Chapter 2 [Ace]

Shawn approached Ace with a downcast expression, the usual fire in his eyes replaced with something darker, almost defeated. Ace glanced up from his phone, barely holding back his amusement at Shawn’s gloomy aura.

“What’s with the long face, bro? Did the world end while I wasn’t looking?” Ace couldn’t help himself, his lips curling into a mischievous grin.

Shawn shot him a glare that could melt metal. “Shut up, you traitor.”

Ace raised his hands in mock surrender. “Huh? I’m innocent, man. What did I even do this time?”

Shawn's eyes blazed with frustration, as if the weight of the world was resting on his shoulders. “Annie called you because she wanted to confess to you.”

Ace blinked, the words taking a second to register. Then, before he could stop himself, a burst of laughter escaped. He doubled over, clutching his stomach.

“Damn, bro, you got roasted!” Ace wiped away a tear of laughter. “Don’t mind me, Shawn. You’ll get her next time. Keep fighting, man!”

Shawn's eyes narrowed dangerously, but Ace could see the hurt hidden behind the tough exterior. He hadn’t meant to make things worse, but Shawn was too worked up. Ace’s expression softened slightly, though the playful glint never left his eyes.

After school, Ace sat at his desk, the quiet of his room enveloping him. He stared at his phone, his fingers hovering over the screen. He knew Shawn had misunderstood, but there was something about the way Annie had called that had stuck with him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than just a missed connection.

He decided to text Annie, but he didn’t want to do it at school. It felt too public, too... complicated. Texting was simpler. Less pressure.

Ace: Hey, Ace here. You called me on Thursday, and I didn’t pick up. Sorry about that. Just wanted to know why you called.

He hit send and sat back in his chair, trying to calm the jittery nerves that had suddenly taken over.

A moment later, Annie’s reply popped up.

Annie: Hey there. Well, I called you because I wanted to tell you something.

Ace’s heart skipped a beat. There was something in the way she phrased it. Something uncertain yet hopeful.

Ace: Oh, and what is it?

He waited for what felt like an eternity. When her reply finally came, his pulse quickened.

Annie: Come on, that’s something you should’ve noticed by now.

Ace’s brow furrowed, his fingers typing out a response before he even realized it.

Ace: Oh, is that so? Then I’m really sorry if I didn’t notice anything. Or maybe I should’ve known.

Annie’s response came quickly, almost teasing.

Annie: That’s weird! But then again, I did give you hints every now and then. You’re not dumb, are you?

Ace smirked. Hints? He thought about it for a second. Had she really been giving him hints? Was he really that dense?

Ace: Hints? Did you? Then maybe I should know. Oh, wait—Is it what I’m thinking it is?

There was a long pause before she responded. Ace could almost picture her biting her lip as she waited for his realization.

Annie: Did you get it?

Ace took a deep breath, staring at the screen as the words finally clicked. He wasn’t sure whether he was relieved or terrified.

Ace: I think I know what you mean. Is it a mutual thing? Like... that one?

There was no immediate reply, but when Annie did respond, the tone had shifted. It wasn’t playful anymore. It was raw.

Annie: I love you.

Ace’s heart skipped a beat. His fingers hovered over the screen, but the words didn’t come immediately. It felt surreal—like everything had led up to this one moment.

Finally, he typed back, his heart pounding in his chest.

Ace: I love you too.

The message sat there, an unspoken promise between them, before Annie sent a final reply.

Annie: I’m glad. I’ve been waiting for you to notice.

Ace leaned back in his chair, a wide grin spreading across his face. Maybe it wasn’t as simple as he'd imagined, but for the first time in a long time, he felt like he was on the right path.