Chapter 76 Calling
CHAPTER 76
Calling.
“Oh my God, you’re back!” Jane exclaimed, pulling her into a quick hug.
Ruby laughed softly, hugging her back. “I wasn’t gone that long.”
“You were gone enough,” Jane replied, pulling back to look at her properly. “Are you okay?”
Ruby nodded. “I am.”
Jane studied her face closely, her eyes narrowing slightly before widening again.
“Wait…” she said slowly. “Why do you look like that?”
“Like what?” Ruby asked, confused.
“Like… happy,” Jane said.
Ruby froze for a split second. Then tried to play it off. “I’ve always looked happy.”
“No, you haven’t,” Jane shot back immediately. “Not like this.”
Ruby couldn’t help but smile again. And that was all the confirmation Jane needed.
“Oh my God,” she gasped. “Something happened.”
Ruby shook her head, though it was useless. “Nothing happened.”
Jane crossed her arms. “Ruby.”
She hesitated for a second.
“Okay… maybe something happened.”
Jane’s excitement doubled instantly. “I knew it!”
Ruby laughed, the sound light and genuine and in that moment everything felt different.
She hoped this feeling would last forever.
School didn’t feel like school that day. Everything looked the same: the hallways, the chatter, the noise but for Ruby, something felt different. It was as if the weight she had been carrying for so long had finally lifted, replaced by something lighter, something steadier.
Jane, however, wasn’t going to let anything slide.
She grabbed Ruby’s hand and practically dragged her toward their usual spot before classes began, her eyes filled with curiosity and excitement.
“Start talking,” Jane demanded the moment they sat down.
Ruby laughed softly, shaking her head. “You’re so dramatic.”
“And you’re avoiding,” Jane shot back immediately. “So talk.”
Ruby hesitated not because she didn’t want to tell her but because she didn’t know where to begin. “It’s… a lot,” she admitted.
Jane leaned closer. “I have time.”
Ruby exhaled slowly, her fingers tracing lightly over the edge of her bag. “Things changed,” she said finally.
Jane raised an eyebrow. “Clearly.”
Ruby smiled faintly. “We went out last night,” she continued. “Like… properly.”
Jane’s eyes widened. “A date?”
Ruby nodded. “A real one.”
Jane covered her mouth briefly, barely containing her excitement. “And?” she pressed.
Ruby looked away for a moment, her smile growing softer. “And… it was different.”
“Different how?” Jane asked.
Ruby thought about it about the way Leo looked at her. The way he spoke the way everything felt real, not arranged, not forced.
“Like it wasn’t just something we were doing anymore,” she said. “It actually meant something.”
Jane studied her face carefully. “And him?” she asked. “What about him?”
Ruby’s expression softened even more. “He told me he loves me.”
Jane froze, completely. “You’re joking.”
“I’m not.”
Jane stared at her for a second longer before grabbing her arm. “And you didn’t start with that?!”
Ruby laughed, pulling her arm back gently.
“I was getting there.”
Jane shook her head, still in disbelief. “And what did you say?” she asked quickly.
Ruby hesitated again. “I said yes.”
Jane blinked. “Yes to what?”
Ruby met her eyes. “To be his girlfriend.”
That was it. Jane let out a small scream before quickly covering her mouth, drawing a few glances from nearby students.
“Oh my God,” she whispered loudly. “Ruby!”
Ruby couldn’t stop smiling now. It felt strange but good. “I didn’t think it would happen like this,” she admitted.
Jane leaned back slightly, still processing everything.
“Wait,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “Is this why you look like you just stepped out of a romance movie?”
Ruby rolled her eyes lightly. “Please.”
“I’m serious,” Jane insisted. “You’re glowing.”
Ruby looked down, a small laugh escaping her.
“I’m just… happy.”
Jane’s expression softened. That was all she needed to hear. “Good,” she said simply. “You deserve that.”
For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence.
Then, Jane leaned forward again, her curiosity clearly not satisfied.
“So what else happened?” she asked.
Ruby raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Jane said slowly, “you go on a perfect date, he confesses his love, you say yes… and that’s it?”
Ruby felt her cheeks warm slightly. “That’s not all,” she admitted.
Jane’s eyes widened again. “I knew it.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Ruby said quickly.
“Then what was it like?” Jane asked.
Ruby paused. Trying to find the right words. “It was… real,” she said finally. “Not rushed. Not confusing. Just… right.”
Jane studied her expression carefully and then nodded. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll accept that.”
Ruby smiled. “Thank you.”
“We have to check up on Victor later.” Jane said.
“Yeah, I haven't heard from him all week.” Ruby replied, checking her hair in the mirror in front of her.
“The last time I heard from him he said he was sick, so I'm not sure now.” Jane replied.
“Hmmmm”
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of classes. Jane stood up, grabbing her bag. “This conversation is not over,” she warned.
Ruby laughed as she stood as well. “I know.”
As they walked to class together, Ruby felt lighter than she had in a long time. Even the small things, the sound of students talking, the movement of people in the hallway felt different.
But just as they reached the classroom door, something caught her attention. A voice sounds familiar.
She turned slightly, her brows drawing together as she tried to place it. “Ruby?”
Her heart skipped. She turned fully this time and there standing a few steps away, was someone she didn’t expect to see. For a moment, her mind went blank, because this wasn’t part of her plan. This wasn’t something she had prepared for.
Jane noticed the shift immediately.
“What is it?” she asked, following Ruby’s gaze, but couldn't see anything or anyone she was looking at.
Ruby didn’t answer right away. Her eyes remained fixed on the person standing there, her expression slowly changing from confusion… To something else.
“Ruby,” the voice came again. The voice was closer, there was no mistaking it. She can see him clearly standing there and coming towards her.
Ruby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.