RED

II

As several weeks passed, Stephanie was caught up in a whirlwind of schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and social obligations. Despite her best intentions, she struggled to find the time to seek out Jared and express her gratitude again for his help with her math homework.

Finally, one afternoon, as Stephanie was walking in the school food court, she spotted Jared sitting alone at a table in the corner, eating his lunch.

"Jared!" Stephanie called out as she waved her hands and ran toward his table.

tephanie called out to Jared in the bustling dining hall. Murmurs rippled through the crowd, and curious eyes turned toward the unexpected interaction between the famous princess of the school and the quiet nerd.

Ignoring the whispers and stares, Stephanie approached Jared.

"Jared," she said, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Jared looked up from his tray, surprised by Stephanie's boldness. "Uh, sure?" he replied, setting down his fork and giving her full attention.

"Jared, I wanted to give you this," Stephanie said, her voice soft yet determined. "It's just a little something to thank you for all the help you've given me."

"You don't have to."

Stephanie cut him, "Seriously, accept it," as she genuinely smiled at Jared.Jared looked away as he accepted the gift.

"I think I'll need more of your help in my math in the future," Stephanie smiled innocently at Jared.

Jared is still confused but nods to what she said. Looking at Stephanie, he can't hide the truth that she also had a crush on the girl beside him. To Jared, Stephanie is beautiful, charming, and innocent, but he's well aware that their social status is way too different.

"I'll just be in the library if you have problems with your math," Jared said in a low voice.

"I know, everyone said you are always at the library. I guess I won't have time to look for you."Their moment was interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a tall, imposing figure. Stephanie's heart skipped a beat as she recognized him immediately: Marco, her ex-boyfriend.

Marco's presence sent a ripple of tension through the air, his piercing gaze fixed squarely on Stephanie and Jared. His jaw clenched with barely concealed anger as he approached their table, his footsteps echoing ominously in the now-silent dining hall.

Stephanie's stomach churned with unease as she braced herself for the confrontation, she knew was inevitable. Although she had ended things with Marco weeks ago, she could still feel the weight of their past relationship hanging heavily between them.

"Stephie," Marco said tersely, his voice laced with barely restrained hostility. "What's going on here?"

Stephanie couldn't shake the simmering resentment Marco's presence always seemed to ignite within her. She despised Marco for his arrogance, entitlement, and tendency to belittle others to inflate his own ego. She can't believe she even dated this kind of guy.

Their relationship had been the envy of their school. They were the quintessential power couple, admired and idolized by their peers for their seemingly perfect union.

Stephanie squared her shoulders, refusing to back down in the face of Marco's aggression. "Marco, this is none of your business," she replied, her voice firm but tinged with apprehension.

Marco's eyes flickered between Stephanie and Jared, his expression darkening with each passing moment. "Who's this? Your new boyfriend?" he demanded, his tone accusatory.

"No," Jared said in a low voice, but Stephanie noted otherwise.

"What is it to you? Huh? Marco?" Stephanie replied firmly.

Marco's face contorted with rage at Stephanie's words, his fists clenching at his sides. "You can't be," he spat, his voice laced with venom. "You can't seriously be with this... date this nerd!"

Stephanie met Marco's glare head-on, refusing to back down in the face of his anger. "How dare you." she retorted, her tone dripping with disdain.

"I dare Steph, this guy is not even in my league. Seriously, this the kind of guy you replace me with?"

"You know what? We are long over, and I can date whoever I want." Stephanie declared.

Feeling a surge of anger and frustration toward Marco's confrontational behavior, Stephanie's impulse took over as she grabbed Jared's arm firmly, her nails digging into his skin unintentionally. With a determined stride, she marched away from Marco, leaving him standing alone in the dining hall.

Jared winced slightly at Stephanie's tight grip, but he followed her lead without protest, sensing the urgency in her actions. As they retreated from the chaotic scene, Stephanie's emotions boiled over, her breaths coming in short, sharp bursts.

"I can't believe him!" Stephanie exclaimed, her voice trembling with indignation. "Who does he think he is, coming here and causing a scene like that?"

"Uhm, I think you should calm down."

"If only I didn't know the kind of guy he was. Can't believe he even became my boyfriend."

Jared scratched his head, not knowing what to tell Stephanie. Stephanie glanced at him, a bit embarrassed by the realization of what his ex-boyfriend had done.

"I'm sorry, Jared, Marco could be a headache."

Jared nodded and looked at his watch.

"I think I'll be going back to class."