"Frances! It's here!" A girl's excited voice rang out from the entrance of the classroom.
Frances instantly perked up. Her legs, previously propped lazily on the desk, dropped to the floor with a thud. Her eyes lit up like fireworks as she sprang up and rushed toward the door, a rare skip in her steps.
It was Prettysaint, the unfortunate soul who had been running errands for Frances since the semester started. Normally, by now, someone else would've taken her place, but no one had dared to piss Frances off enough to earn that job… yet.
"Where is it?" Frances asked.
Prettysaint handed over a branded boutique bag like a treasure chest, and Frances snatched it like a kid unwrapping birthday presents. She immediately reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her phone.
"Your code?" she demanded.
Prettysaint held out her QR code without hesitation. A quick scan later, a beep echoed.
"Sent you $5k. That's your allowance. Bye!"
"Thank you, Frances!" Prettysaint grinned like she just won a lottery. She threw her arms around Frances in a quick, grateful hug before skipping away, thinking proudly, At least I get money for running around!
Frances returned to the classroom and slumped into her chair with a small smirk of satisfaction. She opened the bag delicately and brought out a classic Rolex watch nestled in a velvet box. The sleek, silver body glinted under the overhead lights.
Evie, lounging nearby, gasped dramatically and snatched the box from her.
"Frances, have you gone crazy? Are you planning to open a mall?!"
"What? Give the watch back!" she snapped, reaching over the desk to grab it.
"Hell no! Is this a luxury store?! Why do you keep buying watches for Rain?" His voice was high-pitched in disbelief, his brows furrowed so hard they practically touched.
"Why? Because I wanted to!" she barked, successfully retrieving the box and hugging it to her chest protectively.
Evie scoffed, leaned back, and dramatically rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Then, with a single finger, he tilted her chin backward.
"You are such a stupid love brain, Frances. You fell in love for the first time and won't give yourself some rest. If you're not buying watches, you are buying sneakers, you are buying jackets, I'm sure Rain's got no more space in his wardrobe!"
Frances gave an unapologetic shrug. "If there's no space, then I will start storing his stuff in my house."
Evie threw his hands in the air. "Frances! How can you say this?! You haven't even taken any of your friends to your home before, how could you take Rain?!"
"Rain hasn't been to my house either. Maybe when it's time, he will." Her voice softened, eyes drifting to the window, thoughtful.
"You are so stingy!"
"Thank you!" she replied with a wink.
Evie leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Frances…" he said gently, "You clearly said that you don't want Rain to feel intimidated, you wanted him to be the man of this relationship. Why are you still taking his place?"
Frances blinked, confused. "How? Did I do that?"
"Of course you are!" Evie waved at the Rolex. "Look at Rain. He is timid in nature."
"He is not!" Frances fired back instantly, voice rising in defense.
Evie quickly clapped his hand over her mouth. "Calm down. I don't mean it in a bad way." He took a breath and continued gently. "He has social anxiety and has always been pushed aside his whole life. He never takes the lead, so most times he might not know what to do unless you take the initiative to ask.
Frances, what makes a man, a man? It's not just about loving and caring. A man is a born provider. Relying on them makes them feel secure and powerful. If a man is doing nothing for his woman, he will feel helpless.
You fight for him if there's an issue. He cries on you if he has problems. You never cry. You gift him every time. He'll definitely feel overwhelmed. How do you expect him to keep up with all these?"
Frances sat quietly, her posture less bold now, the Rolex box forgotten in her lap. Her lips twisted in thought.
"What do you want me to do? I just want to buy him everything I see online. I can't keep my eyes off them." she said softly. "Moreover, he does things too. He brings our food. He pays for food."
Evie folded his arms. "Is that the only thing y'all were meant to do? You should allow him to take over. Rely on him too."
"Why should I? I don't lack anything." she shot back with a raised brow.
Evie shook his head like a disappointed mentor. "You do. Women's things can never be taken care of completely. There are always things you will need. Even if you don't need it, ask him for it. Act like a spoiled child in front of him and let him pet you sometimes. Stop doing like a warrior princess."
Frances burst into laughter, slapping her thigh. "You are funny, Evie."
"I'm serious! I'm giving you some relationship tips."
"You idiot! Isn't this what I said to Coco and you overheard it?" she asked, eyes narrowing with a sly smirk.
Evie averted his gaze, guilty. "So? You gave Coco this advice and you didn't take it yourself."
Frances sighed and leaned back in her chair. "I was so busy trying to make Rain happy that I forgot about some advice that I gave since a long time ago. Seeing him happy just makes me happy."
"I know." Evie smiled and touched her arm gently. "Just leave some things for him as well and allow him to take charge. Beg for money. Beg for bags."
Frances gasped. "Why should I beg? He should always bring them to me without me asking!"
"What if he is scared?" Evie leaned in, speaking seriously now. "Rain is a baby that you are nurturing, you don't know that? He won't even do anything aside smiling at you all day. Give him chances to be the man."
"Whatever. I have heard you." She waved him off but her expression had softened.
Evie's eyes twinkled. "I heard that he won some cash prize from the project he submitted last month. Why don't you use that opportunity to ask him?"
Frances tilted her head and a mischievous smile tugged at her lips. "You are right! I'm interested!"
"That's my girl." He ruffled her hair playfully, and for once, she didn't swat his hand away.
Frances sat cross-legged on her desk, idly watching the room until she noticed something and
leaned closer to whisper.
"Lawrence has been staring at you as if he wanted to eat you up," she said, a sly grin tugging at her lips.
Evie recoiled with a dramatic cringe. "He is crazy! He has been doing that lately, I wanna gouge his eyes out!"
"Why? You don't like Lawrence?"
"Why would I? I'm not crazy! Doesn't he like women?"
"Lawrence is bisexual."
"What? He told you that?"
"Yes, he told me. So I guess he likes you."
Evie's face turned red with panic. "Now I have to reconsider my decision of going to Paris with him. He is such a pervert. Does he deserve me? That idiot!"
Frances burst into peals of laughter, holding her stomach.
"You can date someone like Channing but think Lawrence is a pervert? You are the idiot here, Evie."
"I'm not! I can never be attracted to Lawrence, that asshole. How many girls is he fucking with in school!"
"It's the girls who are trailing after him, not the other way around. If you see a free thing, why not take it?"
"You are the one indulging him. If he wants to be with me, he better be a neat freak and also loyal!"
"I guess you like him too."
"I don't!"
"You denied way too fast. Now I don't believe it anymore," Frances teased, wiggling her brows.
Evie turned his face away in mock irritation. "Our last exam is coming up soon. Are you going to study?" he said, trying to divert her attention.
"Study? Have you ever seen me read a book?"
"Frances, can't you study for the final exam? At least that will ensure you getting into a good college."
"College? I haven't rethought that decision of going to college, I guess."
"What? If you don't go to college, what would you do?"
"Become housewife, sure! Get married and have kids. I want my own family."
"Are you crazy, Frances! You are just 16!"
"I will be 17 in a few weeks. Next year I will be 18, I can register my marriage then. I don't want to do anything in my life. I just wanna be a housewife and enjoy."
"You are definitely crazy! Do you think Rain would get married so soon? He is a genius with a great career ahead of him, he can't give everything up and marry you suddenly."
"Does marriage affect careers?"
"It doesn't affect careers, but it will slow it down!"
Frances scoffed, folding her arms.
"What bullshit is that? Marriage affecting careers is a sentence for poor people. I have money to fund any damn career and also build a family all together at once."
Evie sighed in frustration. "How about Rain? Marriage can't just be your own decision only, right?"
"Let's ask him then!" she declared boldly.
She stood up with dramatic flair and marched toward Rain's desk, Evie hot on his heels. Frances hopped onto Rain's table like a queen taking her throne. He looked up at her with warm eyes.
"Cici!"
"Would you like us to get married once I turn 18 or it's gonna affect your career?" she asked bluntly.
Rain blinked, then slowly stood, his lips stretching into a bright smile.
"Of course I would like to! That's exactly what I wanted!" he said, voice full of emotion as he reached for her hand.
"I want nothing else than to marry you, Cici."
Frances turned to Evie triumphantly, holding Rain's hand in both of hers. "Did you hear that, Evie? He would like to marry me as soon as possible."
Evie's mouth hung open in disbelief. He looked like he wanted to whack both of them upside the head.
"Rain, getting married wouldn't affect your education and career?" Evie asked, skeptical.
Rain turned to him with a calm, confident smile. "Of course not. My career is already booming, right? I have a gaming company that generates millions monthly. Marriage is not something that I can't afford. As for school, we can always go to school together and study together. It's no big deal."
"My babe can definitely afford marriage, you see! I will invite you to my wedding soon, Evie!"
"You two are hopeless, I swear to God!" Evie scoffed and stormed off.
Frances squeezed Rain's hands and gave him the softest smile, her tough girl exterior melting for just a second. His cheeks flushed as he stared at her like she hung the stars.