The Million-Dollar Mission

"Lily! Where are you? Come and watch the drama!" After dinner, my roommate, Hailey Glenn, sent me a message on WhatsApp.

I tapped on the picture.

As the photo blew up, I saw a girl standing in the center of a heart made of candles while holding a bouquet of white roses. There was also a crowd surrounding her.

Based on the scenery, this picture was taken at the football field opposite the lecture hall.

"I heard that she is going to confess to Caleb!" I could feel Hailey's enthusiasm even through the screen. "God, she's so brave."

I agreed with that sentiment. Caleb Johnson was famous for his aloofness. Hence, confessing to him was basically an act of self-flagellation.

Hailey called me when I didn't respond immediately.

Honestly, I would've joined in on the gossip fest if I weren't the person starring in it.

I hung up the call and looked up at Caleb. The latter's expression was calm.

"Who is she? She's so brave!"

"She seems to be Lily Rosetta, the school's valedictorian! Didn't she give a speech as the outstanding freshman representative on the first day?"

"Is she a bookworm? Does she not look at herself in the mirror?"

"I think she'd look pretty if she cleaned herself up."

"Who cares how pretty she is? Can she ever hope to compare to the school belle? Have you forgotten how Caleb had rejected her, too?"

"Oh, shut up. I've seen her cozying up to Caleb lately. I've seen them chatting away quite often."

…

The crowd kept growing. Most of them were here to watch the drama. A few of them would even holler for Caleb to say yes.

Caleb stood across from me as he leaned against a streetlight. He lit a cigarette and looked at me with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

He looked as if he were just a passerby like everyone else.

I noticed that he had no intention of responding to my confession through the haze. Then, I glanced at the time.

It was now 8:28 p.m.

'There's only two minutes left,' I thought.

"Just reject me already." I rubbed my temples, truly not expecting Caleb to drag things out. "I still have another place to get to."

Just as I finished speaking, a figure pushed through the crowd and walked up to me.

Then, she snatched the flowers from my hands and threw them onto the ground.

It was my other roommate, Janice Wyvern.

"Lily, I know you are an outstanding person, but how can you be so insensitive? Have you ever thought about how Caleb would feel when you made such a huge scene? Confessing is about expressing your feelings, not demanding a relationship.

"What you're doing is no different from guilt tripping!"

I couldn't help but note her hypocrisy upon hearing her words. After all, she had also confessed to Caleb just a few days ago.

Yes, she was the school belle who had gotten rejected a few days ago.

'Thank God the wrapping wasn't damaged,' I thought as I gingerly picked up the bouquet from the ground. Then, I thanked Janice before running toward the library.

I arrived at the library just in the nick of time. The clock glowed a blazing 8:30 p.m., and I knew that the school heartthrob, Andrew Wills, would pass by here.

I wished he would get on with it.

"I like you."

Shortly after, Andrew walked out of the library holding a few books. I jogged up to him and handed him the bouquet.

To make sure he would reject me as soon as possible, I even deliberately turned the bouquet to show him the ruined flowers instead.

"Me?" He hesitated a little.

I cut him off and said, "We never met before."

"Then…" He fell into thought.

"I'm a normal person with a functioning pair of eyes. Don't worry. I'm just attracted to your face."

"Yeah, no?" Andrew was shocked.

I was satisfied when I heard him say the word "no."