“W-What do you mean?”

“You knew me before we met in the library. You also knew about Irsa being an alias. The paper used in the letter was from the literature club, where you are a member. And Rosie told me she found a magazine registered to your name that has some letters cut; she found it by chance when she was invited to the literature club one day to share her thoughts about one of the epics you were discussing about.” He saw her face turn from embarrassment to panic.

“B-But… I…”

“What opened my eyes was your name, Asari. Removing the middle letter gives you Asri. If you flip it horizontally you will have Irsa. It’s simple but it’s indeed clever.” Jace said, recalling Oresa’s words.

Asari took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry if I suddenly attacked you with this information. I’m just… I just really wanted to know.” Jace said, his digits were interlaced with each other and he was looking down on it. “You don’t know how unnerving it is, all the change it has led to. That letter changed my life one way or another… So, please tell me.”

********************************************************************

Zach, Rosie, Nise, and Oresa never entered the River of Love. They simply stayed outside after the first four went in.

“Hmm, so this was all for that Irsa thing?” Nise asked.

“Pretty much. It was Oresa who set this all up, but I don’t think all of the ones here knew about it.” Rosie said. “I somehow feel sorry about this, you must have been forced by Oresa to join in on this, I know how persuasive she can be.” She laughed.

“I don’t think it’s that bad. I managed to meet an interesting person after all.” He smiled at her.

A few feet from Rosie and Nise were Zach and Oresa.

“Why didn’t you choose to go in with Thelea?” she asked.

“Why didn’t you choose to go in with Jace?” he replied with another question.

The wind blew briefly between them; their red locks were flowing with it like leaves to a rolling river.

“Jace and I don’t even talk that much. Stop asking weird questions or I’ll make sure you’ll go to detention until your graduation.” She blackmailed him with a grin on her face. “It sure is fun in the Student Council.”

“Geez, don’t be so mean.” Zach complained. “Me and Thelea… it just didn’t work out, okay? She’s already doing so well since we broke it off. And that Daneo guy seems genuinely interested in her. I’m also doing well, still handsome and all; so no harm done.”

********************************************************************

Asari’s lips parted briefly, but closed once more. They moved, yet were hindered by hesitation. She looked down; the soft whispers of the romantic songs weren’t helping. “I…” Her hands cupped her face in embarrassment. 

“I’ve always liked you since our first year! Ever s-since you helped me find where my first class was going to be. Well… I f-figured that in the next school year… I-It might be the last so I decided to send that letter but I never had to courage to… to put my real name on it.”

After hearing her confession, Jace’s face was passive for a bit but then gained a small smile. “Thanks for telling me.”

“Y-You’re not mad? That I was s-sneaky about it? A-And that it was just Asari?”

“Nope, I’m thankful.” He said. “Thank you for your honest feelings, I feel blessed just knowing that someone likes me.”

“R-Really?”

“But I don’t know how to reply to your confession.” He said, looking dejected. “I’m still too naïve to figure out what liking and loving really is.”

“It’s okay… You don’t have to answer.” Asari said. “I-I’m content that I finally said it… You may not like me back but I want to have a small request… p-please?”

“Sure.”

Asari said something and handed over something to him. “Please open that before this night ends. And… I want to confess to you one more thing. B-But I’ll say it later maybe…”

********************************************************************

Jace and Asari were holding hands when they got out from the boat ride. Thelea and Daneo emerged from the same place a few minutes after; Thelea seemed to have calmed down and was blushing nonstop.

“I can’t believe it.” Zach said in awe. The sight was rather extraordinary. Rosie and Oresa were also frozen in shock. Nise just silently stared at the two pairs.

“You guys are already done?” Jace asked. “That’s odd; I thought we were the first ones in.”

“The four of us went somewhere else instead.” Rosie replied simply.

Thelea was giggling. “Where’re we headed next?”

“That’s a big change in your level of enthusiasm.” Zach said. “But what surprises me more is that my buddy ol’ pal is holding hands with a cute girl.”

Asari blushed. Both of them looked away from the group’s prying eyes.

“I suppose that ride is quite effective.” Nise said.