Chapter 3: The Locker Collision of Doom™
Lira had exactly three goals that morning:
1. Get to her locker.
2. Grab her sketchbook.
3. Avoid all human interaction.
But fate—rude, loud, glitter-covered fate—had other plans.
She tugged at her hoodie nervously, eyes locked on the floor tiles like they held the secrets to the universe. Which, honestly, would be easier to understand than high school social dynamics.
Her locker stood at the far end of the hall, next to the science lab and an ominous-looking poster that said, "Frog Dissection: COMING SOON." Ew.
She reached her locker, spun the dial—left, right, left—and opened it with a soft click. A small sigh escaped her lips. Safe.
That is—until she heard the voice.
"Hey, lira"
Her soul left her body for a moment. That voice? Smooth. Confident. Slightly teasing.
She turned slowly. Please be the janitor. Please be a hallucination. Please be anyone but—
Aeron, in all his chaotic glory, leaned against the locker next to hers. White button-up shirt rolled to the elbows. Tie loosely hanging like he'd wrestled it into submission and lost. That smug, lopsided smile that said, "I know I'm trouble, and you like it."
"W-what are you doing here?" she whispered, clutching her sketchbook like a shield.
He tilted his head. "Locker buddies. Surprise."
Then he winked.
WINKED.
Lira's brain crashed like a bad website. No reboot button in sight.
Just as she was about to say something totally intelligent like "uhhhhhh," the air around them grew colder—like the hallway had suddenly walked into a haunted house.
Thud.
A tall figure appeared at her other side, slamming his locker shut with a dramatic CLANG. His black hoodie was up, hiding most of his face, but she knew that jawline.
Damian.
"You forgot your pen," he said, not looking at Aeron, just handing Lira a sleek black pen she didn't even remember dropping.
She blinked. "Huh? Oh… th-thanks."
Her voice squeaked like a mouse on espresso.
Aeron raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know you two were locker pen pals."
Damian finally turned his head, slow and deliberate. Their eyes locked.
"Didn't know you were stalking her," Damian said, voice cold enough to give the walls frostbite.
Aeron smirked. "I call it… looking out for a friend."
Lira stood between them like a malfunctioning Wi-Fi router, catching all the tension and transmitting none of it usefully.
"Okaywowgottagotoclassbye!" she blurted, slamming her locker and speed-walking down the hallway.
Both boys watched her go.
Then turned to each other.
Silence.
"Stay out of her way," Damian said.
Aeron laughed under his breath. "Nah, I think I'll keep walking beside her."
Later, in biology class…
Lira sat in the middle row, sandwiched between a girl who chewed gum like it owed her money and a guy sketching suspiciously detailed swords in his notebook.
She thought the drama was over.
She was wrong.
Because the teacher looked up and said, "We'll be working in pairs today."
Cue panic.
"Lira and… Damian ."
Cue second panic.
A beat later:
"Aeron .… you'll be with Jade."
Aeron gave Lira a quick glance. "Trade partners?"
"Absolutely not " Damian said before she could even blink.
Aeron just smiled- calm. Dangerous.
> This is fine, Lira told herself. Nothing weird here. Just a normal school day with one awkward girl and two hot guys acting like this is the season finale of K-drama.