RIIZE | Tuesdays with You 《Anton》Completed✔

Chapter 1: The Proposal

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In the bustling city of Seoul, where neon lights danced across the skyline and the aroma of street food wafted through the air, Anton felt like a ghost drifting through a world that vibrantly thrived without him. Clad in his oversized, faded graphic tee that advertised a band no one had heard of and a pair of frayed jeans that hung too loosely on his thin frame, he embodied the archetype of the "loser." His unruly, perpetually unkempt hair framed his face, which wore a hesitant expression as if the world was an uncomfortable stage where he'd forgotten his lines.

Each day, Anton navigated the vibrant streets filled with laughter and excitement, a cacophony that served as a constant reminder of his solitude. The city pulsed with life, but he remained on the outskirts, haunted by the weight of his incurable blood disease—a relentless shadow that loomed over every thought and dream. In the silence of his solitude, he yearned for one last chance to feel the warmth of love before it slipped away like sand through his fingers.

One rainy afternoon, the sound of droplets pattering against the window of a small café caught his attention. He nestled into his usual corner booth, the café's dim lighting providing a cozy refuge from the chaos outside. As he sketched in his notebook, pouring his heart onto the page, he overheard a nearby conversation that piqued his interest. Lola, a girl he had admired from a distance for years, sat with her friends, animatedly discussing her recent breakup with Sungchan, the town's golden boy and captain of the basketball team.

"Honestly, I just want to make him jealous," she said, her voice a mix of determination and heartbreak. "I need to show him that I can move on, that I'm not just some girl he can toss aside." The words "revenge" and "make him jealous" hung in the air, igniting a spark of intrigue in Anton's heart.

That's when he spotted her—Lola. She radiated confidence and charm, her tousled hair cascading in waves and her outfit striking a perfect balance of casual and chic. Her laughter rang out like a melody, drawing the attention of everyone around her, an intoxicating sound that wrapped around Anton's heart like a warm embrace.

Summoning every ounce of courage, he rose from his seat, the sticky café floor creaking beneath him. Each step felt monumental, and his heart raced wildly as he approached her table, the vibrant chatter of the café fading into a background hum. It was now or never.

"Lola," he began, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside him, "I have a proposal."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of intrigue and skepticism. "Oh? This should be interesting." She knew Anton to be one of her classmates in her class, who rarely attended school for unknown reasons. They all knew that he was weird, to begin with, but her impression of him went way weirder when he stood before her.

"I want to spend the next seven Tuesdays with you. We'll date, but there are conditions in which you can come up with." He took a breath, his heart racing as he fought to keep his nerves in check. "And after the seventh Tuesday, we'll break up. No matter what."

Lola's brow furrowed in confusion, a hint of laughter dancing in her eyes. "Why seven Tuesdays? That sounds... complicated. I don't think I can agree to that." Though she deemed him to be someone lower in high school's social status, she didn't want to be mean to him.

Anton leaned forward, urgency coloring his tone. "But listen, Lola. I overheard your plan about making Sungchan jealous. I could be the best person to help you with that. I can show you that I'm worth your time." His eagerness can be seen through his thick-rimmed fogged-up eyeglasses.

Her laughter faded, replaced by contemplation as she studied him. "Anton, I appreciate the offer, but I don't think this will work out. You're sweet, but I need someone who can actually compete with Sungchan, not someone who just wants to be a placeholder."