Natalie

2. Preparation Day

Hotel Restaurant - 7:12 a.m. 

Jasmine's POV:

Me and Becca just finished showering and quickly fixing our makeup before heading downstairs to catch up with the rest of the team at the breakfast buffet. As we were in the room getting ready, I told her about the happenings from last night. After our group dinner, when I headed to the beach and spoke to Freen on video call for a bit, and then Natalie joined me. Becca listened intently giggling and nudging me.

Rebecca is like my second best friend after Freen. Freen had always been the closest person to me, and after she and Becca started dating, Becca and I automatically started getting closer. 
She's kind of the more chill, laid-back version of Freen, hahaha. Their love story had always been my favorite, and I always wished I could have what they had. Not in an envious way, not at all, but in a 'they're so disgustingly cute and adorable, they fit together perfectly' kinda way.

"So you're probably going to see her again today too right?" Becca asked as we walked down the lobby stairs, heading towards the breakfast buffet. 

"Uh I don't know, I guess? Probably yeah," I don't know why the whole idea of seeing her again makes me nervous. It feels childish to be shy about it.

"Morning guys!" Becca greeted the rest of the team smiling as we took our seats together. 

We had a nice breakfast together as a team and had a group discussion about preparing our topics for our orientation day for the case competition. Today we would meet all the other teams that are competing, from universities around the world. At noon, around 12:15 p.m., there will be a small formal convention where different universities will meet, exchange greetings, and basically make connections in the business world. It's an opportunity to expand your connections to different countries and continents where you could potentially get a job in after graduation. 

We decided to break up into smaller groups and make our way through the assembly together. That way, we, as a university team, presented ourselves as a *real* team. Joshua and Alex together, Jenny and Chris, and that left me, Becca, and Andrew together. 
As we moved through the crowds of university students, we each made our individual connections of course, but we were approached and presented ourselves as a group. I was proud of us, and how strong we felt together as a team. 

"...And this... is our MVP, Jasmine Rodriguez," Becca introduced me chuckling as I blushed at her grand introduction. 

"Heyy, what's up Jasmine, I am Lucas, nice to meet you," the handsome blonde man said as he held out his hand for a handshake. He was alone, without his team, and he looked like the typical, white 'Finance Bro'. He was handsome, no lie about that, but he just looked like a player, I don't know how but yeah. 

He did have majestic hair though, I'll give him that. I really wanna know what hair products he uses.

As we all talked and went back and forth about our potential future endeavors, he was approached from behind by her as she tapped him on the shoulder. 

"Oh hey, Natalie!" I heard him say. 

My eyes snapped back so quickly to where he was standing as my eyes frantically looked for her. 

He's from Natalie's university? How couldn't I recognize it from when he introduced himself and mentioned his university's name? 

"Lol I just realized we never asked him what university he's from, turns out it's Natalie's after all," Becky whispered giddily in my ear, as if trying to tease me. 

"Hey Jaz," she smiled at me warmly, warming my whole heart and being.

"Hey," I replied with a small smile trying not to overreact rn.