The arcade pulsed with neon lights and the chaotic hum of excitement. Machines beeped and buzzed in all directions, their screens flashing with pixelated battles and high scores. The scent of buttery popcorn and artificial cherry slush hung in the air, thick and sweet. In the middle of it all stood the air hockey table—sleek, glowing faint blue beneath its surface, like a tiny battlefield waiting for war. Danna and Garson faced off on either side, palms resting on their mallets, eyes locked like gladiators in a ring. The world around them blurred into background noise, until Aiden's voice sliced through like a power-up announcement.
"So, ready for the game, players?" he asked excitedly.
"Ready for the win," Danna shot back, oozing confidence.
Garson smirked, leaning forward with a glint in his eye."We'll see… Princess."
As the final rounds played out, the tension grew thick, almost electric. Both were locked in, hyper-focused, but then—Danna's eyes flicked to the scoreboard.
7–6.She was one point ahead. She had won.
"YAYYY!" she squealed, jumping up with unfiltered joy. Her fists shot in the air like she just won the Olympics.Garson let out a low curse under his breath.
"Told you I'd win, dumb boy," Danna teased, winking at him with that smug, victorious grin.
Garson stepped forward, jaw clenched. "It was just a game. If you really have courage…" he said, voice low, "look me in the eyes, Miss Coffee."
Danna didn't flinch. She locked eyes with him, her smirk unwavering.But then—he leaned in.
His angry glare faltered as his gaze slowly shifted… from her eyes… to her lips.Danna's breath caught. She was too stunned to move, too stunned to speak.But she didn't look away.
Neither of them did.
"Garson… you're too close," Danna said, her voice barely above a whisper as she avoided looking at his lips.
A quiet chuckle escaped him. "Why?" he asked, eyes still locked on hers. "Is it making you nervous?"
Before Danna could answer—or even breathe—Aiden's voice cut through the thick tension like a record scratch."Ahmm… ahmm. What's going on here?" he asked, clearly confused, his brows furrowed. Natalia raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms with a knowing smirk."Well, well… it kinda looks like you two are in love or something.
Danna stepped back instantly, cheeks heating up. Garson just smirked like he'd won something even more satisfying than the game., "Hmm… that's a big word, Natalia." Said Garson still smirking
You didn't deny it though," she shot back with teasing this time
Danna turned to glare at him, her cheeks now full-on sunset pink. "He's literally the most annoying person on Earth. I'd rather fall in love with a vending machine."
Aiden stood there blinking, "Wait… so did we win or not?"
"I'm done for today, Natalia," Danna said, her voice quiet but firm as she turned away from the air hockey table.
She walked off, not waiting for anyone to respond, her steps fast but graceful—head held high like she wasn't lowkey spiraling inside.
"Wait—sorry, Aiden! I've gotta go. Bye!" Natalia called out quickly, flashing a smile before hurrying after her friend.
Back by the table, Garson just stood there, still holding the mallet, a smug smirk tugging at his lips as he watched Danna's figure disappear into the crowd of flashing lights and noise.
"She really left me on read in real life," he muttered, amused.
"So… would someone explain to me what just happened?" Aiden asked, still staring in the direction Danna had disappeared. "I thought you two hated each other?"
Garson let out a short breath, his smirk fading for just a second. "Of course we do," he muttered, brushing past Aiden. "Now stop talking. Let's go home."
Without waiting for a response, he shoved his hands in his pockets and started walking, the arcade lights flashing across his back like a spotlight on someone trying way too hard to pretend he's not affected.
Aiden blinked. "Yup. Totally normal. Just hate with a side of longing stares and lip tension. Nothing to see here."
Danna changed into her pajamas and flopped onto her bed, exhausted but relieved the day was finally over. She had just pulled the blanket over herself when her phone buzzed.
It was a message from Garson.
"I've done a few parts of the presentation. Let's go over it tomorrow in the library "
She groaned, holding her phone up like it had personally offended her.
"NO," she muttered, tossing the phone face-down on the bed. "The most annoying person alive."
Still, as she turned over and tried to sleep, her mind didn't go quiet.It circled back—again—to the arcade.The tension.The look in his eyes.That tiny shift in his voice.Why had he looked at her like that? And why was he acting so weird now?
"Ughhh," she whispered to no one, squeezing her eyes shut. "What is wrong with him?"
…But deep down, she knew something had changed.
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The morning sun spilled through the cafeteria windows, casting a soft glow on the polished tables. Danna sat in her usual seat, dressed in a red shirt tucked neatly into black pants, her hair pulled up in a sleek ponytail. Across from her, Natalia sipped her juice, her blue top bright against her white pants, hair flowing loose around her shoulders like always.
They were halfway through their breakfast when Natalia leaned forward, grinning.
"So… what's going on between you two?" she asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
Danna nearly choked on her bite of toast. "You hit your head somewhere?" she shot back. "It's nothing."
"But I thought you disliked him," Danna said, clearly not buying it.
"I do!" Natalia insisted, a little too fast. Then she lowered her voice. "But, y'know… someone is developing a softer side for Garson. And it's not me, so I can't interfere."
"It's nothing like that," Danna said, rolling her eyes for the hundredth time.
Natalia just grinned, unfazed. "Uh-huh. Sure."
Then her expression shifted, her eyes flicking toward the entrance. "Well, well… look who just walked in," she said, nudging Danna with her elbow. "Here comes your competitor."
Danna turned her head and instantly groaned.
Grace had just entered the cafeteria, dressed in a spotless white dress like she was walking a red carpet instead of a school hallway. Her hair was perfect, her posture annoyingly flawless, and her attitude? Cranked all the way to maximum diva.
"She really woke up and chose 'main character,' huh?" Danna muttered under her breath.
Natalia snorted. "With a side of 'I think Garson's already mine.'"
Danna grabbed her drink and took a long sip. "As if I care."
But her eyes still followed Grace for just a second too long.
After grabbing a drink from the counter, Grace turned—and spotted Danna sitting at her usual table.
A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Oh look who it is, girls," she said, her voice loud enough to be heard two tables over. Her so-called squad of perfectly dressed minions trailed behind her like backup dancers. "The wannabe university queen. "She let out a fake little chuckle, followed by her friends giggling on cue like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard.
"Oh, come on, Grace," Danna said, smirking as she leaned back in her chair. "I almost feel sorry for you—always begging for attention, and yet no one's actually interested in giving you any."
Natalia gasped, eyes wide. "OHHHHH!"
Grace's jaw clenched, her fake smile twitching at the corners as her squad awkwardly glanced at each other, unsure whether to laugh or walk away. Danna casually returned to her breakfast like Grace's entire existence hadn't just been dismissed in one sentence.
"Just because you're paired with Garson doesn't mean he'll ever be interested in you," Grace snapped, her voice rising with anger. "So don't float around on cloud nine, girl."
Danna stood up from her seat slowly, a smirk playing on her lips.
"Well… let's see if he's mine or not," she said coolly. "But one thing's for sure, Grace—he's definitely not yours."
The table went dead silent for a beat. Even Natalia stopped chewing. Grace's eyes burned with fury. Her hands clenched at her sides—and in a flash, she raised one as if to slap Danna.
But before her hand could land, someone grabbed her wrist mid-air.
It was Garson.
The room fell into stunned silence.
"That's enough, Grace," he said firmly, his voice low but sharp, laced with anger he wasn't even trying to hide.
Grace froze, completely caught off guard. Her eyes widened as she looked from her trapped wrist to Garson's glare.
Garson slowly let go of her wrist, still glaring. "You don't get to pull this kind of crap just because your ego's bruised."
Danna stood perfectly still, eyes locked on Garson, her heart thudding in her chest.