Love Confession

At last, the much-awaited moment came.

Mia moved to the back, far enough to hide her presence but close enough for her to observe. To her relief, Gwen and Lucy hadn't tagged along. Alice strode in with a different group of girls, all of whom seemed to be her fans as they kept chatting her up and asking for advice.

‘Oh, right. Jenny mentioned that she makes vlogs about cosmetics and stuff.’

“Your tutorials really helped me out, Alice!" exclaimed one of her companions. "My boyfriend couldn't get enough of me after I used the products in your videos!” 

“Oh my! I'm happy for you!” she chirped. “You should also hear from my friends, Gwen and Lucy. Those two are experts on boys~ They'll be joining us later.”

‘Yet one more reason to get out of here as soon as possible.’

For now, though, Mia set her gaze on the entrance.

There stood a human masterpiece, compelling both in looks and aura. She's reminded that those aspiring to be fashion designers, like herself, needed more than just a sense of colors or textures. They needed to achieve a vision, and this was it—Wes.

From the angle with which his sleek hair enhanced his face to the fit of his attire that they picked out together, he’s every inch the reverie she had in mind. He was confident—arresting. While she was the one who advised him what image to go for, it was him who made it happen.

And she couldn't help but swell with pride. ‘Way to go, Wes!’

Not only did she keep her promise to help, but she was also able to bring out the best in him. Truly, he seemed far from the boy she’d first met. At this moment, he was someone straight out of a dream.

When Wes sauntered toward the tables, awestruck silence draped over the café like a curtain on a stage. Bearing a pink teddy bear, a box of chocolates, and a bouquet of red roses larger than the one he had before, he showed up to them as every woman's fantasy. Even Mia felt her breath catch, feeling like she's watching a TV drama.

“Oh my gosh!”

Ear-piercing shrills and squeals burst out from Alice's circle, practically flipping the place over. It's as if a god had descended and graced the mortal realm with his ethereal presence. 

“Is that who I think it is?!” one cried out.

‘Hm? Who?’

Another swooned, “So charming~ Ah, I think I'm gonna faint!”

‘She’s feeling sick?’

“Camera! Phone! Where is it?! I have to take a pic- No, a video!”

‘Huh? Why?’

“Wait… Is he going to ask someone out?!”

Alice put a hand on her cheek demurely and let out a dreamy sigh, expression laced with airy smugness. “Listen, there's something I realized; I think he confessed to me once.”

‘So, she remembers Wes.’ Mia straightened up and fisted the fabric of her skirt. ‘If she recognized him that easily, she should've seen he's a great guy from the beginning. She shouldn’t have treated him the way she did.’

“You know each other?! Amazing!”

“So, is he the real thing?!”

“He's definitely going to ask you out again!”

No one questioned Alice's statement.

Then again, she had that kind of reputation—the girl with secret admirers. She was a natural, unfazed amid all this attention. Without a doubt, she was the type who thrived in the limelight.

And true enough, she drew Wes’s eye.

Mia struggled to suppress the throbbing in her chest. Seeing Alice's excitement, she found herself wishing she's anywhere but there.

“Kyaaa! He's heading in our direction!”

They all huddled around Alice, whispering and giggling as the leading man walked on set. Throughout the chaos, Wes maintained a cool and collected stance. The more Mia watched him, somehow, the more she felt the distance growing.

The boy she’d gone shopping with, shared fashion tips with, and walked side by side with under the mall's atrium lights—now, he looked like someone who belonged on billboards and magazines.

“Don't touch that, you dirty girl!”

A flashback from when she was a child crossed her mind. 

It was when she was cleaning her aunt's house, and she had caught sight of a shiny jewelry box. That was the first time she saw something so beautiful. But before she could even get near, her aunt had yelled at her and pushed her away from it.

“Filth like you can't hold such precious things, you hear?”

At that young age, she'd learned to simply admire from afar. She had to be content with what little she had, to accept that she could never own something so valuable. That way, she wouldn't have to be sad or in pain for what's out of her reach.

It didn't take long for her to discover it's the same when it came to love, too.

‘I know he wants her, and I'm happy for him, but…’  Mia let herself ache for one small, fragile moment. ‘...It hurts after all.’

She couldn't help it. She couldn't stop it.

It's not because of the romantic gesture or the fairytale-like setting that she's captivated by Wes, but it's because of his courage to chase after what his heart sought—that, more than anything, was what made him so desirable.

“Oh, what a wonderful surprise!” Alice stood up, gracefully brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Mia felt her heart twisting. ‘She really is lucky. I just hope she’ll treat him better this time around.’

Alice stepped toward him with a flirty smile on her face. Some of her companions started recording with their phones while others cheered her on. Wes kept a collected stance as he met her halfway. 

It was time.

“Hey there. You've become so handsome I thought you're a celebrity," she quipped and tilted her head cutely. “But weren’t you that guy who...?”

Before she could finish, the unprecedented happened. He walked past her—without a glance, without a word. The air froze, and everyone fell in stunned silence. 

Alice, who'd been ecstatic to receive the gifts she'd assumed was hers, now hovered awkwardly in the background.  

“W-What? Wes?” Mia sat motionless in her seat, as shocked as the others.

She watched Wes in confusion as he continued walking, his focus sharp and unwavering. He straight up ignored Alice, the girl of his dreams, and she had no idea why.

Her heartbeat picked up.

She wondered where he was going when he paused mid-step. For the first time that day, he lost composure, expression shaken. He searched around in a panic before turning back to the chairs at the front.

That was where they had sat on earlier. It was then realization crashed like a wave —

He was searching for her. 

‘What…? What is he doing?’

Just in case he needed something at the last second, like maybe a confidence boost, she rose from where she's hiding but did not call out.

He found her at once, and a smile as warm as the sun surfaced on his face. She almost staggered at the dazzling sight, knees weak and throat tight.

‘So, he really is looking for me.’

All else ceased to matter, as it always did whenever he was near. That expression was not his usual friendly grin nor playful smirk; it was tender, luminous. Every wall she built around her heart was disarmed by that alone.

Mia clutched her chest with her shaky hands. 

"Wes..."