Underneath the Snowfall: From Banter to Heartfelt

CHAPTER 2

Emma's dorm room had thin curtains that let in a flood of morning light that warmed the half-open textbooks and stray papers that were all over her desk. Emma woke up with a headache that felt like it had been played on a rock concert stage. A contact by the name of "Alex" had texted her, causing her to moan and go for her phone. She was then presented with a plethora of missed messages and one particularly intriguing notification.

"Good morning, lover of pineapples! I hope your hangover isn't too bad. I'm very sure a pineapple-topped pizza might help with anything if you need a cure. :)"

Emma looked at the screen, flashes of the past night flashing through her mind. She remembered the bewildered look on Alex's face, their lighthearted conversation, and the unexpected warmth in his presence. Despite her headache, she smiled at the concept.

Mia, her roommate, peeked through the door, obviously intrigued. How are you feeling, Emma? I've heard that last night was quite the adventure for you.

Emma massaged her forehead. "It's better for my head to say that I'm living. And sure, of all people, I believe I had a conversation with Alex. He took me home in his car.

Mia furrowed her brow. "Alex? The same Alex you quarrel with all the time?

That is the one, indeed. Emma acknowledged that he had been genuinely kind about it. "I believe he texted me as well."

Mia's eyes brightened. Drama, oh! What does he say?

Mia squealed as Emma gave her the text. It appears that someone has a soft place for you! You ought to respond to his text.

Emma wrote a short response, fascinated as much as amused. "Good morning, Alex. I'm surprisingly not too bad, even with a hangover. Pizza with pineapple seems like a delicious remedy. I appreciate you last night. 😊

After sending the message, she carried on with her morning routine, her mind constantly thinking about Alex and their strange but strangely soothing encounter.

Emma's phone buzzed again a few hours later when she was enjoying coffee in the hostel's common room. It was Alex's latest message.

Glad to hear you're making it through! What if we get together later for some "hangover pizza"? My pleasure. I swear not to pass judgment on the pizza toppings you choose.

Emma smiled, pulse thumping faster. Yes, I'm willing to do that. I appreciate the offer. I'll see you later.

A swirl of expectation engulfed the remainder of the morning. Emma couldn't resist going back and watching their exchange from the previous evening, noticing how rapidly things had shifted. She was aware that this surprising turn of events could signal the beginning of something new, something she wasn't expecting but was eager to experience.

Later that day, she ran into Alex, and the two of them enjoyed laughing and a pizza that had an extra pineapple on top. Emma found that their banter was more fun than she had ever given it credit for as their chats flowed freely.

After their pizza date, Alex genuinely smiled at her as they said their goodbyes. So, what are your thoughts? Was it really a smart idea to put pineapple on pizza?

Emma chuckled. Perhaps it wasn't quite such a farce. Who knows, perhaps along the road we'll find more shocking revelations.

Emma was filled with enthusiasm for the future after that. The greatest things in life can sometimes appear out of nowhere, and for Emma, it appeared that her lighthearted rivalry with Alex was blossoming into something far more meaningful.