So… where's Gina?
I spotted her sitting on the bench outside, alone, headphones in, the usual distant look on her face. She was tapping her fingers lightly to the music, eyes fixed on the ground. I hesitated for a second, but no—there's no way I'm going home without figuring out what's going on with her.
"Good morning, Gina," I said.
She looked up instantly, slipped one headphone off, and flashed that familiar smile—too familiar, like nothing ever affects her.
"Hey, Emma… I actually missed you," she said.
Honestly? That caught me off guard.
"You were angry yesterday," I said. "I just wanted to ask."
She shook her head.
"No… I wasn't angry. I was just… distracted. And when I get like that, I usually snap at the people around me. So don't worry about it."
I let out a small breath and sat beside her.
"Well," I joked, "maybe you are one of those 'strange creatures,' and you got offended I didn't believe you."
Gina burst out laughing. "What?? I hate you," she said playfully.
I looked at her a little longer.
"I just… want us to stay like this. You know? Not suddenly change on each other."
Her expression softened.
"I feel like you're a real friend, Emma."
Before I could answer, Susan appeared—of course. She never misses a chance to ruin a moment.
"Well, girls?" she said. "You think what happened yesterday is just going to disappear?"
Gina's smile vanished. "Look, I don't want to start anything. Just move."
Susan smirked, slow and poisonous.
"You can't start something and walk away that easily, new girl."
Gina exhaled sharply but stayed quiet.
"You don't know me," she muttered. "And you chose to make me your enemy all by yourself."
I stepped in. "Susan, enough. Just leave before—"
"Before what?" Susan snapped. "You'll report me? Or will I get expelled like some people?"
I shot a quick glance at Gina—she was clearly being provoked.
"Don't," I whispered. "This is exactly what she wants."
But suddenly the hallway broke into screaming—girls, boys, everyone pulling out their phones.
Noel. He actually showed up.
He wasn't even that famous.
Just some rebellious guy who likes attention.
People swarmed him as usual, hoping he'd glance their way even for a second.
Gina stared at him, frozen.
"He… really came here?"
Noel gave her a quick look, rolled his eyes, then kept walking.
"Well, I'm heading to class," he said. "Some of us actually have things to do."
The crowd parted around him, and of course Susan pushed herself to the front because God forbid attention isn't on her.
"Noel??" she squeaked, as if they were best friends.
Then out of nowhere Gina wrapped her arms around me. A full hug.
I stiffened—what is she doing?
"You're honestly… my favorite, Emma," she whispered. "And I want to ask you something. Please don't say no."
"…What?" I asked cautiously.
"I want to sit next to him today. Just today. Please."
I sighed. Hard.
"Fine. But if he rejects you, don't come running to me all devastated."
"He won't. I promise."
"We'll see."
"You're the best!"
She hugged me again and ran straight toward the crowd.
I walked away. The whole place felt suffocating. Everyone here annoyed me in their own way, and nobody ever saw who they really were.
When I turned around, I caught Noel staring at me.
I looked away immediately and kept walking.
Ahead, a few students weren't paying attention to the chaos—one of them was him, the mysterious guy. Always leaning against a wall, the same book in his hand, the same hoodie glued to his body like armor.
"Hey," I said, just loud enough. "Can you talk for a sec?"
He looked up, closed his book… and walked straight toward the classroom.
"…What? Did he just ignore me?"
No, seriously—social anxiety had to be the only explanation.
Everyone went inside. I took my usual seat.
Then his voice came—quiet but clear:
"Is he… in our class now? That famous guy?"
My head snapped up.
Did the mysterious guy just talk?
"Yes," I said coolly.
"I didn't mean to ignore you earlier," he added. "I just wanted to get to the lesson."
"The lesson isn't going anywhere," I muttered.
"Sorry, then."
He paused.
i asked..Could you sit next to me today? Just for today?
I blinked. Emma, you idiot. Why did you even ask him earlier?
"Sure," he said anyway.
He sat next to me, awkward and oddly calm at the same time.
"By the way, I'm Emma. Nice to meet you."
"…John."
"Really? That's a nice name. I never knew it, even though you've been here this whole time."
"They… called me that during roll call. You were usually asleep."
"…Oh." I laughed awkwardly. "That's rude."
He cracked the tiniest smile.
"Everyone, welcome our new student."
Noel stepped forward like he owned the damn place.
"Hi. I'm Noel Williams. I hope we can all be friends," he said with this fake-friendly grin.
What a terrible actor.
Trying so hard to look nice and "humble." It was pathetic.
The whole class whispered among themselves.
"He's hot…"
"Like… really hot."
"His family must be rich."
"You don't know the Williams family?"
I rolled my eyes so hard I swear they nearly fell out.
Meanwhile, Gina practically sprinted to sit next to him.
Noel looked at her—she was already blushing like an idiot.
"Why aren't you sitting with your friend?" he asked.
"Uh? How'd you know I was sitting there?" she stammered.
He smirked. "Relax, I'm not stalking you. I literally watched you pack your stuff and walk here."
"You're observant, huh?" she said, trying to sound cute. "I just don't like sitting in the front."
Noel squinted a little.
"And last time… I was kinda annoying. So I just wanted to fix that. You remember me, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, if you don't want me here, I can move—"
"No. Do whatever you want."
Gina lit up instantly. She looked stupidly happy.
Susan sat behind them with her arms crossed, pissed because the attention wasn't on her for once.
I dropped my head onto the desk in pure boredom.
"You hate him. Something happen between you two?" John asked.
I shot up, startled.
"What? God, no. Gross."
"Then what's with the hostility?"
"He's annoying. I just can't stand him."
"Alright then."
He placed his books neatly in front of him—of course he's organized.
Even the mysterious dude is more put-together than me. Wow.
He glanced at me. "Got it… You've got some kind of history you don't want to talk about. Right?"
I stared at him. Was he psychic or just blurting stuff out?
"…Yeah," I answered anyway.
"Is that why your friend changed seats?" he asked.
"She said it's just for today. Honestly, I doubt she's coming back. She didn't even leave anything here."
John sighed. "Damn. You're really abandoned, huh."
I blinked at him.
What the hell is wrong with this guy? Who says that out loud??
Across the room, Noel was still talking to Gina.
"You remember my name, right?" she asked nervously.
"Yes," he said.
"I thought you didn't care."
He didn't respond. He just kept glancing at me for some reason. Why? I have no idea.
"I'm actually a nice person," Noel said eventually. "But people always misunderstand me. My family situation, rumors… everything twists against me."
"You mean that rumor from a while back?" Gina asked.
"What rumor?" Noel frowned.
"That your family does… you know… magic."
He stared at her.
"You actually believe shit like that? Only idiots do. They just want to ruin us."
"That's true. I think they're jealous. Your family's famous, rich, and close."
Noel didn't respond. His jaw tightened a little.
After the break
I didn't follow anyone. I was bored out of my mind—bored of everyone, honestly.
Maybe I'm just irritated.
Maybe everyone keeps leaving me.
Maybe I'm stupid for thinking I'm likable.
I swore I'd make friends this year, and look at me: one friend—who ditched me for some guy who didn't even try for her.
Amazing. My luck is absolute trash.
"You complain a lot," John laughed.
I jumped. "—hi. When did you get here?"
I laughed awkwardly.
"I got you something to eat," he said, holding a snack.
"You're… actually sweet. And I'm not gonna lie—no one has ever done something like this without wanting something in return."
"I know. I've been through stuff too, probably like you."
My eyes widened.
Who is he? Why does he feel… familiar?
"You're not eating?" he asked.
"Huh?"
I realized I was full-on staring at him.
God, kill me. I'm embarrassing myself.
"I'll eat. Thanks, John."
Noel walked by, scanning the cafeteria. Gina was glued to his side like a sticker.
He sighed.
"Don't you have literally anything else to do?" he asked her.
"What? Are you tired of me already?"
Noel forced a smile. "No. But maybe talk to someone else for a bit? I kinda wanna sit alone."
The disappointment on her face was harsh.
"…Okay. If you want."
By the end of the day, I actually felt… good.
I made another friend. In my last year. That's huge—even if it's just one person.
John was kind.
Genuinely kind.
And okay, fine—maybe I smiled too much thinking about him.
Did I fall for him?
Get a grip, Emma.
You literally talked to him for one day.
To be continued…