♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Jennifer

We had at least two hours before the next class, which gave us plenty of free time. Monica left early today as she needs to attend a family function. But she had shown us a lot of pictures of her in various dresses for us to choose the perfect one. She settled on a black slit dress in order to ensure she looked glamorous for the occasion. Also, a good looking businessman is gonna be there, long story short- another crush.

"Why don't we go to the sports complex and enjoy our lunch?" Kathy asked me while putting her phone back in her jeans pocket.

"Sounds good. It's been so long since we have been there." I slung my bag over my shoulder after taking a quick peek at the folded paper which I found at the library. It was beneath my belongings when I came back to fetch my stuff from the library counter. My name was neatly written on it. I just couldn't bring myself to open it with Kathy around me. What if it's from the same person who texted and called me?

"Hey, you remember Nick's friend Elliot?" She asked out of the blue, making me stumble on my steps.

"Yeah you shoved a couple of his pictures, practically on my face." I eyed her suspiciously, "So how could I ever forget?" She did show me his pictures here and there. Does she like him? God if she does, Nick will definitely get furious and might end up kicking his friend's ass.

"Kathy? Do you... like him?" I asked with hopeful eyes.

"No, I don't." She said and I released a breath of relief. "But if you do, you can have him all to yourself." She winked and then wriggled her eyebrows which earned her a playful smack on her arm from me. We got inside the sports complex and climbed the stairs to reach up to the chairs on the last row. We ate lunch while watching an episode of 'Crash Landing on You' on my phone.

"By the way, back to Elliot. What do you think of him?" She asked casually while drinking water.

"You know I can't think about other guys. I have someone who is waiting for me." I put on a rubber band to tie up my hair in a ponytail. My hair has been a mess since this morning.

"I think you should meet him. There is a dance society fest coming up. So I thought I could invite Nick and Elliot here. You want to enjoy your life before college ends, right?" Kathy said, emphasizing on each and every word. She's not wrong though. It's indeed the last few months of college.

My life is already planned after completing college. So it's best if I enjoy every second of it. At least I'd get the chance to compare other guys with the one I'd eventually marry.

Wait, what the hell am I thinking? Maybe I should just meet my fiancé already and convince him how horrible it is going to be for him to marry me. Yes, that's what I should be doing right now. I have to get out of this arrangement without my parents getting a whiff of my plans.

Also, boys my age don't interest me that much. God, Mr. Reynolds. Yes, Mr. Reynolds is slowly taking over my mind. I need to do this for myself. Get myself to focus on something else before it gets too late.

"You're right, I should meet someone. But it's not Elliot."

"What's on your mind?" She sat up straight.

"I want to meet my fiance to make him think that I'm so horrible that he would end up in the mental hospital if he spends longer than a day with me."

"I like that spirit." She smiled wickedly and I nodded.

"I just need to figure out how I can make that happen."

"I have got your back. We'll come up with a plan real quick. Alright? So don't worry." She side-hugged me with a smile.

"In the meantime, let me check out some hot guys for you."

"Sure, go ahead." I laughed at her enthusiasm.

I will go to the Adventure Park tomorrow with Mr. Reynolds and then the day after tomorrow, I need to visit my parents for that fuss about stupid business lessons.

"Hey! Look at him. The one wearing the white t-shirt with ninety five written on it in red color." She said pointing at someone with her eyes. I followed her gaze and found some boys playing basketball. I looked through and spotted the boy she was talking about.

"He looks alright." I told her casually which made her look at me in disbelief.

"Just alright...? He's freaking strong, tall, handsome, charming... robust, sexy, hot, umm... athletic, broad, sculpted, attractive... and YES hella lot attractive. Do you still want me to continue or would you rather open your eyes properly and look at that fine piece of art?" She literally screamed at my face. Well I don't find him that attractive, what can I do?

"You said attractive two times. And I thought you liked Nick."

"That's what you get from what I just said? Seriously Jen?"

Well you know one person who has all of these qualities though. My conscience told me. Not again. Don't open that door farther. I'm out of my mind. Yup, totally out of my mind.

"Okay, okay! I get it. Calm down girl. Breathe in, breathe out." She calmed down after a minute. "You okay now?"

"Yup." She said popping the 'p'

I looked around and spotted Mr. Lee playing badminton. He's one of my favorite professors who's humble and kind hearted. He is playing badminton with Mr. Reynolds and two other professors. Wait, Mr. Reynolds? Why didn't I notice him before? He's looking so hot with his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows making his bicep muscles move tightly against his shirt fabric. Oh no. I opened Instagram to distract myself when Kathy said, "Look, Mr. Lee & your hottie."

"For the last time, he's not a hottie. I already saw them when you were busy gawking at those basketball guys." I told her

"Oh" she replied

"Do you seriously don't like Nick?" I asked because it bothers me that she seems happy gawking at those guys while I can't seem to focus on any guy other than Mr. Reynolds. I only have a crush on him. Why am I unable to look at other guys?

"Nick is trouble. He's not my boyfriend, is he?" It didn't help me understand anything but I nodded.

"Look, Jennifer. It doesn't mean I don't like him... whenever I'm with him there's no doubt that I'm happy but there's a part of me which screams that it won't last. So I don't want to be the only one investing time. It's like a partnership with a dormant partner. And he only started putting efforts when I stopped to do so. I like him as a friend but more than that... right now I'm not sure. I want to keep my options open." She does like him. I hope Nick's the one for her.

"Kathy I... you never told me about this. I thought you were... forget it."

"Yes, let's move on to those players."

"You want me to set you up with one of them? Huh" I asked jokingly, pointing in the direction of the football players. But she jumped out of her seat instantly then sat back.

"Do it please." She said, shocking me.

"What? I was just joking." No way I'm not gonna do that. What about Nick? He'll eat me alive if he found out I was the one to set her up with someone else.

"I was joking too." She laughed at my expense.

"Jennifer! Kathy!" Mr. Lee called us.

"Do you guys want to play with us?" He asked. I noticed that the two other professors had already left. It's just him and Mr. Reynolds. I was debating mentally whether to say yes or not when I felt as if someone was lurking behind the shadows eagerly waiting for me to arrive. I sensed someone in my peripheral so I turned around to spot a few students walking down the stairs. Maybe I am delusional.

But before I could think it through, Kathy squealed beside me.

"We. Are. Definitely. Coming." Is she crazy or what? I laughed at her silliness. She went down towards them.

Kathy instantly took a place by Mr. Lee's side, leaving me with Mr. Reynolds, the guy whom my stupid conscience just said has all the qualities listed by Kathy.

"Do you know how to play?" Mr. Reynolds asked me. Is he kidding me?

"Watch me." I said confidently.

"I have been doing that since the day I saw you." He mumbled. Do I have a hearing problem?

So I asked, "What?" He looked at me for a few seconds before saying, "Nothing."

"I know you said something. Care to explain?" I looked at him expectantly because suddenly I want to know what exactly does that mean. I'm not that confident in times like these but I put on a brave face while my insides were shaking with what he might say.

"Yes, I said I've been watching you." I felt a literal fuzzy feeling in my stomach. Is he confessing or something?

I was expecting him to say something special but all he said was, "You know how clumsy you can get. To be honest, I'm really concerned about these badmintons and the net as well. If you want you can get a helmet or something from the store room so you don't hit your head in case you fall." I look at him dumbfounded. That's what he meant. So that's how he sees me.

Wow, what rubbish is he spewing? I should ignore him and focus on the game.

A/N: Do you think it's a good idea that now Jennifer wants to initiate a meeting with Mr. Future Husband which she has been trying to delay as long as she can?

Love,
Shizbliss