The Fallen Angel

55. You are special to me

Humming along to my favorite tune, I swung open my locker and reached for my sketchbook, its familiar weight a comfort in my hands. "It's been too long since I've drawn anything," I muttered to myself, flipping through the pages to admire my past creations. With a satisfied smile, I slipped the sketchbook into my bag, ready to tackle the day ahead.

Just as I was about to close my locker, I caught sight of Ero in the distance, his gaze fixed on me. My cheeks flushed with warmth, and I couldn't help but flash him a beaming smile. "Hey there," I whispered, our own little bubble amidst the bustling crowd.

"Got any free time?" I asked, and he gestured to his phone. I pulled out mine, and there it was—a message from him: "Let's grab lunch together." My smile widened as I nodded in agreement.

But before we could carry on, his friends swooped in, draping their arms over his shoulders and pulling him away. I chuckled softly to myself. "Guess he's got a new crew," I mused, watching him go with a mix of fondness and amusement.

I settled into my desk, humming along to some old tunes. "I can't take my eyes off—" I began before being interrupted by a guy swaggering over. "I know I'm a sight for sore eyes," he quipped with a smirk.

I shot him a deadpan look. "I wasn't talking to you," I retorted, not missing a beat.He chuckled, undeterred. "I know, I'm just too irresistible," he teased, flashing a grin.

Rolling my eyes, I leaned in closer. "You wish, buddy. You look like a turtle poking its head out," I countered, unable to hold back a chuckle.He laughed, giving as good as he got. "And you resemble a frog croaking in the swamp," he fired back, his laughter contagious.

I couldn't help but join in. "At least I've got style," I quipped, gesturing to my outfit.He laughed even harder. "Yeah, matching like peas in a pod," he teased, the banter flowing easily between us.

As the girls around us joined in laughter, one chimed in, "Yeah, you do look like a toad, green on green."

I couldn't help but crack a smile, though annoyance simmered beneath the surface. "You started it," I shot back at him, refusing to let him have the last word.

He flashed me a grin, his buddies egging him on. "Hey, you were the one who called me handsome first," he teased, his playful banter keeping the mood light despite our teasing.

One of the girls couldn't resist adding to the banter. "Looks like we've got a real-life frog prince situation here," she quipped, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

The guys around us erupted into laughter, egging on the playful teasing. "Yeah, except this frog's got a lot more charm," one of them teased, earning a playful shove from his friend.

I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. "Thanks for the reminder," I shot back, my tone dripping with sarcasm, as we all dissolved into laughter, enjoying the lighthearted moment.

As the teasing hit its peak, a guy jumped into the mix, cutting off the girls with a playful smirk. "Hey, at least Isabelle's got beauty," he declared, striking a pose that sent the girls into fits of jealous laughter.

His remark earned him a round of high-fives from his buddies, while the girls shot him playful glares mixed with envy. "Yeah, but beauty is only skin deep," one of the girls retorted, not willing to concede defeat.

The classroom erupted into laughter, the playful banter filling the air with energy as everyone joined in on the fun. But just as the teasing reached its crescendo, the teacher walked in, bringing an end to the hilarity and signaling the start of another day of learning.

-------------------------------------------

Ero Pov

As I scrolled through Isabelle's pictures on my phone, eagerly awaiting the lunch break so I could meet her, the boys in the room couldn't resist poking fun. With mischievous grins, they nudged each other and teased, "Looks like someone's got himself a girlfriend," their voices laced with playful sarcasm.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at their jesting, fully aware that they were just trying to provoke a reaction. "Oh yeah, you caught me," I retorted with a smirk, playing along with their banter. "Just admiring the view," I added, feigning nonchalance as I continued to swipe through the pictures.

The boys erupted into laughter, their teasing banter filling the air with energy as they egged each other on. "So, spill the beans, who's the lucky lady?" one of them teased, prompting more laughter from the group.

I chuckled, playing along with their curiosity. "Ah, just a friend," I replied vaguely, enjoying the playful teasing.I threw out there, "Let's just say I've landed one. So, what's the deal? What does a girl really want from a guy?" I paused, owning up to my rookie status in the dating game. One of the guys piped up, "Well, well, well, looks like we've got a rookie in need of some dating wisdom ,Looks like you've stumbled upon the right guru," he quipped, eliciting a chuckle from the group.

With a teasing tone, another guy couldn't help but prod at my newfound relationship status. "So, you've snagged yourself a catch, huh?" he teased, his smirk widening with each word. But I simply brushed off his jest with a nonchalant shrug, unwilling to divulge too much about my romantic endeavors.

Undeterred, one of the guys slung an arm around my shoulders, adopting a surprisingly earnest tone as he offered his sage advice. "Listen up, buddy. It's all about confidence," he began, his words carrying a hint of genuine encouragement. "But lucky for you, you've got the looks to back it up. Trust me, that's half the battle won right there."

The group erupted into laughter, the atmosphere buzzing with camaraderie and good-natured ribbing. Lucas chimed in, adding his two cents with a knowing smirk. "Listen up, Ero. It ain't just about the looks, buddy. A girl wants attention round the clock, you feel me? She wants you to be there for her like a rock, just like my girl. And hey, being an introvert ain't an excuse. You gotta make the effort to understand her, adapt to her vibe. If she's outgoing, you gotta roll with it. And if she knows you inside out, well, you better step up and meet her halfway. Can't betray a loyal girl, man. My girl craves my attention, and I'm happy to give it to her."

I listened intently, a sense of realization sinking in. Maybe I hadn't been there for her like I should have. "But she already knows everything about me," I began, but Lucas cut me off with a knowing look. "Doesn't matter, bro. You still gotta go above and beyond for her," he insisted, a hint of humor in his voice.

The guys erupted into cheers and shouts of "Woahhhhhhhh, the expert!" as Lucas laid down his wisdom. "Lucas! Lucas!" they chanted, their voices brimming with playful admiration.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a guru in the house," one of them quipped, sparking laughter all around.

Lucas couldn't help but grin, soaking up the attention like a pro. "Hey, just dishing out some knowledge," he replied casually, though a glint of amusement twinkled in his eyes.

The playful banter and camaraderie filled the room, turning what could have been a serious moment into a light-hearted exchange among buddies.

---------------------------------------