That morning, the moment I walked into class, I saw something that instantly told me today was going to be stupid:
Anto's gang was standing in a circle.
Serious.
Nodding at each other.
Like they were about to declare independence 2.0.
Tey was holding a small whiteboard.
Kane had a marker.
Tian was holding a donut.
And Anto… was holding his own head.
"Am I… still alive?" he mumbled.
I immediately got suspicious.
"To. What is this now?"
Tey flipped the board around.
Written in big letters:
HALF-HONEST MISSION
(Anto tells the truth → but don't let the bet be exposed)
I covered my face.
💥 Rina Confused, Anto Panicking
I sat down.
Anto sat in front of me.
But his body was stiff like a statue.
"Anto… what's wrong with you?"
He took a deep breath.
Very deep.
Like he was about to stand trial.
"Rina.
I want to say something."
Suddenly my heart started pounding.
"What do you want to say?"
He looked at me seriously.
"Rina…
actually…
I…
I…"
From behind, Tey gestured wildly, HALF, HALF!!
Anto instantly changed.
"…I like…
like…
liiiiike…"
I swallowed.
"To…"
Anto panicked.
"…I like you… BUT ONLY HALF!"
I blinked.
"HALF WHAT?"
Anto slammed the desk.
"I like you HALF conscious HALF unconscious!!"
I covered my face again.
Anto's gang clapped.
"MISSION SUCCESS!!" Tey shouted.
"He told the truth halfway!"
Kane took notes.
Tian ate his donut.
I wanted to throw my shoe at all of them.
❤️🔥 Rina Starts Asking Questions — And Anto Breaks Down
During break, I sat with Eli.
Anto approached… slowly.
"To."
"Y-yeah…?"
His voice was tiny.
"I want to ask something."
Anto immediately held his chest.
"I'M READY… FOR ANYTHING!!"
I looked at him carefully.
"If… I really like someone…
what should that person do?"
Anto froze.
From afar, Kane fell off his chair.
Tey grabbed his own head.
Tian yelled,
"ANSWERRR!!!"
Anto stuttered.
"I-if you like someone…
that person should…
should…"
I waited.
Anto opened his mouth.
And—
"BLAAAM!!"
Juke dropped a tray of soup onto the floor.
Everyone turned.
Anto lost focus.
I sighed.
"To. What's the answer?"
Anto looked down.
"The answer…
that person should…
should…
not make you sad."
I went quiet.
"That's it?"
He spoke softly.
"That's the most important thing."
For the first time, Anto's voice sounded gentle… and sincere.
And my chest ached a little.
⚠️ Adrian Corners Anto's Gang Again
In the hallway, Adrian called Anto and the gang over.
I peeked from afar.
"Anto," Adrian said quietly,
"I'll ask again. What's the bet?"
Tian instantly panicked.
"WHAT BET?!"
Kane got nervous.
"Not a bet! It's… a diet program!"
Juke almost tripped.
Adrian stared at Anto.
"To.
I'm asking you directly."
Anto turned pale.
"W-what?"
"Do you actually like Rina?"
Anto choked on air.
Tey suddenly covered his mouth.
"ANTOOO IS FASTING FROM ANSWERS!!"
Adrian sighed.
"I just don't want her to get hurt."
Anto looked at the floor.
"I… that's what I'm afraid of too," he whispered.
💗 Rina and Anto Walk Home — By Accident
After school, it started raining.
I forgot my umbrella.
Anto appeared with a pathetic blue umbrella (small, slightly torn, leaning sideways).
"Rina!"
He ran toward me.
"To? Your umbrella… is broken?"
Anto smiled.
"As long as you don't get wet."
I went silent.
He opened the umbrella.
And because it was tiny…
we had to walk very close so it could cover us both.
Our shoulders brushed.
I nearly died.
Anto probably did too.
He trembled.
"Rinaaa why do your shoulders smell nice…"
"SHUT UP, ANTO."
We kept walking.
But strangely…
I didn't want to move away.
🌸 Rina Admits It to Herself
At home, I sat on my bed.
Remembering:
Anto trying to confess but failing
Anto saying "the important thing is you don't get hurt"
how he rescued me from the rain
our shoulders touching
our racing hearts
I hugged my pillow.
"Oh God…
I fell in love with the dumbest guy in school…"
I smiled softly—
my face burning.
And for the first time…
I didn't mind at all.