Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 48

I never expected the guy I was staring at to actually be Darren.

He was usually rocking those silver specs and had this laid–back artsy dad vibe going on. To put it bluntly, he gave off this slightly stuffy and old–fashioned air.

It was like he was a whole different person from the smooth charmer standing in front of me

now.

What a stark contrast.

“So, Xaviera, you’re disappointed to find out it’s me?” he teased.

I waved my hand dismissively, clarifying, “No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that your current look is a dead ringer for a character in our game, and that’s why I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

That probably came across a little rude.

Darren seemed taken aback, he sighed and said, “And here I was thinking you had a thing for

this version of me, Xaviera.”

I raised my eyebrows, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just then, Tina and Kevin came bounding over from the right and greeted me enthusiastically.

“Xaviera, you have no idea, before you got here, a bunch of chicks were hitting on Professor Yearwood,” Tina said with a hint of pride, lowering her voice, “and they even brought him coffee.”

Kevin mimicked in a falsetto, “Sweetheart, sweetheart, what flavor do you like?”

1

you really do have a chick magnet

off, “If you guys keep ribbing me like this, don’t bother calling

Kevin wisely backed off.

around by Tina and Kevin to

our paths

around different areas and introduced me to various unique anime promotion techniques. I

busy day, and I couldn’t let their help go unrewarded, so I suggested we all go out for

at

we passed by a second–floor private room,

at Darren by my side and asked, “This guy looks familiar, Xaviera. Is he your new

beat

a moment before extending her hand, “Handsome young man, where do

I thought,

Darren replied politely, “and I’m a classmate

sooner had he spoken than Hilary’s

asking Darren to go ahead and order while I stayed behind to

see you settling down well, unlike Hogan,

Only

Hilary’s makeup was a bit

hide it from you, Hogan’s really been over the top lately. He’s even been pushing me to bring Ms. Irwin to social gatherings.

off, turning her face away, looking like she was about

just go along with

just worried about those people in the

her, Hilary stopped and then returned to the private room, not before making plans

hang of this wealthy

for my daily bread.

old classmates, reminiscing about our

I was surprised.

a strange sense of contentment, like maybe