Faded Connections: A High School Story

Chapter 8: Surprise

[EVERRIDGE ACADEMY - NIGHT]

The final bell rang, signaling the end of another long school day. Mia felt a wave of relief wash over her as she gathered her things, eager to unwind with her friends. It had been a whirlwind few days since she and Jace made their relationship official, and she was bursting to tell Anna and Jenna the news.

As she slung her backpack over her shoulder, Mia noticed Anna and Jenna approaching her desk, their faces lit up with excitement. They had a special glint in their eyes, the kind that usually meant they had something fun in mind.

ANNA
"Mia! Jenna and I, were thinking of grabbing dinner tonight. You know that new Samgyupsal place that just opened up downtown? How about we go check it out?"

Mia grinned, the idea of unwinding over a sizzling grill with her best friends sounding perfect.

MIA
"That sounds amazing! I've been dying to try that place."

JENNA
"Great! Let's head out then. Gutom na 'ko!"

The three of them made their way out of the school, chatting and laughing as they walked through the bustling streets. Mia felt a flutter of anticipation in her chest-this would be the perfect opportunity to tell her friends about her and Jace.

[SAMGYUPSAL RESTAURANT - NIGHT]

The Samgyupsal restaurant was cozy and inviting, with the smell of grilled meat wafting through the air as they stepped inside. The girls were quickly seated at a table near the window, where they had a view of the city streets outside at night. A server came by to take their order, and soon after, the sizzling sound of meat grilling on the table filled the air.

Mia's heart raced as she looked at her friends, their faces glowing in the warm light of the restaurant. She knew she couldn't keep her secret any longer.

MIA
"Guys, I have something to tell you."

Her voice is slightly shaky from excitement. Anna and Jenna both paused, their chopsticks hovering over the grill as they turned their attention to Mia.

JENNA
"Ano 'yon? You look like you're about to burst!"

Mia took a deep breath, a wide smile spreading across her face.

MIA
"Jace and I... we're official now."

There was a brief moment of silence as the words hung in the air, followed by a collective gasp from Anna and Jenna. Their reactions were exactly what Mia had hoped for-surprise, excitement, and a hint of playful disbelief.

ANNA
(surprised) "Seryoso?! You and Jace are officially together?!"

JENNA
"Hindi, joke lang daw"

Mia laughs at Jenna's joke, but Anna looks so done with Jenna.

MIA
"We talked about it, and we both felt the same way. We didn't want to leave things undefined anymore, so ayon, we made it official."

Jenna clapped her hands together in delight.

JENNA
"I knew there was something between you two from the start. You guys just seemed to click so well."

Anna leaned in closer to Mia, a mischievous grin on her face.

ANNA
"So, how did it happen? Spill all the details!"

Mia laughed, feeling a rush of warmth as she recalled the moment.

MIA
"Well, we were just sitting by the basketball court after school, just talking, and Jace brought it up. He said he didn't want to keep wondering where we stood and that he wanted us to be more than just... whatever we were before. And honestly, I felt the same way. So we made it official right then and there."

Anna and Jenna exchanged knowing looks, their smiles full of approval.

JENNA
"I knew it, You two were meant to be."

As they continued to eat, the conversation flowed easily, with Anna and Jenna asking Mia all about her time with Jace.

Mia was more than happy to share the details-how Jace had invited her to his house, how wonderful his family had been, and how everything just felt so right when she was with him.

At one point, as they were finishing up their meal, Anna leaned back in her seat, a thoughtful expression crossing her face.

ANNA
"You know, Mia. I can't help but think, that all of this might've started doon sa small charm na you found a while back."

Mia paused, her chopsticks hovering over a piece of meat.

MIA
"The charm? What do you mean?"

Jenna nodded in agreement, her eyes lighting up as she chimed in.

JENNA
"Yeah, remember when you found that little charm? The one with the star on it? Ever since you found it, things between you and Jace have been... different. Closer."

Mia blinked, her mind racing back to that day. She had almost forgotten about the charm-a small, star-shaped trinket that she had found weeks ago. At the time, she had thought it was just a random trinket that someone's bag just simply fell, but now that Jenna mentioned it, she couldn't help but wonder if it had played a part in the events that followed.

MIA
"Do you think the charm... did something?"

Mia asked her best friends, half-joking, but there was a hint of curiosity in her voice. Anna shrugged, a playful smile on her lips.

ANNA
"Who knows? Maybe it's a lucky charm. Or baka it's just a coincidence. But either way, things have definitely changed since you found it."

Jenna grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

JENNA
"Well, whether it's magic or just fate, I'm happy it happened. You and Jace are great together."

Mia felt a warmth spread through her chest at her friends' words. They continued to chat and laugh, enjoying the rest of their meal together.

As they prepared to leave, Mia couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the support and love of her friends. They had been there for her through thick and thin, and now, as she embarked on this new chapter of her life with Jace, she knew they would continue to be by her side.

As they stepped out into the cool evening air, Mia felt a sense of contentment set over her. She looked at Anna and Jenna, who were still animatedly discussing the possibility of the charm being magical, and couldn't help but smile.

Maybe it was the charm. Maybe it was fate. Or maybe it was just the natural course of events. But whatever it was, Mia was grateful for it. She had Jace, she had her friends, and for the first time in a long time, she felt like everything was falling into place.

As they walked down the street, arm in arm, Mia knew one thing for sure-whatever the future held, she was ready for it.

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