181 Days of Madeline Jesty

Chapter 15: Cluster of Admirers

It had been two days since our library kiss. In fact, we did it again the next day, this time a little fiercer; we took our lovely time since there wasn't somebody waiting unlike the first day we did. And because there was something thrilling about doing a scandalous act in a supposed-to-be public place, we tried doing it again during recess today, but to her surprise, there were already visitors in the general reference section, and the LRC had grown its number of patrons. 

It wasn't surprising to me at all. I had noticed eyes following Mickey wherever she went.

Even though it had only been a week since Mickey was introduced in class, she easily gained popularity because of her looks and deep, husky voice. Students from other sections, as well as underclassmen, would pass by our classroom during recess and lunch break, hoping and eagerly trying to have a glimpse of this fine-looking senior who was naïve of her sudden fame. Anonymous letters began appearing on her chair, in her locker, inside her bag, and basically everywhere she could be, which meant she obtained her own fandom in a span of a week. Or maybe I wasn't just aware that this had been going on since her first day. There was no reason to doubt why some students, particularly students of a school trying hard to contain and dictate their behavior, were trying to get their own chance with Mickey; after all, I myself was attracted to her appearance.

I heard rumors she was paired to Jane. Their "love team" was described as perfect but tragic, the reason being both were examples of gorgeous females belonging to the opposite ends of the gender-expression spectrum; however, one was a model student whose aunt was not only the school principal but also a nun, which meant that, if ever Jane was indeed queer, she wouldn't be able to express herself freely as others could. But of course, these were all assumptions.

"Caught you." Mickey placed her lunch bag on the surface of the armchair in front me as she moved the seat to join our circle. Steph and I were already starting munching the food we bought from the canteen. "Am I so irresistible that you cannot take your eyes off me?"

I knew she meant it as a joke, but was she really that dense not to notice the growing number of ladies outside our classroom, peeking from the jalousie windows? Steph even looked at her then to me, shocked how Mickey had no idea of her current celebrity status.

"No, Mickey," Steph interrupted, irritated at her naivety. "We are just stunned how you cannot see the women hungry of your attention."

"I don't need them. I have someone else." She then looked at me and smiled, as if informing she was talking about me. I was just thankful that Steph was as clueless as her because I didn't want my closest friend to be involved in my lies. If I ended up making a real novel out of my misery to offer a valid explanation for my agreement with Mickey before I would pass away, I had no one to blame but myself. For now, I would rather keep it between the two of us, and Mickey knew that.

"You have someone?" Steph leaned closer to whisper, "So the rumors are true? Is it Jane?"

"Jane? Why Jane?"

"Duh, the two of you are obviously the sweethearts of the class. Both of you have this charming prince and princess aura, you know? Plus, you're seatmates. People often see you laughing and talking with each other. If only my friend here"—Steph gave me the side-eye—"would just stop being grumpy and snobbish, she will easily be a heartthrob."

"You aren't?"

I shook my head. "The least I'd like to get is attention from other people."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. She could easily magnetize anyone, honestly. She had tons of suitors from other all-boys schools, and I guess there's just something about being the one to melt someone with a heart of a stone. I mean, those who successfully had a conversation with her were now probably carrying that fact like a trophy."