After two hours in the theater room, the atmosphere was full of excitement and creativity.
Ashley and Emily stood among the other students while the theater teacher walked to the front of the stage.
"Listen carefully," the teacher announced.
"Very soon , on Valentine's Day
we will perform Romeo and Juliet. I will be holding auditions to decide who fits each role."
The class immediately started whispering.
The teacher continued:
"I'm going to distribute papers. Write your preferred role as your main option. Clearly write your first choice at the top."
She began handing out sheets.
"On the side of the page, you'll see the list of available characters. Choose wisely. Then write a short explanation about why you think you fit that role."
"Next class, I will return your papers along with the script lines you need to prepare for the audition."
Emily immediately scanned the list.
"Okay," she said confidently. "I'm going for Lady Montague."
She looked at Ashley.
"That role fits me. I feel it."
Ashley smiled.
"Yeah… it actually does."
Emily nodded. "No doubt."
Ashley glanced down at her own paper.
After a few seconds of thinking, she said softly,
"I think… I'll try for Juliet."
Emily's eyes widened with excitement.
"Yessss! You should totally be Juliet. That role is literally made for you."
Ashley laughed lightly.
"Hopefully."
Suddenly —
Someone approached them.
Alex.
He stopped right in front of Ashley and looked at her with a confident smile.
"Ashley," he said. "Which role did you choose? Let me guess… Juliet?"
She blinked.
"Um… yeah."
"Nice," he replied immediately. "Then I'll be Romeo."
Ashley raised one eyebrow.
"Yeah… sure."
Her tone clearly showed she wasn't impressed.
She forced a small polite smile
but it didn't match his confidence at all.
Alex either didn't notice
or ignored it.
He walked away casually.
Ashley rolled her eyes slightly.
One Hour Later
Ashley and Emily were back in their classroom, talking quietly with other students.
The door suddenly opened.
Their teacher walked in —
And behind him…
Several students from Class 11A entered.
The room immediately filled with confused whispers.
Ashley's stomach tightened.
No way.
Angelina had been right.
This wasn't just talk.
It was real.
The teacher raised his hand
"Hello everyone. Let me explain why the students from 11A are here."
Ashley glanced toward the group.
And then —
She saw him.
The same boy.
The one who had stopped The boys' group that morning.
The one with green eyes.
The one with glasses.
He stood quietly among the other students, expression calm and unreadable.
She didn't know his name.
But she recognized him instantly.
The teacher continued:
"I selected certain students from Class 11A to work on a joint academic project with students from Class 11C."
He began reading names.
Ashley and Emily held their breath.
Please not us.
Please not us.
Name after name was announced.
Then—
"Okay… and the last student is—"
Silence.
Ashley and Emily looked at each other in relief.
Maybe they were safe.
"…Ashley."
Her heart dropped.
"What?"
The teacher continued calmly.
"Unfortunately, I had no choice but to assign you."
Her eyes slowly shifted.
"Your partner will be Jonathan."
He pointed slightly toward the boy with green eyes and glasses.
(Ashley mind)
"The same student from 11A."
Jonathan.
So that was his name.
Ashley froze for a second.
I'm working with him.
To be continued