Chapter 5: The Unexpected Arrival 2
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The chatter of the classroom slowly returned to its usual lunchtime rhythm. Groups of students laughed, exchanged snacks, and whispered rumors in hushed tones, but the back corner near the window remained a small island of silence.
Sebastian ate with quiet precision, unbothered by the lingering stares still cast his way. For him, it was as though the world outside his desk didn't matter.
Aisha, meanwhile, picked at her food lightly, her hand steady, but her thoughts weren't as calm as her expression.
'He doesn't flaunt himself. He doesn't deny, but he doesn't boast either.' Her eyes shifted ever so slightly, just enough to glimpse his profile without looking like she was. 'He's… different. Not like the others who scramble for attention.'
"Something on your mind?"
The question came casually, Sebastian's dark eyes turning faintly toward her. She hadn't realized she'd been watching him a second too long.
Aisha blinked, caught off guard. Her lashes lowered as she returned her gaze to her lunch. "…I was only wondering why you chose to transfer here. That's all."
He smirked faintly, as though amused at her rare candor. "Why here? Isn't it obvious? It's the top school in the region— one of the toughest in the country. Who wouldn't want to prove themselves here?"
Her lips pressed together. The words were simple, logical, but somehow they didn't sit right with her. 'That doesn't sound like the whole truth…'
"You make it sound easy," Aisha commented softly, almost as though to herself.
Sebastian tapped his chopsticks lightly against his lunchbox, eyes glinting. "Maybe it wasn't easy. Maybe I just don't like explaining myself."
The faint edge in his tone caught Aisha's attention more than the actual words. She turned her head then, finally meeting his gaze directly. For a single heartbeat, their eyes locked— hers cool and composed, his dark and quietly unreadable.
"…Most people here," she said after that brief pause, "would kill for half the chance you got. They'd want everyone to know it. But you…"
"But I don't care if they know," he finished for her, smiling just slightly.
Her brow furrowed, almost imperceptibly. He wasn't wrong. She felt the corners of her neat, controlled world bending in ways she didn't like.
"…Strange," she murmured under her breath, returning to her food.
"What is?"
"You," she answered quickly, as though to end the topic, though her voice betrayed the faintest shadow of hesitation.
Sebastian chuckled lowly, resting his chin against his palm, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment longer. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Her fork pressed harder than usual into her lunch, betraying the faint crack in her mask. Yet she said nothing more.
Still, in her chest, the thought refused to erase itself. 'Sebastian Vail… what exactly are you hiding?'
***
Time, relentless as ever, slipped by. Days turned to weeks. Lessons, assignments, and endless bell chimes wove the pattern of school life.
To the others, Sebastian Vail had already become a natural part of Class 2-A. To Aisha, he remained a puzzle she kept telling herself she wasn't interested in solving— yet her eyes betrayed her. She 'saw' him.
In that month, she had learned more than she expected.
Sebastian was an only child. His father, once an ordinary bank clerk in a countryside town, had recently moved their family to Valenbruck City. Rumor said he now managed a newly growing financial firm here— one that had shown surprising success in just a short span. The transfer, it seemed, was not just for Sebastian's schooling but for his family's fresh start.
His mother was a housewife, though many whispered she had played a significant role in helping establish the firm, supporting her husband from the background.
But what caught Aisha's attention most was the detail whispered in fragments through school staffs and teachers:
Sebastian— he was here on a full scholarship. That alone was remarkable. The examination for such scholarships was beyond brutal, yet he had not only qualified last year— he had 'aced it.'
The real mystery was why he'd chosen not to attend then. One whole academic year later, he had suddenly stepped into their lives again by clearing the rare transfer examination. That unanswered gap of-
WHY?
The question itched at the edges of her pride. She wanted to ask. Badly. 'Why did someone like him wait?' she often wondered as she sat by the window, her face expressionless, her thoughts restless. 'What was he doing before this? What could he be hiding?'
But pride was a stubborn wall. She would not ask. Not directly.
And still, she couldn't 'not' notice.
Around her, the class had long since embraced Sebastian. Unlike what Aisha had expected, his popularity was not shallow— built not just on his good looks or the rare aura of mystery, but on something more genuine.
His presence in class was strange. He was popular, yes, but not in the way she expected. The girls liked him, of course— whether they were seniors, juniors, or classmates, his easy manner disarmed them.
They often sought him out— sometimes for help with academics, sometimes for light guidance with club activities. And surprisingly, it wasn't just the girls.
Many boys also found themselves liking him, impressed by how approachable he was. He never lorded over others with his obvious intelligence; instead, he explained things with patience, even lending his notes freely.
Because Sebastian helps, Always. People noticed.
So did Aisha. Even when she scowled to herself for noticing.
"Hey, thanks, Sebastian. Saved me again!"
"No problem. Just focus better next time."
That was the kind of exchange Aisha overheard often.
'He… doesn't fit the mold. People who are clever and sharp usually like showing off. People who are kind often lack edges. But he's both— sharp, capable, and still helping others without pretending to be humble.'
Her pen tapped against her notebook as she thought.
'Too good to be real. So why do I feel like he's hiding something still?'
When her friends teased her in whispers—"Living next to Mr. Popular must be fun, right, Aisha? You get to know about him lot right?"—she brushed it off with cold silence.
But, she also noticed details others did not. While he laughed and smiled with ease, there were moments— short, fleeting, but noticeable— when his eyes darkened, distant, almost melancholic.
Times when he'd look out the window as if searching for something invisible. Those were moments that made her chest tighten with curiosity she couldn't explain.
Once, she even caught herself staring at him longer than intended during such a moment. When Sebastian turned suddenly, their eyes nearly met. She looked away instantly, hiding the flicker of heat rising to her cheeks.
'Tch. Ridiculous. Why am I wasting my thoughts on him?' she scolded herself, gripping her pen tighter.
/Hit the Break/
But deep down, she already knew the truth— her cold mask wasn't as unshakable as she wished. She wants to ask him quite bit of questions,
'Who was he before arriving here? '
" Aisha.."
'Why wait a year and a half to join?'
"Aisha.a.a.a.a.."
But most importantly—'what was he not saying? '
"Aisha Valemont!!"
Her pride told her not to care.
But her heart was curious, aching for answers she refused to ask.
"Hey, Aisha, where are you lost?" Sebastian shook her gently, pulling her out of her thoughts, as his voice broke through the haze.
"Hm? What is it, Seb?" Aisha blinked, her eyes distant yet searching. The gentle shake had startled her, but his familiar presence was reassuring.
Sebastian Sigh.
"I've been calling you for a while, you know." Their eyes met— his gaze steady, hers uncertain "We're already at the college."
She realized the car had stopped; Students were pouring in and out of the college, laughter echoing around them. He leaned closer, his voice soft with concern."
"What happened? You seemed lost in yourself. What are you thinking?" he asked with concern.
A faint smile appeared on Aisha's face.
"Nothing," she replied softly. "I was just thinking about how we met back in school, Mr. Popular."
"Ohh," Sebastian smiled, "back then, it was tough to even talk to you, Miss Cold Beauty."
Both chuckled softly.
"Okay, we can think about the past some other time," Sebastian said with a small smile. "For now, let's go. We're already quite late." He hopped out of the car, glancing back. "Mr. Brandon will definitely scold us."
"Hmm," Aisha replied with a small nod as she also got out.
Their eyes met, and they shared a quiet smile before walking side by side toward auditorium.
***
A/N: Since English Is Not My First Language. So, If You See Any Grammar Errors Or Typing Errors , Make Sure To Warn Me!
One More Thing, I Haven't Decided Yet Whether This Novel Will Have A Harem Ending Or Not, So Feel Free To Give Me Suggestions After Reading The Novel About Whether It's Necessary Or Not.
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If You See Any Grammar Errors Or Typing Errors , Make Sure To Warn Me!
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Thank You To All For Your Support.