Chapter 1: First Day, First Look
The classroom felt the same.
Same noisy students. Same electric fan that barely worked. Same sunlight spilling lazily through the windows.
But for Liam Smith, something was different. Or maybe… someone.
He didn't notice her at first. He was too busy fixing his notebook, pretending he didn't care about the first day of school like everyone else.
"Hey, Liam! Sit here!" his friend Mark called.
"Yeah… wait," Liam replied, glancing up.
And then—
"Class, settle down," the teacher said. "We'll start with assigning roles. As usual, we need a class mayor and a secretary."
Liam barely listened. Until he heard a name.
"Mandy Miller."
His head lifted.
There she was. Standing near the front. Same long hair. Same calm expression.
But… different. Or maybe she had just grown up.
"Ma'am, I nominate Mandy as secretary," someone said.
"Seconded!"
"Agreed!"
Of course, Liam thought. Everyone liked her.
She smiled politely. "If it's okay, I'll accept."
That smile—
Liam felt something strange in his chest.
"…Since when?" he whispered to himself.
Since when did she look like that?
"Oi, daydreamer," Mark teased, nudging him.
"Nothing," Liam said quickly. But his eyes kept going back to her. To Mandy. Talking to the class mayor. Helping everyone. Like she belonged at the center of everything.
While he—sat quietly in the corner, watching.
That was the moment Liam didn't realize yet. The moment something started.
Not love. Not yet. Just a simple thought.
"Maybe… I want to get closer to her."