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The auction date began with all the sophistication of a high school pep rally gone awry. The room was draped in over-the-top romantic décor—bedecked with heart-shaped balloons that bobbed lazily in the air and glittering fairy lights tangled in garlands of faux ivy. Satin tablecloths, ruffled like a prom queen's dress, covered every surface, while flickering tea lights cast a soft, sepia-toned glow over the scene. It was less an auction and more a grand setting for a melodramatic romance novel.
It was too much for such an event. I was convinced somebody would barge in, dress up as Cupid and encourage all of us to pick our spouse for the future.
As the crowd buzzed with excitement, I found myself seated across from my "date," a girl whose name I could barely recall. Shelly, perhaps? Her voice was a high-pitched drone, and she launched into her tale with the enthusiasm of a storyteller in a particularly boring history class.
"So," Shelly said, her hands animatedly describing a summer spent in Italy. "My summerhouse is absolutely divine. The sunlight there has this golden hue that just makes you feel like you're living in a dream. Last summer, I spent every day by the pool, working on my tan. But it faded so quickly! I was devastated. I've resolved to spend twice as much time sunbathing this year. I even have this special tanning cream that—"
And on she went, recounting the minutiae of her tanning regimen and her Italian getaway with a level of detail that made my eyes glaze over. I tried to nod along, but my gaze kept drifting toward Juli, who was seated across the room.
"I was a bit offended you know? Mina told me she didn't notice my tan during the beginning of the school year, but I surmise she was just jealous because she wasn't able to get any tan at all. So when I—" And there she went on and on, with her endless rambling and yapping, something I couldn't care less about.
So here I was, with the "hottest" girl in school, feeling miserable... because less than twenty feet away from me was Juli, my Juli, with Jaemin Na.
She's laughing. What was she laughing about? How could she sit there and laugh and look so beautiful?
"Mark?" Shelly's voice jolted me back to the present. "Are you okay?"
I blinked rapidly, my mind scrambling to catch up. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Shelly's concern was evident. "I was just saying how incredible the food is here. These cookies are absolutely to die for."
She continued her monologue, extolling the virtues of the food and expressing her gratitude with such fervor that I barely registered her words. My attention kept wandering back to Juli, who was clearly enjoying herself, her laughter mingling with Jaemin's easy charm.
"Hello?" Shelly's voice grew impatient. "Did you hear what I said? I said the food is delicious."
I forced myself to focus on her, letting out a long sigh. "Can we please stop talking about food or tans?"
Shelly straightened her posture, her curiosity piqued. "Alright, what would you like to talk about?"
I stared blankly, desperate for a distraction. "I don't know... How about perpetual motion? Do you know anything about that?"
Shelly's face twisted into an expression of utter bewilderment. "What?"
I sighed, frustration bubbling up.
Suddenly, I found myself rising from my seat. It was as if my legs had a will of their own, carrying me toward Juli's table. Without a second thought, I reached her, gently but firmly grabbing her arm.
"We need to talk." I said urgently, my voice tinged with a desperate edge.
Juli looked up at me, her eyes wide with confusion and surprise. "What's going on, Mark?"
I was at a loss for words. All I knew was that I had to act on this overwhelming impulse. I cupped her shoulder, my eyes drawn to her lips—the same lips I had been fixating on since our awkward game of 'Seven Minutes in Heaven.' I leaned in, closing my eyes, and moved in for a kiss.
But Juli wriggled out of my grasp. "What the hell are you doing?!" She exclaimed, her voice a mixture of frustration and shock. "Stop it, Mark!"
The room fell into an uneasy silence as all eyes turned toward us. Some people whispered among themselves, while others snickered and pointed. Juli's eyes filled with tears as she bolted from the room, her departure swift and sorrowful.
"Juli, wait!" I shouted, but she didn't stop.
I chased her out of the classroom, and when we reached the school's exit, I saw her through the door, mounting her bicycle with determination. She was ready to leave.
"Juli! Juli! Can we please talk?!" I pleaded, desperation lacing my voice.
But Juli didn't glance back. She pedaled away, her bike slicing through the evening air, leaving me standing there, a solitary figure of regret and confusion.
Just then, Garett appeared, his face contorted in anger. "What's the matter with you?" He demanded.
"Leave me alone, Garett!" I snapped, trying to walk past him.
But he followed, his irritation growing. "You get a date with the hottest girl on campus, and you blow it for Juli?!" Garett's incredulity was evident.
"You wouldn't understand!" I shot back.
"I completely don't understand!" Garett retorted. "We're talking about Juli Jung here. The nightmare neighbor. The know-it-all nuisance. Coop coop babe!"
In a burst of anger, I shoved Garett hard. "Shut up!" I screamed as he flew backwards, but he managed to maintain his balance.
"What's the matter with you?! Have you flipped?" Garett shouted, his frustration reaching a boiling point. Ignoring him, I continued walking, my mind a chaotic whirlwind. "If you're going to be like this, I don't need the association!" Garett's words echoed in my ears.
I turned around, my voice filled with conviction. "Neither do I. I should've thought about breaking the association a long time ago."
As I trudged home with my picnic basket now laden with dirty dishes, my thoughts were consumed by Juli. And deep down, I realized Garett was right.
