Love Confession

At last, the much-awaited moment came.

Mia decided to move to the furthest table, hidden enough to hide her presence but close enough to allow her to observe. Much 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! My boyfriend couldn't get enough of me after I used the products in your videos!” exclaimed one of her companions, confirming her thought.

“Oh my! I'm happy for you,” she cooed. “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 this place as soon as possible.’

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

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

From the angle with which his sleek hair sharpened the lines of 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, and even glowing. While she was the one who advised him what sort of image he should go for, it was him who made it happen in the end.

Mia swelled 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 young man she’d first met. At this moment, he was someone straight out of a storybook or a dream.

When Wes sauntered towards the rows of 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 much larger than the one he had the first time, he showed up to them as every woman's fantasy. Even Mia felt her breath catch, feeling like she's watching a scene from a movie.

“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 world with his ethereal presence. They watched his every move with intent, their mouths agape and eyes blown wide open.

“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 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.

Her face immediately lit up like stars in the sky. Meanwhile, from behind, Mia struggled to suppress the throbbing in her chest. She saw her excitement and suddenly 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. She was cleaning her aunt's house back then, 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…’ She 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 helplessly captivated by him, but because of the 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 and sinking. ‘She really is lucky. I just hope she’ll treat him better this time around.’

Alice stepped forward with a bashful smile on her pretty face. Some of her companions started recording with their phones while others cheered her on.

It was time.

Wes was about to meet her halfway, gifts in hand, heart bare open. Alice was all giddy as she moved closer to him, a flirtatious glint in her eyes.

“Hey there. I was so sure you were someone I knew.” She tilted her head cutely. “But aren’t you that boy who…?”

Before she could finish, the unprecedented happened. They were already right in front of each other when he unexpectedly walked past her—without a glance, without a word. The air froze, and everyone fell in stunned silence.

Her arms, which had been waiting to receive the lavish bouquet she’d assumed was hers, now hung awkwardly at her sides.

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

She observed 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 pace.

She wondered where he was going when he suddenly paused mid-step. He lost composure for the first time that hour, expression visibly shaken and eyes wide by a fraction. Her mind tried to process this, then she felt her heart stop briefly.

Wes was looking around in a panic before turning back to the chairs at the front, where the both of them had sat on earlier.

The realization crashed like a wave; he was searching for her. Her breath hitched, and her throat tightened. A tingle raced through her spine while heat curled in her chest.

‘What…? What is he doing?’

Just in case he needed something at the last second, like maybe a confidence boost, she rose slightly from where she's hiding but did not call out. He found her at once. A smile as warm and dazzling as the sun emerged from his face, and almost instantly, she felt weak on the knees.

‘So, he really is looking for me.’

All else ceased to matter, as it always did whenever his focus was on her. That expression was not his usual friendly grin nor playful smirk; it was tender, luminous. Every wall she’d ever built around her heart was disarmed by the sight alone.

Mia slowly reached up and clutched her chest. "Wes..."