The morning sun hit the vanity mirror, reflecting a girl who knew exactly how much she was worth. Emily swiped a layer of strawberry tint across her lips, checking her reflection one last time.
Perfect.
She tucked a bag of imported sour gummies and a neatly bound English notebook into her tote. She had gone to three different convenience stores last night just to find the specific lime-flavored ones Heath claimed helped him focus during boring lectures. He also had mentioned about his English essay yesterday. He had definitely forgotten his booklike he always did.
"Honestly, what would he do without me?" she thought, a small, private smile tugging at her lips, as she made her way out of her house.
People called him a heartbreaker. They whispered about the "Monthly Curse" and how Heath would date any girl who confesses to him, look bored for four weeks, and then drop her without a second thought. But Emily knew better. She remembered the lonely ten-year-old boy who used to hide in her treehouse because his parents' shouting matches were too loud for his house to feel like a home. She had seen the way he would shut down back then, pulling a mask of indifference over his face like a shield.
To Emily, these girls were just the white noise he used to fill the silence, temporary distractions until he was ready to admit what everyone already knew. She was the only one who had seen him cry; therefore, she was the only one who truly belonged by his side.
In her favorite romance series, Springtime Heartbeat, the hero dated others only to realize that the girl who stayed by his side through the trauma was the only one who mattered. Heath wasn't cold, he was just in the conflict phase. His exes were just sub-plots, and she was the only one who could claim the finale.
It wasn't also far-fetched to say Emily was the ideal leading lady, the kind of girl who was always groomed, always kind, and always ready for the camera to roll. She didn't need to look to know the eyes were on her.
A rhythmic thud of a basketball stop can be heard as she passed the local courts. She caught the hushed, "Is that her? She looks like a model," from a group of juniors. Emily didn't turn her head, but she adjusted her bag so her hair caught the light. It was a chore, being this visible, but a girl had to maintain her standards if she was going to stand next to someone like Heath.
Near the school gates, the path was blocked by a huddle of guys. One boy, his face the color of a tomato, stepped forward while his friends pushed and hissed encouragements behind him.
"U-um, Emily? Hi!" He held out his phone, his hands shaking slightly. "I was wondering... if I could maybe add you on XXX? Just, you know, so we can get to know each other."
Emily paused. He looked nervous, and she felt a genuine pang of sympathy for him. He was brave for asking, and in another life, one where Heath didn't exist, she might have said yes. But she already had her leading man. Giving this boy her number would be leading him on, and she wasn't that kind of girl.
"That's really sweet of you to ask," she said, giving him a soft, apologetic smile. "I'm really flattered, but I'm afraid I won't be able to do that. I'm actually... well, my heart is already set on someone. I hope you find a great girl, though."
The boy blinked, looking more stunned by her kindness than the rejection. She gave a polite nod and continued walking. She felt a little bad, but also a sense of "faithful" satisfaction. She was saving herself for the one person who mattered.
She checked her gold watch. First period: English. She bypassed her own locker and headed straight for the senior wing. The sea of students seemed to part for her. She reached Heath's classroom, the book heavy in her hand. She chuckles as she could already picture the way he'd let out that huff of air, half-annoyed and half-relieved, as he took the book from her. As she got closer to his classroom, she noticed that the door was slightly ajar. She heard laughter, a familiar, boisterous guy-talk.
"Bro, why do you keep on dating these randoms?" It was Mark, Heath's teammate.
"You literally have a hottie on your side 24/7. Why not just make it official with Emily?" He added.
Emily froze, her hand hovering over the door handle. Her heart gave a light, nervous but expectant flutter. A chair scraped against the floor. Heath's voice, cool and casual, drifted through the gap.
"Pfft! Me, dating Emily? No way. Not even in a million years." Heath laughed at what seemed to be a ridiculous idea.
Emily's breath hitched.
"Not my type. She's just like a little sister to me," Heath continued, his tone suggesting he was bored even talking about it.
"I don't look at her that way. Never have, never will."