Chapter 112 - [Bonus] A True Man’s Confession

While the other boys of the E.C. Class were worrying about their results and nervous about needing to run, Dragon had a far more important bet to place his life on.

A true man will keep his promises. If he fails any subject, he will run a hundred rounds around the campus. However, there was one more bet that he made just before the exams that he didn't tell anyone.

If he passed all his subjects, he would also buy flowers and confess before the school term officially ended. There really wasn't much time between the exams ending and the end of year vacation. Dragon agonised over the type of flowers he should buy. The internet told him that roses were common when confessing romantic feelings but the boy didn't think that his crush would like roses.

Hence, the information gathering session began.

"You want me to do what?" Roy asked, perplexed. Dragon quickly shushed him. The students from the Special Class were not here yet so the martial art enthusiast decided to hold a small private meeting with the boys and ask for help.

Vivian shared looks with Teddy. Who knew that Dragon would be the first to actually take interest in girls that way among them? Then again, this was something to celebrate. Both Vivian and Teddy were known romantics and to be asked for help, they couldn't resist the urge to play matchmakers.

Roy rolled his eyes at the other two boys who were discussing strategies to create 'opportunities' for Dragon and his crush. He looked at Dragon and shook his head.

"Count me out. I can't do this. However, all the best to both your confession and studies. I'd worry more about your studies first if I were you."

Dragon grinned and gave Roy a good-natured hug. "Thank you, bro. Means a lot to me. I'll definitely invite you when I get married."

The high jumper froze and smacked his friend on the head. "You idiot! You need to buy her a ring first before you can get married. Besides, you don't have money and you don't have a job. She won't marry you just yet!"

Dragon paled. "You're right. I'm not good enough. What if another man comes along and steals her away?"

It's amazing how Dragon was able to do a hundred and eighty transformation in just a few minutes. Roy couldn't believe that this was the same serious teen who demanded to perfect the plan for his confession moments ago. Dragon had to be consoled by Vivian and subtly brainwashed by Teddy to become normal again.

Roy rolled his eyes. Of all the people Dragon would fall for, he thought that his friend would like a demure maiden in need of protection. Rather, he never thought that the martial art enthusiast would fall for a spartan tutor who was tougher than most boys he knew. The girl was not only younger than them but smarter, fiercer and more successful. She was a genius for crying out loud! They were from two very different worlds. One of them was at the bottom of this school's academic trash and the other was the cream of the crop who was going to represent the nation for a sports competition. The thing called romance and love must truly be blind because Roy couldn't understand it.

Looking back at Dragon, the high jumper sighed. If this is what put that dumb sappy smile on his friend's face and take his focus away from sparring with other people on a daily basis, he would do his best to support it.

The study intensive week rolled by quickly. Vivian and Teddy proved to be very good at eliciting information. They didn't just find out what kind of flowers Rebecca liked but also the kind of man she fancies.

With Teddy's good relationship with the dancing twins, it was easy to get some insider information. On the other hand, Vivian was able to bring down the walls of Rebecca's defences just enough to get her talking about some of her dreams. Roy pretended not to know anything and focussed on studying while offering to smack Dragon whenever he lost focus. Dragon's eyes often strayed from the books in a handstand and would end up plainly staring at Rebecca. Roy had to smack him back to reality before Rebecca caught onto his feelings.

"This question is wrong, you idiot. How are you going to pass if you can't even remember such a simple formula?" he sighed and Dragon tensed, biting his lips.

"I'll remember it. I'll pass this exam for sure so help me out, Roy."

Hearing this, the high jumper sighed. When a man bows his head, albeit upside down, and asks for a favour after swallowing his pride, how could he turn him down?

At the pre-examination party, Dragon sat in a corner and ate silently, waving his nunchucks on the other hand. He still hung out with the boys but whenever nobody was looking, his eyes would drift over to a certain equestrian. Roy saw that but he didn't say anything about it. He didn't think that this fickle thing called love could create a miracle and improve someone's non-existent intellect within such a short period of time.

The examinations came and every time the papers ended, Dragon was nowhere to be found. Roy worried about the martial artist but didn't let it affect his studies. After all, the E.C. Class had a promise to keep.

Dragon would often return to the E.C. Class after school to look at the message Rebecca had left. Even though she didn't sign her name off, Dragon recognised her handwriting after seeing it so many times. He didn't just memorise the formulas on the board, he remembered even the shape of her writing. Seeing this helped propel him further with his efforts and resolve.

On the day of the last examination subject, the whole school was in a festive mood but only one boy went back without saying goodbye. Roy found it odd and worried for Dragon. After seeing Dragon's efforts, surely it would have paid off. then again, it was at least a week before the results were returned. For the rest of the boys, they would spend it gaming and fooling around while they still could. For a certain man wanting to confess, it was like the last few days to live before the noose tightened around his neck. Would the jury find him guilty or declare him a free man?

One by one, the E.C. Class received their examination results. Teams have started to report their numbers to their respective Special Class leaders. Nobody was surprised that Scarlet's Team had no failures. The fact that all the boys met their targets wasn't surprising either. Scarlet was a rather good tutor and had the support of the school's smartest boy.

Jasper wanted to cry. All his members failed to meet their targets by a few marks. Thankfully, the team managed to earn immunity and safely avoided the penalty. The results for the best team average certainly wouldn't be theirs even if the boys tried their best. Scarlet's team was just too strong.

Team Dreamer was in chaos. Reggie still had two subjects below the target of forty marks and Rowan didn't get full marks for any of his subjects. It wasn't even close to full marks when the score was eighty-seven. To make matters worse, the team had collected more running points from the activities, totalling it to twenty rounds. The boys were now arguing about who should run. Roy simply ignored them and watched Dragon closely. His friend hadn't told anyone else about his results apart from Rebecca. His expression was also closed off. Nobody could tell what he was thinking.

Rebecca stood proudly at the front of the class to report team Action First's results.

"Teddy, requirements met. Vivian, missed the target for one subject by one mark. Roy, target met. Dragon..."

The class froze and waited for it. Was he really going to run a hundred rounds around the school?

The smile on Rebecca's face lit the entire classroom up. "Dragon, requirements met. I'm very proud of him."

Dragon's face was still like a stone even though everyone congratulated him. They chalked it up to the stress finally settling down after the mad final push he did for the examinations. Only the boys in Team Action First knew better. Dragon was getting cold feet and thinking of how to confess.

Thankfully, with Camila and Jun le roped into the planning with Teddy and Vivian's coaxing, the team found a good time to help the martial artist and equestrian meet in private. In fact, thanks to Jun Le's masterful strategy, the E.C. Class was empty on the day of confession. He managed to find some activity or excuse, mainly encouraging everyone to watch the losers run and set up checkpoints for them to pass through so they wouldn't cheat while giving some of the invisible helpers time to decorate the classroom for a romantic setting.

Dragon was nervous. He didn't know if Rebecca would like it. He was more unsure if she would like him back. He didn't want to be rejected but he also didn't want to keep his feelings for her a secret. He read the small note in his hands for the last time before entering the door with a small bouquet of violets.

Rebecca was still admiring the tasteful decorations and drawings on the whiteboard. She wasn't a fool. As a pubescent girl, she had her fair share of romantic dreams. Being confessed to was something Rebecca always wanted but she didn't know who could have made so many preparations in such a short time. The decorations were carefully chosen. Rebecca loved horses and the theme wasn't full of girly nonsense like roses and ribbons. Whoever this was, he really paid close attention to her.

The door opened and Rebecca turned around to see the most unexpected person holding a bouquet of violets.

"Dragon?"

The martial artist looked very red and awkward but he still took steady steps towards her until he was right in front of her. Rebecca was tall even for a girl her age. However, Dragon was slightly taller. The boy pushed the flowers into her hands and stuttered badly, something that sounded like gibberish. In the end, he gave a yell of frustration before throwing the small hidden note away.

In a very manly fashion, he knelt down in his gi and black belt, held her hand and looked her in the eyes.

"Rebecca Wee, I'm in love with you. Please go out with me."

The equestrian didn't know how to respond but she wasn't given a chance to anyway.

"I'm not very smart, loud and crass, insensitive and love martial arts to a fault. However, more than all that, I think I like you. The time we spent knowing each other may be short but I found myself attracted to you. I want to be with you, talk to you, watch you smile and support the things you love. If it wasn't for you showing me that it was possible to do the things I didn't think I could do before, I may still be obsessed with being the strongest fighter. After getting to know you, I only want to be strong enough to protect your smile."

Unlike all the fancy words that Jun Le and Camila helped to script, these words were heartfelt from Dragon. Rebecca blushed from head to toe at the intense stare and felt her heart skip a beat. She always admired how tough Dragon was but right now, on his knees before her, he looked extremely vulnerable.

Rebecca always envisioned her Mr. Right to be manly and reliable. She just never expected him to be someone like Dragon but it wasn't a bad feeling.

"Won't you be my girlfriend?" Dragon asked in almost a whisper and Rebecca smiled shyly before nodding her head.

That small gesture made Dragon's heart soar above the skies. Without asking for her permission, the martial artist wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"Thank you, Rebecca. I'll make you the happiest woman in the world. I might be insufficient at the moment but I will work hard to become a better man you can be proud of."

Rebecca returned the hug equally tight, full of joy. She didn't doubt Dragon's words. A man's word was more valuable than gold and for a man like Dragon, it was more than anything else.

Cheers burst out from the windows and the door flung open to reveal the twenty-odd eavesdropper. Caught in the act, the newly formed couple turned beetroot and tried to distance themselves a little but their classmates were relentless with their teasings.

"What a man! Dragon you did it!"

"Rebecca congratulations!"

"Invite us to your wedding!"

From outside, Philip and Danny stopped. They'd come to congratulate E.C. Class and Special Class for the good results during the examinations but seeing that something else had taken place, they turned around and walked away.

"These kids grow up fast, don't they? How about a cup of tea in my office?" Philip asked and Danny smiled.

"I'd have to trouble you and Monica again."