Chapter 3

As the class sports monitor was lining everyone up, Tyler was running towards us, streaming with sweat. He was clutching a bottle of strawberry yogurt, coming for me.

Everyone in the class turned to watch him.

He stopped right in front of me, bent down, and pressed the yogurt into my hand. His face was slightly flushed in the sunlight.

"Jessica, I got a little carried away earlier. I didn't realize how easily girls get embarrassed. I shouldn't have done that in front of everyone. That was my fault. This is your favorite yogurt. I'm sorry.

"I already apologized to you on WhatsApp just now, but I think saying it face-to-face would show I'm sincere. Will you forgive me?"

Hearing what Tyler said, everyone around us turned to stare, and someone even blurted out, "Wow!"

I gripped the strawberry yogurt, with rage boiling up inside me. Without thinking, I hurled the bottle straight at Tyler's face.

"I've never messaged you on WhatsApp. Can't you understand what I've said?" I snapped.

Tyler was left totally stunned by my move.

The whole place went silent for a couple of seconds, and then everyone sucked in a breath.

"Damn."

"Is Jessica out of her mind?"

Tyler glanced down at the yogurt on the ground, gave an embarrassed laugh, and looked up at me. His smile didn't reach his eyes. "Jessica, it's no fun if you play like this.

"Don't think you can take advantage of me because I like you."

He slowly pulled a tissue from his pocket, wiped his hands, then took out his phone, unlocked it, tapped a few times, and shoved the screen right in my face.

"Jessica, you said you had never added me as friends on WhatsApp. So, explain this to me. Who is it?" he asked, laughing with anger.

He was showing me someone's Instagram profile.

The background photo was a side shot of me under a cherry blossom tree back at my hometown last year.

Tyler tossed the phone into my arms. "You really gonna say that's not you?"

I stared at the photo, my mind going completely blank because of rage.

I knew Wendy had been stealing details from my life to chat with Tyler online, but I never thought she'd actually have the guts to use my Instagram photos.

People were already crowding around, some standing on their tiptoes to sneak a look at Tyler's phone.

"That's Jessica's photo."

"Yeah, that's definitely her account. I added her myself, the same profile picture and bio."

"Why's she saying she never added him online?"

"Maybe she's embarrassed because Tyler confessed in front of everyone, so she's saying that to cover it up?"

"But Tyler showed the evidence, and she's still denying it. That's..."

I could feel all those eyes on me, curious, speculating, and a little eager to watch the drama unfold.

I took a deep breath. "Tyler, so you're saying that's me, right?"

Tyler's eyes showed more mockery. "You're still denying it? Jessica, you're making my feelings for you look like a total joke."

I brushed off his sarcasm, glanced at Wendy standing outside the crowd, and tossed Tyler's phone back.

Staying calm, I pulled out my phone from my clothes, unlocked it, and tapped open WhatsApp. "Alright, go ahead. Make a video call to me right now, with everyone watching."

He froze. His fingers tightened around his phone as he stared at me, seemingly looking for any hint of guilt or nerves from my face, but I only stared right back, not flinching at all.

I met his gaze head-on, even tilting my chin up a little and silently urging him to hurry up.

Tyler swallowed hard as he looked down at the chat window saved as "Jessica" with three new messages.

Tyler, why did you hesitate? Were you scared?

After staring at me for a few seconds, he finally tapped the screen.

Right before his finger hovered over the screen, a sudden scream exploded from the back of the crowd. "Wendy, are you okay?"

Everyone spun around only to see Wendy lie on the ground, with her eyes squeezed shut, lashes perfectly still.

A few girls crowded around her, panicking and calling her name.

"She was totally fine just now."

"Maybe she's got heatstroke?"

"Somebody gets the teacher!"

Out of nowhere, the PE teacher rushed through the crowd, took one look, and without a word, scooped Wendy up in his arms and strode off toward the infirmary.

After a few steps, he turned back and called out, "Jessica, you're her desk mate. Come with me!"

Did she really think faking a faint would let her off the hook?

I leaned in close to Tyler. "Tyler, don't you think her faint was such a perfect coincidence?"