The first day of class 12 didn't feel new.
It felt .... Familiar.
Like a story repeating itself- but with different people, different versions of the same class.
It was only 8:10 am, but St. Elora's high buzzed with the full roar of feet and gossips.
Anne...
The classroom felt quieter than it should.
Anne sat by the window, her fingers tapping lightly on the desk as students slowly filled in. Humanities class, new section ( she was a transferred student from science stream).
A new beginning..... Again
But this time, she wasn't the same girl who stood at the gate a year ago, unsure of where to sit, unsure of who to be.
Her eyes shifted slightly.... Landing on a familiar face across the room.
Noah...
He gave a small nod- that was enough.
It was 8:30 am, they have economics lectures. The class was about to begin, so the commerce students also joined the class.
Sarah...
With a soft smile, sat on the front seat of Anne and Noah, there eyes are scanning each other.
The classroom door opened.
"Good morning, class".
A familiar voice- Mr. Kevin D'Souza
Economics, of course
"Let's start this year properly", he said, placing his books down.
And just like that -something shifted. Because this wasn't just the first lecture of class 12.
It was a reminder.
FLASHBACK- CLASS 11, FIRST DAY
Anne....
New school, new people- but no more being invisible.
She stood outside the classroom for a second longer than necessary, her heart beating faster than she liked .
Just go in.... She walked in, inside everyone already looked like they belonged somewhere.
She didn't. Until - she saw a girl, who seems new, little nervous.
"Hey, u can sit here", Anne pointed the sit beside her.
Sarah...
Thanks, I'm in commerce... My name is Sarah.
"Anne" from science- she replied.
That was the first time she met sarah, and somehow... The beginning of everything.
Noah...
Same classroom, different world.
He entered with his best friend - Peter, who seems rude, arrogant but Noah was calm, mature and positive. His eyes briefly landed on the class, thinking how can he spent the whole year with all this fellows.
They both sat on the front seat near Charlie- the class topper, perfect, predictable, already surrounded by books.
Until his gaze shifted again... The two new girls.
One quiet, another Open. He didn't knew why - but he noticed.
BACK TO PRESENT - CLASS 12...
".... And economics is not just about numbers". Mr D'Souza was saying.
But no one was really listening... Because all three of them were thinking about the same person.
Miss Marina frost...
The teacher who wasn't there anymore, the one who understood them without asking.
Anne's fingers stilled.
Sarah looked down at her notebook.
Noah closed his eyes for a brief second.
Some people leave... But they don't really go away.
A year ago they were strangers. Different streams, lives...
Anne and Noah in science, until November changes everything.
Sarah in commerce, always in a different world....
And yet- somehow they found each other....!!