Chapter 190 - Mason's Gift (1)
Chapter 190 – Mason’s Gift (1)
This might be one of my most courageous yet embarrassing things because this mission to bait Natasha and Barbara… involved Mason Hall, the school Idol.
Thus, I took out my phone and started texting Mason Hall.
—
Emmy: Good evening, Mason. Can I talk to you for a second?
—
I waited for his text back. So I took a bath first and then dried my hair before returning to my room. I checked the phone and got a few texts and missed calls from him.
I opened the text first.
—
Mason: Oh, sure, Em! Do you need anything?
Mason: I'm always free to call. Or should I call you first?
Mason: Em? You there?
Mason: :bunny emoji:
—
I chuckled at his text. I didn't know that Mason could send some cute emojis as well. Thus, I texted him back;
—
Emmy: Can I call you now?
Mason: Sure!
—
I was about to call him, but before I pressed the green button on my phone, I got a call from him first.
I picked up the call from Mason Hall;
__Phone call with Mason Hall__
"Good evening, Em!" Mason sounded very cheery when calling me, and it set up a comfortable tone for us.
"Good evening, Mason. Are you still in school today for your practice? Or you're going for another movie shoot?" I asked. I sat on the bed and started talking with him about random stuff that would make him comfortable because I would definitely need his help after this.
"Ah, I'm done with the club today. I will have another shot tomorrow after class. I've been cast to another role in another teen movie, still supporting cast though."
"Ehh~ Do you think I don't know that you can easily snatch that main lead role if you want," I teased him a bit. I knew that he was very popular on social media, and the directors really sought after his talent in acting. But Mason kept saying that he didn't want a male lead role because he thought he didn't like to commit at the working hours.
He just didn't have the time for it.
"W—Well, if I took the main lead, I won't be able to call you like this, Em…" Mason said bashfully. "I will be too busy with that acting job…."
"Well, that's true. But aren't you short of money? The main character pay would be handsome enough for you," I replied, thinking that it would benefit Mason Hall more.
"I prefer to live modestly for now. I'm still a high schooler anyway, and I still don't know what will I do after high school. So might as well enjoy what I'm doing right now," Mason replied logically.
Ah, really, it might be cliche to say, but I had to admit that Mason Hall was very mature for his age. As if he was a lot older than his real age right now, the way he acted, tackled stuff and handled his schedule was like an adult.
"So, Em… I'd like to talk more with you. But I think you have something to talk about here, right? I'm all ears if you need me to do something," Mason said.
Ah, now I had to find a smoother way to say this. Because this would correlate with my plan to trap Natasha and Barbara.
"So um… you know, Mason. I've always wanted to know what does it feel like to get a gift," I said timidly. I was ashamed that I had to ask this, but this was the way to play the game.
And, of course, I lied. Logan had given me the necklace of a snake with ruby eyes as the pendant. I didn't wear it to school because it was way too precious and eye-catching. It might attract dangerous people, both men, and women. Since I knew almost everyone in Darthmorth was either Lord Voldermort or Bellatrix Lestrange.
"Eh? A gift?"
"Yeah, you know, I've never even gotten a gift from someone other than my mom. I think the last time my mom gave me a gift was on my 10th birthday," I replied. "I mean, I can afford to buy something, of course. I can save enough money to buy something that I want. But it's a different kind of feeling when someone gives you a thoughtful gift. You know, right?"
…
"Uh… I—I don't mind paying someone to buy me a gift. I have saved enough money. What do you think, Mason?"
…
"MASON, SAY SOMETHING!" I yelled out of frustration and embarrassment. I was trying to force him to buy me something as a gift because I would use that as a tool to bait Natasha and Barbara.
But I also got embarrassed in the process because it was a seriously embarrassing thing to ask!
Mason cleared his throat and sounded pitiful here, "I—I'm sorry, Em. It's my fault. I should've bought you a present during Christmas before. But I was so busy that I forgot about it."
"I'm so sorry. Let me make it up for you, okay?" Mason said. "I have saved enough money as well. I'm planning to take you on a dinner date. But since I'm so busy with my activity, I think this is the best time to use it!" Mason said excitedly.
Now I was the one who started panicking because that wasn't my intention. I just wanted him to buy me something for me to use as a tool for the mission, "No, no! Please don't use your money! All I want is for you to buy me something and wrap it as a gift. I can give you the money, so you can buy it for me," I said, trying to make sense. Although this conversation was bound to be strange.
"Huh? Why would I let you pay, Em? I am the one who wants to give you something as a present. You gave me that bunny cookie during Christmas, and I am forever grateful. Because those cookies warmed up my cold winter night. It's natural for me to give you something in exchange for such kindness!" Mason insisted. "Don't worry about me. I still have enough money even after I bought you something! I got lots of money from the advertisement shoot."
"Ah, p—please don't do that, Mason. I have money. I just need you to buy something!"
"No need to be shy, Em! I'd love to buy you stuff too! I want to show you that I can give you a great gift that would lighten up your day!" Mason said excitedly. And I was literally speechless right now as I didn't know how to convince him that he didn't need to use his own money.
Maybe it was his way to say that he wasn't that poor, even though he earned all those money by himself. So he wanted to buy me something nice as a gift.
It was such an admirable move. Despite all his shortcomings, he still wanted to buy me something out of his own pocket, and I wouldn't lie that I felt appreciated.
"Just… make sure that you don't buy me anything expensive, okay? 10 dollar stuff is okay. Heck, even 5 dollars stuff would be alright as well. Just don't waste your saving for it," I said, trying to warn him not to go overboard for his mission of giving me a present.
"For the price, I will not tell, Em. I just want you to feel happy with my gift. I want you to know that you meant a lot to me," Mason said. "So please, let me treat you this time, okay?"
…
Sigh, I literally couldn't accept him like this. I bet he would use all his saved money to buy me some random, expensive gift. And I didn't want that. I just felt that I didn't deserve such a thing.
This was also the same as what happened with Logan's gift. He might think the cost was so meager, but for me, it was too precious that I got scared wearing it.
But both Mason and Logan were stubborn in their own ways.
"Just… make sure that you won't hurt yourself for buying me something. You should also tell me how much you spent on that, and I will send you the money as well, okay?" I tried to convince Mason not to waste his time.
"Hehe, I won't promise that. Anyway, I'll have to go now. Talk to you later, Em! I will come to you with the gift of my choice!"
"Have a good sleep tonight, Em!" Mason said before he hung up the call.
Beep.
__Phone call ends__
I sighed, full of pity because Mason seemed very eager about it.
The thing was, in order for this mission to work, I HAD to get something from Mason, so it would be counted as a gift, and I would use that as the key.
"But still… Mason Hall, why are you so sweet to me?"