The Monday started off quieter than usual, and Alex seemed lost in thought, continuously tapping his chin as he often did when something was on his mind. His friends noticed his behavior and were curious as to what was causing Alex's sudden introspection.
"Hey, what's up? You look a little out of sorts today." Henry, the ever-inquisitive one, prodded.
With a sigh, Alex ran his fingers through his hair and replied, "Nothing much. Just thinking."
Naturally, Philip couldn't resist joking around, "About me, right? I knew it!" he teased with a grin. "Why think about me when I'm right in front of you, huh?"
Alex rolled his eyes, and Joe, the level-headed one, gave Philip a solid whack on the head. "Please!!!" he scoffed before turning back to Alex. "So what's on your mind?"
Shrugging, Alex muttered, "Love."
The reaction was immediate. All eyes widened, and the boys gaped at Alex in disbelief. "LOVE?" they exclaimed in unison. The commotion was so great that even passersby couldn't help but take notice of the Aerospace boys, causing fangirls to squeal in excitement.
Trying to quiet everyone down, Alex whispered fiercely, "What in the world? Are you trying to tell the entire world?"
"No, but because Alex is talking about love, it's something the entire world should know." Brad, the rational one, spoke up.
Despite the fuss, Alex couldn't help but make a face. "I was just...you know, thinking," he shrugged. "About what kind of girl I would want to be with, if I were to have a girlfriend."
"And what kind of boyfriend I would make. About love in general actually." "And?" Steve asked, interested. "Any interesting revelations?" "I realized," Alex said with a sigh. "I have no idea about love." he muttered. "I have no clue whatsoever about the entire process and how it's like to know if I like someone for real or not, or is it just because this girl looks cute on first glance, I have no idea."
"You're talking about Deliah?" Joe asked. "You're wondering if you really like her, isn't it, Alex?" Alex nodded. "Well if you're even slightly interested in her," Henry reasoned. "You should act on it before she slips away. Feelings can be developed, man. Deliah is a girl you DO NOT want to let slip between your fingers. What if you find that you really do like her and she's already out of your range?" Alex bit his lip. He didn't know, he didn't know how he felt about Deliah at all. She was pretty, yes. But did he like her enough to make her his girlfriend? Did he even like her out of the boundaries of a friend? "Feelings...can be developed?" Alex asked unsurely. "Definitely." Brad nodded. "So don't you go rejecting her if you're not sure okay? Because she's coming right here."
Alex and his friends from Aerospace turned their heads to where Brad was looking, and they spotted Deliah walking towards them. She had a bright red blush on her cheeks and was holding a pastel pink card close to her chest. Alex felt anxious. Did he have to make a decision now? He wasn't certain!
"Hello, Aerospace ," Deliah said with a shy smile. "May I talk to Alex alone?"
David raised his eyebrows suggestively, while Steve grinned mischievously. "What do you want to say to Alex that can't be said in front of us, huh?" Brad teased.
Deliah's friends appeared behind her, and Nancy gave her boyfriend a disapproving look. "Brad, give Deliah a break," she shook her head.
"Okay, princess," Brad said as he immediately ran over to her. He waved his friends over, and the Aerospace boys dispersed, leaving Alex and Deliah alone.
Alex was restless, his body tense as he braced himself for what was about to happen. This scenario had become all too familiar, happening several times a week, even in the France. He was stuck in a dilemma: should he accept her or not?
Deliah was a stunning girl, and Alex's friends were right about her. But what If this was just a passing crush, or did he genuinely harbor feelings for her? Love was a tricky business, and he didn't want to make a mistake.
"Alex," Deliah stuttered, her face flushed with embarrassment. The entire hallway was watching them, trying to guess what was happening between them. "I have something to give you."
With a trembling hand, Deliah extended a delicately crafted letter towards Alex. The paper was adorned with silver ribbons and pink and white hearts, a clear indication of the effort she had put into it. "Please accept my love confession, Alex!" she squeaked. "I really like you! Please go out with me!"
Alex found himself at a crossroads. Should he risk his heart? He glanced at his friends, who were giving him death glares, silently daring him to reject Deliah. They all wanted him to be happy, and right now, Deliah seemed like the perfect match. Taking a deep breath, Alex made his decision. "Okay, I'll go out with you."
The news spread like wildfire. Alex and Deliah were now an item, and hundreds of fangirls and fanboys were left heartbroken. Photos were taken of the two standing by the lockers, with Deliah passing the confession letter to Alex, and another of her throwing her arms around him when he accepted. These images were shared at lightning speed on Twitter and Instagram, and soon the entire school was a buzz about the new power couple in town, dethroning the former top duo of Brad and Nancy
The news was being discussed by everyone in the school, including the teachers who were also interested and spreading the information. Mr James reacted to the news with a sigh and a temple rub. He muttered to himself that he should support the Alex's decision. Ironically, Sarah Johnson, was the only one in the entire school who didn't know about the situation. Sarah was indifferent to gossip and social media, and nobody informed her about what was going on.
*********
She anxiously held onto her phone, waiting for Deliah's text message with news about the outcome of the confession. The Aerospace walked into the classroom, causing the students to whisper and chat more loudly when they saw Alex. The gossip about Alex having a girlfriend had spread, and everyone was talking about it. Alex felt embarrassed and sat down while the other Aerospace members congratulated him. Henry whispered, "Great job, man! You've got a girl!" Alex nodded, but he couldn't shake the strange feeling of being someone's boyfriend. He sighed and massaged his temples, realizing he needed to talk to someone about it. Brad was the only suitable person to speak with since he was sitting behind Alex. When Alex turned around to talk to Brad, he noticed someone in the corner of the classroom.
Sarah's face lit up with a beaming smile as soon as Deliah's message arrived, and she eagerly read it, feeling overjoyed for her sister. Alex couldn't take his eyes off her, as he watched her smile with pure bliss. He didn't even notice her messy hair, oversized glasses, and baggy t-shirt, as he was entranced by her radiant smile. He swallowed hard, caught up in the moment, until Brad interrupted him.
"Hey man," Brad greeted him, waving his hands in front of Alex's face. Alex was startled and asked, "What?" Brad playfully hit Alex's forehead, teasing him, "Did you lose your mind now that you have a girlfriend?" Alex laughed and replied, "I forgot." He then turned his attention to the front of the classroom, where the teacher was walking in, wondering what he had wanted to ask Brad.