RIIZE | Tuesdays with You 《Anton》Completed✔

Chapter 3: What If?

After their first date, something between Lola and Anton shifted. They exchanged numbers, and though their arrangement was simple—only meeting on Tuesdays—their conversations grew. Sometimes they texted, other times, they talked late into the night. Lola found herself smiling more at her phone, anticipating each message or call from Anton. It was strange how much she was enjoying his company.

At school, Anton's transformation had become the talk of the town. Lola's plan was working—Sungchan had taken notice of her again. During lunch one day, she sat with her friends, showing them photos of her and Anton. The girls gasped and giggled as they flipped through the pictures.

"Wait, that's the Anton?" one of her friends exclaimed, her voice full of surprise.

"Yeah," Lola replied nonchalantly, even though she felt a swell of pride. "He's the one who dropped out last year and transferred to a private school. He had some personal stuff to deal with."

Her friends exchanged impressed looks. "Wow, he's... like, seriously hot. Maybe even hotter than Sungchan," one girl whispered, earning nods from the others.

Unbeknownst to Lola, Sungchan was nearby and overheard the conversation. He approached their table, his expression a mix of curiosity and jealousy.

"Lola," he called out, interrupting the chatter. She looked up to see Sungchan standing there, his hands shoved in his pockets, trying to appear casual. "I've been meaning to ask... How have you been?"

Lola smirked inwardly. This was exactly what she had wanted—Sungchan was jealous. But she kept her cool. "I've been great," she said smoothly. "Anton's been really sweet."

Sungchan's eyes flickered with something—jealousy, hurt, maybe both. "Anton, huh?" he said, forcing a smile. "People are talking about him."

Lola could see it in his eyes. He was bothered. But before she could push further, one of her friends chimed in, "You should totally bring Anton to Bobbi's birthday party on Friday! Everyone's going to be there."

The girls all agreed excitedly. Lola hesitated for a moment, remembering Anton's strict rule about only meeting on Tuesdays. "I'll see if he's free," she said, her voice unsure.

As soon as Tuesday arrived, Lola was eager to see Anton again. They met at the park, and Anton arrived with his usual quiet smile. Today, they had planned something fun—ice skating, a movie, and some swimming. Lola had dressed in a cute, cozy outfit, knowing they'd start at the rink.

"You look really cute today," Anton said, his eyes lingering on her longer than usual.

Lola blushed slightly. "You too. I mean... as always," she teased, nudging him.

They spent the afternoon skating, with Lola playfully pulling Anton around the rink. Though he struggled at first, soon he was gliding effortlessly beside her, their hands brushing against each other more than once. Afterward, they caught a movie and ate dinner, laughing over their shared love for silly action films.

The final stop of the day was the pool, which surprised Anton. "You like to swim?" he asked as they approached the water.

"Yeah, it's kind of my thing. I love how it feels to be in the water, especially when I'm upset," she admitted, her voice soft. "It helps me... forget things."

Anton smiled, nodding in understanding. "I get that. Swimming feels like freedom, doesn't it?"

Lola raised an eyebrow, not expecting him to agree. "Wait, you swim?"

"Yeah," he said with a shrug. "I don't look like much, but I do."

When they both got into the pool, Lola was surprised again. Anton was lean, but his muscles were more defined than she had imagined. She couldn't help but stare for a moment, her heart skipping a beat. He wasn't just handsome—he was quietly alluring in a way that had slowly crept up on her.