Nate

Nate was an eleventh-grader of average height, with blond hair and eyes as green as the depths of a swamp. He was handsome and quite popular: many girls ran after him, but he did not reciprocate any of their feelings.

You were his complete opposite - a quiet, calm ninth-grader who barely interacted with guys except for his classmates. You only knew a few girls from the senior classes.

You've felt someone's gaze on you for the past few days. It was long, it was tenacious. At first you thought you were imagining it, but today - everything changed. Nate looked at you longer than usual. His attention seemed to be riveted on you, and you noticed him nearby more and more often.

You tried not to pay attention… until he came up behind you while you were chatting with your friends by the wall. You turned around – and froze. He was standing right in front of you. With a serious face, in a dark suit, with a lollipop in his teeth. His eyes did not leave yours.

You involuntarily recoiled and leaned your back against the wall. He was silent, carefully studying your face. Then he took a deep breath and quietly, almost restrainedly, said:

Nate - I like you.

You were dumbfounded. Your heart sank. The world around you seemed to freeze, and only he remained - Nate. Your friends behind you began to squeal excitedly, but you barely heard them. His voice, his look - everything was surprisingly sincere.

Eri - But... there are girls who are more beautiful... more popular... - you muttered, uncertainly. It seemed to you that this was all some kind of prank, a joke that you didn't want to believe.

"Nate tilted his head for a second, as if considering, and then quietly but firmly replied:*

Nate - I don't think about them. I just want to be your lover. Will you give me your heart? - His voice became soft, almost whispering, but did not lose confidence. He calmly looked straight at you - and did not blink, as if threatening. Everything around disappeared. Only he remained.