The bell rang sharply, signaling the end of the day. Tina slung her worn-out backpack over her shoulder, her sneakers scuffing against the cracked tiles of Riverside Public School. Students spilled into the hallways, their laughter and chatter blending into the usual chaos. Pulling out her phone, she started typing furiously.
Tina: "Hey, Lowan, got any plans for the break?"
The reply came almost instantly.
Lowan: "None yet! You? Probably just gonna chill at home. What about you?"
Tina: "Not sure. Thinking of applying at that café nearby. I need some extra cash."
As she walked toward the school gate, her fingers flew across the screen. She was too engrossed to notice the tall, scruffy-haired boy leaning against the gatepost.
"Late again, Tina," Jack teased, his voice dripping with mock impatience. He adjusted his baseball cap and flashed her a lopsided grin.
Tina rolled her eyes, shoving her phone into her pocket. "I wasn't late," she shot back. "I was busy making real plans for the break. Unlike you."
Jack laughed. "Real plans? Let me guess—you're gonna find another super boring job."
"Excuse me," Tina said, feigning offense, "working at a café isn't boring. It's called responsibility. You should try it sometime."
Jack smirked, pushing himself off the gate. "Responsibility? Is that what you're calling it? Or are you just planning to hoard tips so you can binge-buy those novels you're obsessed with?"
Tina opened her mouth to retort but stopped short. Okay, maybe he wasn't entirely wrong. She had been eyeing a new fantasy book series, and working part-time would give her the perfect excuse to splurge guilt-free.
"Whatever," she muttered, brushing past him. "At least I have a plan. What about you? You're probably just going to play basketball and nap all day."
Jack walked beside her, effortlessly matching her pace. "Hey, don't knock it. Basketball and napping? That's called balance. You wouldn't get it."
Tina shot him a sideways glance, unable to suppress a small smile. He was annoying, sure, but his antics always lightened the mood.
As they reached the corner where their paths diverged, Jack paused. His tone shifted, becoming a bit more sincere. "You know, if you're really going to apply for that café job, good luck. You'd make a great barista. Customers would love you."
Tina blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected compliment. "Uh… thanks, I guess?"
Jack shrugged, his teasing smirk returning. "Don't let it go to your head. See you around, café girl."
Tina watched him walk away, shaking her head with a mix of exasperation and amusement. Pulling out her phone again, she typed a quick message to Lowan.
Tina: "Change of plans. Definitely applying for that job. Jack's gonna regret calling me café girl when I'm rich."