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The silver trophy gleamed under the artificial lights. It was nestled above our luggage, catching everyone's attention as Brandon pushed the trolley towards the check-in point. Bea and I waited as Brandon sent in our luggage and dealt with the airport attendant.

Bea faced me. "Are you still upset? Thirty-five thousand dollars aren't that bad."

I smiled. "Nah, I'm okay. There's the scholarship too." The grand prize had been fifty thousand dollars, but the second prize wasn't any less hefty. The money had been raised considerably this year, attempting to take this baking competition to a higher international level. It wasn't as crazy as the MaterChef's prize money, but these many thousand dollars were a lot. I had suggested to split up the money between the three of us but Brandon and Bea weren't budging.

The thought of fifteen thousand dollars less than the first place wasn't that depressing than losing the winning title. That's what ate me. Not the money. Tony's offer of a scholarship had softened the blow at that time, but it had returned full-force when we had reached back at the hotel last night.

I couldn't do much about it though. Everyone had judged us fairly on the basis of our wedding-themed cake and our quiz performance, so I couldn't be salty about it. Sarah deserved it for the time and effort she had put into each cake and the whole competition, whereas I had been running around with the mafia, running away from an evil father, and saving a damsel-in-distress. That deserved its own award too, right?

For me, earning that scholarship had been the highlight. I knew that the financial situation at my home wouldn't have allowed me to pursue my higher studies; not without money sucking educational loans. My mother would have insisted but I knew it would have been a difficult road.

Bea sighed, breaking my train of thought. "It's taking him a while." She pointed towards Brandon, and I nodded.

Brandon had been good. When I had broken down in tears while talking to my mother on the phone last night, he had taken over the call and boasted about me. How sweet was that? She already loved him, heck, she had been shoving him in my face since the starting of the break. I couldn't disagree with her choices of men anymore. Especially this one. However he had tried to act as a macho-man, I'm-the-bad-boy in the starting, I knew he wasn't anything like that. He adored cats! (a simple reason, but an effective one.)

The fact that this was just the starting of our relationship, and the more concerning point on how far we had come along in this short period of time... that was frightening.

I knew if this competition had not been there, if we had never ended up in Singapore in the first place, I might have started to like him. That's it. It was hard for me to imagine coming back home for the spring break and going back for my senior year with a boyfriend in tow. My few friends would have gone mad with their laughter. Well, if nothing like this would have happened. For now, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore considering everything had already been broadcasted on national television. I mean how could it get any crazier than this?!

Gone were the days when I thought lazing around the home, watching my favorite TV shows and baking endless amount of cakes constituted of a fun and exciting spring break. That's how I had imagined this spring break to be. The result wasn't even in the sight of what I had thought. I had traveled across the continent, started a new relationship, learned shocking truths about the old ones, and made worthy life-long friends. I knew I should take this as a time to celebrate and rejoice. When in life will I get another chance like this? I wanted to do it really. Sing happy songs at the top of my voice, and dance around without a care in the world...

Still, insecurities crept up my back like an unwanted bug. I wanted to shake it off, get it out of my clothes and move on with an awesome experience. But, past scars were harder to fade.

Will Brandon still like me after we are back home? Will he accept me in front of everyone? Will the bullying begin again? The questions were of a frightening mix. I had faith in Brandon. There wasn't a question whether he wouldn't like me or not. Though society was a scary place. We had been nourished inside our own cocoon all this while. Happy in our own little place. What would happen when high school came into place? Will he be able to ignore others prejudices against me? Or much farther than that?

The questions didn't have an answer. And for now, I didn't seek them.

"Isn't it cool the principal is giving us two days off before we have to go to school?" Bea grinned, back her with neatly lined full-set of teeth.

"Yeah, I wonder when did he turn this cool..."

Someone tapped on my shoulder from behind, and I turned, expecting a crew member or some other contestant. A petite Asian girl smiled at me, her eyes wide. "Aren't you the girl here?"

She pointed to her newspaper, making a rustling noise as she poked her finger over a face. Scratch that. My face. Heartbeat out of the roof, I pleaded in a squeaky voice, "Can I have that newspaper?"

"Sorry, that's my dad's newspaper. You can buy one from there." 

I followed her line of sight and saw the newspaper stand in front of a bookstore. Not wasting a second, I skidded towards the newspaper stall, pushing people out of my way, and earning angry grunts and growls. Bea followed my hurried steps. "Tyler, stop! Where are you going?"

"How much is this?" I slapped my hand on the copy of The Straits Times and clutched it in my hands.

The shopkeeper looked down at me."That's one Singaporean dollar and ten cents."

I gritted my teeth. Why did I have to convert all my money into US dollars already? "Will a US dollar do?"

The shopkeeper looked at my desperate expression and nodded.

"Thanks." I handed him the money and grabbed the newspaper with the other hand. "You can keep the change."

Bea asked, "What is it?"

"Crazy. Pure craziness," I replied, not making sense with my answer. Blood was pumping hard and fast to my face, making me feel hot and out of breath. The pages flipped with the speed of life, and I scanned them with the laser-sharp eyes. It had to be here somewhere! That's when I saw it... right there with the flashy headline under the world trending news section. "This is bullshit."

"You're scaring me, Ty. What is it?" Bea struggled to get closer to me with my arms wide open and face buried in the newspaper.

I snapped the newspaper close and took a deep breath. The words swam in front of my eyes. I didn't know how to react. Should I laugh? Should I get angry? Bang my head on the wall? Whatever the appropriate reaction was, I was going crazy.

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Brandon stalk up to us, probably confused at our disappearance. He closed the distance in a few fast strides and stood next to me. Bea took the chance at my distraction, and snatched the paper out of my hands, burying her nose in the newspaper just like I had. One phrase came out of her mouth, "Oh my god."

"What are you reading?" Brandon asked, half out-of-politeness and half out-of-curiosity. He looked at my expression and frowned. "What happened to you?"

"Is this even real?" Bea squeaked, a giggle escaping her lips, making me sigh.

"What is it?" Brandon asked again, more curious now.

"It's a news on Tyler."

"And...?" I prolonged, gritting my teeth.

"And Bella," Bea continued, and with a laugh, added, "And Francis."

Brandon frowned, and did the same as she had done, and snatched the paper from her hands. I saw him read the title, and my cheeks burned up from the embarrassment along with an inexplicable emotion. To my horror, Brandon read the headline aloud. "Power couple breaks-up over the same girlfriend."

"Do you need to guess who is the same girlfriend?" I mumbled, burying my face under my hair.

Below the headline was a clear picture of Bella and me, standing next to each other and on the other side was a picture of Francis. Brandon continued his mumbling, "Isabela Rousell and Francis said to be one of the most powerful couples of France were reported to have broken-up after they found themselves in love with the same woman. While the news of Isabela admitting to be homosexual came as a shock, the celebrity world was struck with another controversy when the news broke out that a woman named Tyler Anderson currently in a relationship with the pretty girl, Isabela, used to date Francis in high school.

"The couple—"

I squeezed Brandon's wrist, forcing him to look away from the newspaper and stop his sniggering. "Can you stop now?" My voice encountered difficulty in spitting out the words, and my other hand fisted as I tried to control my urge to punch someone.

Brandon sniffled his laughter, nodding his head as if to say he'll stop. For a second, I believed him, but then he went back to the newspaper, reading aloud the words in a loud voice, "The ex-couple are said to be still in love with the red-haired nineteen year—"

"I said stop, Brandon!" I shouted, pouting my lips, and crossing my arms over my chest.

"Fine, fine, I will." He closed the newspaper and rolled it in his hands. Watching my expression, he stepped closer and hugged me. "Okay now?"

I relaxed, sniffling, and shaking my head. At least now I knew how to coax out a free hug from Brandon. The pretty picture of the hug broke, and I frowned. "Why are you shaking?"

No answer.

"Brandon?" I pushed his arms away from around me and looked at his shaking form. Brandon bent double as soon as he detached himself from me, his laughter breaking out from its prison and materializing into a full-belly laugh. My cheeks burned once again, and I stared at him in disbelief. "I thought you were consoling me?!"

Brandon wheezed. "I-I'm sorry—" He clutched his stomach, "But this is too funny!"

I stomped my foot. "Stop laughing at me!"

"How is this possible?" he said through laughter, "Why can't you be not in an awkward situation sometime?"

"That's not my fault, you know! Who went blabbering around that I was Bella's girlfriend? It was you!"

"Me?" he asked, his eyes closed and face contorted with laughter. I placed my hands on my hips and blew air on my hair to clear my vision. Bea looked at us like we were two aliens having a duel (or it could just be me featuring as the alien). Brandon continued, "What did I do?"

I sighed, raising my voice. "What did you do? Who told that security guard I was her girlfriend?"

"But that was for us to meet Alard—"

"A reporter must have heard us!"

"Like, I really don't mean to interrupt," Bea said in a small voice, "But you guys do remember we have a flight to catch in ten minutes?"

"What?" We both snapped our heads towards her.

She nodded. "Ten minutes."

"Look, I have no plans to chase a plane on the runaway," Brandon spoke, looking at me from the corner of his eyes.

"Why do you need to say it while looking at me?" I mumbled, narrowing my eyes at him.

Bea gave an awkward laugh. "I'm sure he was simply looking at you."

I snorted. "Fine. I won't make us run after a plane today. Let's get going." Snatching my ticket from Brandon's hand, I started walking away with a sour expression.

"Where are you going?" Brandon shouted from behind.

"The boarding area, of course!" I shouted back, increasing my speed, and walking faster.

"But that's in the opposite direction."

That's how, dude, I live my life. Always running in the wrong direction.

*****

(EDIT: Would you like to read the EPILOGUE from BRANDON'S POV?)

WE ARE DONE. THE BOOK IS COMPLETE.

BYE! 

Lol, I was joking, do wait! AND HEAR THIS AWESOMESAUCE NEWS!

I AM LAUNCHING 'A BWB SPECIAL DATE SERIES'. Do you remember how Tyler won the bet of free icecreams for a month from Brandon in chapter 33? This SHORT STORY will capture all these dessert dates (their highschool)! ARE YOU EXCITED?! 

I need at least a hundred 'YES' before I can materialise the idea into the book! SO PLEASE, even if you don't say anything else, just say 'YES'. Even fifty yes(s) are cool :P

*THIS IS NOT THE SEQUEL PLANNED*

EPILOGUE WILL BE RELEASED AFTER *THIRTY ICE-CREAM DATES* FINISHES!  Why? Because epilogue skips the story to one year ahead :)

Help  me decide the cover by voting for them! I'll start rolling out the updates soon if we meet the goal.

PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT! I know I forget to vote sometimes too, but if you have enjoyed this book, please take a moment out to go back and vote for all the chapters. It would mean so much to me! Thank you :)

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Aanchal xx