Sub Rosa Ties ( A High School Dark Romance)

Zera

I locked my phone with a frustrated sigh, feeling disheartened.

I had watched countless confession and proposal scenes of couples online, ranging from tearful declarations to lighthearted moments.

Tossing my phone to the end of my bed, I flopped down roughly, clutching my pillow tightly, my mind swirling with uncertainty.

"Why is it so hard for him to confess and ask me out? Huh? Am I not worth it?" I muttered under my breath, frustration bubbling within me. "He loves acting all clueless like he didn't know what to say. Such a dumbass..." I grunted, shaking my leg swiftly in agitation.

I deliberately ignored Gerard's calls and messages on purpose, intending to punish him in whatever way I could. I knew he hated it when I did that, but at that moment, I couldn't care less about his feelings.

"Maybe he's planning to sneak into your room tonight through the window, like he did last time," a voice whispered in my head, but I shook it off.

"Gerard? I doubt he would..." I trailed off as laughter echoed from downstairs, catching my attention.

Weird. Really weird.

It was my mum's voice. I hadn't heard her laugh so loudly in ages, not since Dad was still around. And who was the other person? The laughter belonged to a man, and it sounded strangely familiar.

I sat up abruptly, hoping I had misheard, but moments later, I heard whispers again, followed by another eruption of laughter.

"What in the..." I muttered under my breath as I leaped out of bed and dashed to my wardrobe.

I grabbed a pair of white shorts and pulled them on under my oversized T-shirt.

In mere seconds, I was hurtling downstairs.

"Mum? Mum..." I trailed off as I reached the ground floor, making my way to the living room.

I immediately caught sight of my mum, her smile widening from ear to ear as she gazed down at a bunch of flowers in her hand.

My eyes drifted from hers to the towering figure beside her, and I almost stumbled in shock.

What...how did he...?

Gerard.

He stood in close proximity to my mom, whispering into her ear while she continued to smile.

One would think she was a high schooler receiving her first bouquet. Another burst of laughter escaped her lips as Gerard spoke. I hurriedly made my way towards them.

"Mum," my voice echoed after me as soon as I reached them, but my gaze was fixed on a particular curly-haired guy who was dressed as though he was on a fashion runway.

"Oh, you're here. You didn't tell me Gerard is such a sweet young man," Mum grinned, causing me to widen my eyes in surprise.

Sweet?

My gaze flicked to Gerard, whose eyes were fixed on my lower body with a flirtatious intensity before ascending to meet mine. A smirk crept onto his lips as he ogled me, and I had an urge to smack it off his face.

How could he shamelessly leer at me like that in the presence of my mum?

"Oh really? He's so sweet...yeah, he is," I forced a smile at my mom as I watched her walk past me.

"Here. This is for you," I turned back to see Gerard extending a sizable white bouquet of flowers to me. I recognized them instantly. Tulips.

"They're uh...symbolic..." he stuttered, but I quickly cut him off.