Hello, It's Cupid

Chapter 3: The Unexpected Call: A Name To Remember

Janny groaned. This girl...

She looked back at her phone.

Jay.

Hmph. She wasn't saving his number with a cute emoji, that's for sure.

Or at least... not yet.

Janny stared at her phone screen, her fingers hovering over the contact's name. Jay. Just three letters, yet why did it feel like a storm had just entered her life?

Mr. Stalker? My chairman? Or just Jay?

She bit her lip, debating. Sarah peeked over her shoulder and laughed.

Janny shot her a glare. "Not happening."

In the end, she saved his number as "Jay – The Chair Guy" and rolled her eyes at herself.

Just as she placed her phone down, it buzzed. A message from Jay.

Jay: Did you save my number with a cute emoji?

Janny: Nope.

Jay: Lemme guess... "Weird Stalker Dude"?

Janny: Close. "Jay – The Chair Guy."

Jay: I'll take it. At least it's better than "Unknown Scammer."

She couldn't help but smile. What was this feeling? A new friend? A new crush? Or was Cupid really playing games with her?

Back to Reality... Or Not?

Janny returned to her holiday routine, drowning in piles of homework. Four more subjects to study, yet her mind kept drifting to the so-called "Unknown Scammer."

"This is exactly why high school sweetheart love never works," she muttered to herself. "Focus, Janny. Focus!"

Hours later, after finishing her last assignment, she followed her parents to the shopping mall, dragging Sarah along for a snack run.

As they walked through the snack aisle, Sarah nudged her playfully. "So, after the last text, did you reply to him?"

Janny shook her head. "No. Why should I start a conversation with a guy I just met? Wouldn't that seem like I'm trying too hard? Like I'm finding reasons to talk to him?"

Sarah gave her a knowing look. "And? Isn't that what you want to do?"

Janny scoffed. "Not happening."

Sarah just nodded, smirking as they searched for marshmallows and instant hot chocolate.

Just as Janny was reaching for a pack of hot chocolate mix, she heard a voice call out from behind her.

"Janny! The chair snatcher?"

She froze. Slowly turning around, she met a pair of familiar eyes.

J-A-Y.

Standing right there in the middle of the snack aisle, and Wearing a casual black hoodie, standing a few feet away, smirking like he had just caught her red-handed.

Janny's heart skipped, but she quickly masked her surprise. "Chair snatcher?" she echoed. "That's the best you could come up with?"

Jay leaned against the shelf, arms crossed, grinning. "Well, you did snatch the chair. And now you've ghosted me too. Is this a pattern?"

Janny scoffed, grabbing her hot chocolate. "Ghosted? We exchanged, what, two texts?"

Jay tsked. "Three, if you count my 'Unknown Scammer' joke."

Sarah, who had been watching this unfold like it was her favorite TV drama, nudged Janny. "You were just talking about him, and now, boom! Fate."

Janny shot her a shut-up look, but Jay raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You were talking about me?"

Sarah grinned. "Yup. She was totally overthinking whether to text you back or not."

Janny gasped. "SARAH!!"

Jay let out a short laugh. "Wow. You really left me on read?" He sighed dramatically. "And here I was, thinking we had a moment."

Janny rolled her eyes, ignoring the weird flutter in her chest. "Please. You were probably too busy with your 'many girl fans' to even notice."

Jay tilted his head, amused. "So... you did ask about me?"

Janny opened her mouth, then shut it. Damn it. He was good at this.

Before she could think of a comeback, he glanced at her shopping cart. "Hot chocolate and marshmallows?"

"What about it?" she challenged.

Jay smirked. "Let me guess—you like those cheesy romance moments? Cozy blankets, watching the rain, sipping hot chocolate while reading some tragic love story?"

Janny's brain screamed How does he know?! but she just shrugged. "Maybe."

Without breaking eye contact, Jay casually reached for the same brand of hot chocolate and tossed it into his cart. "Guess I'll see what the hype is about."

Janny blinked. What... was happening?

Jay glanced at her one last time before turning away. "Since we bumped into each other like this, should I take it as a sign?"

Before she could answer, he was already walking off.

And just as she let out a breath, her phone buzzed.

Jay: "Running away? That's cute."

Janny stared at the message, her thumb hovering over the screen.

Her heart thudded. Not fast, not slow—just enough to make her feel something unfamiliar.

She scoffed, rolling her eyes at herself. Why am I even reacting to this?

Sarah peeked over her shoulder. "Ooooh, he's smooth."

Janny locked her phone. "No, he's annoying."

Sarah grinned. "Mmmhmm. So... are you replying?"

Janny hesitated for half a second too long.

Sarah gasped. "YOU WANT TO."

"No, I don't!"

"Then why haven't you locked your phone yet?"

Janny immediately shoved her phone into her bag. "Because I don't care."

Sarah folded her arms, smirking. "Uh-huh."

As they walked to the checkout, Janny felt the weight of her phone in her bag. The urge to reply sat in the back of her mind.

She wouldn't, of course.

Would she?