Is this destiny?

Sometime later…

"If I can have your attention, please…" The teacher spoke into the microphone. 

The clamor in the event hall stopped, and everyone faced the stage. They looked at the middle-aged man as he read from the paper.

"You cast your votes, we counted them and it's time to announce the king and queen of this prom!" He continued with dramatic pauses: "For the prom king… we have a total of 179 votes… with 138 votes… the winner is… Corey Smith!"

Everyone burst into the applause and a second later spotlight was on Corey.

"Go on the stage." Merve urged Corey. "You are the prom king."

She was happy that one of those 138 votes is hers and that there are 137 more people who also think that Corey is exceptional. Because he is the best.

Corey could see that Merve is smiling and she is happy for him, but he was not willing. Being the king means that he needs to go there, get crowned, and then dance with the girl who is the queen. And he only wants to dance with Merve. The thought of holding any other girl close to him was making him queasy.

Corey wondered if Merve knows about this dancing detail. Would she ask him to go there if she knew about it? What will Merve do while he dances with a random girl? Corey is aware that if Merve is dancing with someone else, his heart would break into a million pieces even if he knows that the other boy is not important. With that knowledge, how can he go and accept?

"Corey Smith… If you can join me here…" Teacher's voice boomed from the stage.

"Corey, go." Merve reminded him. "I will be right here… Don't worry about me…"

Reluctantly, Corey's legs moved, and he went on the stage.

Merve clapped enthusiastically as Corey's black fedora hat was replaced with a golden one. She liked that the organizers thought of using a golden fedora hat instead of a regular crown.

"Mr. Corey Smith won the title of the prom king without opposition…" The teacher spoke after Corey's coronation was done. "However, for the queen, it was a close call…"

Everyone went silent and looked at Samantha Long who was visibly uncomfortable.

Samantha was mentally prepared to be the queen, and the teacher said it's a close call? Who dared to go against her? How can she rule the school if someone is close to her?

"Out of 179 votes for the prom queen, the winner with 82 votes is… Miss Merve White!"

The silence was suffocating.

Corey smiled while wondering who cast the other 81 votes? But it does not matter. Merve is his queen, and the queen of this prom. Corey was relieved that he does not need to dance with a random girl and pride swelled inside him because Merve will be the one by his side. He can't wait!

"You made a mistake! Count again!" Samantha's voice pierced the silence.

When she heard that teacher said it's a close call, Samantha thought it's a mistake or a joke. But when he called Merve's name, she was confident that they cheated. How can this happen? She IS the prom queen, the only one worthy of such title! Samantha felt the blood draining from her face and the whole hall was spinning.

"Miss Long, we counted the votes three times. Miss White has 82 votes, and you are the runner-up with 76." The teacher said timidly. He does not want to provoke Samantha, but he can't lie either. Provoking someone with the last name Smith or White is equally bad if not worse.

The students started whispering and snickering. Samantha saw that they are looking her way. She is being ridiculed! By everyone! How is this possible?

Cassie took a step away from Samantha. Why would she stand in the middle of the shame-circle? This is not her fight, alright?

"Jumping ships?" A mocking voice came from the crowd and it made Cassie freeze.

Cassie looked around and confirmed that her classmates are looking at her with contempt. She remembered that she is with Samantha for several years, and that the two of them have a bond which is too late to break without heavy consequences. Samantha and Cassie have a long history of bullying others and stepping over them in order to achieve their goals, and these people will never accept her; not unless she does something drastic. But... what can that be? The only thing Cassie could do at this time is to stick to Samantha and she will think of a safe exit later.

Cassie looked at Samantha and noticed that the latter is unable to speak from shock.

"Miss White is not a student here!" Cassie exclaimed with the hope that this argument will make a difference.

"The rules say that you can vote for anyone who attended the prom with an invitation, and Miss White is here as the date of Mr. Smith. That is allowed. No one cheated because every invitation is valid as one vote, and we counted three times." The teacher explained and turned to Merve who was illuminated by a spotlight. "Miss White, if you would join us on the stage… please…"

Merve's eyes didn't leave Corey's and her legs moved in the only direction possible: toward the most handsome guy in the world, her boyfriend.

The teacher exhaled in relief when he saw that Merve is coming and that students parted, making the way for her.

The teacher wanted to be over with this before more kids start causing a ruckus. He always wanted to be a teacher, and this school pays well, but this entitled kids from rich families can be a handful.

When Merve stepped on the stage, Anabella burst into a laugh and started clapping enthusiastically. One by one, other kids joined, and the event hall was filled with the sound of clapping.

Merve looked at Corey and smiled as one of the teachers put a golden headband with a golden feather on Merve's head.

"I present you your prom king and queen! Now, it's time for the dance!" The teacher announced.

Corey took Merve's hand in his and led the way off the stage, to the dancefloor.

The prom king and prom queen were followed by a spotlight and many eyes while people whispered about the latest power-couple which emerged: Smith-White.

A slow tune started and Corey made Merve twirl before he pulled her toward him.

"My queen…" He murmured.

Merve smiled and responded in a half-whisper: "My king…"

Corey gazed into Merve's eyes and he was sure that she is the prettiest girl in the world, and the best part was that she is his girlfriend and that her eyes full of love are looking at him.

Without thinking, he lowered his head and their lips connected.

Merve had a fleeting thought that Corey's classmates are watching, and that a teacher might reprimand them for indecent behavior, but then she got lost in the velvety sweetness of Corey's lips and everything else faded.

This prom thing… Merve likes it very much.

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