don't worry, it won't be so dangerous, just a love-game thing"
5 seconds.
Then 10.
Then a full minute. "Ok"
Everything that followed was impromptu. Matthew tore apart a piece of paper from his notebook, sliding it to Anthony "Write it", lowering his voice. No hesitation, no fear-Anthony forged someone else's handwriting, scribbling on the piece of paper:
Hi Tiffany,
I don't know how to say this perfectly, but I still remember the first time I saw you. That moment stayed with me, and little by little, it became something more. I just wanted to be honest with you.
— Evan
Afternoon came.
The bell rang indicating it was the end of the class, but also the start of our prank. There was a gushing euphoric feeling rushing to our brains at one point. Mckenzie and I started the prank. We approached Tiffany - my best friend, known by everyone as "the fox furry", with practiced calm, disguising our excitement behind charming smiles. Slipping into our roles, we handed her the letter, pretending it came from her secret admirer. The prank unfolded just like we had expected, too powerful, too exhilarating to stop.
Tiffany gently peeled off the outer cover of the note, revealing another piece of paper inside, this time not white like the outside, but looked as if it was attentively decorated - cutesy and creatively, finished off with a playful signature and a neat opening: "Hi Tiffany."
Mckenzie and I watched closely, barely containing our excitement, our eyes fixed on her face, waiting for the reaction, for the realization to dawn…Tiffany squealed with delight, convinced she had gained a secret admirer. Calling out to various students currently in the classroom, while jumping with joy, showing off her secret admirer's note. Encouraged by our carefully rehearsed flirtation, she slipped fully into the illusion we had created, unaware of the trap closing around her. So while she was on cloud nine, among dreams and imaginary possibilities, we gleefully smiled at the success of deception.
The next day arrived too quickly.
The classroom felt different, though nothing had changed. The same worn-out walls. The same buzzing fans. The same old teacher at the front, screaming and glaring at the kids. Yet beneath all this school facade of this student life, something new has taken root, quiet and fragile.
At lunch, Tiffany sat beside me, her plate was left untouched. She didn't look suspicious, only more careful. Her fingers clutched a folded piece of paper, as creased and smooth again and again, as she had changed her mind halfway through while writing it. She hesitated before speaking.
"Can you give this to him?"
"OK" I smiled charmingly
"Tell me more about this..boy. What is his name?"
"Ugh, you are asking me at this time?" I jumbled through my brain, trying to come up with a classy name that would fit "this boy's persona"
My mind scrambled. I searched for something that sounded right, something believable.
"Let me think," I said, buying time. "Evan. Yeah. Evan. He's super handsome. Smart. Top of his class."
Tiffany could barely contain her happiness, her face flushed a deep shade of rosy pink, already drifting into a dream she didn't know was built on lies.
"Really!? Oh gosh, how could a boy like that have a crush on me? I want to meet him in real life. I don't know if our conversation will go on, because I also liked another boy in our class.."
Tiffany talked on and on, weaving about a boy that didn't exist. I smiled, playing my part as a supporting bestfriend, who was there for her highs and lows, still telling myself the prank is small, still manageable,... at least for now.