The next morning felt different.
She walked into the classroom a little earlier than usual, hoping to avoid attention. But the moment she stepped in, a few eyes still turned toward her. New girl. Of course.
She quietly walked to her seat… the same seat beside him.
He was already there.
For a second, she paused. Why is he always early? she wondered.
"Good morning," he said casually, not even looking up from his notebook.
She blinked. "Uh… morning."
Silence.
She sat down, carefully placing her bag, trying not to make it awkward. But somehow, the silence felt louder than noise.
A few minutes passed.
Then suddenly—
"Do you always think this much?" he asked.
She turned, confused. "What?"
"You've been staring at your notebook for five minutes without writing anything."
Her cheeks warmed instantly. "I was just… thinking."
"About?"
She hesitated. Why does he ask so much?
"…Nothing important."
He finally looked at her, a slight smile on his face. "You don't seem like someone who thinks 'nothing important.'"
She didn't know what to say to that.
Before things could get more awkward, the teacher walked in. She let out a small breath of relief.
Throughout the class, she tried to focus, but something kept distracting her.
Him.
Not in an obvious way—but small things.
The way he explained a doubt to the student behind him.
The way he tapped his pen when he was thinking.
The way he didn't seem to care what others thought.
At one point, she accidentally dropped her pen.
Before she could reach it, he picked it up and placed it on her desk.
"Careful," he said.
"Thanks," she replied softly.
Their fingers almost touched.
And for a moment… everything felt still.
Lunch break.
She sat alone, opening her lunch box slowly.
She missed her old friends. The laughter. The noise.
"Why are you sitting alone?"
She looked up.
Him. Again.
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
He didn't move. "That didn't answer the question."
She sighed. "I just… don't know anyone yet."
He nodded slightly, then sat down across from her without asking.
"You know me now."
She raised an eyebrow. "Do I?"
"Enough to not sit alone."
She couldn't help it—a small smile escaped.
From across the room, a few students noticed them.
Whispers started.
"Already?"
"New girl and him?"
She heard it.
Her smile faded a little.
He noticed.
"Don't listen," he said simply.
"It's not that easy," she replied.
He shrugged. "It is. You just decide not to care."
As the final bell rang, she packed her bag slowly.
"Hey," he said.
She looked at him.
"You'll come tomorrow, right?"
She frowned slightly. "Of course I will."
"Good," he said, picking up his bag. "It'd be boring otherwise."
And just like that, he walked away.
Leaving her there… confused, a little annoyed—
But also smiling.