Page 30 of Didn't See That Coming

“Well, my favorite isSaga. I know it’s kind of old, but—”

“Oh my god,” Jeff/Tobin says. “I loved that series. They weren’t available here for the longest time, so I had to order them from Amazon US. I spent all my allowance paying for international shipping, but it was worth every cent.”

I laugh. “Wow, that’s hardcore. I asked my cousins in Singapore to bring me back copies. What are you read—”

“Oooh,” someone hoots. Jonas. He’s waggling his eyebrows at us while wearing this smirk that he probably picked up from a shitty rom-com with a shitty alpha male who thinks he’s hot shit. “Is it just me, or is there something going on between you guys?” His smirk morphs into a grin, and he crosses his arms in front of his chest. “Nicky and Crazy Kiki. I like it. Hasa nice ring to it.”

“Jonas,” Liam groans, but Jonas simply shrugs and gives this innocent smile before going back to his seat.

Okay, so my new friend’s name is nowhere near Jeff orTobin.

Even as I’m digesting this fact, Nicky’s whole face turns red and he shakes his head jerkily. “No,” he snaps. “There’s nothing going on between me and Crazy Kiki.” With that, he turns his whole upper body away from me. I’ve literally been given the cold shoulder.

And it stings. Holy crap, does it ever sting. It’s not like I’ve developed feelings for Nicky or anything, but we were having an actual conversation. We were bonding. I thought he could be my first friend here, someone with whom I share a genuine interest, and we graphic novel nerds should stick together, right? There’s an unspoken rule of loyalty between graphic novel fans and gaming nerds to have each other’s backs in real life. But Nicky’s gone and stuck a knife deep in my gut to preserve himself. He didn’t even just say nothing’s going on between us. He went the extra mile and called me the name that Jonas christened me with.

From the corner of my eye, I see Liam stand up and walk toward me. I bet he’s going to tell me I’m being stupid or whatever.

Crazy Kiki.

God, I hate that name. Tears prick the back of my eyes. I can’t bear to look at anyone. I keep my eyes on my feet and stalk out the door just as the first period teacher walks in.

“Class is about to start,” Mr.Wong says.

I manage to choke out, “Toilet!” before hurrying away. No doubt I’ll get reprimanded for this—tardiness, lack of manners, and other transgressions they’ll come up with—but I don’t care. I run to the blessedly empty bathroom and sob. I hardly know myself anymore. I didn’t think that my confidence couldbe shattered this quickly, but then again, I’ve never been in a position where I’m the butt of an entire class’s joke.

I can’t wait to get home and give Jonas the thrashing he deserves onWarfront Heroes.

By the time the weekend arrives, my nerves are shot. I’ve never felt this way before, not even when I was in kindergarten. I’ve always been so confident, but my first week at Xingfa has left me feeling like I’ve been on the losing end of a fistfight. Normally, I would be half-excited, half-chill before a date—excited because I know I’m about to have a blast, chill because I know that even if we don’t hit it off, it’s all going to be okay. But now, before my first Lil’ Aunties–arranged date, I’m actually nervous as hell. I have no idea what to expect. My phone beeps as I’m getting ready, and I practically pounce onit.

Sharlot:Hey, you have a date today, right?

Cassie:She does!!

Sharlot:Aaah! Excuse me, we need PICS! Show us your outfit!

That makes me smile despite my nerves, and I oblige, taking a mirror selfie and sending it their way.

Cassie:I LOVE

Sharlot:Yasss, I approve! The shorts say: I’m super casual, this is no biggie

Cassie:But the top says…wait, I don’t know what the top says

Sharlot:It says: But take me somewhere nice

Cassie:Yes, that

Kiki:You guys are dorks, you know that, right?

I love these two so much for making me smile. Another message pops up at the top of my screen, from the Lil’ Aunties group, and I tap on it.

Eleanor Roosevelt:Ci Kiki, did you receive the pdf we sent you yesterday?

Kiki:The 12-page pdf with over a hundred rules on dating? Yes, yes I did.

And boy, do I ever wish that I hadn’t. The rules that these girls have come up with range from sensible (“No posting pics on social media without everybody’s permission”) to random (“No going to Starbucks or Coffee Bean”) to ridiculous (“Family members may attend if it is the following: siblings okay on the second date, cousins okay on the third date, parents okay on the fourth date, grandparents and uncles/aunts only after the sixth date”). Okay, knowing the Chinese Indonesian culture, that last rule isn’t actually that ridiculous; I’ve heard of many a first date where one party took their parents along.

SJP:Here’s a link to a DocuSign. Pls sign it before you go on your date

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