What The Heck is Wrong With Love?!

CHAPTER 12

Two months.

It had been two months since Lauren and I started officially going out, and I still couldn't believe how natural it felt. I was so used to the idea of us just being friends, of him being this distant, unapproachable figure I admired from afar. But now, every day felt like a new adventure.

We'd gone through the usual first-date nerves, the awkward silences, the moments when we weren't sure what to say next. But now? It was like we'd always been this close, laughing at random things and sharing even the most embarrassing parts of our days.

It wasn't perfect-nothing ever was-but it was real.

Today, we were hanging out at a coffee shop, sipping iced drinks and talking about everything under the sun. It was Friday, and there was an air of relaxation between us. Finals were over, and school stress had momentarily taken a backseat.

"So, you've been avoiding telling me what your favorite movie is," I said, setting my cup down. "Come on, spill."

Lauren grinned mischievously, clearly stalling. "I don't know if I should. I'm afraid you'll judge me."

I raised an eyebrow. "What? Is it like... a guilty pleasure movie?"

"You could say that."

"Is it a rom-com?" I teased.

He hesitated, then gave a half-smile. "Maybe."

I leaned forward. "Oh my gosh, it's actually a rom-com, isn't it?"

He rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine. It's The Notebook. Happy now?"

I burst out laughing, nearly choking on my drink. "No way. You're telling me the Lauren Chiu—gym rat, top student, sadistic, all-around tough guy—cries over The Notebook?"

Lauren smirked, looking smug. "What can I say? Ryan Gosling knows how to tug at the heartstrings."

"Okay, you get points for honesty," I said, still laughing. "But that's definitely not what I expected."

He shrugged casually. "I'm full of surprises."

"I'm learning that," I said softly, suddenly feeling a little more serious. "I never thought... well, I never thought this would happen. Us, I mean."

Lauren leaned back in his chair, eyes softening. "Me neither. But I'm glad it did."

We continued to hang out, doing everything from watching random movies at his place to taking walks in the park. There was this unspoken understanding between us, a connection that went deeper than just casual dating. It wasn't about grand gestures or perfect moments-it was about being there for each other, even when things weren't going right.

But, of course, there were still those little moments when I felt a flicker of uncertainty. Like when I caught a glimpse of him talking to Belle in the hallway, laughing over something I couldn't hear. Or when he'd mention a classmate's name, and I'd wonder if there was someone else who could pull him away from me.

I wasn't insecure-I knew Lauren wasn't like that-but it didn't stop those thoughts from sneaking in.

And then, in those moments of doubt, Lauren would do something simple that would remind me just how much he cared.

Like when he grabbed my hand in the middle of a crowded street without even thinking, or when he texted me just to ask how my day was going.

He had this way of reassuring me, of making me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be.

It was late one night, a Wednesday, when Lauren texted me out of the blue.

Lauren: "Hey, I was thinking, how about we take a little trip? Just the two of us."

My heart skipped. "A trip?" I typed back, my fingers moving faster than my brain. "Like, a weekend getaway or something?"

Lauren: "Yeah, I was thinking about it. A change of scenery, you know? I've got the weekend free. Let's go somewhere chill."

I stared at the message for a moment, trying to wrap my mind around the idea. A weekend trip with Lauren? Alone?

I couldn't even remember the last time I had the chance to do something so... spontaneous.

Marie: "Okay, I'm in. Where are we going?"

Lauren: "I'll surprise you."

Of course he would.

But as I stared at my phone, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbled up inside me. This wasn't just a casual outing. This was something more.

And for the first time in a while, I realized: maybe, just maybe, I was finally starting to feel like I belonged with him.

I just hoped I was right.

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