Chapter 2

Early the next morning, a video suddenly popped up in the class group chat.

In it, a few girls had me cornered against the bathroom sinks. Melissa Bennett yanked on my mask strap and asked with a laugh, "How hideous do you have to be to keep your face covered all day long?"

In the next second, the Hal in the video shoved her away and pulled me behind him.

His face cold, he warned, "Touch her one more time. I dare you."

The video cut off there.

Right after that, Melissa posted: [A graduation keepsake! Reliving the legendary moment Hal the Great Hero rescued the damsel.]

The group chat instantly came alive.

[Back then, I really thought Hal liked her.]

[Who would've guessed it was just a bet?]

[Shh, don't spill it, or there won't be a show tonight.]

That last message was quickly unsent.

But I'd already taken a screenshot.

Melissa tagged me next: [Gina, make sure you get to the gala early tonight. Hal has a surprise ready for you.]

I didn't call her out. I just replied: [Okay.]

After I put down my phone, Mom knocked and came in.

She was holding a long dark green dress. "Your dress arrived. Are you sure you don't want me to come with you?"

I could see the worry in her eyes, and I shook my head.

For years now, because of my condition, she'd turned down work and taken me to countless doctors.

She'd even taken down every full-length mirror in the house, afraid that seeing my reflection would remind me of the mob that had cornered me three years ago and sent me spiraling.

But I didn't want to hide anymore.

"Mom, I can handle this."

Mom smoothed my hair, her eyes turning red. "My daughter was never meant to hide."

Just before I left, the dean of students called me.

"Gina, the promotional video for the graduation gala has been edited. Are you sure you're okay with us playing it tonight?"

That video was a graduation tribute short the school had invited me to shoot.

The set had been cleared during filming. Only the female photographer and Dr. Taylor had stayed.

On camera, I wasn't wearing my mask.

I had originally planned to refuse to let it be shown publicly.

Then, last night, I changed my mind.

"Play it as planned."

The dean sounded surprised. "But you said before that it would only be kept in the school's internal archive."

"That's not necessary anymore."

I looked at the crumpled latte label on my desk. "Also, could you schedule it to play right after Hal's act?"

"Sure."

I hung up, and the moment I got to school, Melissa and her crew surrounded me.

She looked me up and down, her gaze settling on my face. "Still wearing it tonight?

"Isn't Hal going to confess to you? You can't exactly kiss him through a mask, can you?"

The people around her burst out laughing.

I lowered my head and said nothing.

Thinking I was scared, Melissa deliberately reached out to yank it off.

But before her fingertips could touch me, Hal grabbed her wrist. "I warned you."

Melissa played along and raised both hands. "Fine, fine, fine. She's yours. I won't touch her."

As she said it, she winked at Hal.

In that instant, I clearly saw a smile flicker at the corner of his mouth.

By the time he turned to me, his expression had gone gentle again. "She didn't scare you, did she?"

I shook my head.

He took my hand as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "They're rehearsing in the auditorium. I'll take you over."

All the way there, people kept glancing at us.

Hal seemed to enjoy the attention.

When we reached the auditorium entrance, he suddenly bent down and murmured in my ear, "Gina, tonight's the last time we'll see each other as high school students. I don't want any regrets."

I asked softly, "So you absolutely have to see my face?"

He paused, then smiled. "It's not that I have to see it. I want everyone to know that no matter what you look like, I'll still like you."

He said it with so much feeling.

Yet from behind the auditorium's side door came Melissa's barely suppressed laughter.

I pretended not to hear it.

I simply slid my hand out of his. "Okay. Tonight, I'll let everyone see."