84.Dare
A few hours before class…
St. Lumina's back courtyard was loud with students hanging around before lectures.
Ian had been walking quietly, adjusting his glasses, clutching his neatly arranged notebook—when disaster struck.
He accidentally bumped into a senior.
A tall, buff, overly dramatic college dude the type who flexed unnecessarily even while breathing.
Ian: "S-Sorry!"
But guy staggered back like he'd been hit by a truck.
Guy (furious): "ARE YOUR BONES MADE OF METAL, NERD??"
Guy 2: "Bro, this shrimp pushed you?"
Guy 3: "No way. Gravity would rather break."
Ian panicked and bowed. "I didn't mean—I'm really sor—"
Guy grabbed his collar.
Guy: "You embarrassed me in front of my juniors, huh?"
Ian shook his head so fast he almost snapped it.
Ian: "No no NO. You were just—um—standing? And I was—um—walking? And—um—air happened—?"
The guys laughed.guy
smirked.
"Alright, nerd. You want forgiveness?"
Ian hesitated. "…yes?"
Guy's grin widened.
"Then we have a dare for you."
Guy 2 leaned in with a devilish smile.
Guy 2: "There's a new girl on campus. The one who stepped out of that luxury car."
Guy 3: "Looks like a mix of angel DNA and unfair genetics."
Guy1 : "You're gonna go talk to her."
Ian froze.
His blood pressure hit the roof.
Ian: "W-What?? I can't talk to—someone like—like—"
GUY raised a brow.
GUY : "You talk to her. And she replies to you."
Guy 3: "Politely replies."
Guy 2: "No pity nods. No sneezing. REAL reply.
Guy : "Then we forgive you."
He leaned closer, eyes sharp.
Raghav: "If not? We'll beat the living shit out of you after class."
Ian's entire soul left his body.
Ian: "B-but she—she's like—she's—"
Guy 2: "Beautiful?"
Guy 3: "Unreachable?"
Guy 1: "Exactly. That's why it's a good dare."
Ian swallowed.
He wanted to run away.
Hide in a locker.
Transfer colleges.
Fake his death.
Anything.
But he also didn't want bruises in places humans shouldn't have bruises.
So with a defeated sigh, he whispered:
"…fine…"
The seniors laughed, slapped his shoulder, and walked away.
Guy called over his shoulder:
"Good luck, lover boy. Try not to faint on her feet."
---
BACK TO NOW — IAN'S DOOM WALK
Hours later, in the classroom, everyone thought Ian acted brave.
They didn't know he was walking the path of life or death.
While the class worshipped Marcelline, Ian felt like he was walking toward an execution table.
Bro 1 whispered nervously:
"Dude, why are you doing this? You're trembling like a washing machine."
Ian muttered back with pure trauma in his eyes:
"Because if she doesn't reply…
I die today."
Bro 2: "WHAT?!?"
Ian: "Senior guy and his gang gave me a dare."
His friends' jaws dropped.
Bro 1: "They dared you to talk to HER?? Why didn't they just ask you to fight a tiger?!"
Bro 2: "No wonder you look like you're heading to hell!"
Ian nodded miserably.
"I am…"
But he inhaled deeply.
Stood up.
And walked.
Not because he was brave.
But because he didn't want his bones rearranged later.
---
His steps were shaky.
His life flashed before his eyes.
And then—
He reached her desk.
"Um… h-hi…"
Marcelline lifted her gaze.
Ian's soul ascended.
She replied softly:
"Hello."
A MIRACLE.
A BLESSING.
A DIVINE SAVING GRACE.
Ian nearly collapsed with relief.
Then he introduced himself (badly), complimented her handwriting (even worse), and ran away like a tiny terrified squirrel.
But he had done it.
She replied.
He lived.
---
Back at his seat, his friends grabbed him.
Bro 1: "DID SHE REPLY?!?"
Ian nodded so hard his glasses almost fell off.
Bro 2: "Bro. Broooo. You're ALIVE."
Ian whispered, voice full of relief:
"She said hello."
They screamed.
Meanwhile, that guy and his gang peeked in from the corridor like villains spying on a plot twist.
Guy 's widened his eyes.
Guy1 : "Wait—she actually talked to him?!"
Guy 2: "That's illegal."
Guy 3: "She replied to HIM?? No offence—Ian is like a nervous kitten!"
They stared at Ian like he just performed a world-record miracle.
Guy groaned.
"…Dare completed… damn it."
He shook his head and walked away, defeated.
Ian survived.
Ian won.
Ian became a legend without realizing it.
Marcelline, meanwhile, scribbled calmly in her notebook thinking:
"Human drama is entertaining."
---