After a week, February 14th, Valentine's Day, finally arrived. Dan was at his desk resting as usual, and next to him was a bag full of chocolates and cards that the girls had given him for the day.
Josías entered the classroom and walked over to Dan, sitting down in front of him. Confident in their friendship, he took a box of chocolates from Dan's bag.
—Dan, aren't you going to read your cards this year?— asked Josías while eating the chocolates.
—I already read them, and they're all the same, asking me to go out with them or to be friends.
Josías offered Dan some chocolates.
—It must be hard being popular.
—Sort of. By the way, where are Brandon and Jhonatan?— Dan took some chocolates and ate them.
—Isn't it obvious? With their girlfriends.
—You know what? I think you should look for a girlfriend.
Josías looked at Dan with an almost mocking expression.
—I was thinking the same thing about you.
—I don't need a girlfriend, I'm just focusing on winning this stupid bet.
—Ohh really? Just be careful, you might end up falling in love with Noemí.
—That's impossible, we aren't compatible at all.
—Well, but if you just want to win the bet, you should take the initiative, Noemí obviously won't do it.
—Yeah, I know but... Whenever I get close she always avoids me or ignores me.
—Ohhh... Hmm... What if you send her a letter?
—But if I do that everyone could find out and start rumors, I don't want to get her in trouble.
—mmm... What if you send it secretly, like a secret admirer?
—Isn't it called secret admirer? But... That could be a good idea.
—Yes, write your letter and then leave it in her locker when no one is looking.
—mmm... Yeah, I have nothing to lose, let's do it!
Dan took out his notebook to start writing the letter.
Josías and Dan spent a few minutes planning the letter, and when they finished, they put it in a small envelope.
—Alright, now go and leave it in her locker.
—Okay, be back soon.
Dan walked down the hallways; the students looked at him with admiration, others greeted him, and Dan returned the greetings kindly since it didn't bother him.
Dan arrived at the lockers area and hid, making sure no one saw him, but someone appeared behind him.
—Dan?— the person asked in a soft voice.
When Dan turned around, he realized it was Emily, the Student Council President.
Dan sighed in relief that it was her.
—Ah, it's you Emily.
—What are you doing here?.
—Ah... I was just... Walking around a bit.
—And... Then why were you hiding here? It looks like you were watching something.
Dan swallowed nervously.
—No... I was just... Making sure students throw their trash in the right place.
Emily looked at him with narrowed eyes, searching for any sign of a lie in his gaze.
—AHHH... I see, thank you so much for your help Dan!— Emily believed him and said gratefully.
Dan thought: "good thing she's a bit naive"
—Yes, you're welcome.
—Well, I'll leave you now, see you later— Emily said as she walked away down the hallways.
—Okay, take care.— He said relieved.
Dan sighed and finally approached to leave the letter in the locker. After placing it there, he left quickly so no one would see him.
Upon returning to the classroom, Dan sat back down at his desk.
—Done, it's finished. The delivery was successful.
Josías smiled, having already finished a whole box of chocolates by himself.
—Good... Just to make sure, tell me which locker did you leave it in?.
Dan answered with a smile, as if the question were silly.
—What do you mean which one? In 89, obviously.
Josías stopped eating his chocolates and looked at Dan with a look that said: "I can't believe this"
—Dan... Noemí's locker is 88.
Upon hearing that, Dan hit his head against the desk, a hit so hard it even startled Josías.
—I'm an idiot.
—Well, I guess you wrote Noemí's name on the letter right?, like a "Hello Noemí" or something like that.
Dan just shook his head while keeping his head resting on the desk.
—Yes, you are an idiot— said Josías while eating more chocolates.
Noemí and Sofía were heading towards their lockers to get some things. When they arrived, Noemí opened her locker and took out her things, but when Sofía opened hers, Dan's letter fell to the floor.
—Huh? What's this?.
Noemí looked at the letter curiously.
Sofia opened the letter and started reading it out loud.
—"Hello nice to meet you, how are you?, I'm sending this letter to tell you that if you want, we could be friends someday" signed: a secret admirer"
—Apparently he's not very smart, how am I supposed to reply if he didn't leave anything about himself?
Sofia just laughed and put the letter in her bag as she walked away again with Noemí, who just smiled at her friend's letter.
By the way, Sofia and Noemí also thought the letter was too formal, something typical of Dan.