Valentine's Day.
That cursed, chocolate-coated nightmare that guys either dream about or dread. Finn Andrews didn't care for either option. He only had one plan: survive the day, go home, and finish that digital painting he'd been working on for two weeks.
But then came the notes.
First, one in his locker.
"Meet me behind the gym after class. I have something for you."
Then another slipped into his shoe locker.
"Wait behind the school garden. It's important."
And the last was just… bold.
A text from a random number:
"Don't run. I know what you drew."
Finn should've seen the signs. But he brushed it off, thinking it was a prank. It wasn't until Jay, his best friend and known pervert, grinned like a devil at lunch that the unease started.
"Bro," Jay said, stuffing his face with curry bread. "You got three girls eyeing you today."
He didn't look up from his sketchbook. "I think you're hallucinating again."
Jay leaned in, whispering like it was a state secret. "Lila, Emma, and Brooke. They're all watching you. All day. Like you're some snack. I've been documenting it."
"You mean staring at them instead of eating your food like a normal person?"
"Listen," Jay said seriously, "this is coming from the guy who almost got expelled for peeking into the girls' locker room last semester. I know suspicious behavior when I see it."
"Yeah. You got caught trying to look under Emma's skirt. She nearly murdered you."
Jay smiled proudly. "Great legs. No regrets."
Finn sighed. "You need therapy."
Jay patted his back. "I need popcorn. You're about to have your first harem arc."
The day passed faster than expected. Whispers followed Haruki in the halls. He caught Lila glancing at him from the library window. Emma, as usual, didn't even blink when they locked eyes—but her cheeks flushed. And Brooke? The art club queen? She just smirked whenever he passed.
When the final bell rang, Haruki tried to escape. But fate didn't like quiet exits.
He turned the corner behind the gym and froze.
Lila.
Her brown curls bounced as she stepped forward, holding a small heart-shaped box.
"Finn," she said softly, "I've liked you for a while. I… saw that drawing you did of me. The one where I was laughing during cleanup duty. I hadn't seen myself smile like that in a long time."
His throat dried. "You weren't supposed to see that..."
"I'm glad I did," she said, placing the box in his hand. "Happy Valentine's."
Before he could even process it, a voice behind him cut in.
"I knew you'd run to her first."
Finn turned. Emma. Perfect uniform, arms crossed, hair tied back like a military commander. But her ears were red.
She didn't say anything at first. She just stepped forward and dropped a rectangular box in his hand.
"I don't celebrate Valentine's," she said. "But I can't lose to someone like her."
"You don't have to... wait, lose what?"
Her eyes locked onto his. "You know what."
Then someone else cleared her throat.
"Wow. I came late and still beat you both."
Brooke. Fiery, smug, and confident enough to walk barefoot through a blizzard. She walked right up to him, slid a candy bag into his jacket pocket, and leaned in a little too close.
"I saw the sketch," she whispered. "You drew my hands. No guy's ever noticed my hands."
"They're really elegant," Haruki mumbled, already regretting speaking.
"Damn right they are."
Three girls. Three confessions.
Jay would literally die if he saw this.
That's when he heard rustling in the bushes nearby.
"…Jay?"
Suddenly—thwack!
Brooke snapped her head toward the bush like a wild animal. "You again?!"
Jay screamed as Brooke dragged him out by the collar, his phone still recording.
"I'm not filming! I'm just… documenting history!" Jay cried.
"You tried to peek under my skirt in 9th grade, you perv!"
"That was research!"
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Still pathetic, huh?"
Jay gave her finger guns as Brooke dumped him on the grass. "You look fantastic, Emma. Love the tights."
Haruki was too stunned to move. Jay scrambled up and whispered to him with stars in his eyes.
"Three girls. All confessed. On the same day. I have seen heaven - and it is high school."
"I haven't said yes to anyone," Finn muttered.
Brooke pointed at him. "Well, you're going to."
Lila stepped closer. "Even if you don't choose yet… I want to know where I stand."
Emma took a deep breath and added coldly, "Pick now. Or I'll just assume you picked me."
Finn's head spun. His heart pounded like he'd run a mile.
He stepped back. His sketchbook slipped from his bag, landing open on the ground.
And all three girls saw the same thing.
Their portraits.
Three different pages.
Three drawings.
All filled with the same quiet attention to detail…
The same affection…
The same love.
They all looked up at him... eyes wide, emotions clashing.
And Finn?
He whispered, voice barely audible:
"I… didn't mean for this to happen."