Chapter 81: A Confession in the Middle of the Crowd

Dara ran while pulling my hand along. Reflexively, my body lurched forward, following her hurried steps.

“Dara, slow down,” I complained while trying to steady my pace.

“I can’t. If we’re slow, it’ll be gone,” Dara replied without turning around.

I glanced back, intending to look for Gita. However, the corridor was already empty. There was no sign of her presence.

“Where did Gita go?” I muttered.

Dara finally stopped in front of a crowd. She turned to me, her eyebrows raised. “What’s wrong, Frel?”

I still glanced back from time to time. “Gita is gone.”

“Well, obviously,” Dara answered casually. “She must have left after seeing me pull your hand.”

“Or she left because of your attitude earlier,” I shot back sharply.

“Ah, forget it. You’re overthinking it,” she said nonchalantly.

I placed my hands on my hips, staring at her in irritation. “Your attitude toward Gita was really out of line, Dara. You have to apologize to her later.”

Dara snorted and folded her arms across her chest arrogantly. “I don’t want to. I’m not wrong.”

“Do you realize the way you talked to her earlier?”

“Of course I do,” she replied without any sense of guilt. “You’re just too easy to trust people.”

“She’s our friend, Dara,” I said firmly. “Gita didn’t do anything.”

“She’s just a stranger pretending to be nice, Frel. Have you forgotten what happened back then?” Dara narrowed her eyes. “Have you forgotten how you were once hurt?”

“That’s different,” I argued. “Gita isn’t like that.”

“According to you,” Dara replied coldly.

I took a breath, trying to hold back my emotions. “Dara—”

“Stop, don’t talk about her anymore!” she cut in while pointing ahead. “Focus over there, Kevan is there. Don’t you want to approach him? Look, he’s being surrounded by so many girls. If you just stand here, you’ll regret it when he’s truly taken by them.”

Immediately, I turned around. Sure enough, Kevan was walking alone while carrying a stack of files. It seemed he was heading toward the student council room, but his steps were hindered because he was surrounded by so many female students trying to steal his attention.

I let out a long sigh. “Since Farah left this school, they’ve all become even bolder,” I whispered softly.

“Of course. Without Farah, they’re like hungry lions released from their cage. Look at how they’re flirting with Kevan right in front of your eyes, Frel. Are you just going to stay quiet?” Dara provoked. “Since Farah is gone, now everyone feels they have a chance.”

I hissed sharply. I could feel my pride being disturbed as I watched their flirtatious behavior. My rivals for Kevan’s heart automatically multiplied many times over.

“You’re just going to stand there?” Dara asked. “Or are you going to act?”

“I can’t just barge in,” I said hesitantly.

“Then get ready to lose,” Dara replied.

I stared at the crowd for a moment longer. “I don’t want to lose.”

“Good. Come on, move forward,” Dara said with satisfaction.

I stepped forward and tried to slip in between them. “Excuse me,” I said.

No one paid any attention.

“Excuse me,” I repeated more loudly.

One of the girls glanced back briefly, then turned back to Kevan. “Just a moment.”

“This isn’t just a moment,” I muttered irritably. I tried to move forward again. “Please make way.”

“Who are you?” another girl asked cynically.

“I want to talk to Kevan,” I replied firmly.

“Everyone does,” she answered with a small laugh.

I stepped back. “This isn’t working.”

There was no other way. I had to act fast before someone else beat me to it.

“Make way! Please step aside for a moment!” I shouted while trying to push through the crowd.

Some of them did move aside, but most remained indifferent. It was as if they had lost all awareness because of Kevan’s charm. I stepped back again and let out a tired breath.

“Come on, Frel! Don’t give up! Show them who you are!” Dara shouted from behind.

I turned around with a flushed face. “Dara, stop it! You’re just making me embarrassed!”

“Why be embarrassed? Fight them all!” Dara shot back relentlessly. “If you lose, don’t blame me,” she shouted again.

I closed my eyes for a moment. “Fine,” I muttered.

So they wanted to challenge me. Let’s see what I could do now. I opened my eyes and snapped my fingers as a crazy idea crossed my mind.

“Then I might as well go completely crazy.”

Dara looked confused. “Frel, what are you thinking?” Dara asked suspiciously.

“Whatever happens, don’t stop me.”

“What are you planning to do?” Dara asked curiously.

“Something that might make you think I’ve lost my mind,” I replied firmly.

I took a deep breath, gathering all my courage at the tip of my tongue. I cupped both of my hands in front of my mouth so my voice would echo as loudly as possible.

“Kevan! Listen to me! After school, I’m coming to your house! I want to confess my love to you!” I shouted at the top of my lungs.

The noisy atmosphere suddenly fell silent in an instant. Time seemed to stop. All the girls surrounding Kevan, the students passing by, even Kevan himself froze and turned toward me at once.

“What was that?”

“What did she say?”

“Did I hear that wrong?” one of the girls in front whispered.

“She’s really crazy,” another said softly.

Kevan stood still in the middle of the circle of girls. He stared at me with a shocked expression.

“Frel?” he said softly.

I swallowed. “Yes,” I answered, trying to remain standing tall.

Behind me, Dara covered her mouth. “Crazy,” she whispered. “You’re really crazy.”

All the eyes around me were still fixed on me, as if they could not believe what they had just heard.

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