Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Updated college life mission

(Third POV)

"So? What can you say?" Lara grinned as she looked at Andy expectantly. They were in the SOM mall, sitting around a round table, just chillaxing before their next class.

Andy chuckled, "Ok, I think you now deserve an Oscar."

Lara hit his bicep playfully. "Hey! I was not being fake. I'm starting to like Michelle too. I mean, she's not that bad, and I feel like we can be good friends. By the way, I have news that would definitely delight you."

Andy who was feigning hurt after being hit by Lara looked at her with his two eyebrows raised.

"I asked Michelle, and she told me that she doesn't have a boyfriend. So, you can rest assured that the coast is clear. I also brushed up some nice words about you, no need to thank me." Lara said proudly.

Andy shook his head as he smiled, "thanks, but don't try to raise her expectations. As I said, I also want to get to know her better as a person before truly pursuing her."

"Aren't you a little too confident? What if someone pursues her first and she turns out to like him too?" Lara asked.

"Why would she even entertain the thought of maggots when she has me in front of her?" Andy said as he smirked.

"Oh god! Andy, can you feel this?" Lara said as she flicked her fingers.

"Huh? What's that? Why?" Andy asked.

"Coz your face is so thick that it reaches till here!"

Steven who was playing with his PSP just shook his head with their antics.

(Michelle POV)

After the bell rang at 12:20, the class before ours started filtering out of the classroom. Andy, Lara, and Steven said their goodbyes, leaving just me and Anthony to enter our class.

Anthony smiled at me and asked, "Let's go in?"

I smiled back as I nodded my head.

We walked side by side entering the class, and he did not sit until I was seated. I felt my body turn heated, and my heart doing summersaults again. Thankfully, Anthony did not notice as our classmate, presumably his own blockmate greeted him and they started talking.

The bell rang again, and our class began.

During class, I tried to focus on what our professor was saying. However, I couldn't help but steal glances at Anthony. What can I do? I have been crushing on him ever since I stepped inside this classroom 13 years ago and now, he's so near, I can almost touch him.

'Be still my heart.' I chided myself. But I couldn't help myself! I peeked again.

"Ms. Lui? Again, Ms. Lui?" I heard our professor call.

Oh shit.

I raised my hand as I stood up, "Yes, ma'am?" I answered.

"Please answer the question." She instructed.

Was she asking something? What's the question? Oh god this is embarrassing!

I looked at my open book on the long table again, and then suddenly, I saw a hand pushing a piece of paper towards it. Written on it was 'B.', I followed the hand and saw Anthony who widened his eyes as if signaling me to answer with that.

"The answer is B, Ma'am." I said.

"Ok, good, sit down."

I sat back down and looked at Anthony who was smiling at me. I think my heart was ready to lurch out of my ribcage. I know my face was all red as I mouthed a thank you.

He just shook his head and faced forward again.

'Oh Anthony, please, just take my heart, body and soul. I offer thee myself. Please, I think I love you so much and I don't mind forgetting about all my plans if you just agree to be my boyfriend.'

Ehem ehem, of course that's just my thoughts. I would never say them out loud. For heaven's sake, he's a very close friend of my husband's, ex-husband? Or husband-to-be? Ok whatever label I should place on Steve now, and even Andy's, who, I guess should be my flirt mate? I don't know! Anyway, he already said, we're friends and it's not like he's pursuing me, or we have a mutual understanding or anything.

Whatever! Ok, this is it. I have decided and this will be the greatest leap for me in this new timeline.

I now have this golden chance where my husband was not yet my husband in fact, he even has a girlfriend.

I am 18, beautiful, from a good family, rich, and most importantly, I am SINGLE.

Ah!!!! Anthony… my dearest Anthony. If I don't try this in this timeline, I know I would definitely regret it for the rest of my life.

So, I will try my best even though I can barely form a single cohesive sentence in front of you. I can feel it now. That this, this deep feeling of longing in my heart, that perhaps, you are the reason why I'm here.

Alright Michelle, no need for exaggerated reasoning, just be honest now.

Anthony Ren, brace yourself, for I, Michelle Lui, will be pursuing a man for the first time in my 2 lifetimes. And that man is YOU!

When the bell rang signifying the end of the class, despite my imaginary bravado, all I did was blush and stutter again in his presence.

Ok, maybe pursuing is a bit overreaching given the circumstances. The most I can do probably is confess to him one day. So, during this time, I need to win him over so that I won't get rejected when I do!

Anyhow, I now have a clearer purpose, and I knew what I wanted to do.

Updated college life mission.

Get a campus boyfriend.

Cancel out Steve from the list as he's already taken.

Win over and then confess to Anthony Ren to give him that title.

Still, keep options open, just in case it doesn't work out.

Sounds neat right? Anyway, I'm single and ready to mingle, so there's nothing too bad about that. Hehe!

TBC