MIRABELLE POV

Nate and Violet were still kissing. Not just kissing, devouring. Violet’s hands were everywhere, including places I refused to acknowledge.

“Nope. Nope, nope, nope.” My brain is short-circuited.

Before I knew it, I grabbed the nearest object didn't’t even check what it was and hurled it.

My target was Violet, but it met Nate’s face.

“Ahh!” Nate doubled over, clutching his cheek. The room went dead silent.

Holy Crap.

“Mirabelle!” Clara screamed, horrified, she quickly dip a napkin in a bowl of water and pressed it on his face.

Nate pushed her away, glaring at her not to touch him.

“Are you okay?” Violet fussed, cupping Nate’s jaw like she was Florence Nightingale the second.

Tch!

"are you crazy?" Nate yelled at me, his eyes blazing.

"It was a mistake," I said

"Mirabelle stop complaining, apologize." Violet spoked.

"I already did."

"Did you apologize? you didn't! You only said it was a mistake, is that an apology? I'm going to sue you for this," He said pointing to his jaw.

I snorted.. "Sued? It's not even that serious."

Meanwhile, the entire room stared at me like I’d just committed first-degree murder.

He glared. “Don’t test me. I could sue you for assault.”

Nate jabbed a finger at his cheek red, but not even bruised. “This? I'll sue you for two million dollars.”

“WHAT?!” The entire room gasped in unison.

Panic slammed into me. Two million?! I didn’t even have thousands without borrowing from Clara.

It dawned on me what I had done, Nate is a celebrity and I just hit him with something. What have I done? I didn't mean it, I seriously didn't mean it, it was meant for Violet. See what I have done because of jealousy.

Desperate, I whipped out my phone, showing them my account balance.

Everyone leaned closer except Nate.

“$12,000?” Violet said, tone dripping with judgment.

“OMG.” Clara wheezed with laughter, acting not surprised .

“Twelve thousand. That’s it?” Dan mocked.

"Take it easy Nate, it was a mistake."Owen tried calming him down.

"Get lost, stay out of it." Nate glared at Owen.

I shrugged helplessly. “Where exactly do you expect me to get two million dollars? Rob a bank?”

Nate’s mouth curled in disdain. “Not my problem babe. You should have thought about that before messing with a celeb."

The “babe” stung. Not in a swoon way. In a this-man-is-an-arrogant-peacock way.

I dropped to my knees, clutching my hands like I was auditioning for a K-drama slave begging her master for mercy.

“I’m sorry! Forgive me! It was an accident!”

My tears were fake, but the drama was real. Honestly, at least I’ve achieved my mission. Nate and Violet were no longer kissing.

With all my pleading, Nate didn't say a thing. Instead, he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “File a case. Celebrity facial damage. Celebrity harassment. Celebrity defamed. Celebrity...”

Oh my god. Was he serious?

I'm in a hot soup, in fact, a hot frypan. My jealousy went wrong.

I felt laughter bubbling within me because the more I thought about it, the funnier it got.

I was finding it difficult to breathe well,I bit back laughter. Mira don't let this out, Nate will think I'm not taking him seriously which might make everything worse.

But, wait a minute, which one is celebrity harassment?

From a red cheek? No swelling, no blood. Just…pink.

I gummed my lips together, tiny tears sting my eyes as the urge to laugh becomes unbearable but Mirabelle if you release the laugh, I pity myself. Who knows if I laugh, he might sue me for celebrity embarrassment or celebrity jesting or celebrity mocking.

The thought made me cracked. Laughter burst out of me like a fire hydrant. Rolling, wheezing, snorting, full chaos.

“Mirabelle! Are you okay? Is this a joke?” Violet whispered.

Nate smiled, he hung up and started texting.

What is he texting? who is he texting ?

I'm in trouble, why did I laugh?./

"Mirabelle, this is not funny." Clara nudged at me.

“Yes!” I cackled. “I mean no! Sorry! I'm sorry!”

Nate froze mid-text, giving me a slow, incredulous stare. The kind that said: this girl belongs in a psychiatric ward.

Panic hit again. Tears spilled. Real ones this time. “I-I don’t know why I’m laughing!” My voice cracked, half-sobbing, half-giggling. “This is the devil’s work! I'm serious guys, I don't want to laugh" I said laughing and crying at the same time.

Why did I come here in the first place? I should have stayed at home. Why is Nate here? Why is he even in our school?

The crowd was stunned into silence. Then Clara, bless her, swooped in.

“Nate,” she said, calm and rational. “She wasn’t aiming at you. She saw a mosquito and tried to save your precious face.”

“Mosquito? Where?” Nate jumped in fright.

Wait. Was he...scared of mosquitoes?

I blinked. This man, an international celebrity, with abs of steel and a jawline sculpted by the gods…was terrified of mosquitoes?

The same mosquitoes that sucks my blood daily.

Game changer.

“Yes!” I jumped on the opportunity. “I was trying to kill the mosquito hovering near your face.”

The mosquito’s name was Violet.

"Whatever," Nate muttered, pocketing his phone.

He scanned the air like the insect might declare war at any second.

“Whatever? What does that even mean?” I asked, exasperated.

“It means,” he said smoothly, “I’ll drop the case. But you still owe me two million dollars.”

My jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Don't be like that, forgive and forget. ” He stared at me, deadpan.

"Well, thank you." I lowered my voice.

He leaned closer, smirk sharp enough to slice bread. “Also…next time, if you see a mosquito near me? Use your hand. Not…whatever that was.”

Heat shot up my cheeks. “Yes, sir.”

I bowed dramatically, because if I didn’t laugh at myself, I’d cry again.