WHAT? oh my god no he did not bring CONDOMS what is wrong with you we’re FAKE dating

Nandini Kaur:

so What’s In The Bag

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

I’ve legit never seen u blush this is wild UR LITERALLY TURNING RED???

Me:

omg stop please tell me ur joking

Nandini Kaur:

well...

Me:

he literally just brought me cheesecake!! it’s not that deep

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

and yet you’re getting flustered...

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

why??????

Me:

STOP it’s not that serious omg

Me:

he just said it was a late promposal

Nandini Kaur:

AND UR BLUSHING BC...? TRY AND TELL ME U DON’T LIKE HIM

Me:

DOES IT MATTER? HE’S WHITE!!!!!!!

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

WHAT DO YOU *MEAN*

Nandini Kaur:

YEAH. HE’S WHITE. BUT LIKE??? PERHAPS THIS ONE (1) SINGULAR WHITE BOY IS WORTH YOUR TIME

Me:

that’s not what I meant

Me:

my parents would MURDER me if I even THOUGHT about a white boy

Me:

I told you guys before

Me:

no dating allowed. highkey wouldn’t be surprised if their plan is to find me a “perfect” husband after college

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

that’s a dumbass plan...

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

anyway! they don’t need to know!!!!!!!!

Me:

you know it’s not that easy

Me:

I just can’t

Me:

even if I liked ace it would never work out

Me:

we don’t have a future together

Nandini Kaur:

it’s high school you don’t NEED to have a future together

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

in all seriousness forget about ace for a minute

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

this isn’t about some random white boy

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

this is about you!!!

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

I know there’s obvs a lot I don’t understand bc of our cultural differences and stuff. but you know what I do know?

Cora Zhang-Agreste:

you deserve to be happy

Me:

I don’t want to talk about this anymore. can we please pay attention to the lesson?

I flip my phone over and look at the whiteboard. My skin is crawling and the room feels like it’s shrinking around me.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

The bell rings, jarring me out of my slow counting. I’m thrown for a moment. How did the class go by that fast?

“Hey, Karina,” Nandini says, coming to stand in front of me. She’s biting her lip. “Sorry about earlier. I know it’s not our business. It’s just—we want what’s best for you. You’re our best friend.”

I shake my head. “It’s fine.” My voice is weaker than I want it to be, and Nandini’s expression falls further. “I think I’m going to have lunch on my own today. I need some fresh air.”