Stela sat in silence. She kept her legs pressed tightly together. Her lips were sealed. Every now and then, she bit her lower lip.
Whatever this was called, maybe she was just flustered. R had been looking at her with warm eyes the whole time. His smile hadn't left his face, either. Stela tried to lower her gaze. This was bad—bad for her health.
R was doing all of it on purpose. The fact that Stela hadn't run away even after he left her in silence was a sign that the girl was starting to get used to his presence. It wasn't too late yet, only around five. Sunset would be here soon, the perfect time for two people to watch it together.
"Don't you get bored looking at me like that?"
Stela finally spoke, still staring at the ground. She plucked at the grass beside her, though she didn't know why.
"You're like a Harry Potter movie to me."
Stela instinctively turned toward him. She huffed irritably and narrowed her eyes. So uncool, she thought.
"I'm not a witch," Stela replied curtly.
"No. I mean, you're like a Harry Potter movie. Even if I watch it over and over, I still like it. It's still interesting."
Stela looked away. She smiled shyly, then covered her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to hold back the turmoil in her heart. Damn it, Stela was starting to act weird. She was trying to run from her own feelings.
R worked up the courage to take Stela's hand. The girl was startled and turned to him at once. But she didn't pull her hand away. She only stared into R's eyes as he stared back at hers.
"What are you doing?" Stela asked.
"Just holding it."
R lay down on the grass. The school garden was empty now. Only the school staff member stationed out front remained. He placed his left hand beneath his head like a pillow, while his right hand stayed wrapped around Stela's.
R tugged on Stela's left hand. The girl turned and saw R motioning with his head for her to lie down beside him. Stela did so; her legs were sore from sitting the whole time.
R took the hat off Stela's head with his left hand. He did it carefully so he wouldn't hurt her. Stela lifted her head to make it easier for him.
"Don't wear the hat. It blocks my view."
"It's hot."
"That's no excuse. Do you really think wearing a hat is going to make you cool right away?"
"Whatever."
R let out a quiet chuckle. He rolled onto his side so he could see Stela's face. She instinctively covered her face and let go of R's hand.
"What are you doing?!" Stela asked loudly, still busy covering her face.
"I just want to look at your face."
R used his right hand to prop up his head. With his left, he tried to move Stela's hand away from her face. Slowly, Stela uncovered her face and let R take her left hand.
"Let's have dinner tonight," R invited her.
Stela only blinked. R's face was barely level with her shoe heels this time. She felt strange. This was the first time she'd ever been tongue-tied around a guy.
"I eat dinner every day," Stela answered as flatly as possible.
"I mean, let's have dinner together."
Stela nodded slowly. Very slowly. R immediately smiled so wide his eyes closed, tilting his head back as if savoring something. The girl suddenly stood without warning. Her head bumped into R's chin, sending him sprawling.
"Ow!" R cried.
He instinctively rubbed his chin over and over. Stela laughed when she saw R groaning in pain. She picked up her bag and left.
"Stel!" R called.
Stela ignored him. She kept walking with a smile on her face. The girl shook her head, trying to chase away her strange thoughts.
"Dinner tonight means you want to be my girlfriend, right?!" R shouted.
"No!!"
"Stel!" R shouted, trying to keep up with her. "Stela!!"
"I can't hear you!" Stela shouted back.
R laughed softly. He couldn't hide how he felt.
"Stela!!"
"I've already changed my name!!"
2,530 likes @stelenastar I'm coming back as your mood, your day, and your night. Who dares?
"Crazy, crazy. It's only been a minute and it already has two thousand likes."
Stela smiled as she fixed her hair again. Sanas was still busy looking at the girl's social media account.
"Did you turn the comments back on?" Sanas asked.
Stela nodded. She had found the courage to open her world back up. Of course, her account was filled with all kinds of positive and negative things. It was fine. That was simply how interaction worked in the online world for Stela.
She was grateful that there were still plenty of people out there protecting her. They shielded Stela with positive comments and reported the hate comments. Stela didn't want to worry about the negative comments, most of which came from fake accounts.
"Your boyfriend commented."
Sanas handed the phone to its owner. Stela accepted it with a puzzled expression. The way Sanas had said boyfriend clearly pointed to one person. Sure enough, it was R.
@BigBoss I Am. Here!
Stela shook her head with a smile. He was something else, she thought. She let out a long sigh. Her list of enemies was about to grow. R's hardcore fans would soon be writing Stela's name on their blacklist.
"Why don't you just ask him to pick you up? Instead, you're playing this little hinting game. You two are acting like children," Sanas complained.
"We are still kids, Sis."
"Yeah, but—"
"I was the one who told him not to pick me up. Maybe it's okay if he drives me home later. I don't want to look that cheap, Sis."
Sanas moved closer to Stela and sat down right in front of her.
"You're not cheap, Stela. You're worth a lot. You're beautiful, smart, and independent, too," Sanas said as she straightened Stela's hair.
Stela smiled and nodded. She had deliberately called Sanas over to her house so she'd have someone to talk to. The girl was afraid she might suddenly change her mind about R's invitation. Sanas was very useful as her personal advice machine.
Besides giving Stela encouraging advice, Sanas also helped her get ready. Stela was sure she was more skilled in this area, but her fashion sense had suddenly deserted her today. Dozens of outfits in her closet looked ordinary and unappealing. Luckily, Sanas calmed her down and helped out.
Sanas even offered to be her photographer. Stela certainly didn't mind. She was very grateful to Sanas.
"I'm heading out, Sis."
R waited for Stela's arrival with a glass of wine in his hand. He was old enough to start exploring that particular drink. His clothes were impeccably neat. He couldn't wait to see his girl.
The young man's smile bloomed when he saw Stela come through the door. He immediately stood and walked toward her. The girl smiled too when she saw R.
"Have you been waiting long?" Stela asked casually.
"Nope. Come here."
R pulled out a chair and invited Stela to sit. He then returned to his seat and handed her the menu. The girl accepted it happily. But she soon looked confused and panicked.
"What's wrong?"
Stela didn't answer right away. The food at this restaurant was incredibly expensive. She felt hesitant and uncomfortable.
R called the waiter without waiting for Stela's answer. He understood that she felt awkward around him. R quickly ordered his favorite dishes, specifying two servings. The other one was for Stela.
"I don't need any, R," Stela said.
"I'm paying." R reassured her, taking her hand.
The restaurant was incredibly luxurious and elegant. Stela had actually been to places like this more than once or twice. But this time was different. She had brought her heart and feelings with her. She wanted to preserve her pride because she didn't want R to pay for her.
"R!"
A middle-aged man called out to R. Stela thought she recognized the voice. She didn't dare lift her head. R began waving toward the source of the voice.
"Uncle!"
Stela looked up when she heard R call the man uncle. That meant the person behind her was R's uncle. Stela swallowed hard. Maybe it was just her imagination. She could have mistaken him for someone else.
"Who are you with?" the man asked.
He immediately turned toward the girl sitting in front of his nephew. "Stela?"