Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows

Suddenly, everything clicked into place.
Inside, I was a whirlwind of emotions, but on the outside, I just seemed a bit quieter than usual. In this silent battle of a secret crush, I'm left to fight
solo.
Noticing my silence, Jonah jumped to conclusions, assuming my quietness meant agreement. He took a deep breath, his face getting more serious.
"Lana, you're just a junior. Who said you could start dating?"
"Was it the guy who walked home with you today, or the one who waved at you by the school gates a couple of weeks back? Or maybe the one who
shared his umbrella with you when it rained three Fridays ago?"
I stared at him, amazed at how well he remembered these little details.
Frustrated, he went on, "Don't tell me it was the guy who slipped a love note into your desk during the last parent-teacher meeting?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "None of them. I'm not dating anyone."
Just secretly crushing on someone.
Our eyes locked, his gaze was piercing, as if trying to read the truth in my words. I met his stare with calmness. Time seemed to stretch out between
us.
Eventually, his expression softened, and he said, "No dating."
I asked, "So seventeen's too young, what about eighteen?"
"Still too young," he insisted.
I kept pushing, "How about twenty? What if I date when I'm twenty?"
"Even twenty's too young," he replied.
I teased, "What about your age now?"
He hesitated, his eyes darting around as he coughed and waved me off. "It's late, what are you doing up? Get some sleep."
Love is like a sudden summer downpour, catching me off guard before I can even open an umbrella. Naturally, I was flustered, but when the rain
eased up, the coolness of my soaked clothes offered a welcome relief from the sweltering summer heat. It dawned on me that this was a gift of youth,

Meet Me Where the Oak Tree Grows
Chapter 42
Under the Veil I Rule
Chapter 305
making me wish for it to come even more fiercely.
A secret crush stays hidden because it lurks behind the moon's shadow, wrapped in half-truths and words left unsaid.
Outwardly, I went back to being the same old Lana. I seemed normal again, but now Jonah was acting odd. Even though I reassured him multiple
times that I wasn't dating, Jonah still couldn't chill.
Whenever he drove me home, his eyes were like radar, scanning everyone who got close to me.
I told Marie funny stories from school. Jonah used to tune out, saying it wasn't his business to hear. But now, he would put down his work, casually sit
on the couch nearby, openly eavesdropping, and even throwing in his two cents now and then.
"Today, the homeroom teacher brought in some successful alumni to share their experiences. One of them stopped mid-speech, looking around until
he spotted a classmate napping at his desk. He politely apologized, then went over and woke the guy up with a bang. The sleeper's known for having
a bit of a temper."
Marie gasped, "Oh no, didn't that start a fight?"
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