After that little "mental shock," An Phong's dazed eyes and hazy mind finally cleared. Only then did he realize… he was already back in class.
Looking down, he saw someone gripping his hand, tugging him along. Ah, so that was it. While he had been lost in his own private fog, Vy had dragged him all the way here without him noticing.
Vy, of course, hadn't realized anything unusual. She was too busy, too excited, clutching his hand and pulling him eagerly toward the classroom—desperate to catch a glimpse of the transfer student from Canada.
"Uh… when did we get back to class?""Huh? Just now, of course! Right after the principal dismissed us from the ceremony. Don't tell me you don't remember?""Mm… feels like I missed an entire stretch of time…"
Vy burst out laughing at his muttering, thumping his shoulder a few times as if to wake him up. She teased:"You're so weird. Sometimes it's like you just drift off into your own little world and get stuck there. Hehe."
As they waited outside the crowded classroom for things to settle down, An Phong suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned—and nearly froze on the spot.
Not because the person was too close, but because he was so tall that he completely blocked An Phong's view. All he could see was the breadth of a broad, solid shoulder.
Before An Phong could gather himself, a low, gravelly voice rumbled down from above:"Excuse me. This is Class 12A, right?"
In an instant, dozens of curious eyes turned toward the doorway. An Phong winced slightly at how deep the voice was, but when his gaze drifted up—meeting the boy's face—his half-lidded eyes flew open, his lips parting as if to speak.
"Hoang… Uy Phong!?"
But the name came not from him, but from Vy—her shriek bursting out behind him, full of excitement.
Only then did An Phong fully register who stood before him.And his heart… lurched in his chest.
Now, An Phong sat at his desk, listening—or pretending to listen—as the homeroom teacher introduced the new student. His attention wavered, most of the words slipping through one ear and out the other. A few fragments stuck in his mind: Uy Phong… from Canada… national basketball champion… first prize in a science competition featured in the Times…
"Thwack!"
An unexpected sting at the back of his head snapped him out of his trance. Reaching up, he felt the spot and turned around—only to find Vy, grinning wickedly, clutching a makeshift slingshot fashioned from two pencils and a rubber band. Her "ammo" was a crumpled paper ball, hard as stone.
Seeing his blank, unamused face, she covered her mouth and whispered with exaggerated lip movements:What are you doing? Pay attention! You looked like a statue. I just wanted to test if you'd react, haha.
He gave her a look somewhere between exasperation and amusement, about to fire back—when the teacher's voice cut through the room:
"An Phong? What are you doing back there? Why are you turned around? Is something wrong?"
The class buzzed with whispers, several eyes darting toward him. Stiffly, he turned back around. For reasons he couldn't explain, he avoided meeting the gaze of the boy beside him, focusing only on the teacher.
"…Nothing, ma'am."
The teacher sighed, reminding him to pay attention, then moved on. An Phong muttered a quick "Yes, ma'am," lowering his eyes to his desk. This time, his senses sharpened—he could hear every word she spoke.
At last, after a long list of announcements, the teacher got to the point: seating arrangements.
The atmosphere in the classroom shifted immediately—murmurs rising, some eager to sit next to the newcomer, others whispering about his looks and his background.
Scanning the room, the teacher finally said:"Ah, the seat beside An Phong is empty. You can sit there."
An Phong's chest tightened at her words. Around him, the class erupted in noise:
"Wow, the two Phongs together! Will this turn into a storm, teacher? Haha!"
Laughter and chatter swirled, pounding in his ears until he felt dizzy.
Then, cutting through the chaos, came that same low, resonant voice:"May I sit here?"
An Phong didn't answer at once. His eyes lifted slowly, taking in the sight of a strong arm—easily twice the size of his own—resting on the desk, a backpack dangling casually from his grip. Finally, he managed a shaky nod, like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Thank you. Should I take the inner seat, or the outer one?""…Whatever you want.""Then I'll sit on the outside. Thanks."
Just as the newcomer was about to sit, the air shifted again—
Smack!
A hand slammed down on the desk from behind. Vy shot to her feet, voice ringing loud and clear:"Teacher! I cannot accept this seating arrangement!"