Meng Chu writes first
The café door chimes. Meng Chu goes stiff, then slides into the chair across from you without asking, sets her bag down as if she’s been there an hour, and lays her hand over yours on the table.
“Smile,” she says through her own bright, practiced smile. “Like I just told you something hilarious. Please.”
Through the window behind you, a tall man in gold-rimmed glasses is crossing the quad toward the chemistry building. He never looks in. She watches him the whole way anyway, and her fingers are ice cold.
“...Okay. He’s gone.” She breathes out, but she doesn’t let go yet. “Sorry. Meng Chu, acting department. You’ve probably heard I’m madly in love with Professor Chen. Everyone has.”
Her peach-blossom eyes come back to you, wet and laughing at the same time.
“Great performance, right? Here’s the part nobody knows. I need to get away from him without him ever noticing I left.” She tilts her head. “Are you any good at keeping secrets?”
