Prologue

There was a loud buzz in the air as a crowd of onlookers gathered earnestly watching the two people in the middle. One was a boy, who's height towered amongst most of the crowd as his gaze locked on the girl in front of him. A black bag loosely slung on one shoulder, his hand on his pockets. He had soft, handsome features and judging by the whispers floating around the people witnessing this event, he was quite popular.

His name is Rui.

The girl on the other hand, was nervously hiding her face behind her hair as she anxiously watched the crowd of spectators staring at them, eagerly whispering between themselves, and some with their phones out. She tightened her grip on the straps of her bag. She was less-well known than the boy in front of her, a faceless person in a sea of people. Except for now.

Her name is Mei.

"W-what're you doing?" She stuttered, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt, her shoulders hunched as she tried to make herself smaller, as if that would make her invisible. Being the center of attention made her tense, but most especially the guy was standing in front of her, his gaze piercing through her soul. She felt butterflies in her stomach as his eyes never left her face.

"What do you think I'm doing?" He asked, as he took a step forward and she took a step back. The crowd gasped. Some of them wanted to vomit from eating dog food. What kind of dog blood drama is this?! More importantly, what happens next?! Her bag was almost hitting the wall. Everyone was watching in suspense as they waited for their next move, their eyes flitting back and forth between the two. Some of the girls were swooning at Rui. If looks could kill, they'd be dead by now. If only he would look their way...

"I-I... I don't get what you mean," she stated as she tried to walk away. Before she could even take a step, her arm was pulled and she was pushed into the wall as he slammed his hand beside her head. Their gazes locked on each other, as if they were the only two people at that moment. The crowd erupted in shouts and screams of excitement, as everyone went crazy.

I-is this the infamous kabedon?!

"What does seem like I'm doing?" He said, his voice rising over the noise of the crowd. Everyone immediately quieted down, as they waited to hear his next words.

"I'm asking you to be my girlfriend!"

Everyone went wild. Pictures and videos were being taken as everyone chattered excitedly amongst themselves on this development. This was public confession! The school's prince had confessed! And to this no-name, ordinary girl no less! Cheers and hoots of congratulations and dejection rang across the whole place.

This was something that they would never forget. A topic that would be always brought up in every school reunion they would have in the future, something they would look back at and laugh as they thought about those last moments in their last day at school.

Mei on the other hand, was blushing, her face as red as a tomato. His chest was at close proximity to her face, and she was still trapped by him. Confessing to her so suddenly, she placed both her hands on her chest, as she felt her heartbeat quicken.

"Y-you could've just t-told me privately..."

"Is that a yes?" Rui cocked his head as he bent down and inched his face closer to hers. Some of the girls squealed.

"....." A nod.

The crowd burst into an uproar. We have new couple everyone! She just accepted his confession!

Rui grinned, turning a deaf ear to the loud noises of everyone surrounding them as he took Mei's hand and ran, past students who had witnessed and were cheering at the new couple, as they went off to start their new love.

Their relationship had just begun.

.

.

.

.

"Stop running!"

"Shit!" Rui skidded to a halt at the side of a pavement, releasing their intertwined hands as they both tried to catch their breath. They were a long distance from the school now, and no one they knew was in sight.

Mei had bent down, hands on her knees her shirt drenched in sweat. That was probably the most exercise she had experienced in her life. It didn't help that she was bringing her heavy bag with her. She just wanted to go back to her bed and never run again.

Rui released a breath as he calmed down from his adrenaline high. He then looked beside him as he waited for Mei to compose herself again. When she finally stood straight, both of them caught each other's eyes for a while, did not utter a single word as they stared at each other, their faces serious and red from the sudden marathon they just had.

Before collapsing into fits of laughter.

"Oh my god!" Mei wheezed, as she grabbed her stomach by her arms. "What was that!?"

"That, my dear Mei," Rui panted, "was a public confession." Mei's ears were still ringing. She couldn't believe it. She never thought that in her 17 years of living, she, a low-level homebody, would experience that in her lifetime! God, that was a mess!

Tired after all the running, they slowly took the trek back to their houses, with Rui loosely slinging his arm on her shoulders, leaning some of his weight onto her.

"I still can't believe that happened."

"I know."

"They fell for it!" he grinned as he pushed his hair back with his fingers in a very dramatic way.

"What can I say? I deserve an Oscar." Mei laughed.

"Your acting was shitty!"

"Hey, don't say that!"

"Your lines were cringey."

"That was a product of my research! All the male leads I've read and watched do that." She had opened her mouth to refute, but found that she couldn't. She sighed in defeat.

"You're right."

"What about you? Weren't you just hunched in the corner like that Quasimodo guy?" Mei gasped.

"Quasi--how dare you." Rui laughed as he tried to avoid the smacks that Mei was hitting him.

"Ow! I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I have wronged you, master," He apologized, trying to appease her. She scoffed, a proud smirk on her face.

"I thought so." Rui giggled. She stopped hitting him with her bag and he went back to leaning his tall frame against her petite one.

"So, how was the experience?"

"Erm....it was beyond my expectations. Totally would not do it again." Just once was enough. The rush of excitement and adrenaline mixed in with the loud and erratic pounding of her heart was something that she would never forget; and one that is only to be felt once in your life.

"Does that mean I get to be your last?" Mei turned to look at him and smiled.

"I'm afraid if I'll do it again, I might regret it." Rui laughed as he pulled her close before crossing the road. They passed by a convenience store on their way home. He paused, causing Mei to halt with him.

"Wha-"

"Yah, let's buy some cup noodles." He gestured to the store in front of him. Mei sighed.

"My mom's cooking tonight."

"Then just go with me." Both of them entered the store, and they were hit with the cool air of the air conditioner.

"Will you be able to write a chapter tonight?" He asked, as they went into the aisle and he began taking packs of his favorite instant noodles off the shelves.

"Maybe, though I may have to revise a few details." Like how she almost died when they ran for what felt like a mile. He hummed, as they walked to the counter to pay for his food.

"Text me when you're done. I wanna read it." Mei smiled.

"Okay."

"So," he began, as they walked out of the convenience store, leaving the cool air behind them which Mei had been reluctant to part with. "Now that the confession is done, what do we do next?"

"Now," Mei replied, looking up to his handsome face, as he looked back at her with curious eyes and a confused smile.

"We date."