Flashback Twelve years ago...
"I put in a nomination for Sophia Aston Valencia to be the muse!" The statement was made by a student in their third year.
This is how the nomination for school officer has always been. Sophia always wins the election for the Ms. Muse position every time they have an officer election. She was even chosen to be the muse of the basketball team, on which Elean Lee Drake served as the star player and most valuable player, a boy who is both attractive and well-liked among the female students at the school. However, he was head over heels in love with Meagan, who was a so-called newborn genius, a young director, and Avril Lavigne of a music club as well as an expert in Mathematics. They participated in the Math Quiz Bee with Xander, and they ended up winning second place at the division level. As a result, they had a chance to compete in the national region. However, Xander left, and Meagan spent the next two weeks in the hospital after being admitted there. So they decided to send a new student, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.
Why did Xander decide to leave?
"Greetings, Sophia. Have you gotten your hands on the chocolates yet?" Since they accidentally ran into each other in the locker room, Xander has been trying to impress her. He was an older student than she was and had a nerdy appearance, with his glasses having round frames and his braces.
"Who in their right mind would want him as a boyfriend? That's me!" Sophia thought and continued to fix her gaze on him.
"I like him so much!" She couldn't help but laugh as she recalled how thoughtful he was, how many heartfelt love letters he had written to her, and how she would find roses and her favorite candies in her locker every day.
"Doesn't he have a romantic side?" Her giggling becomes louder.
They went on their first date to the shopping mall, hoping she would say yes.
"Just take a look at that, Sophie!" Xander yelled as they traveled in the direction of the movie theater. It was a show about animals, and he enjoyed it tremendously. One of his hobbies was observing people performing animal tricks.
"Do you want to look at it more closely?"
"Can we?"
"Of course." She grins.
"Thanks!" Although Xander appeared to be a nerd, he had the most charming smile she had always hoped to encounter.
They were on their way to the hallway when they were suddenly stopped in their tracks by the sound of laughter coming from behind them.
"Did you see who's here? The stunning, renowned, and sexiest Sophia Aston Valencia, together with the most obnoxious, humorous-appearing nerd!" It was Luke, and his companions shared another hardy laugh.
"Stop it, Luke!" Sophia cautioned. They had shared a classroom together. To put it simply, he was a mutual friend of hers.
"Oh? Hiding under a girl's skirt, ha!" He said it in a sarcastic tone.
"Xander, let's go!" She yanked him back. Xander was the type of person who kept to himself, shy and weak. Even the concept of anger was foreign to him.
"My apologies," Xander spoke in a hushed tone while bowing his head slightly.
"What's the point?" She asked.
"For being like this."He answered, and a small smile crossed her lips.
"For being like what?"
"Like an idiot, weak, feeble, bullied."
"Stop it, no, you're not. You're nice and fun to hang out with, even when you're not wearing these glasses." When she pulled the glass away, she was surprised to see his blue eyes, which were undeniably attractive. He returned her gaze by staring at her. It was not for a very long time before he put his glasses back on.
After that, they were both in an awkward position. A silence that causes them to continue to stare at each other for longer. They could almost sense the breath of each other until Sophia closed her eyes and allowed his warm lips to lightly touch her own. They were giving each other a sweet kiss.
"Oh my! This is my very first lovely kiss." She felt a flutter of butterflies in her stomach.
They finally come to a halt and stare at each other again.
"My apologies," Xander said nervously.
"I believe it would be best if we left." She said while still holding his hand. He stared at her in utter disbelief. She flashes a grin, and he can't help but return it.
"Let's go, babe." She sneers like a complete idiot. Xander went back for a second smack kiss on the lips.
"Of course." He grins, too, this time a very endearing grin.
They went together to the theater to watch a movie. A film filled with tension, entitled, Final Destination 3 with a roller coaster theme. Xander is a huge fan of this film genre, in contrast to her, who kept grabbing his shirt whenever a scene made her heart race, her mouth scream, or there was a scary death!
"Hey! How can you even sit through a movie like that without your eyes being closed? It was a terrible nightmare! I almost got tired just watching it." She said they were still holding each other's hands when they went out together.
"That's so funny!" He responded with the most endearing smile.
Sophia was certain that she liked him a lot. After that, they ate in a nearby restaurant, and Xander bought a book by Stephen King. Xander is an avid reader as well. They were going to her house because she intended to present him to her mother when they arrived there.
"Sophia, are you sure about this? You're Mom__" He inquired with such concern.
"You were familiar to my mother already. I can't seem to stop thinking and talking about you lately." She gave a response, giggling.
"I am grateful that you also like me." He smiled genuinely while gently stroking her face.
