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It was a beautiful day. The skies were clear, the birds could be heard chirping and singing a song outside, and the flowers were in full bloom. A shower of light shone through the quaint little homeroom of the Cecile Hall, drenching the classroom in hues of gold.
This was supposed to be a perfect, sunny day.
“Sy-on boy, take back what you said about Anya right now!”
“Yeah, and why don’t you make me, stubby legs?!”
Damian and Anya were having their drama in front of the whole class. Again.
Sigh. Becky’s head slid down onto the bench table. I was supposed to tell Anya about Berlint in Love’s new episode but…
But that Desmond...! That Desmond stole her best friend away again!
They were fighting in class for the ninth time this week! And it’s only Wednesday! Honestly, don’t they get tired of fighting all the time? Becky thought that if they kept it up, then they’d have aged by fifty years by the time they graduate from Eden. Sadly, she couldn’t do anything about it because once her best friend’s eyes were set on Desmond, she was an unstoppable force.
Anya, an unstoppable force, meets Damian, an unmovable object. It would’ve been cute if it wasn’t her who was suffering the most!
Sigh. This was so hard. Becky couldn’t do anything if she wanted Anya to succeed in love, but what about their friendship…?
She didn’t know what Anya liked about Desmond. All he’s done was pull her pigtails. Maybe Anya was just into men who insult her…? Becky thought it was odd, but she shouldn’t judge.
Two familiar boys drop down on the empty space beside her. (The space which should’ve been filled by Anya instead since they were best friends who sat next to each other, but no. She was off with Desmond again.)
Chorus sighs filled the air and Damian’s closest friends, Ewen and Emile, had sunk down onto the table similar to Becky, feeling dejected too.
“You guys too?” Becky asked. Usually, she’d fend them off since their friend groups were mortal enemies. But now, what Becky saw were not the boys she distastes, but kindred souls instead.
“Yeah.” They both say in unison.
“We don’t know what to do, Blackbell. Bossman, he…” Ewen trailed off. Where he left off, Emile appended. “Bossman’s fighting with that girl again…! He left us for her!”
“Hey, that girl you’re referring to is my best friend, FYI.” Becky reminds them, crossed that they were referring to Anya so rudely. “But I understand, because Anya just did the same to me.”
The three kids, all left by their best buddies, sat gloomily. So gloomy that even they were sending Glooman a run for his money.
“Wah, I don’t know why they do this! It all ends just the same anyway!” Becky whined, “I bet Desmond is going to go buy her peanuts as an apology again!” …Just because he was too chicken to say sorry face to face!
“I don’t like giving bossman little credit… but yeah, we’ve already seen it a hundred times already.” Emile agreed.
“Well, bossman’s gotta give in one day! Maybe today’s the day he properly says sorry?”
The girl behind them, the one with the black buns, pipes in their conversation. “Oh, I agree with Egeburg! I believe Desmond’s kind heart will shine through, especially since he’s liked Forger for this long.”
Ah yes, by the way. Everyone in Cecile Hall already knew that Anya Forger and Damian Desmond were already head over heels for each other.
They also knew that Damian was a massive tsundere and Anya was a dense little rock,
“You guys really believe that? I bet he won’t apologize at all.” And came a comment from the other row, this time from the blonde-haired girl wearing a hairclip.
“Ten dalc says that it’s peanuts again!” One of the boys from the back row states. There followed a couple of yeah’s from their other classmates.
“Oh, are we betting money on this?”
“Count me in! This is kinda fun!”
“Oh, me too, me too!”
“Wait!” Becky stood up, her hands hitting the table with a thud. This surprises everyone into silence. Though, you could still hear the pining idiots arguing from the distance. “If you guys are going to bet money, then we better make this organized!”
Ewen grabs her sleeve. “Wait, Blackbell, what are you doing? Are you insane?”
“Yeah,” Emile defends. “These are our best friends they’re betting money on.”
Becky raises an eyebrow at both of them. “And so?”
“Isn’t this going a bit too far?” And borderline illegal goes unsaid but implied.
Becky bends until her face was level with the two. “Look, aren’t you guys tired of just moping around here? This could mean business and it makes it more fun for us in the long run.”
Ewen and Emile still looked unconvinced. At this, Becky sighed. “Think of this as our pay? Imagine, we’ve been babysitting those two for years free of charge! That’s child labour!”
“But what if boss finds out?” Emile asks.
“Duh, he won’t! Anya won’t find out too, I’ll make sure of it!”
The two nod, although reluctantly. Trust Blackbell to drag them into her antics, they guessed.
“Okay, so students of Cecille Hall. Listen up,” Becky retrieves three sheets of paper from her bag and scribbles words on each one. “Those of you who agree Desmond will apologize, sign here with the amount you’re betting.” She hands off the paper. “Those who agree that Desmond will only offer her peanuts, sign here. And those who don’t think he’ll apologize, here.”
Becky, Ewen, and Emile all watched as their classmates flock to place their signatures on each of their respective bets. The two of them think that their class has lowkey gone insane, while Becky felt a little thrilled. Drama! Excitement!
Little did they know, this little event would then bring Cecile Hall closer together.
Anya and Damian continue to argue, unaware of their classmate's shenanigans. Later, when Damian went to hand a bag of peanuts to Anya, a few of their classmates let out tiny whoops while the others groan in loss.
After a whole year, Becky can proudly say that business is booming! Cecile Hall’s little side hustle was absolutely making bank! DamiAnya, or so they’ve dubbed Damian and Anya’s relationship was hugely popular in their school. And how did they take advantage of this? Why by creating merchandise of course!
Becky flips her twin tail over her back. She counts the stack of cash in her hand, handing it over to co-head Emile. “That’s six grand in total.” He entered the number in the calculator in his hand. “Oh, we’ve reached a new peak in sales since last winter! 50,000 dalc in total!”
The homeroom erupts into celebratory whoops. Not too loud though in case they attract teachers.
“Creatives team, how’s it going with the graphics for the tees and the new stickers?”
“All good, captain! We’ve already designed six different variations for the shirts, and ten for the stickers.” Headband Girl replies. Then the one with the bob cut adds, “We also have a few ideas for new bookmarks.”
Becky nodded, pleased. “Great job, creatives.”
“What about the marketing team?”
Fluffy forehead guy moves forward. “We’ve already sent George off to hand flyers, captain Blackbell. We’ve also made extra sure his route won’t overlap with Anya’s and Damian’s.”
“Nice.” Becky compliments. “And lastly, the materials team?”
Long hair adjusts her glasses. “We’ve already procured the needed materials.”
The ponytail girl cheerfully clasps her hands together. “And we bought them on sale too!”
Becky sighs happily. It seems like things are going smoothly , she thought. As the appointed leader, she always had the duty to check in their class’ corresponding teams in case a complication arises. It’s better to face them head-on than let them fester and potentially ruin their business.
Becky calls out to one of her co-heads. “Ewen, how’s the inventory check?”
“All Damianya merch present, ma’am!” Ewen answers, saluting at Becky. “We can distribute this to customers once classes are over.”
Becky took note of that. She went in front of the classroom to announce the overall weekly check-in, but suddenly, Bald Boy bursts through the door in a panic. “Code red, everyone! Damian and Anya are on their way here!”
“Everyone quick, return to normal position!”
The whole class hurries to hide their equipment and scattered paraphernalia. Everyone scurries to go back to their normal seats, even Becky who ran to her and Anya’s usual table.
The door creaks open, revealing Damian and Anya.
The class was dead silent. Again. For the last couple of months or so, there would always be a day whenever they chanced upon their class spending lunch in their homeroom. For some reason, they would always be deadly quiet. It was as if their arrival killed the mood or something.
Anya tried to scan their minds, but they would always be suspiciously blank. As if they were trying very hard to hide something from her and Damian.
“Why so quiet?” Damian spoke up. “Did Anya and I miss something?”
Everyone was silent. Guess I have to take one for the team… Becky thought. She didn’t notice that Anya was squinting her eyes at her. “No, nothing at all Desmond. We just want to be on good behaviour so Mr. Henderson doesn’t get mad when he comes back.”
“Becky…” Anya looks, her bright green eyes staring straight at Becky. “Are you hiding something?”
Ah- did something give her away?! “What makes you think that, my best friend forever??”
Anya opened her mouth to speak but seems to have decided against it. Next to her, Damian is as frowny as ever.
The two don’t say anything else to everyone’s relief. But then suddenly, on the way up, Damian steps on a stray piece of paper on the ground. He picks it up and reads it. Then he looks around with furrowed eyebrows before settling down on the paper again.
DamiAnya Merch Sales …? And listed below were huge sums of money, too. “Damianya… wait, is this supposed to be us?”
The finance list! Becky cursed in her head. She glares at Emile who looked positively mortified.
Anya stood up from beside Becky and climbed up the steps towards Damian. She took a peek at the paper too.
“So is anyone here going to explain or…?” Wow, Desmond looked really red, but it was most likely out of anger more than embarrassment. Even Anya looked upset.
“Err,” A student from the far right speaks up. It’s hairclip girl again. “I think that’s made up.”
The students voice out their agreements. Becky even heard someone say “What even is a Damianya” which would’ve been funny in any other situation but….
“Stop it!” Damian shouts. “You expect me and Anya to believe that?”
(Anya whispers to Damian. “No, they’re right. What even is a Damianya anyway.”
Damian sends her an exasperated look. “It’s literally our names glued together. Damian and Anya. Damianya.”
“Oh.”)
Ewen, in an attempt to save the situation, attempts to interject. “Bossman-”
“No, Ewen. There’s no hiding it anymore.” Becky answers, pensive. So much for the secret DamiAnya operation . “Yes, we have been monetizing your relationship without your consent.”
“...???” Damian is a bit impressed that Becky admitted it outright, but to say it bluntly?
“Hey, Blackbell. You’re making us look bad, you know?” A boy from the second row called out.
Anya scratched her head. “Well, it’s not like there’s any other way to phrase it.” She says. Becky would like to think that it was her best friend’s way of coming to her rescue ( Anya…. Internally she’s in awe just like back in first grade when Anya punched Damian for her.)
“To be fair, we only started it anyway because you and Anya were so clueless.” Said the headband girl at the back.
“Yeah, it eventually became too painful to watch you pine for each other.”
“The Damianya merch was our coping mechanism, actually!!!”
Damian grits his teeth. “I- are you guys really blaming this on us?”
(Anya takes Damian’s hand in an attempt to calm him down. It doesn’t go unnoticed by some people which start whispering. )
Damian, though still visibly mad, looks at Anya. Anya nods back, though no words were spoken between them. ( Telepathy ?! Becky has seen that in a drama once.)
“Well, Anya and I-” Damian stops, hesitant. He didn’t really want to reveal it this way but if their class was this crazy about them then it was probably necessary. “Are dating. We have been for a while, so kindly leave us alone.”
The classroom promptly explodes in unintelligible noise.
“ANYA?! WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME?” Becky cried, feeling weak at the knees all of a sudden. “All this time… my best friend…”
“THAT’S OUR BOSSMAN!” Emile yells as he and Ewen cheer for Damian feeling very proud that he finally secured his crush of almost a decade.
“Damn, I knew they were dating!! Have you seen the way they looked at each other during study hall last week?”
“You guys are already dating? Congrats!”
“I didn’t see that coming at all! I thought they would’ve stayed pining for each other until they reached their eighties!”
“Okay, I think some people owe me money now. You guys better pay up.”
“WAIT A MINUTE!” Someone from the class shouts, and the room falls into silence. “So who confessed first?!”
Anya slaps her hand on a table. “Me.” She answered smugly. Damian looked away, embarrassed a bit. It’s not my fault she beat me to it .
The noise comes back but ten times louder now, with the addition of the clinking of coins and passing of paper bills. “Wait a minute, did all of you make bets on our relationship too or something?!”
“Duh. If we sold merchandise of you two, what makes you think we wouldn’t stoop this low too?” Someone from the class answers- who it was? A mystery.
“Wait, but isn’t the merchandise lower than betting-”
“Oh, right.”
Damian and Anya watch as their class is still in chaos. How they got so shameless over the years, they don’t know.
Becky, as the guilty operation leader, knew she had to say something. She steels herself and opens her mouth, her voice cutting through the homeroom, sending everyone else to quiet down again. “So I guess the merchandise gig is a bust now?”
Anya and Damian look at each other. “No, we want in too!” Anya answers, nodding vigorously. “We’re just mad you didn’t tell us!”
Damian pinches her on the arm. “That’s Anya. You guys are lucky to have her here because I am absolutely furious. ”
Then someone from the class calls Damian whipped.
“Don’t push your luck.” He glares.
“Yay!” Becky rushes to Anya, pulling her in a hug. “Welcome to the operation, bestie! And I guess your boyfriend too.”
Ewen and Emile came down to pat Damian on both shoulders. “Welcome to the team, boss.”
“You guys were in on this too?!”
The two look at each other and it’s Emile that speaks. “Uh, yeah. Sorry, bossman.”
“Okay, nevermind the fact that the whole class was involved in this,” Damian says, turning to Becky for answers. “But how did you guys get past Mr. Henderson?”
“Oh.” Becky deadpans. “Well, who do you think authorized us to use our homeroom for our gig?”
“Yeah, I think Mr. Henderson bought some merchandise too, actually. Probably a mug.” Ewen added.
Damian Desmond was close to having a conniption. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Has everyone in our class gone mad? He moved his head to look for Anya who had bounded off earlier after the hug. She was with the girl with the hair buns who was now showing her a shirt with chibi version of them on it. “That looks so cute!” He hears her exclaim.
Even his girlfriend…
Henderson observes his class from the distance. It all seemed to turn out in the end, although the Desmond boy still looked quite red in the face. How elegant. He thought. Cecile Hall’s children were getting along splendidly, and it brought a warm feeling to his heart.
He brings down his monoculars and sips on his Damianya mug.
All was at peace.