CHAPTER 008: INVITATION

It has been six months since Stell is planning to officially court Shelby, but until now, she still doesn't have enough courage to reveal her secret. Tyron has done his best to help her, but things became more complicated. She gave her flowers, chocolates and many more, without giving even just a single hint about her identity. They have spent their weekend hanging out together, but Shelby is just too oblivious. Shelby treats Stell like a sister since she is always there to protect her. She thought her how to fight for herself, she saves her whenever she's late at school,.. in a word, she's a friend. An indeed, great friend for her.

For those months they spent together, they become closer than what they are before, but there's no improvement, romantically. Shelby is not even aware of it. She has no idea who gives her gifts. The only thing she knows is that they're just hanging out together as friends.

"I love these chocolates, but I started feeling uncomfortable. What if... what if he's a psycho? A stalker? What if he wants something from me?" She asked as she's walking in the hallway, with Stell. Stell on the other hand felt sad but she tried to act calm. It saddens her that she makes Shelby uncomfortable by her actions. Is it time for her to stop? Or to confess? She has no idea what to do.

"Hi," a young man who is about a year older than Stell approached them with his friendly smile. "Do you have something to do later?" He asked Stell, and she just shakes her head as a response. "Good thing! I want to invite you later for my birthday party." He's their senior who is known as a campus heartthrob.

"It's your birthday, Oppa?" Shelby excitedly asked him and he just nodded as a response, making her feel exhilarated as she covers her own mouth. "Oh my! here, take it as my present. I did not have time to look for a good gift so take it." Stell's eyes went wide as Shelby gave the box of chocolate that she secretly put on her locker. She wants to stop her but Jaydie, the guy who approached them, accepts it.

"Thank you. You can come too, Shelby," he said as he pats her shoulder. Shelby just nodded with a wide smile painted on her face. Stell could just roll her eyes in annoyance. She's jealous, even though there's no enough reason to be one. She just hated the fact that Shelby smiles at him with her twinkling eyes.

"Anyway, Stella, I hope you would come. It's been a long time since we talked." Stell could not say anything, she could just frown that made him grin. "I'll take that as a yes," he winks at her as he left with a smirk on his face. "I'll wait for you later," that's the last thing he told them without even looking back.

*****

"Wahh~ I want to go there too," Mich' eyes are sparkling as Stell told her that Jaydie asked her to attend his birthday party. Only the 2 of them and Jade are on the rooftop today. They don't know where the boys have gone, except for Clyde who is sick.

"Then come with me," Stell said with her flirty smile as she leans towards her. Here comes the greasy hamster again. Mich and Jade could just laugh. "Oh come on, I don't like parties especially when I'm not with you."

Jade laughs again before speaking. "We don't want to ruin your date."

Stell frowns. "Date?"

Both of them nod in unison. "Yes. With Jaydie," it was Mich who answered with her playful smile.

"He's not my type," she exclaimed as she rolls her eyes. "And it's not a date. It's a birthday party," she added as she lets out a chuckle afterward.

"Well, that's for now," Jade says. This guy would not want to lose and Stell could just chuckle because of their playfulness.

"But honestly, I think Jaydie Oppa likes you," Mich really wants her best friend to have a boyfriend. Who wouldn't want to make their friend have a happy life with their future children, right? And Jaydie is not new to them. They've known each other for almost 5 years and Mich is certain that he's a good person.

"That won't happen," Stell, the oblivious one, doesn't really have any idea who are the people who show interest in her. She always thinks that those people are just too friendly.

"How could you say so?" Jade lifted one of her eyebrows as she took a bite on the pizza that they ordered.

"He's a friend," she treats him as someone reliable like a brother; totally forgetting that she felt jealous at him earlier.

"That's why he kept looking at you," Mich scoffed She noticed that every time they cross paths, he keeps glancing at Stell with his adoring eyes.

"Anyway, I don't have a present for him," she wants to shift the topic. She knows that they won't stop teasing her with Jaydie.

"What a good FRIEND you are," Jade sarcastically said, emphasizing the word 'friend'.

"It's just that I ain't ready." As much as possible, she doesn't want to look dumb at the party. They're not that close, but it's embarrassing to attend a party without a present. Only if she was not invited, then she won't even think of attending his birthday celebration. Also, Shelby will be there so she must be there too.

And thinking of Shelby, she got an idea.

STELLA'S POV:

To SHELBY:

Hey! Mind if we'll attend the party together?

I texted her. It's my chance to be with her a little longer, so I should do my obligation if I want to be her boyfriend, or should I say, girlfriend? Ok... Nevermind, that thing will take time.

Without even a minute, Shelby replied already.

SHELBY:

Sorry, unnie. I can't attend the party. Tyron oppa and I have somewhere to attend. It's grandma's birthday.

I felt sad about reading her message. Should I attend? There's no reason for it to do so.

SHELBY:

Jaydie oppa knew it already.

Take care, unnie.

To SHELBY:

Ok, you too ;)

I smiled bitterly. She did not reply after that. I decided not to attend since Shelby won't be there. Call me the worst friend, I don't care. I can just greet him a happy birthday through text.

Before I could ever text him, my phone suddenly beeps, sign that I received a message. I open the message without looking at who is it.

:

Don't be late ;)

It's him.

I'm pretty sure he'll be mad if I won't attend, and I don't want any of my friends to be disappointed at me.

JAYDIE HYUNG:

Wear a dress, please?

Dress? Eww. That's gross.

As you can see, his name on my phone has hyung, but I call him oppa when he's around. How pathetic.

To JAYDIE HYUNG:

Okie~

It's not wrong to act girly on text messages right? It's not that I'm flirting.

*****

I arrived 20 minutes late at their house, with my buddy. He says it's a party, but why are there no people in their garden? I can see it from their gate. It's just the usual appearance of their house.

I saw him went out of their house, looking around. As soon as his eyes landed on my direction, his emotionless face awhile ago changed with a wide smile. I smile at him too as he walks towards me to open the gate.

"You're late," he says with a pout and I could just chuckle. "But it's ok, at least you came," he let out a sweet smile and he asked me to enter, leaving my buddy outside. "Why did you not wear a dress?" He asked as soon as we arrived at their large living room.

"I don't have one," I simply answered as I sat on the couch. I could sense that he nodded even though I did not look at him.

I don't wear dresses, since I find suits more comfortable. But tonight, I just wore a plain black long sleeve shirt, partnered with jeans and rubber shoes. Nothing's wrong, right?

But something bothers me, so I did not hesitate to ask him. "Where are the others? I thought it's a party."

"I tricked you."