Chapter 131
Chapter 131:
“Neal doesn’t know either,” Alex admitted. “We’d never seen her before that day. When she showed up and confessed her love, Neal said it was the first time he’d laid eyes on her. It left him completely rattled.”
Levi nodded firmly. “We grilled him about it—relentlessly—but he swears he’s never met her. Honestly, I think he’s telling the truth.”
“So, she’s been secretly admiring him all this time,” Wendy replied. “Keeping her feelings bottled up until she finally worked up the courage. It’s kind of romantic.”
“Romantic?” Alex snorted, shaking his head. “Neal doesn’t see it that way. He says it’s downright creepy.”
For someone like Neal—a nerd—it was almost surreal to imagine him being pursued by a gorgeous girl.
Why Neal, though?
Neal didn’t even care for beauties, but they sure did.
Levi and Alex let out a collective sigh.
Once the pasta plates were scraped clean, the four decided to find Neal. By sheer coincidence, they spotted him emerging from a restaurant with the girl, both of them holding two bags each.
“What’s this, Neal?” Levi called out, striding over. “Didn’t you just eat? Why all the takeout?”
Neal’s face was a picture of exasperation. Explaining this was going to be a chore.
A massive pot of stew had been too much for anyone to finish, but since the girl had already paid for it and returning it wasn’t an option, Neal had resorted to packing it up in takeout boxes.
Even Fernanda and Wendy ended up with a share of the stew.
“Classmates should share things with one another,” Neal said simply.
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Offering the boxes, Fernanda, with a shrug, accepted his gesture without protest.
“Neal, I’ll return to class now,” the girl chirped, waving brightly. “Let’s stay in touch!”
As she strolled away with a spring in her step, Levi clapped Neal on the shoulder, his grin nothing short of impressed. “Not bad, Neal. You already swapped contact info, didn’t you?”
Neal was at a loss for words. He didn’t really have a choice.
When she asked for his contact information, his refusal barely left his lips before her face crumpled, a pout emerging that seemed to teeter on the edge of tears.
He stiffened, alarm flashing in his eyes. Scrubbing a hand through his hair—now a faded shade of yellow—he looked genuinely flustered.
“I won’t be heading back to the dorm for a few days. No classes, anyway,” Neal muttered, clearly scheming to vanish into his rented apartment. “I’ll show up for the freshmen welcome party.”
Turning toward Fernanda, he added, “I’m looking forward to your performance there.”
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