Chapter 2 The Blind Date

Aleli’s POV

“YOU’RE going tonight. Non-negotiable.”

I didn’t even look up from my notes when Malcolm said it.

“No,” I answered immediately, flipping the page a little harder than necessary. “I’m not.”

A pause followed.

Then, “You are.”

Slowly, I lifted my head and stared at him across the table in the library. “What do you mean, I am?”

Malcolm leaned back in his chair, completely unbothered, one arm resting lazily over the backrest like this was just another normal conversation.

“I signed you up,” he said.

I blinked. “You what?”

“You heard me.”

“Malcolm,” I said, lowering my voice, trying not to draw attention but failing to hide the disbelief in it, “why would you do that?”

“Because,” he replied, leaning forward this time, his expression shifting just enough to let something serious slip through, “you need a life outside of him.”

I froze. He didn’t say Kristoff’s name. He didn’t have to.

“I have a life,” I argued, but it came out weaker than I intended.

“You have a routine,” he corrected gently. “And it revolves around someone who barely looks at you unless you’re standing in his way.”

I looked away. Because that part was true.

“It’s just one event,” he continued, his tone softening like he was trying to meet me halfway. “Blind date. You don’t even have to see the guy. Just sit, talk, and leave. That’s it.”

I didn’t answer right away. My fingers tightened slightly around my pen.

“I’ll be there,” he added quietly. “The whole time. You won’t be alone.”

That made me hesitate. Not because I suddenly liked the idea. But because I trusted him. Malcolm has been my friend since kindergarten, but unlike me, Malcolm has parents that gave him a better life.

“…Fine,” I muttered after a long moment. “But I’m blaming you if this goes wrong.”

“It won’t,” he said easily with a grin.

But… I didn’t believe him.

**

THE UNIVERSITY auditorium didn’t feel like the same place that night.

The lights were dimmer, warmer, casting soft shadows that made everything look a little less real. Music played quietly in the background, just loud enough to fill the silence without demanding attention.

Booths were arranged across the room, separated by thin partitions, each one dimly lit so you could see outlines—but not faces.

“I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you,” I muttered, adjusting my glasses as I stepped inside.

“You trust me too much,” Malcolm replied with a small laugh. “Come on. Booth 7. That’s yours.”

I followed him reluctantly, my steps slowing the closer we got.

“This is a bad idea,” I said under my breath. “You’re not going anywhere, right?”

Malcolm shook his head. “I’ll be right outside.”

I nodded slowly. Then… I saw her.

Debbie Kiffin. 

She stood near one of the booths, surrounded by familiar faces, her presence effortless as always. Even in softer lighting, she stood out like she belonged exactly where she was.

Her gaze shifted and landed on me. She paused, then her lips curved.

“Well,” she said lightly as I passed, her voice smooth but sharp underneath. “If it isn’t the most persistent girl on campus.”

My steps faltered.

“I’m just here for the event,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Obviously,” she replied, her gaze dragging over me slowly. “Though I didn’t think this was your kind of place.”

I didn’t answer.

Malcolm stepped slightly closer to me, just enough. “She’s here, isn’t she?” he said casually.

Debbie’s eyes flicked to him, her smile unchanged.

“Everyone’s welcome,” she said. Then her gaze returned to me. “Some people just don’t know when they’re out of place.”

My chest tightened, but I didn’t react. Not this time.

“Come on,” Malcolm murmured, guiding me away before I could say something that would only make things worse.

Booth 7 was smaller than I expected. Just a table. Two chairs. And a soft glow that made everything feel strangely quiet.

I sat down slowly, smoothing my skirt over my knees, my fingers fidgeting before I forced them to stay still.

Then, the chair across from me shifted. Someone sat down.

I looked up instinctively. But all I could see was a silhouette. Broad shoulders, straight posture, quiet.

He didn’t say anything.

Neither did I.

“You don’t talk much,” I said finally, trying to ease the tension, even though my voice came out softer than I intended.

“Neither do you.”

I froze.

There was something about his voice… my fingers tightened slightly against my lap. It sounded familiar. But I couldn’t place it. Not like this.

“I guess we’re both bad at this,” I said, forcing a small, awkward laugh.

He didn’t laugh. I could feel it. Even without seeing him clearly, I knew he was watching me.

I shifted slightly in my seat, suddenly aware of how small the space felt.

“Why did you join this?” I asked after a moment.

A pause.

“Didn’t plan to.”

“That makes two of us,” I said quietly. “My friend signed me up.”

“…Same.”

That made me blink. A small smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it.

“Sometimes I think…” I hesitated, then looked down at my hands. “I’m just not built for places like this.”

He didn’t interrupt. So I continued.

“Like I’m always trying to catch up to people who already belong.”

Another pause. 

Then he answered, “Maybe you’re not supposed to be like them.”

My breath caught slightly. Before I could respond—the lights flickered and a voice echoed through the room.

“Final round!” the host announced brightly. “Lean in and kiss your partner!”

My breath caught.

“Oh,” I murmured, blinking. “That’s… part of it?”

“Seems like it,” he replied.

My heart started racing.

A kiss?

With a stranger?

“I—Do we have to?” I asked quietly.

“You don’t have to,” he said after a second, his voice softening just slightly. “But you can.”

I swallowed.

Then before I could think—I leaned forward. Closed the distance and kissed him… barely.

But something sparked.

Something that made my chest tighten in a way I didn’t understand. I pulled back almost immediately and then lights came back. Clear and bright.

And the moment I saw his face… everything stopped.

Kristoff Ricafort.

My body went still.

“No—” I whispered, shaking my head slightly. “I didn’t—”

I stood up too quickly, the chair scraping loudly against the floor as I stepped out of the booth.

But outside, people were already watching. Whispers spreading. Phones lifting. And when Kristoff stepped out after me… the noise doubled.

“Wait—is that—”

“Ricafort—”

“And Aleli—?”

“I didn’t know it was you,” I said quickly, turning to him, my voice shaking now. “I swear, I didn’t—”

Kristoff’s expression hardened.

“Of course you didn’t,” he said, scowling at me. “You’ve been trying to get my attention since freshman,” he continued, his tone flat but cutting. “Surely, you already knew my voice.”

My stomach dropped.

“This is embarrassing,” someone whispered nearby.

“If Debbie sees this—”

“She kissed him—”

“Stop forcing things that aren’t there,” Kristoff said. “Just stop.”

Something inside me broke. But I didn’t cry. I just stood there, feeling everything collapse quietly inside my chest.

From the corner of my vision I saw Debbie. Watching. Smiling. Satisfied.

I stepped back and ran away, away from the laughter, away from Kristoff.

“Aleli—!”

Malcolm’s voice cut through the noise as I stepped off the stage, his hand catching my arm gently.

“Hey—hey, look at me,” he said, his tone urgent. “Are you okay?”

My hand pressed against my chest instead.

Like I was trying to hold something together that had already fallen apart.

“Can we just…” I swallowed. “Go home?”

Malcolm glanced behind me, his jaw tightening.

“Did he seriously just—”

He started forward. But I grabbed his arm.

“Don’t,” I said quickly.

He looked at me. “Aleli—”

“Please,” I whispered. “Just… take me home.”