"When Cupid's arrow strikes, reason bows to passion, and the heart takes the lead."
The school fest was just around the corner, but Renee had been avoiding Joey ever since her recent embarrassment. She couldn't shake the memory, though Joey seemed to keep an indirect eye on her, careful not to get caught. Most of the time, he spotted her with Alex, laughing and running around together. Joey found himself irritated and annoyed, unable to fully understand his emotions.
Meanwhile, Diana grew anxious about the growing closeness between Alex and Renee. She couldn't stand it. Determined, Diana worked her way into Renee's circle, building trust until the two of them, along with Alex, became an inseparable trio. Their bond quickly became the talk of the class, sparking envy among their peers.
One day, Diana casually asked Renee if she had any interest in being in a relationship. Renee laughed it off, saying she was focused on her studies and not interested in anything else. Undeterred, Diana kept asking about Alex, which made Renee suspect that Diana had feelings for him. When Renee teased her about it, Diana blushed, confirming her suspicions.
Just then, Alex appeared. "What are you two talking about?" he asked.
"Nothing much," Diana replied quickly.
"Sure, nothing much," Renee teased with a knowing smile.
Alex grabbed Diana's books and ran off, prompting Diana to chase him. Watching them, Renee couldn't help but smile. But Diana's earlier question lingered in her mind. She told herself she was overthinking. Joey wasn't a possibility—he had Helen, and they seemed like the perfect pair, just like Alex and Diana. Still, her thoughts kept wandering back to Joey.
Joey, on the other hand, was doing his best to hide his feelings. When Max mentioned the school fest needed more volunteers, Joey eagerly agreed before Helen could respond. Helen, surprised, agreed as well, though she found Joey's enthusiasm strange. Joey's heart raced with excitement. Finally, he thought, this was his chance.
As they approached the school grounds, they spotted Renee and Alex laughing and playing. Max commented, "There's the couple everyone's been talking about."
Helen scoffed. "Look at her. How could someone like Alex be with her?"
Joey interjected, "Let's not judge anyone without knowing them."
Max added, "Her name is Renee. She's cheerful, elegant, and outspoken."
Helen sighed. "My bad."
Helen's expression softened as she watched Renee. It seemed as if she regretted her earlier remark, though she stayed quiet.
Max introduced Joey and Helen to the group. Renee, carrying boxes back from the storeroom with Alex and Diana, flustered at the sight of Joey and dropped a box. "Careful, Rey," Max said, using a short form of her name.
Joey greeted the group, and Renee mustered the courage to speak, but Helen quickly filled any silence. Joey, noticing Alex and Renee's closeness, assigned Alex to different tasks out of jealousy. Despite this, Alex kept finding ways to check on Renee, much to Joey's frustration.
Renee noticed the odd dynamic between Joey and Alex but kept quiet, unsure of what to make of it.
As the day ended, Joey invited everyone to his house for snacks. Everyone was excited except Renee, who declined. She didn't want to risk facing Joey's family, as their families knew each other. Joey hid his disappointment and walked off with the group. Once they were gone, Renee rushed home, avoiding Joey's gaze. However, he noticed her and watched as she shut her door. She peeked out her window and caught his eye before quickly closing the curtains.
Later, her aunt asked her to help in the kitchen, noticing her sad demeanor. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," Renee replied, shaking her head. She heard laughter from Joey's house and saw her schoolmates through the kitchen window. Her aunt asked if they were her friends, and Renee simply nodded.
Her aunt then sent her to the store with her brother John to buy essentials. On their way, John asked for ice cream. As she reluctantly agreed, she spotted Joey walking behind them. Flustered, she quickened her pace. John, oblivious, waved at Joey, who waved back. "Are you going to the store too?" John asked.
"Yes," Joey replied.
The three walked silently, both Joey and Renee internally debating whether to start a conversation. Finally, Joey broke the silence. "Why didn't you come today?" he asked.
"I had to help my aunt," Renee replied. John interrupted, "She was sleeping all day like a pig!" Renee stomped on his foot in embarrassment.
At the store, they bought their items, and Renee got ice cream for John as promised. On the way back, she and Joey felt more at ease. There were no words, just smiles and a comfortable silence. Renee noticed how Helen's absence allowed Joey to seem more genuine, and it eased her nerves. As they parted, Joey said, "See you tomorrow," with a warm smile.
Renee nodded. "Sure."
Both went to bed that night, hearts racing with excitement for the next day. But amidst their joy, thoughts of their rivals lingered. What would tomorrow bring? Would fate give them another chance, or was something else in store?