The next day…
Noor was getting ready for school, lazy as usual.
Rosy prepared breakfast for him.
After finishing, he ran outside.
"I'm going to be late again!
Oh no— I forgot my bag!"
He ran back inside.
"Here it is. You forgot, haha." Rosy giggled, handing him the backpack.
Jenne was standing behind her.
Noor looked at her nervously, but—
Humph.
She looked away.
(Looks like she's still angry…) he thought.
"Bye, Miss Rosy!" Noor ran while waving.
Outside.
Mr. Rahim was standing beside the car.
"Oh, Mr. Rahim is here, thank God— huff, huff…" Noor came running.
"Let's go," he said.
"But I'm waiting for Miss Jenne," Rahim replied, straight-forward as always.
"Oh… then I'll be going."
Noor started walking.
(No, wait. If I want to apologize to her, I have to talk to her first.)
He ran back.
"You came back," Rahim said.
"I don't feel like walking today. Can you give me a lift?"
"Sure, sir."
"You're the best."
Thump.
Noor got into the front seat and shut the door.
Some time later, Jenne arrived. She noticed Noor, but didn't react.
---
Rahim was driving.
Jenne sat in the backseat, looking out the window.
Noor was lost in thoughts, rubbing his finger on the car window.
(What should I do… I can't directly talk to her… and if we arrive at school, I won't get another chance like this. Oh— idea.)
"Mr. Rahim," Noor said loudly.
"Hmm, sir?" Rahim replied.
"How was the date?" Noor whispered.
"…Today's date is 15 February."
"No, I'm talking about yesterday." He whispered again.
"Oh— yesterday was 14 Feb—"
"HAHHHH!" Rahim yelled loudly, jaw dropping.
Damn, I didn't think he would react like this… Noor thought.
"H-How did you find out…?" Rahim stuttered.
"Miss Rosy told me." Noor smirked.
"R-Rosy…"
Rahim's face turned completely red like a tomato.
(I never knew a man can blush like this. Outside he looks like a cold, handsome robot… but inside he's a softie. Hehe.) Noor chuckled.
"What? Rosy told you everything?" Jenne asked, surprised.
"Yes, she did." Noor said carelessly.
"I can't believe it…" Jenne muttered, crossing her arms.
(Task failed successfully. At least we talked… but I bet she'll be jealous of me. I had to bury my anxiety to pull off this trick.) Noor thought.
"So Mr. Rahim, how was the d—"
"You've arrived at school. You'll get late."
Rahim said, face still red.
"Oh, okay…"
They got out of the car.
Rahim drove away so fast dirt flew everywhere.
Cough, cough.
"What's with him…" Noor said.
Jenne had already walked far away. Some girls surrounded her.
"Miss Jenne!" Noor called out.
"What?" she replied carelessly, while the girls glared at Noor.
"No… nothing." Noor walked away.
(Nah… it would be hard to talk to her like this. This reminds me of Ria's fan club…)
"Wait— where's Ria? Maybe in the classroom. Suvro and Ashraf should be there too."
Noor ran through the hallway.
"Hey, are you Noor?" someone called from behind.
"Yes?" Noor turned around.
A woman stood there. From her attire, it was clear she was a teacher.
"Oh— Miss… I mean madam. I didn't notice you." Noor apologized.
"You may not recognize me. My name is Sophia, teacher from Class A."
(So that means she's Miss Jenne's class teacher… I wonder what she wants.)
"My brother Roy is in really bad condition… I shouldn't be saying this to you. I'm ashamed he hurt your friends so badly… but his condition is worse. His allies who woke up can't say anything—they're heavily traumatized. The others, along with Roy, are in a coma."
She started crying.
Noor's expression darkened.
(Oh right… she's Roy's sister. But why tell me this? I don't care about those bastards.)
"Miss… why are you telling me this?"
She wiped her tears.
"I recently checked the CCTV footage from the hallway. I saw you following Roy's group.
If you have any clue who did this… please tell me."
Noor's hands started shaking.
He took a deep breath.
"Yes, I followed them. I was pissed because they beat my friends nearly to death. I wanted to confront them—no matter what happened to me.
But later… I couldn't gather the courage and ran away.
I don't have any clue. Sorry, I can't tell you anything."
Sophia exhaled.
"I see… sorry for wasting your time. Your class will start soon. Hurry."
"Thanks, ma'am." Noor walked toward his classroom.
"Take good care of yourself, Noor…
You might never know what's coming next," Sophia whispered.
"What?" Noor turned around—
She was already gone.
"Strange…" Noor muttered.
---
In the classroom—
"Hey Noor!"
Ashraf rushed to him.
"Look at the magazine!"
Noor grabbed it and threw it away.
"No wasting 10 bucks buying this."
"There goes his money…" Suvro sighed.
"How're you doing, bro?" He slapped Noor's back.
"Good." Noor smiled a little.
"Oi Ria— look, Noor came!" Ashraf called.
Ria sat in the corner.
Her hair was cut short— a wolf-cut, trending among girls.
Noor looked at her, surprised.
"Why did she cut her hair…? Before she looked beautiful, now she looks even cooler," Noor whispered to Suvro.
"I don't know, man… maybe the incident affected her."
"What?" Noor asked, confused.
"You're a blockhead, bro. You can't catch a girl's feeling," Ashraf teased.
"Oh, come on—"
Noor turned behind—
Ria stood right in front of him.
"Eek—!" Noor got goosebumps.
"R-Ria… (did she get taller?)"
"I want to talk to you.
Meet me on the rooftop."
She walked away.
"Not only her looks— her attitude changed," Ashraf whispered.
"Noor, what are you waiting for? Go talk to her," Suvro said.
"Huh… me?"
Noor looked around.
Everyone in class glared at him like it was his fault.
"Okay, okay— I'm going."
---
Some time later—
Noor climbed the stairs.
On the rooftop, Ria stood silently.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, heavy wind blowing.
"Hey, Ria— huff… huff…
Why did you call me here? What's so important? It's getting dark, we should go back." Noor yelled over the wind.
Ria stayed silent.
"Oi— why did you cut your hair though?"
"Didn't you like it?" Ria asked softly.
"No— I mean, it's cool though…" Noor scratched his head.
"I see."
Woosh—
In a blink, she was right in front of him.
Her eyes glowed dark yellow.
"Eek— (what's with her again…? She usually changes personalities, but this time… it's way different.)"
"Ria— what happened? Why are you act—"
"You smell a little different today.
Were you with Jenne?" she asked coldly.
"Yes… we came to school in the same car."
"Oh… then—"
Grab.
Woosh.
THUD.
Ria pushed Noor and pinned him to the ground.
She grabbed both his hands — he couldn't move.
"Arrgh— (It feels like my hands are getting crushed by unstoppable force… I can't move a muscle.)"
"Ria— why are you doing this— ack!"
"Noor…
I wanted to tell you something…
from long ago," she said in a soft yet terrifying tone.
"W-What…?" Noor trembled.
"I LIKE YOU."
KRA-KA-THOOOOOOM—
Thunder roared.
"Huh—"
Noor froze in shock.