Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 128 - The Wingwoman

Chapter 128 - The Wingwoman

While Myrrh stood under the warm glow of the stage lights, her voice weaving through the notes of her song like silk, the audience erupted in applause, showering her with praise. 

Amid the celebration, I narrowed my eyes and shot a glare at Dianca, who sat with an unmistakable smugness curling at the edge of her lips. That look—it was as if she knew something she shouldn't. But how could she possibly know how I really felt about Myrrh? Unless... someone told her.

My eyes flicked toward the only two people who knew the truth—Fei and Neil. Neil simply raised his shoulders and shook his head, his expression blank but honest, silently assuring me he hadn't breathed a word.

Fei, on the other hand, blinked at me with a wide-eyed, innocent stare, her lips still clamped around a dangling strand of mozzarella cheese from her pizza. It stretched in a gooey thread between her mouth and the slice, swaying slightly as she tilted her head like a puzzled puppy. Judging by her clueless expression, she was in the dark too.

I let out a long breath, feeling the weight of anxiety melt into reluctant acceptance. Then I turned back to Dianca, who was still beaming, as bright and carefree as ever.

"H-How the hell did you know?" I asked, cheeks burning as I tried to keep my voice steady.

"Oh, come on, Zaft!" Dianca laughed, giving me a playful elbow. Only, it wasn't so playful this time—it nearly knocked me off my chair. "It's so obvious! The way you stare at her every time we eat here? You look at her like she's the only star in your sky."

"Am I really that obvious...?" I muttered, mostly to myself.

Dianca leaned in, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she looked between Fei and Neil. "Now that the school year's over, don't you think it's finally time you tell her how you feel?" She nudged them with her elbow. "Right?"

"R-right!" Fei exclaimed, quickly putting down her pizza and clenching her fists with enthusiasm. "You've been head over heels for Myrrh for so long now. It's about time you tell her!"

"Confess! Confess! Confess!" Neil joined in, drumming the table with his hands like it was some kind of halftime rally.

"Shuuuush! Keep it down!" I hissed, blowing a sharp puff of air against my raised index finger in a desperate attempt to shush them. "I haven't even prepared anything for my confession!"

"There's no need to prepare anything!" Dianca said, brushing my worries away with a sweep of her hand. "No extravagant roses, no overpriced boxes of chocolate. Just tell her how you really feel—be yourself!"

Be yourself. That same overused line—echoed across love songs, teen dramas, and corny advice blogs since the dawn of time. If I had a coin for every time I heard that phrase, I'd probably be able to fund a small nation. Or at least buy enough chocolates for all the girls in this restaurant.

"You sure about that?" I asked with a skeptical pout, glancing sideways at Dianca. "We all know Myrrh's standards are basically sky-high."

"Well... maybe try to set the mood a little," Dianca admitted with a chuckle, tapping her chin. "But if she feels the same way, she'll definitely respond. Trust me—you'll be fine!"

"YOLO, right?" Neil grinned, throwing up two thumbs in search of validation.

Dianca and Fei both nodded with big grins, like cheerleaders rooting for the final play.

"F-fine..." I muttered, my voice tinged with resignation. "I was planning on telling her sooner or later anyway..."

I looked down at the half-finished slice on my plate, my heart fluttering as the thought finally settled. This was it. Maybe.