Olivia

I had always been the type to keep to myself, uninterested in the attention of others. Growing up in an ordinary family, I learned early to take care of myself, working at a local restaurant while juggling university. My long black hair and loose clothing had always been my shield—I didn’t care much about appearances. I was content in my world, unnoticed and free. That summer, though, I decided to change. I chopped off my long hair, bought my first pair of skinny jeans, and discovered a confidence I hadn’t known I had. When the semester began, eyes followed me everywhere, whistles and stares from boys who had never noticed me before. Among them was him—the wealthy, infuriating jerk whose reputation as a playboy preceded him. At first, his flirty comments were annoying, but secretly, I was entertained by the persistence of someone who never settled. I kept my distance, pushing back at every joke and advance. I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of thinking he could easily win me over. Yet something in his relentless, teasing pursuit intrigued me in a way I hadn’t expected. I found myself noticing him more than I should, smiling when he made an especially bold quip, and secretly enjoying the chase. Then came that evening at the restaurant. I was cleaning up, locking the doors as usual, when the bell rang. Reflexively, I said, “We’re closed,” my voice sharp but automatic. And then I heard it—his voice. That tone I knew instantly. I turned around, rolling my eyes, unaffected, even as he joked about taking the complaint book.