AGNES

Our instructor walks into the music hall and we quiet down to pay attention. "Good afternoon. I have good news and bad news to share today, but I'll start with the good news."

We become more attentive. It seems this good news of hers is gonna be some real good news, with the way she's excited and eagerly wanting to share whatever it is.

"The school play is scheduled for this weekend, thankfully, and it is themed Fairy-tale Endings. Also, yours truly will be hosting this year."

With limited enthusiasm, we applaud naturally because we can already tell what the bad news is. But what is even more terrible is the level of perfection she would expect from her own club when she hosts the event. That pressure is kind of scary.

"So, the bad news – which isn't all that bad per se, is that we'll be rehearsing after school every day till the eve of the event."

Most start to frown and make miserable faces. It's going to be a truly tedious week, as we may leave school late, much after everyone else has gone home, plus, other activity we were doing will be on hold, including my business.

I already feel exhausted in advance honestly.

"Alright, everybody," Miss Francesca grabs our attention. "Before we begin today's rehearsals, it's imperative we select the star couple for this piece. Frankly speaking, you all have impressed me greatly, so it was difficult to make a choice, but there can only be one star couple. Hence, I have in here five pieces of paper squeezed in a cup, each containing the names of the couples. The paper in whose names I call will be chosen. So, it's all up to your luck."

Themoment they have been anticipating, well, except me, obviously. I still don'tget what is so special about beingthe star couple, apart from being a mirrorball the entire school would look at with high expectations. Everyone is inclined, I turn around and it seems I'm the only one left out. Even my partner is wishing on something I already rejected in my mind.

"I'm going to pick one paper at random. Whose names I call out shall be our star couple for the school play."

She shakes a small cup and then dips a hand to pick out a crumbled paper. The literal stiffness around the hall thickens, I could practically cut it with a blade. After she opens it, a small smile spreads across her face and for God knows why my heart skips a beat in my chest. But I still beg the universe earnestly though, that neither my name nor Felix's will be called.

That smile... that smile is so revelatory I already know what my fate is.

"Congratulations! And the star couple is couple number five, Agnes Carter and Felix King!"

My jaw clenches. Naturally. People around me gets super excited, even Felix is rejoicing like he just won the lottery. I assumed they all wanted their names to be called, or were they hopeful on my behalf?

"Come on, Agnes, you should be happy!" Tessa shakes me up roughly with her hands grappling my shoulders.

I move weightlessly. Clearly, I am not as elated about it as she is. "I'm happy! I'm happy!" I fake a laugh so she can stop.

The others start flocking around me. "Congrats to the two of you," Derrick says heartily.

"Congratulations, guys!" Sofia offers me a hug, and then hugs Felix.

I glimpse over towards my partner and he does same. When our eyes meet, we instantly throw our faces away as though a repelling force pulls back two like magnetic poles.

"I am so happy for you guys." Gladys shakes me and Felix.

"Thank you," he smiles at them.

The more I want to ignore Felix in my head, the more I think about him and thinking of him not in a pleasant way. But even so, I don't want him in my head at all.

"Congratulations to us," he says to me. I know he is freaking happy about this, ecstatic even. I see the besotted smile he's been carrying ever since the announcement, and it gets me all the more infuriated.

How much more of this can I take? Who have I offended so badly that I end up with bad karma every single year?

I turn to him. "Why are you happy? You act like it's a good thing for both of us."

"Isn't it?"

"It isn't. And can you stop gushing over this like a clown? You're gonna make me puke."

He still retains a smirk. "We are the star couple. We should put our emotions aside for the sake of our performance."

"Of course I'll give it my best. You, or any other person can't affect me."

"Perfect. Then we're good. I only have one tiny request though."

"What?"

He leans forward. "Smile and be happy like the rest of us."

I fight the urge to punch him in the face so that smirk on it will disappear and then I'll walk out. But unfortunately, he is my partner. Somehow, I will find myself with him again tomorrow, and the next, and inexorably, this coming weekend. "I knew you were dumb, but I didn't expect you would be this dumb. Those were two requests, stupid."

"Fine. Then smile." He does an illustration with his mouth.

I just fabricate a crooked sneer at him, which it immediately ends in a frown.

"Alright. Listen up students, the star couple will have their special dance routine at the finale of the main dance. I will discuss necessary details with them later. Now let's get to work."

Dancing with someone I don't like is one thing, being the so-called star couple is another thing, pretending to be happy and play cool with Felix as a partner before the entire school is just the height. My senior year couldn't get any worse.

I look over at Tessa and Yvonne and they seem happiest of us all. They feel be so satisfied that their overstated secret shipping is increasingly coming to reality.

"Shall we?" Felix offers his hand.

I look at him and his hand for a short moment, and all I think about is how we got at this point. Lord help me that I won't lose my mind before this is over.

You can do this, Agnes. Just believe in yourself. Your worries will be over soon. It's just until the weekend then you won't have to deal with this maniac any longer.

I breathe in and out, reluctantly taking his hand to let him lead.

FELIX

After our rehearsal, I go home with a pounding headache. Waltzing is no walk in the park to be perfectly honest. All that spinning, turning, and keeping up with tempo indeed made me super dizzy.

As I am just on my way out of school, I stumble into Rex.

"Hey Felix!" He waves at me and hurries out of the school premises, coming my direction.

If only fast walking can take me away from this guy and his nonsense. I'd pay anything for that to happen. "Rex, I have a headache," I tell him, hopefully, he would have a conscience and not talk about anything stupid.

"Really." He arches his eyebrow.

I absolutely couldn't care less if he believes me or not. I'm sure he wishes to blabber about our deal, or get updates on my progress but I'm not in the mood. "I gotta go, I'll see you online."

"What about—"

"Okay, bye," I interrupt and dash away.

After walking a reasonable distance, I turn back and luckily, it's Xian approaching behind. I take reduced steps so he can catch up.

"Going home?" I ask him.

"Yeah," he looks at me closely. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. Why do you ask?"

"Rex told me you have a headache, so don't lie to me."

"Well, since you already know, do you have any painkillers with you?"

"My dad usually advises me to be with them in case of emergencies like this." He fetches a pill packet from his backpack and puts two tablets in my hand. "I'll buy you water."

"I brought one from home. You're not the only student who comes to school equipped for any emergency."

Although my acerbic reply, he manages a smile on his face.

I ingest the tablets courageously then drink the whole bottle of water. Lord knows how much I hate drugs but my head hurts so bad I just have to endure the stinging bitter taste in my mouth as it goes down my throat.

"Are you feeling better now?" Xian looks at me worriedly.

"How do you want the medicines to work? You expect the ache will disappear like magic?"

Xian ticks off this time. "Why are you suddenly acting so cranky today?"

I crinkle above the bridge of my nose. "Pardon? What do you mean cranky?"

"You've been having these mood swings lately, just like now. What's up with you?"

Even I can't figure what exactly my problem is. Between the two of us, it's erratic for me to be the savage one. Whenever that happens, it just means something drastic is coming for me.

"Is it Agnes?" He asks.

I stop and shriek jarringly. "What does she have to do with this?"

"She's affecting you, isn't she?"

"No she's not!" I reply fast.

"So you're not pursuing her anymore?"

I give him an extended stare. He is purposefully pushing this conversation towards something I think, and I might have a good guess on what it is. "My head is hurting, alright. Please don't ask me awkward questions."

"Oh! I'm sorry." He holds my shoulders and lets the topic slide.

Or does he?

"But really, you and I know this deal of yours is only going to end in tears. Why start something you cannot finish?"

"Xian, for today, can you not nag me about this subject? It's starting to piss me off."

"I'm the only person who can tell you the truth, Felix, no matter how extremely you don't want to hear it. I don't understand why you're so hell bent on this impossible task. I'm convinced the only reason why you're having this headache is purely because you keep on strategizing in that head of yours how to get Agnes to like you."

Oh well, he isn't wrong about that. Throughout our dance, all I could think about is what to say to Agnes without me getting her characteristic silent treatment.

In fact, no! I am not doing this right here. After sleeping this headache off, then I'll let my brain function again. "Xian, I'm not talking about this anymore. I'll see you later."

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