The classroom fell silent after Vy's thunderous slam on the desk. All eyes turned toward the corner, where she stood tall with her hands on her hips, chin tipped up, looking every bit as defiant and headstrong as ever.
The teacher could only sigh, shaking her head in weary disbelief.— "What now, Vy? You have an issue with the way I arranged the seats?"
Vy drew in a sharp breath, her gaze flicking toward An Phong. He sat hunched, shoulders curled inward, his face blank but distant—exactly the kind of expression that told her his heart was in turmoil.
— "No, ma'am… not really. Just that… well, you know An Phong, he…"
The teacher arched an eyebrow.— "He what, exactly?"
Vy straightened her shoulders, speaking more firmly this time.— "He's… um, shy. And… afraid of people."
A muffled chorus of snickers broke out across the room. A few students covered their mouths, struggling not to laugh outright. Even the teacher looked as though her patience was running thin. She forced a strained smile, breathing out through her nose.— "Afraid of people? You mean strangers, surely. How can a person be afraid of other people, Vy? What nonsense—" Her voice cracked as she barked the last words.
Startled, Vy ducked her head, muttering under her breath.— "Well… you're scaring me right now, aren't you…"
That tiny grumble was the final straw. Whatever restraint the teacher had left evaporated instantly, her voice booming through the classroom. Everyone froze, waiting for the storm to break.
— "Enough! No more muttering down there. I've already decided—Uy Phong will sit next to An Phong. That's final. There are no other open seats. Or would you prefer I let him sit up here at the teacher's desk instead, hmm?"
— "N-no! That's not what I meant! I just… it feels like you're forcing—"
— "Forcing?! And what brilliant solution do you have, then?"
Vy stiffened, stammering as her eyes darted helplessly toward An Phong.— "…Maybe if An Phong sat with m—"
— "Absolutely not!" the teacher thundered, cutting her off. "Don't even think about it. Let him study in peace! The seats are set. Anyone still fussing will answer to me."
An Phong sat frozen, eyelids half-shut, heart pounding in his chest. Vy bit her lip, frustrated and guilty all at once. The room fell into a taut, uneasy quiet—only the whisper of wind through the open windows broke the tension.
Once the teacher left, the noise flooded back in. Laughter erupted, a few kids mimicking Vy in high-pitched voices:— "He's afraid of people, teacher, boo-hoo!"
Others whispered that Vy had only embarrassed her friend, making him the butt of the whole class's amusement.
Vy's cheeks burned crimson. She hadn't meant for things to go this way. She only wanted to shield him—yet somehow she'd thrown him into the spotlight instead. And now… what would he think?
Sure enough, when she glanced forward, she saw Uy Phong studying An Phong intently. An Phong kept his head bowed, ears faintly flushed pink. The silence between them was awkward, heavy—and it made Vy's stomach twist.
Finally, the new boy's deep voice rumbled low, cutting through the din.— "So… you're uncomfortable having someone sit next to you?"
An Phong startled, lifting his gaze. His own eyes were dull, muted, as though no light could enter them. But as he met the other's stare, something shifted—an odd spark trickling into him. His breath caught.
Up close, Uy Phong was nothing like the boys An Phong was used to. Same age, same uniform, yet his presence felt foreign. Broad shoulders, a sharp jawline, neatly cropped hair, muscles taut beneath his shirt. His eyes—dark but bright, full of a vitality that An Phong's lacked. No wonder the teacher had listed off his accolades earlier; the boy practically radiated capability.
But then that same low voice sounded again, making An Phong jump.— "Hey… are you listening to me?"
Heat flushed across An Phong's cheeks. He fumbled for words.— "I—yes. Sorry. What did you say?"
Uy Phong sighed lightly, as though brushing off a leaf in the breeze.— "I asked if sitting with me bothers you."
— "Huh? Oh… no. I'm fine. Really."
— "You sure? Think you can handle it?"
— "Handle… what?"
Uy Phong tilted his head, lips quirking faintly.— "Didn't your friend just say you're afraid of people? Sitting next to me—won't that be a problem?"
Realization hit, and An Phong almost laughed. So he actually believed Vy's nonsense? He shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips.— "No. I'm not afraid of people. I just… don't know how to deal with strangers."
A flicker of amusement crossed Uy Phong's face.— "Hmm. That's more than I expected you to say."
— "What?"
— "You usually mumble, answer in single words. But just now—you gave me a whole sentence. For a second, I thought you weren't fluent in Vietnamese."
An Phong blinked. What did he just—? His brows drew together, both shocked and oddly indignant.
Then, a low, easy laugh rolled from Uy Phong's chest—warm yet mischievous.— "Relax. I'm kidding. You didn't seriously think I was mocking you, did you?"
An Phong looked up to see him smiling, eyes narrowed with interest, as if savoring his reaction.
— "Anyway. Let's start fresh, shall we? You weren't paying attention when the teacher introduced me, were you?"
— "…Sorry about that."
— "Don't worry. So—your name?"
— "Hạ An Phong."
— "And I'm Hoàng Uy Phong. Same name, huh?"
— "Not… the same."
The words slipped out before An Phong realized he'd spoken them aloud. His ears burned hot. But Uy Phong only chuckled again, voice deep and strangely disarming.
— "Is that so? Well… let's see about that."
An Phong's heart stumbled, unsteady. He didn't understand why—but this boy unsettled him, irritated him… and yet, he couldn't look away.