Chapter 93: A Young Girl’s Crush
**Thelma Zane’s POV:**
“Good morning, girls!”
Mara’s cheerful voice called out as she hurried toward us, carrying a paper box in her arms.
The air around the school buzzed with excitement as the graduation ceremony loomed closer. Students dashed in and out of the school gates, some carrying decorations while others hauled props for various club events. It was a frenzy of activity. As Mara navigated through the crowd, she accidentally bumped into a boy laden with badminton rackets. The collision sent the box in her hands tumbling to the ground, scattering vibrant rose–red cards everywhere.
“Oh no!” she cried out in alarm.
The three of us immediately crouched down to help her gather the cards. Unfortunately, the rain from the previous night had left the ground damp, and the delicate cards were quickly marred by muddy water.
“This is bad,” Mara muttered, her face filled with worry.
Kara sighed heavily, looking at the ruined cards. “Ryan is going to kill me,” she grumbled. “He put so much effort into designing these cards for the special guests. They were supposed to be perfect. Now it’s all ruined!”
“Don’t panic,” I said, trying to reassure her. “There’s still a week left until the ceremony. We can figure something out.”
Kara shook her head. “These cards were custom–made. The production process alone takes over two weeks. Ryan wanted them to be something special–something memorable for everyone. He’ll be furious when he finds out.”
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I couldn’t help but think of the overly meticulous ways of palace officials. They, too, often insisted on long production times and expensive materials to maintain the illusion of grandeur. It wasn’t about necessity; it was about upholding the image of prestige.
“Ryan won’t have the chance to kill you,” I said, picking up the box of ruined cards. “I’ll ask the general affairs officer at the palace if there are any similar cards in the royal inventory. I’m sure we can find something just as beautiful to replace these.”
Mara gasped, her eyes wide with excitement. “Really? You’d do that? Oh, Thelma, that’s amazing! If these are from the royal family, they’d be a hundred times better than any luxury brand!”
Kara frowned at me. “You spoil her too much, Thelma. Should you really be giving away royal items so easily?”
I shrugged. “It’s just some paper. Besides, no one needs to know where they came from. Let
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them believe it’s a rare, precious item.”
The four of us walked into the school together. The stress of exams had finally lifted, and students were reveling in the season of celebrations. Everywhere we looked, young men and women paired off shyly, their voices carrying notes of excitement. The air was filled with the chatter of students planning for the upcoming ball, their excitement bubbling over.
“Have you decided on a dance partner yet?” one of the girls asked, her voice filled with anticipation. “I heard the third–year seniors are the most popular. Every time they step outside, they’re swarmed by invitations. No one escapes without agreeing to dance with someone!”
None of us had chosen partners yet. I had considered asking Aldrich, but the school had strict rules against inviting anyone who wasn’t a student.
As we walked, I noticed Avril seemed unusually quiet. There was a blush on her cheeks, and she avoided our eyes. Sensing a secret, we pressed her to share. She hesitated before pulling us aside and whispering, “Alright, but you have to promise not to tell anyone.”
Mara grinned. “Spill it already!”
Taking a deep breath, Avril confessed, “It’s Ryan. The president of the drama club.”
“What?” we exclaimed in unison.
Dorothy frowned. “Are you serious? Ryan is known for being completely focused on his studies and the drama club. He doesn’t seem interested in anything else.”
“I don’t get it,” Mara added. “He’s handsome, sure, but he’s got such a bad temper. Remember that fight he got into with Carolyn? And how he’s always so strict with the club members?”
Mara’s voice grew more animated. “Avril, listen to me. Ryan is like a fire pit–dangerous and not worth getting close to. Yes, he looks good, but a cold heart like his can’t be softened.”
Avril’s face fell, and her voice was filled with defiance. “You don’t understand. He’s not like that at all. He’s kind and gentle, but no one takes the time to see it. You’re only judging him by what’s on the surface.”
Before we could respond, she pushed past us and walked away.
Mara sighed dramatically. “Ah, poor girl. She’s fallen head over heels. She won’t listen to
reason now. Ryan’s charm has completely bewitched her.”
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I shook my head in disbelief. “How did this even happen? Avril is part of the boxing club. How does she even interact with someone like Ryan?”
Mara looked a little guilty. “That might be my fault. I kept asking her to help out with the drama club. I guess she must’ve fallen for him while working there.”
Dorothy’s expression turned serious. “We have to stop her. I heard Carolyn already agreed to
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be Ryan’s dance partner. If Avril doesn’t know, she’s bound to get hurt.”
“What?” Mara exclaimed. “That two–faced scoundrel! He told me he was still deciding when he sent me out to fetch deliveries. And now he’s already made up his mind?”
Dorothy remained calm. “I heard it from someone passing by. It could be a rumor, but we can’t risk it. We need to find Avril and tell her the truth. If she goes to Ryan without knowing, she’ll end up heartbroken.”
Determined, we set off in search of Avril, hoping to save her from an unnecessary heartbreak before it was too late.
