The Quiet Girl’s Secret

(Ruby's POV)

Becky Thomas had a crush on Felix Adkins.And it was painfully obvious to everyone.Everyone except Felix Adkins.

Which, honestly, was kind of impressive considering the two of them had been joined at the hip since primary school. You'd think after a decade of friendship and approximately 500 chicken puffs shared between them, he'd notice that she looked at him a little too long sometimes.

But no.

Because Felix was, in his words, "a humble icon of distraction and denial."

Which is exactly why I had to intervene.

I didn't usually play Cupid.I could barely function in my own love life (which, okay, didn't exist). But when I looked at Becky—loud, fearless Becky—blush and stammer because Felix had accidentally brushed her hand, I knew something had to happen.

I may have been hopelessly invisible, but I wasn't heartless.

It started with chicken puffs.As most important things do.

We were at the food court outside school — the one near the metro line, not the good one near the bakery. It was crowded, but we'd managed to squeeze into a corner table after practice.

Becky ordered extra for Felix without asking, as usual. Felix offered her his last one, as usual. And I stared at both of them, chewing slowly, wondering how they hadn't figured it out yet.

Becky kicked me under the table when she caught me smirking.

"What?"

"Nothing," I said sweetly.

"Stop it."

"I didn't say anything."

"You're saying it with your face."

Felix glanced between us. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," we both said.

He narrowed his eyes. "I don't like this. You're both plotting."

"You're imagining things," Becky said quickly.

Felix shrugged. "As long as it doesn't involve my tragic death, go wild."

Later that evening, I texted Becky.

Operation Chicken Puff is officially in motion.

Don't call it like that.

too late. already branded it.

what's the plan, nerd?

phase one: flirting bootcamp

oh god

It begins tomorrow. wear confidence.

also, wear lip balm

The next few days, I became a ghost Cupid.Subtle nudges here, a few little setups there.

I "accidentally" dropped my pencil in class so Becky and Felix could bend down at the same time.I switched their seats in the library study group.I told Felix Becky liked his stupid hoodie even though she absolutely didn't (but smiled when he wore it anyway).

They both rolled their eyes a lot.

But they smiled more, too.

Meanwhile, Sam Walker still didn't know I existed.

I saw her from a distance almost every day — in the hallways, during lunch, walking across the courts with Alex.

They looked like a real couple. Always standing close, sometimes laughing, sometimes just… there.

Becky had told me not to let it get to me.She told me people weren't always what they looked like in photos.

But that didn't stop the ache in my chest every time I saw Sam tuck her hair behind her ear while Alex talked, or when he reached for her bag casually like it was normal.

It wasn't fair.

They were fake.

I was real.

And still, I was on the sidelines while everyone else had a story.

One evening after our restaurant closed, I sat with my mom at the counter, folding paper napkins. The place smelled like burnt oil and lemon soap. It was warm and noisy even after the customers had left.

"You look tired, Ruby," she said gently.

"I'm okay."

She didn't ask more.

She never did. My parents weren't nosy — just quietly present. Always there, always steady.

The world outside felt bigger than me.But here, in this small restaurant, things made sense.

I folded another napkin and thought about how some people get lucky with love.

And some of us just learn how to cheer for other people.

Friday was the actual breakthrough.

We were walking home after school. Felix was talking about some video game tournament he wanted to join. Becky was unusually quiet, only half-listening.

"Hey," Felix said, bumping her arm, "you okay?"

She shrugged. "Just tired."

He frowned. "You've been off today."

"You noticed?"

"Of course."

Becky blinked.

I held my breath.

Then Felix added, "You haven't insulted me in an hour. It's weird."

And the moment passed.

But Becky smiled anyway.

That night, she messaged me.

okay. maybe Operation Chicken Puff is working.

told you.

thanks for trying.

anything for my disaster children.

shut up

They weren't together yet.

But something was shifting.

And for once, I felt proud of something I could control.

If I couldn't be the girl someone fell for…Maybe I could help love happen around me.

Maybe that counted for something.

[End of Chapter 6]

Even if I couldn't have a story with her… at least I could make one for someone else.