CHAPTER 2: WHY ME?

PART 1

After years of avoiding letting Diana see his face, and after everything that happened at the party, two days later, through a series of incidents, she finally discovered his face.

Mike's heart was racing, his hands and legs trembling, and his vision was becoming increasingly blurred. However, he wasn’t sure if these sensations were due to the blow he’d received or because the girl he’d been in love with for five years had recognized him. The answer became clear seconds later when he lost consciousness and collapsed onto Diana.

“Diana…” Mike muttered, slowly opening his eyes and glimpsing an unrecognizable dark figure.

“As much as I’d like to be her age, I’m not her. For someone so small, she’s got a lot of strength to carry a person like you,” the dark figure responded, moving away from the bed where Mike lay. “She seemed quite worried about you. It’s just a superficial injury, but you should go to the hospital for a more thorough check-up.”

When Mike finally grasped the situation, he tried to sit up on the edge of the bed.

It seemed that after he lost consciousness, Diana had carried him, alone, to the university’s infirmary. And most importantly, to him, she had unfortunately seen his face—the face that had always made him feel so insecure.

"She’s seen my face. What will she think of me now? How do I explain this?" Mike thought as he sat on the bed.

For a moment, it felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders, but he wouldn’t let that negative feeling get the better of him. So, he decided that no matter how it might sound, he would tell her the whole truth after class.

However, despite making decisions that could change our lives, it sometimes seems that fate is against us. When Mike arrived in class, Diana was already gone, and she didn’t reappear for the rest of the day, ending the school day with the ringing of the university bell.

“They already told us about your heroics with Diana,” Johnny said, turning to Mike.

“Are you alright, man?” Andrew asked him.

“I’m fine,” Mike replied, dropping his head onto the table and covering it with his arms.

“With that move, you must have moved up a couple of spots on her list of suitors,” Oscar added, slipping in behind his friend.

“It was all for nothing because she saw my face. Who knows what she thinks of me now? I wanted to talk to her, but…” Mike responded, glancing at Diana’s empty desk.

“Don’t overthink it. The world isn’t what it used to be. At most, she might think you’re a guy who likes to cross-dress,” Oscar said, trying to calm Mike with a few pats on the back, though the situation had clearly overwhelmed him. “Though after the party, she might even think you’re gay, dating your best friend, and into cross-dressing.”

Stolen story; please report.

Oscar added this without any malice, moving back and forth just before Johnny elbowed him, indicating that he wasn’t helping.

“You don’t need to worry too much about it. If you explain it to her, I think she’ll understand,” Johnny tried to console him, though with a mischievous smile he struggled to hide.

From their seats, Emily and Anna approached the group.

“Diana told us you were in the infirmary. Are you feeling better?” Anna asked, her characteristic shyness showing whenever she was near the boy she liked.

“Yes, there’s nothing to worry about,” Mike affirmed with a slightly forced smile, as he wasn’t really in the mood to smile at all.

“Guys, this Wednesday, we’re going to the arcade to spend the afternoon. Hope you can join us, and…” Emily started before turning to Andrew. “…if you want to bring your supposed girlfriend, I’d be more than happy.”

She delivered this with a wicked smile and a superior attitude, waiting for Andrew’s response, while Mike made frantic gestures, trying to keep his friend from falling into her trap.

“She and I would be delighted to go,” Andrew confirmed, playing along with the seductive redhead.

“Alright. We’ll all have a great time together. Just to be clear, you two”—pointing at Mike and Oscar—“are also invited. That way, Diana and Anna won’t be alone.”

“I don’t think I’ll be able to make it. Something came up at the last minute,” Mike said, glaring at Andrew, who pretended not to notice.

“Well, after class, we’ll head there directly if that works for you,” Emily confirmed, ignoring Mike’s comment.

“Of course,” Johnny said with a smile.

“Of course?” Mike asked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

“Shut up…” Oscar muttered, covering Mike’s mouth with his hand to stop him from saying more.

“Mike, right?” Emily asked, heading to her desk to grab some papers before returning with them. “The professor gave me the assignment Diana needs to do. The problem is, I have a meeting with my dad today, and Anna has extra classes. And if I’m not mistaken, Diana mentioned you live near her house.”

“Diana mentioned that?” Mike repeated, surprised.

“Yes. One day on her way home, she saw you entering your apartment—or at least she thought it was you,” the redhead responded, placing the photocopies on Mike’s desk.

“But I don’t know where she lives.”

With frustration, Emily grabbed a pen from Mike’s half-open pencil case and wrote, without permission, in one of his open notebooks.

“Here’s her address. Well, we’re off now,” Emily said, shooting a threatening look at Andrew before leaving with Anna.

“Bye, guys,” Anna said as she was dragged away by her stubborn companion.

“Now you have a chance to clear things up,” Johnny said excitedly.

“How? Do you think he can tell Emily’s best friend that he dressed up to accompany Andrew to the party?” Oscar reproached, lowering his voice carefully so no one outside the group could hear.

“She doesn’t seem like the type to go spreading secrets around,” Johnny added.

“But even so…” Oscar persisted, worried.

“Mike, I know I’m asking a lot…” Andrew approached his friend with a contrite expression, knowing what it meant for his companion to go along with his game—or rather, his whims.

“You’re forcing him to lie to the person he likes. Sorry, but I can’t agree with you this time,” Johnny reprimanded Andrew while he kept his gaze locked with Mike’s.

“I promise it won’t be for long,” Andrew assured Mike as he saw him starting to give in.