𝐇𝐄'𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄

ᴇɴᴛʀʏ #26 | ʀᴀᴠᴇʟ

026 | Ravel

"Hey, (Y/N)," Valen greeted as soon as he walked through the door of the History classroom, immediately singling her out as he sat down next to her, something that made her eyes widen in surprise. "How are you doing? It saddens me that we haven't been able to speak often."

"Hey..." (Y/N) merely trailed off as she glanced up from the journal she was scribbling in, trying very hard to ignore the piercing glare that Jess was giving her—something she could see from the corner of her eye. "Sorry about that. I've just been really busy with... family stuff."

"Family stuff?" He cocked his head. "I hope nothing bad, right?"

"No, no..." she trailed off, lying through her teeth as she tried to combat the claim. "Nothing bad. Just time consuming."

Frick.

Jess, can you not glare at me like that!?

I know he's the first guy you've ever been into, but come on!

It's not like I'm into him!

However even as the thought flew across her mind, she couldn't help but let herself admire his features—how handsome he was combined with how good he was with words was enough to make anyone flustered, and she was no exception.

He's just cute.

But, I can admit that without liking him.

"I'm glad that everything's fine, then," Valen smiled, propping his head up with his hand while he gazed at her with a soft look in his eyes.

Shifting a little uncomfortably at his blatant staring, (Y/N) turned to Jess and Amar who were next to her, the former glaring at her while the latter glared at Valen. Giving a crooked and somewhat guilty smile, she opened her mouth to speak but was beaten to it when Mr. Oikawa entered the room and began calling out names for attendance. Sighing in defeat, she slumped down in her chair and flipped to a blank page in her notes to begin writing while the teacher began his lecture.

However, she couldn't just leave the fact that Jess was upset with her alone.

So when Jess raised her hand to use the restroom, a minute later (Y/N) raised her hand and asked to do the same. Since Mr. Oikawa was so caught up in his teaching, he didn't even realize what he just allowed. Ignoring the curious glances both Amar and Valen shot her way, (Y/N) rushed down the hallway toward the nearest bathroom and slammed the door open, easily finding the startled figure of her friend.

"(Y/N), what the hell?" Jess grumbled as she continued to wash her hands before drying them.

"No, what the hell you," she crossed her arms over her chest as her expression twisted into a frown of concern. "You've been acting cold to me since... for awhile! I want to know why, especially since it's happened so suddenly."

"Oh," Jess scoffed at (Y/N)'s questions. "You know why, (Y/N)."

"Is this about something I said? Something I did... or is about Valen?"

At that, Jess gave a reaction.

"I knew it," (Y/N) sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose while her other hand propped on her hip. "This is so stupid, Jess. You know I'm not interested in him like that, right? And he doesn't like me like that either! We've all seen how he flirts with a lot of girls, but he isn't dating anyone particularly. He only talks to me because he helped me one time with dealing with Nicolai."

Jess thinned her lips, rubbing her bare arms as if cold before saying, "I know. But seeing him talk to you like I've seen... it's obvious he's interested in you like that."

"But—"

"Don't deny it!" She snapped, instantly shutting (Y/N) up. "I just... I just need some time. I've never been interested in anyone like I was with him, but... it was probably me being superficial since his looks were what attracted me to him. I barely even know him, so..."

(Y/N) fell silent, her glare somewhat softening, but not by much.

"Anyways, it's not as if me and him were actually dating," Jess smiled awkwardly. "Like I said, just give me some time. I'll be over him before you know it."

"Fine..." (Y/N) sighed as she watched her leave the restroom, unconvinced.

Jess puts one hundred percent into anything she does, and that includes romance...

At least from what she told me.

If she was interested in Valen, then she was invested in him—she must have been doing everything she could to try and talk to him.

Great.

Groaning at the situation she found herself in, she stepped out of the restroom and couldn't believe it when spotting Valen leaning not that far away against a wall, one hand in his pocket while the other held his phone and scrolled with his thumb. He glanced up when catching her move out of the corner of his eyes, his whole face lighting up.

"Hey," he once more greeted as he walked up to her, pocketing his device.

"Uh... hey..." she muttered as she slowed her pace. "What are you doing out here?"

"I was actually looking for Jess," he stated, and almost made her cough at the declarations.

"Y-You were?" She stuttered, swallowing as hope glimmered with her—hope that she could actually bring Valen and her friend together.

"Yeah."

Wait a minute, wait a minute...

Maybe... just maybe... Valen was only talking to me because he doesn't like me and wants me to help him get closer to Jess!?

The one whom he actually likes!?

Yeah, right.

Honestly, I don't even know why he's looking for Jess. I know he only talks to me because I know he's Valentine, but I do wonder what's going on in his head sometimes.

"So... why are you looking for Jess?" She asked, mentally crossing her fingers as she hoped for him to say the answer that she knew would be next to impossible hearing, but just wanted to wonder.

"I was hoping to ask her out," Valen uttered with a lazy wave of his hand.

He watched (Y/N) smile.

He had her hooked.

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To be continued...