February 3rd. Saturday, 7:11 PM.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Benjamin".
He turned around at the call of his name, caught off guard.
"Yo", he said, eyebrows lifting in surprise, seeing who it was. "What you up to?".
"I'm going to binge-watch a Netflix show", Tanisha said, catching up to him. "So I had to get snacks", she lifted a plastic bag filled with snacks.
She wore a black bonnet over her hair and an oversized hoodie and joggers that didn't match. It was clear she didn't plan to stay out long.
"What show?" Benjamin asked, shifting his basketball to his other hand.
"Haven't decided yet", Tanisha replied. "I'll scroll until I find something that looks good". Her eyes dropped to what he was wearing. "I'm guessing you had practice", she said, seeing him in basketball shorts and a hoodie with a boot bag over his shoulder while holding a basketball.
"Solo practice. There's no team practices on weekends", Benjamin said. He paused mid-sentence, suddenly stepping away from Tanisha. "Oh shoot", he said, grimacing. "I stink of sweat".
Tanisha paused and turned her head to him. She sniffed. "It's fine. My nose is blocked", she said after a second, pointing to her nose. "I can barely smell anything".
Benjamin sighed in relief, "Saved by your sickness", he said, still keeping a little bit of distance just in case.
"Don't say it like that", Tanisha replied with a little smile. "Anyway, why are you by yourself? Wouldn't it have been more fun with your friends?".
Benjamin bounced his basketball before answering, "David and Ray are in the gym, Lucas is on a date, and the other two…", he stopped himself and shook his head. "I'd rather train by myself. It would be funny, but I'd rather save that for when it's warmer".
"Lucas is on a date?" Tanisha asked, picking that up, interested.
"Yeah, with his girl", Benjamin replied.
"He's got a girlfriend?" Tanisha said, turning to him, with her brows furrowed. "When did that happen?".
"Like a month ago... or two", Benjamin replied, tilted his head to the sky, trying to remember. "I don't know. We found out like three weeks ago or something".
"That's unexpected… but when I think about it, I'm not that surprised", Tanisha replied, also tilting her head to the sky. "If someone were to get a girlfriend out of you guys, it would be him".
They walked in silence for a moment before Benjamin spoke again.
"We talk a lot less now".
Tanisha frowned slightly, "Us two?".
"No, I mean all of us", Benjamin shook his head. "You and Maria and the rest of us", he said, circling his finger, gesturing his friend circle. "I still talk to Delilah because she sits behind me, but now she hangs out with you guys after classes".
"That is true", Tanisha replied, thinking about it. "It's because we have our own group with the rest of the girls in class now. At the start, it felt like me and Maria were joining your group to not be left out. But now we've got our own little group. Being with your group was fun, but sometimes it was a little awkward for me. It did feel like you guys were holding back on some of your jokes when we were around".
"Yeah, I get that", Benjamin said, understanding.
Tanisha smiled slightly, "Delilah fits into both. She can hang out with you guys and our group".
"I'm low-key proud of her", Benjamin said, his lips curling. "I feel like everyone in the class likes her. I remember she told us that she thought she would be a loner and have like one or two friends".
"That's thanks to you guys at the back", Tanisha replied, adjusting her grip on her bag. "You guys helped her a lot by talking to her and getting her involved with your friend group".
"It's a good thing she's cool with everything", Benjamin said. "I feel like if most of the girls in our class were in her seat, they would be sick of us. They'd hate us forreal".
Tanisha let out a quiet laugh through her nose. "You've got a point", she said. "I can talk to you guys, but sitting next to you guys looks unbearable".
"Whoa. Unbearable?" Benjamin said, sarcastically sounding offended, "That's unnecessary".
"Sure, but you have to admit, you guys are too much", Tanisha replied with a smirk, raising her brows. "It's because you three are together".
"Yeah, we got lucky with our seats", Benjamin said, bouncing his basketball again. "You got lucky too".
"I did", she agreed. "But at least I don't laugh every second during the lesson with my best friend", she said, jokingly side eyeing him.
"Now you're lying. It's not every second. It's once in a while", Benjamin replied.
"Once too many", Tanisha shot back with a smile.
Benjamin laughed under his breath as he bounced his basketballs a few times in front of him.
"Is that all you're gonna do tonight? Binge watch with Maria?" Benjamin asked, keeping the conversation going.
"Maria's not here", Tanisha replied. "She's out modelling. She'll be back tomorrow".
Benjamin caught his basketball. "Jeez. I forget she's like a little celebrity", he said. "Why didn't you go with her? I know it's her job, but couldn't you join her for fun or something?"
"I could've, but it's not as fun as you think it is", Tanisha replied, looking down at her steps. "I've been with her before, and I didn't enjoy it".
"Can't you do the shoots with her?" Benjamin asked. "You're pretty", he casually said.
"Thanks", Tanisha replied, taking the compliment with a slight smile. "But in modelling, pretty isn't enough. You have to be beautiful. If pretty were the standard, nearly every girl in this academy would be a model".
"Sounds like a bunch of bullshit", Benjamin said, bouncing his basketball again. "I've seen some models who I don't think are pretty… to me", he quickly clarified at the end.
Tanisha laughed quietly, "I don't wanna model anyway", she said, not sounding too fussed. "It doesn't suit me. I'll leave it to Maria".
They reached the dorm building and hurried through the automatic doors into the warmth. They went past reception and straight to the elevator.
"How does it feel to be in the top ten?" Tanisha asked as they waited for the elevator.
Benjamin shrugged, "Nothing special. I'll be honest", he said as the doors opened. "I've been carried there".
"Don't you think you have a chance?" Tanisha replied, stepping into the elevator with. "You've been in the top ten before too".
"I back myself more in basketball", Benjamin said, pressing their floor number. "I'll always try my hardest in challenges, but there's a bunch of people who are better than me. I just have to rely on luck, I guess. What about you?".
"The same as you", Tanisha said. "My aim is the top ten for now". She leaned against the railing and scoffed, remembering something, "At the start of the semester, I thought I wouldn't get anywhere, but after getting 2000 points, I want to get more points".
"Did those 2000 increase your rank?" Benjamin asked as the elevator doors opened.
"Yeah", Tanisha replied, stepping out. "A lot".
They stepped out of the elevator and into the hallway.
"I want the next challenge to be a solo one", Benjamin said, resisting the urge to bounce his basketball in the corridor.
"Nah, I have a feeling it won't be", Tanisha replied. "I think they'll keep doing group ones, so people don't get left behind".
"So we won't get any solo challenges?" Benjamin said, glancing at her.
"I may be wrong, but if they want to do a solo challenge, it would be near the end of the year", Tanisha said. "This is what I think. I might be completely wrong, and the next challenge is a solo one".
Benjamin exhaled through his nose, "If it's a team challenge, it better be good".
They reached their dorm doors. Tanisha stopped in front of her door, digging into her hoodie pocket for her key. Benjamin walked past her a few steps and stopped in front of his door.
"I need a shower", Benjamin said, going into his pocket for his key. "I hope you find a good series to watch".
Tanisha unlocked her door and turned the handle. "Me too. I have a feeling I'll be looking for a while", she said, opening her door. She looked at Benjmain before going inside, "See you", she waved.
Benjamin smiled and waved back as she walked inside, "Bye".
8:58 PM
"Ahh.... I can't move. I'm too full", Lucas said, leaning back in his chair with a hand on his stomach, feeling his insides turning. "I regret eating that much".
"It was really nice", Jessica replied, sitting across him, wiping her mouth with a napkin.
"It was", Lucas agreed, glancing down at his plate. "But it was a lot", he said with a smile. "Should we go?".
Jessica raised an eyebrow playfully, "I thought you said you couldn't move?" she asked with a giggle.
Lucas smirked, "I was gonna force myself. I don't want to keep you here for that long".
"It's fine. It's perfect, actually. I want to stay a bit longer", Jessica said, looking relaxed. "I have a present for you". She looked down beside her seat and slightly leaned over. She pulled up a big paper bag and put it on the table. "Here", she slid it across the table closer to Lucas.
"Where did you get that from?" Lucas frowned in confusion. "I didn't see you bring this with you".
Jessica bit her lip to stop herself from smiling too much, "Just open it".
"But-".
"No no. Open it", Jessica replied, scrunching her face and covering her ears.
Lucas chuckled at her cute, dramatic reaction. He slid the paper bag closer to him and slowly tilted it to look inside.
Inside was a white box.
He reached inside and took out the box. His eyes widened after seeing the logo on the front of the box.
"Moncler?!" he said, stunned.
Jessica smiled, seeing his reaction and realisation hit.
Lucas carefully opened the box, almost like he was scared he was being pranked. After one tiny peek, his eyes widened even more than before. What was waiting inside, neatly folded in tissue paper, was a black Moncler jacket.
For a second, he didn't speak.
"Whu-", Lucas was speechless.
He gently lifted the jacket out of the box, brushing his fingers over it.
"Why?" Lucas finally asked, looking up at her.
"It's a present", Jessica simply said. "For getting into the top ten".
Lucas's mouth hung open. "You didn't need to do this", he quietly said. There was gratitude in his voice, but also guilt.
"I wanted to", Jessica replied, exactly how Lucas replied after buying her makeup a couple of months ago.
Lucas caught that. His face was frozen in guilt. "Getting into the top ten is cool", he said, slowly. "But this is too much".
"No, it isn't", Jessica replied, gently shaking her head. "If it makes you feel better, this gift is more than getting into the top ten… but the top ten is the main reason".
"Okay hold up", Lucas said, holding up his hand like he was pausing a game. "How did you get this in? I didn't see you bring anything in".
Jessica smiled. "I knew we had reservations here, so I brought it earlier and told them to hide it for me", she said, leaning forward, putting both her elbows on the table.
Lucas held up the jacket again. He stared at it in disbelief. He was left speechless again.
"I knew you liked fashion and designer stuff, so I picked this", Jessica said, watching his reaction. "It might be a bit bland, but I wanted to make sure I got something you'd like".
"No it's not bland", Lucas firmly replied, reassuring her. "It's really nice".
He looked up, holding her gaze for a long second.
"Thank you", he said sincerely. "This is one of the best presents I've ever gotten".
"Really?" Jessica asked, surprised, her eyelids raising. "Haven't your friends gotten you similar stuff?".
"Nah", Lucas said, shaking his head and putting the jacket back in the box with care. "They've gotten me some cool stuff, but nothing that big". A soft smile appeared on his face. "I don't mind though. They don't need to get me anything".
Jessica saw Lucas's whole demeanour soften as he spoke about his friends, "That's sweet", she quietly commented.
"This must've cost a lot of credits", Lucas said, putting the box back in the bag. "They overprice designer here like crazy".
"Yep. I saved a lot of credits, so it didn't cause too much damage", Jessica lied.
She wasn't lying that it caused too much damage. She was lying about spending credits. She spent actual money. The shops in the campus mall sold designer items, but most of the designer items could only be bought with actual money.
Items like clothes are overpriced if you buy them with credits. This makes credits more valuable. Essentials like food and toiletries are priced at their usual prices. It's the items that are luxury that are overpriced.
"Are you sure this is for me getting into the top ten?" Lucas asked. "You get me a lot of small gifts too. Did you use to give a lot of gifts in your last relationship?".
There was a short pause before Jessica answered.
"No. Not as much", Jessica honestly said. "Getting gifts now is really easy with credits. It's not like I'm spending actual money, so that plays a part. But I didn't spoil my ex. The most I got him were some sneakers". A faint smile crept on her face. "You don't have to worry".
"I'm not worried", Lucas smirked, glancing away, a tiny bit jealous.
Jessica noticed, "You're not innocent either", she teased. "What's the most you've gotten a girl?".
Lucas bit his bottom lip and tilted his head away.
"A pair of sneakers", he replied, with a slight smirk, obviously lying.
"C'mon. I told you mine", Jessica softly giggled. "I'm not gonna get jealous".
Lucas's eyes landed on her smile. "Fine", he exhaled in defeat. "…a bag". He looked up at her timidly, almost bracing himself for a reaction. Scared of how her eyes would look.
"That's cute", Jessica said calmly, unfazed. By his reaction, she could tell that it wasn't an ordinary bag he gifted.
"I regret it now", Lucas said, leaning back, looking down at the table.
"Why?" Jessica replied. "You got it at the time because you liked the girl. You shouldn't regret it".
Lucas quietly laughed out of his nose, "It was an expensive bag. I should've gotten a cheaper one", he smirked.
Jessica smiled with him. Happy he could joke about.
"Now you've got me this. Don't be surprised when I get you something", Lucas said, gesturing towards the bag, swiftly moving on.
"No, don't get me anything", Jessica firmly refused, shaking her head. "I don't want expensive gifts".
"Why?".
Jessica hesitated before answering, "It'll make me look like a gold digger".
"Shut up", Lucas playfully replied. "I'm not gonna think that. And if anyone says that, I'll let them know you're not", he softly punched the table.
Jessica giggled at his little joke. "I don't care what other people think. Only you".
Lucas shyly looked away. His eyes dropped to the floor. A faint blush coloured his cheeks as he pretended to fix his collar.
"Should we get out of here now?" Lucas asked, after regaining a bit of composure. "I feel like I can move now", he said, getting a weird surge of energy.
"Yeah, let's", Jessica replied, smiling at his reaction.
"Ah-" Lucas remembered something before he stood up. "We can't go back to my dorm. My friend will be back".
"It's fine. We can go to mine", Jessica said.
"Are you sure?" Lucas asked. "Didn't you say your friend complained last time?".
Jessica got up from her seat and brushed her dress. "Don't worry. This time we'll be quiet", she seductively grinned, winking.
A grin immediately appeared on Lucas's face, "We? You mean you".