NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Unexpected Rivalry
One evening, while walking home together, Julie glances at Jiko and says, "You know, I don't think I've ever seen you smile as much as you do these days."
Jiko looks at her, surprised. "What do you mean?"
Julie shrugs, her gaze forward but her voice thoughtful. "You used to always look so serious, like you were carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. But now... you seem lighter. Happier."
Jiko doesn't respond immediately. He knows she's right, but he can't quite put into words how much of that change is because of her. Instead, he simply says, "Maybe I just had good reasons to smile lately."
Julie's cheeks flush, and she ducks her head, hiding her grin.
In that moment, Jiko feels a pang of something he hasn't allowed himself to name. It's not the fear of altering the timeline or the guilt of keeping secrets. It's something simpler, purer—a feeling that maybe, just maybe, Julie's presence in his life is exactly where she's meant to be.
The school festival becomes a turning point, a whirlwind of energy, color, and unspoken feelings. Their class and Julie's class combine and settles on hosting a themed café, and Julie dives into the preparations with her usual enthusiasm. She's everywhere at once, taping up strings of fairy lights, organizing menus, and directing classmates to arrange tables just so. Her energy is magnetic, and even those who initially protested her leadership can't help but get swept up in her vision. Jiko, meanwhile, tries to stay on the periphery, but Julie has other plans.
"Jiko, you're going to be a waiter," she announces, thrusting a crisp white shirt and a bow tie into his hands.
"Why me?" he groans, holding up the uniform like it's an alien artifact. "Rizvan loves this kind of thing."
"Rizvan's on kitchen duty," Julie replies with a grin. "Besides, you'll look great in it. Trust me."
Her teasing tone makes Jiko's ears burn, and he mutters something unintelligible as he retreats to change. When he reappears, awkwardly tugging at his bow tie, Julie beams at him.
"See? I told you!" she says, stepping closer to adjust the tie. Her fingers brush against his neck, and for a moment, their eyes meet. Jiko feels a strange flutter in his chest. He quickly looks away, pretending to focus on tying his apron.
The festival day arrives in a blur of excitement and chaos. The café is an instant hit, with lines of students and parents eager to experience the cozy ambiance Julie and her team have created. Jiko finds himself busier than he anticipated, balancing trays of desserts and drinks while navigating the crowded classroom.
"Table three needs their order!" Julie calls, darting past him with a tray of her own.
"I'm on it!" Jiko shouts back, surprising himself with how much he's starting to enjoy the hustle. Between orders, he catches glimpses of Julie as she laughs with customers, her cheeks flushed from the exertion. Her joy is infectious, and Jiko feels an unfamiliar pride swelling in his chest.
In the middle of the afternoon, Julie waves him over to the counter. "Take a break," she says, pushing a glass of lemonade into his hands. "You've been running around like crazy."
Jiko hesitates but follows her out to the steps outside the classroom. The sounds of the festival—laughter, music, and chatter—drift around them as they sit side by side. Julie takes a sip of her drink, her expression thoughtful as she watches a group of students perform on a makeshift stage.
"You know," she says softly, "this is the happiest I've felt in a long time."
Jiko glances at her, caught off guard by the vulnerability in her voice. "Why?"
Julie turns to him, her gaze steady. "Because of you," she says simply. "I know I'm probably annoying you half the time, but... I've never felt this way about anyone before. And even if you don't feel the same, I'm glad we've been spending more time together."
Her words hang in the air, unspoken but unmistakable. Jiko feels his heart skip a beat, his usual defenses crumbling under her honesty. He doesn't know what to say, so he simply looks at her, searching her eyes for something he can't quite name.
Julie breaks the silence with a nervous laugh, standing abruptly. "I should get back to work. The café's probably falling apart without me."
Before Jiko can respond, she's gone, disappearing into the bustling crowd.
That night, as Jiko lies in bed, her words echo in his mind. Because of you. He stares at the ceiling, grappling with the realization that he's been avoiding his feelings—not because he doesn't care, but because he's afraid of how much he does.
During the festival, Jiko couldn't help but notice how Julie drew everyone's attention with her energy and easy charm. Then, a classmate—a confident, smooth-talking guy named Daniel—started flirting with her. For the first time, Jiko felt a sharp pang of jealousy, but he quickly tried to push it away.
Daniel was really laying it on thick, his confidence bordering on arrogance as he leaned against the counter, flashing a perfect, toothpaste-ad smile that he clearly thought was irresistible. Julie, being polite and not wanting to be rude, laughed lightly at his jokes. But Jiko could tell her heart wasn't in it. Her laughter didn't have its usual warmth, and her body language said it all—the subtle way she shifted her posture, how she kept her hands close to her, and the quick glances she kept throwing around the room, like she was looking for a way out. But Daniel either didn't notice or just didn't care.
Across the room, Jiko stood by the wall, holding a tray of drinks he was supposed to have delivered five minutes ago. His knuckles were white from gripping the tray so tightly, and his jaw clenched every time Daniel leaned in too close to Julie, lowering his voice as if sharing some private joke meant just for her. The whole scene was eating at Jiko, a mixture of annoyance and something he refused to acknowledge as jealousy bubbling inside him. He forced himself to focus on rearranging the drinks on the tray, pretending to be completely absorbed in the task, but his eyes kept darting back to the counter every few seconds.