Chapter 166: text message

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: text message

By the time the morning lectures ended, the four girls had already received the results from both of their classes.

Governance & Political Institutions had been returned first.

Vivienne had received 88.

Claire had earned 92.

Amelia received 90.

Eleanor’s result was 89.

The four had exchanged their papers with varying degrees of satisfaction.

Claire had looked pleased.

Amelia had looked even more pleased.

Eleanor had tried to hide hers.

Again.

She had failed.

Mathematics followed.

Vivienne received 80.

Claire scored 95.

Amelia received 93.

Eleanor earned 90.

This time, there was considerably less discussion.

Math was objective.

There was little room for interpretation.

The marks were simply the marks.

Claire and Amelia exchanged a quick look at their results, each quietly satisfied with her own score.

Eleanor glanced at hers.

Then immediately covered the number with her hand.

Amelia laughed.

"Still hiding?"

"It’s private."

"You’re sitting with us."

"That doesn’t change anything."

Vivienne smiled.

"Let her keep her secrets."

Eleanor gave her a grateful look.

"Thank you."

The bell rang soon afterward.

And by the time the four girls reached the dining hall, the morning’s results had already become the main topic of conversation.

They found a table together and settled down with their lunches.

Claire placed her phone beside her plate.

"So."

She looked around the table.

"How are we feeling about the results?"

Amelia shrugged.

"I’m satisfied."

"That’s all you’re giving us?"

"Yes."

Claire laughed.

Eleanor quietly took a sip of her drink.

"The results were reasonable."

Vivienne smiled.

"That’s one way of putting it."

They discussed their marks for a while, comparing answers from the morning examinations and speculating about how their professors had graded the more subjective portions.

Eventually, the conversation naturally drifted elsewhere.

Amelia picked up her phone.

"My Biology guy replied."

Claire immediately leaned over.

"What did he say?"

Amelia showed them the message.

They read it together.

Vivienne smiled.

"See?"

"He likes you."

Amelia tried not to look too pleased.

Failed.

Claire laughed.

"And you?"

She glanced toward Eleanor.

Eleanor looked at her blankly.

"I told you."

"I didn’t exchange numbers with anyone."

"Right."

"So I have nothing to report."

Claire nodded solemnly.

"You’re officially exempt."

"Thank you."

Eleanor returned to her lunch.

Then three pairs of eyes turned toward Vivienne.

Vivienne already knew what was coming.

"...What?"

Amelia grinned.

"Christopher?"

Vivienne shook her head.

"Nothing yet."

Claire glanced at the time.

"Still nothing?"

"No."

Amelia smiled.

"Then..."

Vivienne sighed.

"I know."

"The pact."

"The pact."

They had agreed yesterday.

If the person they were interested in didn’t message them by today, they would simply send the first message themselves.

No overthinking.

No waiting forever.

Just one casual text.

Vivienne had even come up with the message herself.

She smiled.

"Fine."

She finished her lunch.

Then reached for her phone.

Claire immediately leaned closer.

"You’re actually doing it."

"Of course."

"You decided this yesterday."

"I know."

Amelia laughed.

"Then why do you look nervous?"

Vivienne looked down at her phone.

"Because..."

She paused.

Then smiled sheepishly.

"Because I actually like him."

That silenced them for half a second.

Then Claire’s expression softened.

"Fair."

Vivienne unlocked her phone.

Her heart was beating faster now.

Not because she doubted the decision.

She had already made it.

She simply couldn’t help feeling excited.

Christopher was someone she genuinely found attractive.

He was charming.

Confident.

Easy to talk to.

And, unlike the ridiculous romance she had imagined yesterday, this was actually happening.

She opened a new message.

Her thumb moved across the keyboard.

Have you eaten lunch yet? Don’t forget to eat. It’s important for your health.

She read it once.

Then again.

It sounded casual.

A little playful.

Not too obvious.

Hopefully.

Her thumb hovered over the Send button.

What if he thought it was strange?

What if he found it too forward?

What if—

She stopped herself.

Vivienne smiled faintly.

I’m overthinking this.

She had already decided.

She wanted romance.

She wanted butterflies.

She wanted to know what it felt like when someone she liked might actually like her back.

And right now...

She had a tiny, ridiculous hope that perhaps Christopher would be that person.

Her heart beat faster.

She took another breath.

Then—

Pressed Send.

The message disappeared.

Sent.

Vivienne’s eyes widened.

For one brief second, she simply stared at the screen.

Then she closed her eyes.

"Oh my goodness."

Claire laughed.

"You actually sent it."

"I know."

Amelia grinned.

"You’re blushing."

"I’m not."

"You are."

Vivienne opened her eyes.

"I’m waiting."

"For what?"

"A reply."

Claire laughed.

"Of course you are."

Vivienne tried to look composed.

She wasn’t.

Every few seconds, her eyes drifted back toward the screen.

Nothing.

She knew it had only been seconds.

Still...

She hoped.

--

(Christopher POV)

Lunch at the Student Council room was considerably more relaxed than the meeting itself.

The documents had been put aside.

Several members were eating while continuing a quieter discussion about the Sports Fest.

Anthony sat across from Christopher.

"So you’ve really not decided yet?"

Christopher looked up.

"Decided what?"

"The polo team."

Christopher smiled.

"You haven’t either."

Anthony gave a small sigh.

"I know."

He glanced at the documents beside him.

"The Student Council should have a strong team."

"We should."

"But the Polo Club has its own expectations."

Christopher nodded.

"That’s true."

"And if I play for the Council, they’ll have to find someone else."

"Someone will volunteer."

Anthony smiled faintly.

"Probably."

Christopher looked at him.

"So what’s stopping you?"

Anthony considered it.

"I haven’t decided where I’d be more useful."

That sounded more like him.

Christopher gave a quiet laugh.

"That’s a very presidential answer."

Anthony smiled.

"It’s an actual problem."

"It is."

Before they could continue, Christopher’s phone vibrated against the table.

He glanced down.

A message.

From Vivienne.

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

He opened it.

Have you eaten lunch yet? Don’t forget to eat. It’s important for your health.

For a moment, he simply looked at the message.

Then a small smile touched his lips.

So she had messaged him.

He hadn’t expected it.

Not because he thought she wouldn’t.

He simply hadn’t thought much about whether she would.

His eyes shifted briefly toward Anthony.

Anthony was still looking through the Sports Fest documents.

Completely unaware.

Christopher considered mentioning it.

Then dismissed the thought.

Why?

There was nothing to discuss.

Vivienne had his number.

He had hers.

They had spoken on Sunday.

She had sent him a perfectly ordinary message.

He didn’t need to attach anything more to it.

He looked down at the phone again.

The polite thing was simply to answer.

So he typed:

Yes, having lunch now. You should as well.

He pressed Send.

Then placed his phone back on the table.

Anthony hadn’t even looked up.

Christopher picked up his fork and continued eating.