Larry continued, looking straight at Stella.
“So you chose me.”
Stella was silent.
“We happened to meet in the hallway after summer break ended. That’s when you heard that I’m from a n.o.ble family, and that I’m unpopular and don’t have a girlfriend. The perfect target. So you asked me out and told the entire school and your family that I was your boyfriend.”
Stella did not say a word.
“You weren’t in love with me. It was all an act to show the school that you were dating someone who wasn’t SC Linus.”
Stella still did not speak.
“And now, you don’t have to put on an act anymore.”
Slowly, Larry rose.
He approached Stella and Linus.
“SC Linus.”
When he heard his name, Linus’s gaze wavered.
“Ah…”
“You’re not the one who thought of this plan, are you?”
Larry nodded at Linus’s silent answer and turned to Stella.
“It was you, Stella. Excuse me.”
Larry quickly grabbed Stella’s left arm.
“Ah!”
Stella did not have time to react. Larry gently twisted her wrist to bring the face of her watch into view.
“I knew it.”
His eyes scanned the letters on the face.
“‘My dearest Cana’…” he muttered, letting go of Stella’s arm. “This looks like a Whitfield watch, but it’s not, is it? It’s a one-of-a-kind watch made for Stella alone. It’s a reminder that even if you’re far apart, your hearts are always together.”
Back in the office—
“You told him that part, right Seron?” Jenny asked.
“Yeah,” Seron nodded.
“So…well, er…I didn’t know I had that in me. Looks like hard work pays off after all!”
“Er…SC Hepburn?”
“Hm? Don’t tell me I got something wrong?”
“No…” Stella shook her head. “I’m sorry. Everything you said…is true.”
Larry could not say a word.
“Aww, there, there.” Natalia said from the office.
“SC Linus. Congratulations on winning the Whitfield Compet.i.tion!” Larry said, turning.
“Huh? Oh…er…thank you. But how did you—”
“I knew it as soon as I read the article. You’re the only one who would have sent in a watch called ‘Cana’.”
“I see…you must know someone who’s very good at Bezelese.”
“That’s right. Anyway, now you can take a job at Whitfield with your head held high!”
“I…I can’t say for sure.”
“Huh? Why not?” Larry asked. He noticed that Stella still looked sad.
“It’s true that I won the compet.i.tion. But I had to falsify a lot of information when I submitted my watch. My address, my contact information, my birthday, everything. I couldn’t let them find out that I was a Francis. If the Whitfield family makes up their mind to stop me from joining their company…they might make it so that this compet.i.tion never happened to begin with.”
“I see…so Seron was right. I’m impressed.”
“Hm?”
“N-nothing! Don’t worry about that! We just need to get the word out. We’ll make one big announcement about you and Stella, about your families, and all that hard work you put into developing your talent! That way Whitfield won’t be able to cut you out without getting a whole lot of angry questions getting directed their way!”
For several seconds, Stella and Linus were silent.
But finally, Stella spoke.
“How…?”
“Did you forget?” Larry replied, “our school’s full of kids from all sorts of rich families.”
Larry’s statement filled the office.
“All right, that’s the cue!” Jenny said with a clap, taking one last photo, “the goods are on the table! Get out there and make some waves! Move out!”
Jenny pointed at the coffee table, laden with a stack of 50 large sheets of paper and rolls of tape.
The four remaining newspaper club members rushed out of the office, with the rolled-up newspapers under their arms and rolls of tape in their hands.
“Do your best work, Seron!” Meg said with a smile.
“Yeah!”
Seron rushed to the grounds behind the school on his own, towards the oak tree.
Jenny remained alone in the office.
“I knew it,” she said with a grin, “the first headliner of the year is a love story.”
“When we tell the students, word will spread to the parents too. And maybe your grandfathers will change their minds when they see how much everyone is cheering you two on. They’ll realize soon enough that stubbornly clinging to the past won’t benefit anyone.”
Stella and Linus were still in shock. That was when Seron approached.
“Sorry to keep you waiting, Larry.”
Pa.s.sing by Stella and Linus, Seron stopped beside Larry and said one word.
“Extra.”
He pulled out a sheet of paper from under his arm, handed it to Larry, and ran off.
“Thanks, buddy!” Larry replied, and opened up the paper.
The poster-sized piece of paper featured photographs, articles, and a large headline.
Larry spread out the newspaper and held it out for Stella and Linus to see.
‘Linus Francis Clinches Victory in Whitfield Compet.i.tion’, said the eye-catching headline. Below was an article covering the truth of the incident in easy-to-read font.
And though Jenny had written the article, there was no sign of conspiracy theories or anything of the like.
Below was another article ent.i.tled, ‘Linus Francis and Stella Whitfield’s Star-Crossed Love’. It covered the story behind their relationship in detail.
The article covered the story behind the Whitfield and Francis families and the fact that Stella and Linus were forced to hide their relationship for over a year, and claimed that Linus’s victory in the Whitfield Compet.i.tion solved all their problems. The article seemed to suggest the problem had already been solved.
Another interesting point was that the article also covered Larry. ‘Third-year wrist.w.a.tch aficionado Larry Hepburn, who happened to learn their secret, a.s.sisted the beleaguered couple by playing the part of Stella’s boyfriend until the compet.i.tion results were announced’, the article claimed, though it was all a lie Jenny had cooked up.
‘Congratulations, SC Linus. Stella. I knew you could do it. It was an honor to lend a hand,’ said an excerpt from a fake interview with Larry.
Wide-eyed, Stella and Linus read the articles about themselves. They were both stunned into silence.
But finally, Stella turned.
“Does this mean that we have a future together after all?”
Larry, who knew very well that he was not included in that future, responded—without a smile, but in a rea.s.suring voice.
“You bet! See? I told you you wouldn’t regret choosing me.”
“No guarantee it’s gonna work out all hunky-dory, though,” Jenny mumbled, listening to his voice over the speakers, “you can make all the fuss in the world, but if the adults decide to screw saving face and really go all-out, it’s not gonna work. The rest is up to luck. d.a.m.n it, Seron. You knew all that but didn’t tell Larry.”
“Extra! Extra! Read all about it!” Natalia cried.
“These are the newspaper club wall newspapers! They are moving articles!” Meg called.
“May I? Excuse me, miss. How would you like to have a read? We’re covering a very romantic story this issue,” Nick advertised.
“…Is this a little crooked?” Seron wondered.
In all, they posted over 40 copies of the newspaper around the campus. The newspapers began to cause a stir among the students and staff who had not yet left.
“I suppose there’s no sense in taking down a proper newspaper…”
Not a single one was taken down.
The 1st day of the tenth month.
By the next day, even more students had read the newspapers, and the story spread like wildfire throughout the school.
“Larry! Is this for real?”
Larry’s cla.s.smates surrounded him at the lockers between cla.s.ses.
“‘Course it is! The newspaper doesn’t lie.”
“Figures. I knew something was fishy when I heard a girl actually liked you at all.”
“Whaaaat. Come on, man. Anyway, the important thing here is that SC Linus is a swell guy who’s gonna manage Whitfield someday!”
In the faculty office, the teachers were talking over tea. First came the topic of Linus’s award. Then—
“Come to think of it, what should we do about giving the newspaper club official status?”
“Well, they’ve published a newspaper and filled the membership requirement. We don’t have any reason to refuse them.”
“I suppose. But they need a supervisor, don’t they?”
“That’s going to be a problem. Who’d want to work with a troublemaker like Jones?”
“We could always leave it to someone who’s not around right now.”
“What are we, children? But you do have a point.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Mr. Murdoch’s coming back this month. It’ll be perfect.”
Larry ran into Seron in the hall during the next break.
“Hey buddy! How’re things in your cla.s.ses?”
“Not bad at all. Word is getting out and people are cheering on Stella and SC Linus. It’s fulfilling, seeing people read our work and talk about the story we cover.”
“Sure is! Everyone said I put on a really good performance!”
“…You really did great.”
“Did you hear some of the newspapers we put up got stolen?”
“Wow. Jenny must be pleased.”
“Yeah. She’s grinning and putting up more copies she printed today. We’ll talk more after school, yeah? I’m eating in the cla.s.sroom today so I can tell more people about what an awesome job I did.”
“Actually—I was going to leave a note about it—the librarian asked me to help out after school today. I don’t think I can make it to the office. Could you tell Jenny for me?”
“Sure thing. And I’ll contact you again if we get word from the happy couple.”
“All right. Looking forward to good news.”
“Yeah.”
Seron watched Larry depart.
“The happy couple, huh,” he mumbled, recalling the wrist.w.a.tch couple.
Seron looked up from his watch.
“Oh, h.e.l.lo there Seron.”
“Ah!”
His eyes met Meg’s. Seron flinched.
“I am sorry. Are you surprised?”
“N-no! I’m all right! Hey there.”
“h.e.l.lo. Everything is doing very well! It is very good,” Meg said, smiling as brightly as though she were one half of the happy couple.
It was only then that Seron noticed the other girl standing next to Meg.
“Hey Seron. Remember me? We’re in Roxchean cla.s.s together this term.”
Seron nodded. “Schultz. I remember.”
Meg leapt in.
“Lillia took the art cla.s.s last term with us as well! After it, we are best friends! Lillia, you already know but I will again introduce you. This is Seron Maxwell, and he is in the newspaper club with us.”
Lillia turned, looking neither particularly pleased nor displeased.
“I read the paper. It was really interesting.”
“Thanks. I’m sure the others will be happy to hear that.”
“Take good care of Meg, will you? She can be a bit of a ditz sometimes.”
“Ah! That is mean, Lillia! I am older than you!”
Meg’s voice stirred up determination in Seron. He would take care of her. He would even give his life for her sake.
“Of course. If someone tries to stab Megmica, I’ll take the blow in her stead. Will that work?”
Lillia’s eyes widened. Then,
“Pfft! Ahahahaha!”
She burst into laughter. Meg chuckled as well.
“I’m surprised. You’re such a clown, Seron.”
“Seron is more often serious.”
Unable to figure out what was so funny about what he had said, Seron decided to put on a smile.
After school, Larry went to the newspaper club office.
“Look who’s here. The man of the hour,” Jenny said, welcoming him in. She was drinking tea on the sofa.
“You’re here early. What happened to cla.s.s?”
“Ditched afternoon cla.s.ses.”
“Are your grades gonna be all right?”
“You’re worrying about my grades? I don’t know if I should laugh or get mad.”
“…Anyway,” Larry said, taking a seat, “any new info?”
“Yeah.”
“Yeah?”
“About the Whitfields.”
That was when Larry noticed two empty teacups on the table.
“Guests?”
“Are you a detective, Larry?”
“Even a five-year-old could figure it out. Stella and SC Linus, right?”
“So you are a detective. Yes. It was them.”
“What’d they say?”
“Let’s wait for Seron.”
“He’s busy at the library today.”
“Oh. Okay then, I’ll tell you. To start with the most important part—”
Larry held his breath.
“—Linus Francis is probably going to get that Whitfield position.”
“ALL RIGHT!” Larry cheered, pumping his fists. Jenny continued unfazed at his reaction.
“They went straight to the Whitfield family after our little performance. SC Linus told the Whitfields everything, revealed that he was the compet.i.tion winner, and that he was dating Stella. They showed our newspaper to the family and told them that the whole school knew already. The Whitfields were pretty surprised when they heard who SC Linus was, too. In the end, Stella’s grandfather thought for a long time and asked SC Linus, ‘does this mean you are willing to abandon your family for Stella?’.”
“And what’d he say?”
“He said, ‘yes, as long as you feed me bananas every day’.”
“Jenfie! I’m being serious here!”
“Fine, fine. He actually said, ‘there’s nothing I want more than to become a watchmaker and spend my life with Stella. I can give up anything for my dream’.”
“Man, that is so cool! And what happened?”
“Back to what I said before. He’s been granted admission to Whitfield. Now it’s up to him to accept.”
“Sweet! Sweet! I’m so happy for them! Now Stella’ll find happiness!” Larry cheered. But Jenny gave him a cold look.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
“How’d you figure out Stella wasn’t in love with you?”
“I didn’t tell you, did I? I couldn’t say it before because Seron was around, but I could see it in her eyes.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I could see in her eyes that she wasn’t in love with me. She didn’t have the eyes of someone who’s really deeply and desperately in love. I can tell, you know, since I see someone with eyes like that all the time.”
“Hmph. You’re too nice and stupid for your own good.”
“I know I’m stupid, but you’re the one who’s to nice for her own good.”
“What?”
“You mobilized the newspaper club to help.”
“I…was doing it to get a good story.”
“You gave your all when SC Sophia asked for help, too.”
“Th-that’s…”
“You’re really nice when it comes to other people’s love stories,” Larry remarked with a grin.
Jenny’s eyes widened, then narrowed in rage.
“Shut up! Argh! See if I help with any of your crushes!”
“Hah hah! Sure, whatever. But—”
“Yeah?”
“Make sure to give Seron a hand.”
“…Dunno how much I can help, but I’m not going to get in the way.”
“The past few days were really interesting. I think it really gave me a chance to reconsider my possibilities,” Larry said, recalling his mother’s advice.
“Like your possibilities as a ladies’ man?”
“That too.”
Jenny nodded dubiously, then looked up.
“Almost forgot. There’s something I’m supposed to give you,” she said, getting up. She went to the desk, picked up a small wooden box, and returned to sit across from Larry.
The box resembled a jewelry case or a music box, with a polished wooden finish.
There was a buckle for securing the lid shut, but otherwise the box was unmarked.
“It’s from Stella and the gorilla. They wanted to give this to you.”
“What is it?” Larry wondered, pulling the box over.
“They didn’t give me anything else. Stella said she tried to write a note but couldn’t think of anything, so she’s just giving you this.”
“I see…can I open it?”
“Why’re you asking me permission? I’m curious too, so hurry up and open it. It’s not gonna explode.”
“All right. Wonder what’s inside.”
“My guess is…a sliced-up banana.”
“Enough with the bananas already.”
Larry unclasped the buckle and slowly opened the lid.
He still could not tell what was inside, because the contents were covered with a beige cloth. Larry pulled it off.
“Ah…”
He froze, his blue eyes narrowing and locked on the contents of the box. Jenny waited.
Finally, Larry reached in and slowly, very slowly took out his present.
“Look, Jenny.”
“Wow.”
It was a wrist.w.a.tch.
Around the small cushion in the box was a large, st.u.r.dy wrist.w.a.tch.
It had a black case and a rotating bezel marked off in minutes. On the black face were the words ‘Whitfield-Farkas’, and the hands were finished with luminous paint.
“A Whitfield military-use wrist.w.a.tch…” Larry gasped, pulling out the cushion.
He held the watch by the end of the strap, holding it just above eye-level.
The time and date had been set to perfection. The second hand whirred smoothly around the face.
“Stella…” Larry whispered, looking up at the watch with a smile.
“Hey,” Jenny said, looking at the watch and Larry’s eyes, “look at the back.”
“Huh?”
Larry turned the watch over.
Like all the other models, the word ‘ARMY’, a serial number, and a military standard code were engraved on the back.
But above the mainstays were words exclusive to this one watch. The words had been engraved by hand.
‘To Sir Hepburn’.
Without a word, Larry put the watch around his left wrist.
He tightened the strap and shook his arm, sensing the weight on his wrist.
“We didn’t talk much…but she was a good girl. I…I think I might have liked her a little…”
Larry trailed off, his eyes narrowing in a smile as he gazed lovingly at his new watch.
“I can’t speak for you, but it’s a general rule of thumb that first love never works out,” Jenny advised quietly.
“Maybe you’re right. My job is done.”
“Satisfied?”
“Yeah,” Larry replied. His teary gaze went from the watch to Jenny as he added, “know what a knight’s supposed to do in the grand finale? After he protects everyone, he rides off into the sunset.”
“Yeah.”
Jenny got up and headed to the desk once more. She picked up her rangefinder and took out a single color film from the drawer.
She opened the camera, loaded the film, and wound it up as she returned to the sofa.
Then she pointed the lens at Larry.
“What’re you doing?” Larry asked.
“It’s the grand finale, so I’m taking a photo of you,” Jenny replied, “gimme a nice bright smile, Sir Hepburn.”
Larry put on an embarra.s.sed grin. Jenny focused through the viewfinder and slowly put pressure in her index finger.
No one else was around to hear the click of the camera.
-To be continued-